School Board’s refinance of bond debt could save taxpayers $7.17 million
News November 21, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – During Thursday’s meeting, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution brought by the Board of Education that will allow the school system to refinance its GO bond indebtedness at a greatly reduced interest rate that will save Forsyth County taxpayers millions of dollars.
The resolution provides for the County to levy and collect the school board’s annual ad valorem tax for payment of prime and interest rate on $109,285,000.
As County Attorney Ken Jarrard explained, “They went out to market their bonds and had extraordinarily strong demand. They have a AAA rating from Moody’s and S&P and therefore were able to leverage an interest rate 10 basis points lower than they thought, resulting in a cumulative savings of $7.17 million.”
In other decisions, Commissioners:
- Approved a request by Native Development Group LLC to rezone from Commercial business District (CBD) to Restricted Industrial District (M1) on 6.641 acres located near the intersection of Atlanta Hwy. and Pendley Road for an 89,745 sq. ft. office/warehouse with 100 parking spaces with Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) for an open storage yard with 7 parking spaces and to conduct around the clock business hours;
- The County-Initiated request for approval of a Sketch Plat to build a 20,720 sq. ft. expansion in addition to an existing 76,000 sq. ft. office/manufacturing facility with 49 parking spaces on 5 acres on Grassland Parkway currently zoned Restricted Industrial District (M1) with variances to UDC Table 14.2 – Parcel 018-084 – SP210011;
- The County-Initiated request to rezone from Agricultural District (A1) to Restricted Industrial District (M1) with variances to UDC 18-5.18, UDC Table 17.1, and UDC 14-4.13 – Parcels 250-170 and 250-228 – ZA4035 located west of Crossroads Road ;
- A request for an Amendment of Zoning Conditions on ZA2300 (M W & W, LLC) by Gtechniq North America, Inc. and a variance to UDC Table 12.2 – Parcel 239-238 – AZ210041. Gtechniq North America, Inc. – CP210021 – to build a 4,000 sq. ft. car wash with 11 parking spaces on 1.30 acres at Hammond Industrial Drive currently zoned Commercial Business District (CBD) with the following variance: 1.) Eliminate the 5,000 ft. sewer distance requirement to facilitate the use of an on-site septic disposal system;
- Held the first of two public hearing on a proposed modification to the County’s Stormwater Management Code, otherwise known as Ordinance 75, including support documents and manuals to ensure compliance with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s model ordinance; to repeal conflicting ordinances; and for other purposes;
- Held the first of two public hearings on proposed modifications to the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. NOTE the short term rental mechanism only had applicability to those who have received a CUP for short-term activity and are located in Agriculture district;
- Approved an amendment to conditions placed on Conditional Alcohol License, AL01124, for Tonique LLC d/b/a Tonique Fine Wine & Spirits;
- Approved a CUP for Chapman and Leonard, a camera supply business for the motion picture industry to build five new buildings totaling 59,000 square feet for outside storage.
Commissioners to discuss county-wide election of chairman at today’s meeting
News November 9, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — County Commission work sessions generally provide an opportunity for commissioners to discuss an issue of interest publicly prior to voting on them during a subsequent regular session, often following a public hearing.
The meetings allow citizens to be alerted as to how their elected officials view the issue before it is decided.
One issue of great interest that will be discussed at today’s 2 p.m. work session is how the Board of Commissioners Chairman will be chosen and how many commissioners will constitute a full Board in the future.
Currently Forsyth County’s Board is made up of five commissioners, each representing a geographic slice of the county including a chairman chosen by the Board of Commissioners. All five commissioners are expected to vote on each issue.
Today’s discussion will center on the possibility of adding a sixth commissioner with the chairman being elected in a county-wide vote. The issue appears far down on the list of agenda items, but it is of critical importance.
The issue will not be decided today. Following the discussion, commissioners may ask County Attorney Ken Jarrard to draft a resolution for the state delegation to create local legislation to be approved by the General Assembly. Once approved, the resolution would then return to the Board of Commissioners for a possible public hearing and final vote.
City, County approve agreement to pay EPD for Lake Lanier water storage
News October 10, 2021
County Attorney Ken Jarrard
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Cumming during last week’s meeting that will determine how each government pays the Georgia Environmental Protection Division for storing water from Lake Lanier.
County Attorney Ken Jarrard announced at the meeting the City approved the agreement at its Tuesday meeting.
“As a by-product of the Water Wars, we now have the opportunity for the Corps of Engineers to allocate capacity in Lake Lanier,” Jarrard said. The primary lease will be between the Corps and EPD. EPD will then enter into a set of subleases with local governments that have capacity in Lake Lanier.
The agreements sets the formula for the allocation of payments for the first year of the agreement and each subsequent year. The City reserves the right to review the formula in two years.
During public hearings, the Board approved;
- An amendment to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to allow concrete pours outside regular business pour for projects that have a commercial building permit upon prior approval of the Director of Building and Economic Development for a fee of $35-0;
- An amendment to the UDC related to dumpsters that will be permit dumpsters containing putrescible waste for less than 30 days and dumpsters that contain inert debris and construction demolition waste for less than 90 days;
- An amendment to the UDC that allows an exemption for non-residential plat requirements;
- An amendment to the UDC that reduces the buffer on MI (Mining Industrial) property from 60 feet to 40 feet and the setback from 75 feet to 50 feet when it abuts residential or agriculture zoned property;
- An amendment to adopt the 2016 version of the 2016 state Record Retention Schedule.
The Board agreed to postpone until Dec. 3 a revocation or modification vote on the Hindu Center of Atlanta (CP190025) following comments by the Center’s attorney Ethan Underwood and County Attorney Ken Jarrard during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Jarrard explained that the Hindu Center is making progress on its attempt to relocate an outdoor storage yard from a Union Hill location to Tidwell Road. “Absent providential cause, there will be no more extension,” he said.
The Board also denied Nuru Zaman’s appeal of the suspension of his alcohol server permit based on unsanitary conditions.