The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 16, opening with a ceremonial moment as Chairman Bill Sharp presented a proclamation honoring the 2025 Putnam County Middle School football team to head coach Alexander Banks.
The team earned a 7-0 overall record, including a win over Henderson Middle School in Jackson, to secure the 2025 NGMSAL championship.
The meeting then moved into zoning matters, beginning with a conditional use request from Steven and Deborah DeRoche to build a multi-use barn primarily for storage on land they own beneath powerlines across the road from their lakeside home at 297 Anchor Point Dr.
County staff recommended approval with conditions, and commissioners unanimously approved the request, including District 2 Commissioner Richard Garrett, who joined the discussion and voted verbally throughout the meeting via cellphone while on vacation in London, England. District 3 Commissioner Steve Hersey was also absent while on vacation.
A much larger and more complex zoning discussion followed, involving multiple rezoning requests tied to a proposed assisted living development to be known as Harmony Village along Harmony Road.
“We’ve seen a need that I think was identified 15 years ago,” developer Ross Mundy said, noting existing facilities in the area are largely full. The plan includes an assisted living facility and age-restricted cottages, with Mundy emphasizing low density and minimal impact, including “zero impact to the schools.”
Despite Planning and Zoning recommending approval with conditions, commissioners voted to table the rezoning requests until February 2026, citing the county’s ongoing zoning moratorium and a desire to align the project with future planning decisions better. A related request to rezone 5.99 acres for commercial use was similarly tabled.
Public comment next focused heavily on concerns about the Putnam Development Authority (PDA). County citizen Jennifer Ray accused the authority of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency, citing what she described as written admissions of improper accounting practices.
“These are not simple errors,” she claimed. “This is repeated fundamental misuse, mischaracterization of public funds.”
Citizen Erin Olsen echoed those concerns, pointing to payments allegedly made without a valid contract and asking commissioners to intervene.
“Putnam County has been paying $10,000 per month to the PDA. We need to stop paying them immediately and ask for our money back,” Olson said. “We need accountability.”
Next, Charles Gray warned commissioners to prepare for future challenges, including the potential siting of data centers.
“This is going to be the next bomb to hit you guys, just like short-term rentals three years ago,” he predicted while encouraging proactive research and regulation. “So, get the information together, get your ducks in a row, so when the time comes, you can decide on what’s best for the county overall.
“Is a data center bad for the county? Your research will indicate that. Is it good for the county? We know that the tax could impact the millage rates dramatically, so it’s a tradeoff there. But you guys are going to have to make a decision, so load your guns.”
George Kelecheck, founder of the EYE of the Taxpayer Association, also spoke to the commission about data centers, noting that in Henrico County, Va., legislators have decided to take $1 billion in income from their data centers to fund a trust intended to provide affordable workforce housing.
“So, a $400,000 house would be about $270,000,” Kelecheck said. “I’ll send you that information. Data centers are here. We need to look at what we can do to exercise our rights in that area.”
County resident Barb Vargo later stepped forward to ask commissioners whether the county has any plans yet for a July 4th event next year to mark the country’s 250th birthday.
“This is something we’ve all got to really think about and get started on,” she pointed out.
Past county chairman Billy Webster then asked about a last-minute change to the commission meeting packet that describes what is to be discussed.
“Our packet tonight contains 548 pages. What was the change that was made at three o’clock this afternoon? Did I have to review all 548 pages to find it?” Webster asked the board.
“Now, I understand that’s the way the system worked, and I’ve talked to the clerk, and I understand there’s no existing way to identify the changes, which I’m pleased to get,” Webster said. “But you guys have got a $30-million budget. Can’t you all give the clerk a little bit of that so she can research and maybe find a way to identify changes in the packet? Because it’s really frustrating when we get something at three o’clock in the afternoon for a six o’clock meeting, and we’ve got to review 548 pages to try to figure out what the change was.”
Following public comments, the commission turned its attention to county employee retention efforts. County Manager Paul Van Haute suggested an increase to the county’s defined contribution retirement match from 3% to 4%, aimed at reducing employee turnover.
“We train [employees] in that zero-to-five-year window before they get vested and then some of them are willing to move on and forfeit the county match,” he said.
That measure was approved, and commissioners also approved a resolution to apply accumulated pension credits toward reducing unfunded pension liabilities, a move Van Haute said would help keep the county in strong financial standing.
The meeting concluded with approval of the 2026 local maintenance road project list, despite public concerns about some of the project locations.
“A number of us went out and drove [Scuffleboro Road] this weekend, and we couldn’t find any major need to have it repaved. Particularly considering how many other roads in District 4 are in dire need of repaving,” Webster said in a return to the signed-in speaker’s podium. “I can assure you that there are roads that are in much, much worse shape, including parts of Twin Bridges Road, which is now subjected to a lot of heavy truck traffic going in and out of Interfor.”
Van Haute defended the decision to repave Scuffleboro Road.
“I made the call, I stand by the call,” he said. “There is logging back there, and I saw the chunks of asphalt in the road.”
Repaving is expected to begin early next year once average temperatures consistently return to mid-40s or higher.
The next scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting is Jan. 20, 2026, at 6 p.m., followed by a BOC County Development meeting Jan. 22, also at 6 p.m. at the county administration building (117 Putnam Dr., Eatonton).