An appeal of a denied short-term rental (STR) permit application caused the biggest stir at last week’s mid-month meeting of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.
However, pricey equipment purchases, appointments, a liquor license, a couple of rezonings, and a pitch to add accessory structures to the senior citizen freeze on property assessments filled in the cracks for the commission’s three-hour, end-ofyear meeting.
The STR debate centered on a single property on the short East Riverbend Court, but still drew nine citizens and two lawyers to the podium and included a closed-door executive session with County Attorney Adam Nelson.
Owner Kerri Smith, who operates other STRs around Lake Oconee, submitted an STR permit application early last April, just before the commission imposed a moratorium on new permits until a new ordinance could be hammered out.
The lot was being cleared but there was no structure on it at that time, a factor that led to some of the complications in her application. No structure meant no homeowner’s insurance and no fire inspection, plus a couple of other administrative holes. The application was denied at least twice, and in the meantime, the moratorium went into effect.
Smith’s attorney, Stephen Jones, argued two main points: Smith had expended enough money to qualify for a vested interest in the process, and the structure was designed and being built as an STR.
In other matters, the commission:
• Approved C-2 (commercial) zoning for 10 acres at 182 Pea Ridge Road, owned by Daryl Simmons. The purpose is for a meat market.
• Approved the combination of four lots and their rezoning to C-1 (commercial) on Old Phoenix Road south of Cuscowilla. The purpose is a convenience store and fuel pumps.
• Approved, in a 3-2 vote, a beer and wine license for Anchor Marina. Newly seated District 3 Commissioner Steve Hersey opposed it because he said it would encourage drinking while boating.
• Table Dare quest to participate in the purchase and installation of two large emergency generators for the Sinclair Water Authority. A grant requested four years ago has come through for the $453,000 purchase. If Baldwin County also participates, Putnam’s matching share would be $68,000.
• Approved the 45-48 month wait for delivery of a $957,000 pump truck for the county fire department. Pre-payment saves $142,000 and purchasing now saves on costly new standards that go into effect in 2027, according to Putnam County Fire Chief Thomas McClain.
• Appointed retired Baldwin County Manager Joan Minton (a Putnam resident) as Putnam representative on the board of the Sinclair Water Authority.
She had previously served as its chairperson.
• Turned down District 3 Commissioner Hersey’s request to call a referendum on adding accessory structures to the frozen assessed property values available to over-70-year-old property owners.