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Toccoa officials report shelter statistics, police certification waiver and plans to regain DNR grant eligibility
Summary
At the Sept. 22 meeting, Toccoa officials reported an 85% live‑release rate at the humane shelter, a police certification waiver that will allow an assessor appointment, utilities testing results described as "looking really good," and plans to swap property to restore eligibility for LWCF grants; a resident asked about health‑care resources.
City of Toccoa officials used their Sept. 22 meeting to report operational updates and next steps on several community issues, including animal‑shelter outcomes, police department certification progress and steps to regain eligibility for a state grant program.
Vice‑Mayor Evan Hellenga reported shelter statistics for August: 156 intakes, 82 adoptions, 11 returns to owner, 45 transfers, 19 euthanized and 6 deaths, resulting in a recorded 85% live‑release rate. Hellenga said a recent vaccine clinic administered 81 rabies shots and a free adoption event netted 11 adoptions.
Police Chief Bruce Carlisle told the commission he recently marked 48 years in public service and credited department staff with a successful investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect who had been on the run. Carlisle also described work on state certification for department personnel and said the chiefs association waived a three‑year experience requirement for a staff member identified as Ms. Walton; the waiver will allow her to serve as an assessor after her dress rehearsal. "There are a lot of great resources in this city," Carlisle said.
Utilities Director Harry Scott reported that additional testing for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division is underway and that "our numbers are looking really good," according to the minutes.
Mayor Terry Carter outlined a plan to regain eligibility for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants administered through the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Carter said past use of Alewine Park disqualified the city from current eligibility and described the corrective steps the city was advised to take: survey and appraise the property for a paper swap, identify replacement property of equivalent value (not necessarily equal acreage), and work through the state process. Carter said the next LWCF application opportunity will be in fall 2026 and that being actively in the process of swapping property should preserve eligibility for award.
During the public‑comment period, Sylvia Hill of 122 Grove Street, who said she is a retired state health‑care worker, asked whether local services exist that provide both food and education about illnesses for Medicare and Medicaid recipients. Julie Paysen of the Chamber of Commerce suggested Family Connections, a community collaborative, and named AVITA as a local provider of services.
The minutes do not list dollar amounts for grants, the shelter budget, or the geotechnical invoice discussed elsewhere on the agenda. Where the minutes do not specify details (for example: invoice amount, contract scope or the staff member's first name beyond "Ms. Walton"), this article reports those items as not specified in the record.
The commission adjourned after public comment.
