Walton County Quality Growth Committee

Minutes September 16, 2008
Between Community Center

 

Attendees:

Committee members: Karen Paul, Margaret Street, Ross Street, Frank Hilton, Michael Paul, and

Laura Templeton

Guests: Mayor Bill Sullivan, Between council members Don and Marcia Vansant, George Baker III

 

Karen called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm. Agenda was approved.

Minutes were presented and approved. Karen noted that she is adding archived minutes to the website.

 

Old Business

  1. 2008-2009 Vision – Karen provided overview of what the QGC is and is not and a brief history of the organization.
  2. Affirming current membership and county areas of representation – Committee is seeking representation across the county. Karen requested that Mayor Sullivan and the council members present appoint someone from Between to serve on the Committee. Per the current by-laws, elected officials cannot serve. However, the Committee welcomes their input as advisors. Mayor Sullivan suggested that the Committee push the county for at least a few hundred dollars in funds to run the committee’s business.
  3. Review and suggest updates/reviews to Committee by-laws – Committee members will discuss in depth at the October meeting.
  4. County areas needing committee representation/appointments from county commissioners and city mayors – discussed above.
  5. New QGC website and brochure – Karen has added much new content over the past week. There are links to the minutes and to a member list from the home page. The Committee’s Seven Principals are posted on the home page, and there is a calendar feature with a meeting schedule. Karen hopes to clarify the Committee’s purpose – it is not to dictate or recommend laws but to obtain citizen feedback and report back to the county commission.
  6. County-wide meeting location planning – November meeting location still to be determined.
  7. County commission chairman’s priorities – For the benefit of the Between attendees, Karen provided overview of Chairman Little’s charges for the Committee.
  8. Citizen’s priorities – Karen spoke at length with Jane Bath to get update on the power lines being installed by Georgia Power in the Snow’s Mill area. In the past, these lines have been set off the highways to minimize the impact to the area. The lines in the Snow’s Mill area parallel the highway for several miles, ruining the rural aesthetics. Karen suggests that we investigate this, as it may set a precedent for future lines.
  9. 2008-2009 Speakers – discussion postponed.
  10. Quality Growth Day – description provided for guests.

 

New Business

  1. October planning session with Chairman Little – Chairman Little is scheduling a work session in October to bring together Committee representatives and others interested in quality growth.
  2. How old business applies to Between – Between does have some landscaping ordinances in place. Ross and Margaret Street strongly suggested that they strengthen existing ordinances to avoid future problems. Mayor Sullivan said that they have participated in the DOT wildflower project since 1996.

 

Karen suggested that the mayor and council members might want to look into Walnut Grove’s charrette. Karen will get some contact information to Mayor Sullivan.

 

Between residents mentioned sewer as an obstacle to development. They are not actively seeking sewer for their area and would welcome sewer development that avoids the sprawl created in surrounding counties. George Baker mentioned Walnut Grove’s plans to develop sewer working through an Alabama company.

 

  1. Between and the Highway 78 Corridor – Between residents have concerns about the Highway 78 corridor. Long-range plans include widening it to an 8- or 10-lane highway. They would like future development to be in keeping with the existing homes, one of which is on the historic register. They foresee all development being commercial, but would like to steer that development into small businesses that could take over existing buildings to keep the rural flavor. They do not want to see strip mall development.

  2. Between community input – Discussion of landowners in the Between area. Council members Don and Marcia Vansant own the house on the historic register. Other historic homes are owned by Mike and Julie Cook, James Thompson, and Jim Briscoe. The Garrett brothers own a large tract of land in Between. Walton County has recently bought 77 acres in Between (partially within the city limits) for a driver’s license post, fire station, town hall, and some recreation.

 

Karen requested a copy of Between’s zoning ordinances.

 

Between City Council Meetings are held at 7pm on the second Tuesday of each month.

 

  1. Other – Karen would like to consider distributing minutes within one week of Committee meetings. Members can then vote by email to approve, and the minutes can be posted quickly to the website.

 

Karen adjourned the meeting at 8:25pm.