Habersham dedicates new Administration Building as part of county’s 200-year celebration

CLARKESVILLE — After a year, rain continues to hamper completion of Habersham County’s new Administration Building at 130 Jacobs Way, Clarkesville.

But that didn’t stop members of the county commission from dedicating the building during one of the final celebrations of the county’s bicentennial year.

Outgoing Habersham County Commission Chairman Victor Anderson presided over Monday afternoon’s ceremony.

“We chose today to dedicate the new Administration Building because it is two days after, and the first opportunity we had that didn’t conflict with other items, to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of Habersham County’s formation,” Anderson said. “It was a significant event in that we were able to dedicate the building to the citizens of the county in the bicentennial year and had a very well-attended event.”

The new 28,000-square-foot building will be virtually a one-stop shop, consolidating offices for most county services from four buildings. Offices that will housed in the new building include county commission offices, county manager, county clerk, finance, human resources, information technology, public works, planning and development, tax commissioner, tax assessors, elections and registration, and environmental health services.

The tax commissioner’s office will have a drive-up window, just as at its current building, which is leased.

“In addition to our dedication and presentation of the plaque for the building, we also had a ceremony where the Masons dedicated the cornerstone,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he was happy to see so many Habersham County citizens come out to celebrate their building.

“I was very pleased with the attendance,” Anderson said. “I was surprised that we had so many people there just because it was at 4 o’clock on a Monday afternoon, but we did have a large crowd of people there. Everybody was very receptive, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather, couldn’t have asked for better attendance, and couldn’t have asked for better circumstances in general.”

The $6.5-million price tag includes the cost of land, site development, foundation and the full building package.

Substantial completion is expected in February 2019, with occupation by the end of the first quarter of 2019.

“I am very pleased with the way the building is turning out,” Anderson said. “I’m only a little disappointed that we’re not a little farther along, but as I mentioned in the dedication the weather for the past year or year and a half just has not cooperated with any kind of construction, so we’re very fortunate to be as far along as we are.”

Habersham County Commission Chairman Victor Anderson, left, welcomes those attending the dedication ceremony as Commissioners Ed Nichols, Natalie Crawford, Stacy Hall and Andrea Harper listen.

Habersham County Commission Chairman Victor Anderson shows one of the commemorative bicentennial coins given to those in attendance. The coins were provided by Precision Planning.

Habersham County Finance Officer Heidi Hook, Sheriff Joey Terrell, Emergency Services Director Chad Black, Bill Duff, Chief Magistrate Gerald Johnson, District Attorney George Christian and Tax Commissioner June Black listen as the Habersham County 4-H Club performs the national anthem from upstairs in the new Administration Building.

Though the facility will not be occupied for another few months, the new Habersham County Administration Building plaque is in place and the building has been dedicated as part of the county's bicentennial celebration.

Michael H. Wilson, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, asks those attending the dedication to walk outside to observe the Masonic cornerstone setting. In the background are Habersham County Commissioner Andrea Harper and Clerk of Court David Wall.

Participating in the Masonic cornerstone dedication from the Grand Lodge of Georgia are Grand Master Michael H. Wilson, Deputy Grand Master Johnnie M. Garmon, Senior Grand Warden Jan M. Giddens, Grand Secretary V.S. "Mac" McGee, Grand Chaplain M. Gary Monk, Grand Marshal Ray Sikes, Grand Orator and Past Grand Master Edgar Land, Senior Grand Deacon Mike Kessler, and Grand Tyler Joe Colvard. Also attending were Worshipful Master Wiley Forrrester of the Ninth Masonic District and Past Grand Master Doug McDonald.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/12/745932/habersham-dedicates-new-administration-building-as-part-of-countys-200-year-celebration