HCC hears request for name changes in writing

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners at their Monday work session listened once again to Friendship Road residents who do not want their section of the road east of Interstate 985 changed to Lanier Islands Parkway.

Pamela Puckett told commissioners the county code should be changed to require that road name requests be made in writing.

"I just want the procedure on how the commissioners receive requests for road name changes changed," Puckett said. "I would like that to be in writing. This request was not in writing and so we do not have a source to go to find out why they desire to change this road name."

South Hall Commissioner Craig Lutz said he has not decided on the name change but would make his decision Thursday when commissioners take their final vote.

When asked by resident Chris Puckett, Lutz said he's received no offer from Lake Lanier Islands manager Virgil Williams to change the name nor does he work for Lake Lanier Islands.

NON-RESPONSIVE BIDS

Commission Chairman Dick Mecum said the Commission wants more information at its upcoming retreat next month on a solid waste services contract.

Commissioners learned from their consultant that proposals on running the county land fill were not comprehensive and targeted specific items rather than all of them except the proposal from Hall County.

Steve Egan, a Solid Waste Request for Proposal analyst, could not really say which bid was best because if the county wanted a comprehensive response, the bids did not offer that. Mecum said the county had stipulations on the Request for Proposal.

"What happened in this case with six bidders is that only one bidder,Hall County, came in and answered all of it" Mecum said. "The other bidders did so in differing degrees. Technically Hall County would have been the only responsive bid, all the others were non-responsive."

Mecum says the county wants to streamline the operation and make it more cost efficient.

HCSO WANTS LEADS ON LINE

Commissioners heard a request from sheriff's investigators to require precious metal and gem dealers and pawn brokers to use an electronic reporting system that can be accessed by law officers statewide.

Sheriff's Property Division Lieutenant Kenny Neece said the "Leads on Line" system would deter thefts and burglaries and help recover stolen merchandise.

"We have no current way of tracking stolen property," Neece said. "Thieves are more attracted to areas that don't have this type of reporting system in place. No matter where it's stolen, they want to go to a place where it's easy to get rid of and if it's easy to get rid of property here in Hall County they might as well steal in Hall County too."

Neece said Hall County is one of the last places that does not have the system; The City of Gainesville already requires pawn and precious metal dealers to use "Leads on Line" but Neece said the system is only for the city. They are only able to track items stolen in the city and pawned in the city.

Hall County Pawn dealer Bill LaPointe told commissioners he already uses Leads on Line and said it is not intrusive to customers.