Thursday March 28th, 2024 4:57AM

Hall County moves to streamline its governing actions

GAINESVILLE – Hall County will now require only one reading and one public hearing prior to a vote on a resolution or an ordinance, simplifying the handling of many of the items brought before the Hall County Commission for consideration.

“It’s just easier to pass things.  Most local governments don’t have a double reading requirement.”  Bill Linkous, Deputy Hall County Attorney, said after Thursday’s county commission meeting where the resolution making the change was read for the required second time.

“So this is the second reading that says we only need one reading?” Commissioner Billy Powell asked rhetorically with a smile.

On March 21, 1935, the Georgia General Assembly created the Hall County Board of Commissioners, and with that enactment certain rules of operation governed the way the commissioners conducted business. 

One of the standards imposed at that time called for “readings at no less than two consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners, of ordinances and resolutions with respect to persons and property situated within the County of Hall and outside the territorial limits of any municipality located in Hall County.”

Hall County used a provision known as “Home Rule” to make the changeover.  Home Rule in its latest iteration was codified when the Georgia Constitution was amended in 1983 to allow local governments the right to make changes to some of the rules under which they were chartered.

“It’s unusual to use Home Rule Power, but it is something local governments do from time to time,” County Attorney Van Stephens commented.

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