Cass County prepares for Hazard Mitigation Plan

County Judge Becky Wilbanks oversaw the June 8 regular session of the Cass County Commissioner’s Court at 8:30 a.m. in Linden. Commissioners Brett Fitts, Danny Joe Shaddix, Paul Cothren and Darrel Godwin were present for the meeting as well as County Clerk Amy Varnell and County Auditor Jim Loomis.

Jim Loomis presented amendments for the budget of Fiscal Year 2021 by streamlining the budget amounts and re-allocating previously approved budgets to make sure there are enough funds for any future expenditures. A motion was made to approve these amendments by Commissioner Fitts and seconded by Commissioner Godwin. A motion to approve the renewal bond of Auditor Jim Loomis was made by Commissioner Fitts and Commissioner Cothren.

Interlocal agreements between Cass County and the cities of Atlanta, Avinger, Bloomburg, Domino, Douglassville, Hughes Springs, Linden, Marietta and Queen City regarding contracting with GrantWorks, Inc. for the preparation of the Hazard Mitigation Plan was presented. The Hazard Mitigation plan is required and was passed previously in court.

GrantWorks will facilitate the Hazard Mitigation plan for Cass County at a cost of $53,000. The cities agreed to pay proportionately to their population and the interlocal agreements is what they have passed, approving their payments to the county for their part. A motion was made to approve the interlocal agreements by Commissioner Fitts and Commissioner Cothren.

A small presentation was given by Jay Tidwell regarding a motion to thin the Dogtown timber tract on FM 1399 and the Peace Officers tract on CR 1913. Tidwell suggests the tracts be thinned for health and development. Bids will be taken to cover the costs. Specifications will be a basal area reduction (that is, the density of trees in an area) of an average of 80-square feet per acre. Tidwell estimates they will remove close to 3,000 tons of pine on the Peace Officers tract and close to 1,300 tons on the Dogtown tract. Total revenue for the two, Tidwell hopes, will be in the range of $45,000.

A motion to approve the thinning of the Dogtown and Peace Officers tracts was made by Commissioner Fitts and Commissioner Godwin.

A financial report was given by County Auditor Jim Loomis with no significant changes. A motion to approve the report was made by Commissioner Cothren and Commissioner Shaddix.

A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Fitts and Commissioner Cothren. The court adjourned at 8:43 a.m.