Fannin County commissioners approve park pavilion, bridge safety fencing and one-time employee payments

Fannin County commissioners met and approved a set of routine and project-specific actions, including funding for a new park pavilion, added safety equipment at river parks, a fence to reduce fall risk at an older metal bridge and one-time year-end payments for county employees.

The board accepted a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation to secure right-of-way for replacement work on the Ford Mill bridge. Chair moved to accept the MOA and commissioners approved the agreement by voice vote. Commissioners discussed the bridge location and agreed the memorandum was necessary to allow GDOT to proceed with replacement work.

Eddie O'Neil, identified in the meeting as Fannin County recreation director, asked for county funds to build a 30-by-40 covered pavilion at the City Park and asked that costs not exceed $55,000, to be paid from Rex Plus/SPLOST-type funds. "What we would like to do is to build a 30 by 40 covered pavilion at the City Park. This would come from Rex Plus, and I'd like to do it not to exceed $55,000," O'Neil said. Commissioners compared the shelter to an existing Horseshoe Bend shelter and approved the pavilion funding by motion and voice vote.

Commissioner Searcy proposed adding lightning and severe-weather detection systems at two river-park locations to improve public-safety monitoring. The county was quoted a one-time installation fee of roughly $9,800 and an annual software/service fee of about $5,800; the board authorized a contract with the vendor (identified in the transcript as Perry Weather) and approved the purchase.

The board spent extended time discussing safety concerns at an older metal bridge near Ford Mill (the transcript refers to the older structure and its low railings). A presenter estimated the existing rail is under 30 inches and said a fall could be about 16 feet onto rocks and shallow water. Local workers provided an estimate of about $13,500 to install commercial-grade chain-link fencing to increase protection. The chair moved to approve $13,500 to install the safety fencing and the commissioners advanced and approved that funding by voice vote; discussion included possible funding sources and lead-paint/abatement considerations for any work on the existing railing.

On personnel, commissioners debated year-end employee payments previously paid at $200 for full-time and $100 for part-time staff. After discussion the board approved one-time payments of $300 for full-time employees and $150 for part-time employees; the county will handle associated payroll taxes. The chair characterized the payments as a year-end deferred compensation/holiday distribution.

During public comment Julie Shirer of 196 Riverview Lane thanked the commissioners and reminded the board about the Georgia income tax credit program that allows individuals, couples and businesses to redirect state income-tax dollars to Blue Ridge Medical Center through the Georgia HEART program. "The Georgia income tax credit program ... can redirect their Georgia income taxes a dollar for dollar back to Blue Ridge Medical Center through the Georgia HEART Program," Shirer said.

Several routine items were approved earlier in the meeting by voice vote, including approval of the Oct. 28, 2025 meeting minutes, a variance request from Terry and Cindy Moran to locate a new home 22 feet from the road center and 8 feet from a property line, and a marriage-related request for a local couple. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that was approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Oct. 28, 2025 minutes — approved by voice vote - Moran variance (Shallowford Bridge Lane) — approved by voice vote - Marriage-related request (Rains) — approved by voice vote - Memorandum of Agreement with Georgia DOT (Ford Mill bridge right-of-way) — approved by voice vote - Pavilion at City Park (up to $55,000 from Rex Plus/SPLOST) — approved by voice vote - Lightning/severe weather detection systems (one-time $9,800; $5,800 annual service) — approved by voice vote - Safety fence for old metal bridge (approx. $13,500) — approved by voice vote - One-time year-end payments for employees ($300 full-time; $150 part-time) — approved by voice vote

Next steps noted at the meeting included staff follow-up on contracts and vendor discussions for the pavilion, lightning detection and bridge work. The board adjourned with no further scheduled votes recorded in the transcript.