Dear Editor,
The Putnam County Board of Commissioners has voted to hold two special called meetings, March 23rd, 6 p.m., and April 4th, 10 a.m., at the County Administration Building, to hear public comment on the subject of Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STR).
STRs and the problems they create are a growing phenomenon across the country and here in our county. A survey of Georgia counties and adjoining states shows that governments are having to write laws to prevent the destruction of residential communities by what is essentially the operation of hotels in single-family neighborhoods.
Morgan County has banned them outright and Greene County has limited them to certain areas and grandfathered them in others. At the same time, neighboring counties recognized and clamped down on this problem, it has grown rapidly, and out of control, in Putnam.
The number of current certificate holders (in Putnam County – Ed.) stands at 174 with 70 applications in the submission and review pipeline. Ninety-two of the current STR properties are owned by Limited Liability Corporations.
My neighborhood witnessed firsthand the disruption that can be caused by a large number of people, 60 or more in at least one instance, descending on a residential neighborhood for days of loud outside partying. This is not an isolated case only in my neighborhood but occurs countywide. It is disruptive and robs the adjoining families of the peaceful and safe enjoyment of their homes.
Putnam County does not have a governmental entity with the duty, recourses and legal authority to enforce regulations pertaining to Short Term Rentals. When the noise and disruptive behavior get out of hand or occupancy levels are exceeded, there is no consequence for the owner of the property. Appeals by neighbors to the renters may or may not be heeded but, in any case, in the weeks to follow there will be new groups of renters and the problems start all over again.
You may hear that the STRs pay taxes and are thus a benefit to the citizenry. They do pay a hotel tax which confirms that the county officially recognizes them as a commercial enterprise, but at the same time allows them to operate in areas zoned non-commercial.
Of the $805,034 in taxes collected from STRs last year, 60% or $483,020 went to the Chamber of Commerce and the rest was spent on the Edgewater Event Center. None was used to lower our taxes or improve roads or support emergency responders or enforce short-term rental regulations.
Please come to the meetings described above, or write your commissioner, and urge him to prohibit Short-Term Rentals as was done in Morgan County or severely limit and control them as in Greene County. This may be our only chance to stop or strictly control and limit this business activity that is so destructive to our neighborhoods.
Rick Brantley, Putnam County