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Habersham commissioners recognize crews after Winter Storm Cora; public works outlines multi-day response
Summary
County officials thanked public works, fleet, emergency services and 911 staff for extended work during Winter Storm Cora. Road department leaders described pre-storm staging, multi-zone plow operations and an estimate of miles treated during the event.
Interim County Manager Tim Sims and Road Department Director Jerry Baggett highlighted Habersham County’s multi-agency response to Winter Storm Cora and formally recognized staff who worked extended shifts to keep roads and facilities operating.
Sims thanked public works, fleet, facilities maintenance, emergency services, the sheriff’s office and 911 staff for around-the-clock work, and specifically acknowledged local businesses that provided meals. Jerry Baggett detailed the road department’s operational structure and said crews began preparation two days before the storm, staged plows and stockpiled salt and gravel, and then worked continuously during and after the storm.
Baggett described the county’s winter operations as divided into five dump-truck/plow zones and three motor-grader zones, with specialized one-ton trucks focused on narrower roads and emergency-service access points such as fire stations and hospitals. He said crews treated and scraped “over 350 miles” within the first 24 hours and retreated many routes two to five times over subsequent days; he also said the county’s inventory includes roughly 416 miles of paved roads and 98 miles of gravel roads.
The board presented a special recognition for Matt Ainsworth, Habersham County asset manager, who Baggett said “stepped up” and operated plows and assisted with repairs and debris removal during the storm. Sims and others thanked Wolf Creek Barbecue in Clarkesville for feeding crews.
Public comment from resident Bruce Palmer urged commissioners to visit and thank staff who were sheltered and working at the aquatic center during the storm and cautioned against quickly selling historic county property referenced later in the meeting.
Why it matters: The presentation documented county staffing, resource allocation and the operational tempo required to maintain emergency access and road safety during a severe winter event. Commissioners were given numbers and functional descriptions they can use in budgeting and emergency planning.
