White Co. begins work on Helen fire agreement, reviews land use plan

CLEVELAND - There is still a lot of work to be done before the White County Board of Commissioners presents a fire service agreement to the City of Helen, but the county commission board took a first look at a draft agreement at its meeting Monday. <br /> <br /> The draft would have the City of Helen provide funding to upgrade some of the firefighting equipment that will be used. <br /> <br /> Also, county commissioners said they wanted to look at the proposal that would require four additional full-time firefighters. <br /> <br /> Commissioners said they started working on the agreement after officials in the City of Helen indicated they would be interested in such an agreement.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>Commission unsure of land use proposal</b><br /> <br /> Also at Monday's meeting, commissioners outlined some concerns about a proposed land use document. <br /> <br /> The Commission Board received an update on a land use document being developed by the county staff.<br /> <br /> County Community and Economic Development Director Tom O'Bryant shared with commissioners some of the highlights of the document, particularly regarding home-based businesses. <br /> <br /> Commissioners immediately found several areas in that section they were uncomfortable with, and Commissioner Edwin Nix expressed his wishes "not to be too regulatory in this area." <br /> <br /> Commissioners instructed O'Bryant to continue to work on the ordinance while they also will examine the draft that has been developed. <br />