Hart County Board of Commissioners

Called Meeting

January 17, 2000

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met in a called meeting at 10:00 a.m. Monday, 17 January 2000 at the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

The called meeting was for the purpose of discussing the City of Hartwell's proposed annexation along Ponderosa Drive. (See City of Hartwell's December 30, 1999 annexation notice and 6 January 2000 letter from the County Administrator in response also the minutes of the BOC meeting of 10 and 11 January 2000 where the issue was publicly discussed). Initially, the meeting was announced as an executive session since a formal objection to annexation would have resulted in legal action.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Moore, with Commissioners Brown, Burdick, Hannah, and County Attorney Gordon and his staff member Wilkerson in attendance. After a brief discussion it was determined that no formal objections leading to legal arbitration would be supported by the commission. The Hartwell Sun was called and discussions were suspended until a representative arrived.

The commissioners discussed the aspects of the Ponderosa Drive annexation request and the possible actions that could be taken by the commissioners. It was agreed that while the commission limited could not support the annexation legal grounds existed to formerly challenge the annexation. State laws strongly support municipalities in the annexation process and surely limit counties in the actions they can take to limit annexation.

Chairman Moore outlined the proposed contents of a letter he recommended be sent to the City stating the county's position. Commissioner Burdick moved that the Chairman be authorized to prepare a letter outling the Commissioners' objections. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Oglesby and passed unanimously. (See Chairman's January 26 letter attached).

There be no further business the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Hannah. A second by Commissioner Brown and passed unanimously.

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Joel Moore, Chairman