Toccoa City Commission Meets

The city of Toccoa officially lifts its ban on outdoor burning.

City commissioners voted unanimously to officially lift the burn ban effective immediately at their meeting on Monday.

That follows in the footsteps of Stephens County Commissioners, who also rescinded the burn ban last week.

The city commission had passed the burn ban on November 28, but since then downtown Toccoa received nearly five inches of rain to help the drought situation, though officials note that a drought status still exists.

In other action from Monday’s meeting, Toccoa City Commissioners approved a resolution honoring the Gilmer family for its contributions to the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport.

Both Ed and Tommy Gilmer have served on the Toccoa-Stephens County Airport Authority, but Tommy Gilmer will end his term on the Authority at the end of this year.

Toccoa City Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson said it is an honor and delight to approve this resolution honoring the Gilmer family.

“There is not nearly enough that can be said for the impact that the Gilmer family has had on the industrial growth in this county because without the airport, we would not have realized it,” said Jamieson.

Also on Monday, Toccoa City Commissioners approved a host of Fiscal Year 2016 budget amendments.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said these are the final proposed budget amendments for the last fiscal year.

Morse said these amendments were requested by the auditors as they closed out the city’s books.

According to Morse, the net result was a $15,000 change to the general fund, a reduction to the grant fund, and an increase to the SPLOST IV fund.