SCBC to consider rescinding motion to sell old Annex Building during today’s meeting

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners will meet this evening for its regular scheduled meeting inside the Historic Stephens County Courthouse. The meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.

Under old business, the Commission will consider a motion to rescind a previous motion to sell the Stephens County Annex Building, located at 12 West Tugalo Street. The original motion was made on February 24, 2022.

The change stems from the Stephens County Board of Commissioners’ special called meeting last week, when Judge James Irvin came forward asking the commissioners to preserve the lot for the future site of a new Court House.

Following Irvin’s comments, Toccoa Main Street Manager Christian Hamilton spoke in favor of preserving the historical building to bring in more lodging.

“We don’t have a parking problem in downtown. We have a lodging problem in downtown and throughout Stephens County,” Hamilton said.

Toccoa’s Community Development Director Connie Tabor told the Commission that Stephens County has already lost many of its historical buildings and that they should ensure that the annex building is saved.

Commissioner Michelle Ivester says she would love to see a developer purchase the property and renovate the building for luxury apartments.

Under new business, the commission will consider requests from the Eastanollee Volunteer Fire Department and the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter for Fiscal Year 2023 funding.

The commission will also consider motions to approve an annexation request from the City of Toccoa for the property located at 188 Northside Drive, to appoint legislative voting delegate for the 2022 Legislative Leadership Conference, to award greenhouse bid to Darin Critchlow in the amount of $351, to amend contract with the Chamber of Commerce for the Hotel/Motel Tax Revenue agreement, and to authorize chairman to sign Local Option Sales Certificate of Distribution.

Again, today’s meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. inside the Stephens County Historic Courthouse. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.