Stan Helton Seeks Re-election in 2020 Fannin County Commission Chairman

By Bella Clark

Helton contacted Blue Ridge Mountains News to announce his candidacy for re-election and allow for the following interview. It is clear Helton takes his job seriously. "The taxpayers have entrusted me to spend their money wisely," he paused. "Sometimes, you have to make unpopular decisions to make the best choices for the majority, not only for the present moment but for the future. Decisions are not made without proper research, considerations, and discussions. Everything is also by the book, ensuring we follow the law." Helton is proud to have been chosen in 2016 as Chairman. Before announcing his candidacy in 2015, Helton took the initiative to learn everything a candidate should know about the job before tossing their hat into the ring. He invested his time and money to learn what's behind the job title locally to bring the most he could to the position of Fannin County Commission Chairman. He continues with training, to ensure he is keeping to the laws and regulations, as well as learning sound innovative ideas that can be applied to various county needs or projects. Helton is quick to make it clear the accomplishments are a collective of efforts by the Board of Commissioners. By working together Fannin County not only has seen growth, but also monetary savings on many fronts. Helton explained some of the accomplishments his office has seen during his time in office. WHITEPATH BUILDING With the need for consumer accessibility to primary county services such as the Tax Assessor's Office, Helton was instrumental in securing the Whitepath Fab Tech building located at 118 Industrial Blvd here in Blue Ridge. The building will be renovated to accommodate county offices and will include necessary security measures. The funding for this project from purchase to renovations will come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Voters chose this as one of the projects they wanted to use SPLOST funding. Unique to Georgia, SPLOST is an optional 1% sales tax levied by a county to fund the building of parks, schools, roads, and other public facilities. SPLOST funding then comes not only from county residents but includes purchases made by anyone visiting the county. In November 2016 the SPLOST Referendum was passed by the citizens of Fannin County with 56.2% voting for and 43.8% voting against. This new area provides a large parking lot with many opportunities for county office spaces, including space for the library. It will also be more accessible for all citizens, especially our disabled and elderly residents. It will now have better access to county departments and the library without restrictions during downtown events.

FANNIN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY The citizens of Fannin County have wanted a library with better parking and easier access for many years. In an announcement made recently by Georgia State Senator/Speaker of the House David Ralston, Fannin County will have its' new public library! There are still some final steps, however, before the move is official, but Ralston's' announcement of the grant application approval means the end is now in sight. While it's been in the works for a very long time, Helton and the commissioners were a contributory factor in pushing this forward. They worked closely with former Mountain Regional Library Systems Executive Director Vince Stone, Interim Director Claudia Gibson, and Georgia State Senator/Speaker of the House David Ralston to bring this to the community. The new library will be located in the Whitepath building.

FANNIN COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL CENTER Coming off past administrations, the FCACC was in dire need of numerous upgrades and better adoption availabilities. Changes were made to the indoor pens, both to care for the animal and the animal's overall health. In addition, the area behind the building was fenced in to allow animals a space for exercise. Volunteers were added to help with walking the dogs. Also, a partnership was formed with the Humane Society of Blue Ridge for the welfare of the animals. This partnership will increase adoption rates for the abandoned or owner relinquished animals. Another important improvement the Commissioners were able to accomplish was an agreement with the Development Authority to obtain access to the property across from the FCACC. This area will be turned into a safe space for the volunteers to walk the animals. ROADS There are nearly 80 miles of roads in Fannin County that have been 'chipped and sealed' and resurfaced in just over three years. Research showed this was the most effective money-saving procedure to repair roads. It provides excellent traction on slopes and high moisture areas lasting for around ten years and often much longer, without requiring regular maintenance or sealing like asphalt. Helton explained the county is divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant is repaired before moving to another quadrant. The only exception, he added, is if an emergency arose. Emergencies would take precedence before returning to the current quadrant. Completely working an area cuts overall costs for the county. It also helps to avoid roads being overlooked. In the seven years prior to his administration taking over in 2017, only 70 miles of road repair/resurfacing had been completed. Costs were also higher than for the 80 miles now completed in 3 years. BUDGETS Often the most challenging task and the most controversial subject is a county budget. This position demands spending the taxpayers money wisely. In 2016 the budget was approved to increase by 20%. County income could not support such a steep increase. Helton, with the assistance of his fellow Commissioners, worked to keep the expenditures in relation to the revenue. Since taking office, the budget has only increased a total of 5% for the entire three years without limiting beneficial and necessary expenditures.

EVENT PROCLAMATIONS Many events and occasions would like to make a Proclamation for their respective events. Helton welcomes organizations wanting Proclamations. He allows the opportunity for these organizations to have a private ceremony or at a Commission meeting.

ADDITIONAL REMARKS "There is transparency in my office. I work for the people of Fannin County, and they have the right to know what I'm doing." He wanted to make sure voters know they can come to him directly for answers. All Fannin County citizens are welcome to make direct inquiries or contact Helton regarding any county programs or county issues. Documentation is also available. Helton stated there are many programs this administration has put in place that are now beginning to see the light of day. As in most cases, it often takes time to look back and be able to see the growth, improvements, and benefits. A native of the area, he added, "My roots run deep here. It is an honor to serve Fannin County citizens as their Commission Chairman. I ask Fannin County citizens for their continued support and vote. Let's make the next four years together."