Back to the Original Plan: Fr County Puts June 7th BOC Meeting Back at Ag Center

Another change in venue for the upcoming Franklin County Board of Commission Public Hearing and Regular Meeting June 7th.

Earlier, we announced that the meeting location had been changed to the Lavonia Cultural Center in Lavonia with an overflow at the American Legion Post next door.

On Friday, the County announced it had changed the meeting back to the Agricultural Center on the Franklin County High School campus.

County Commission Chair Jason Macomson spoke to WLHR News after the announcement Friday morning.

“We wanted to change the June 7 meeting location to a facility that would be more conducive to this type of large meeting. After the planning and zoning meeting on May 19, we realized there were significant issues with the sound system and acoustics in the ag center,” he explained. “We had tried previously to secure several large facilities for this meeting, but we were unsuccessful. We considered the Cultural Center in Lavonia because it is large enough (it can seat from 225-275, and at the planning and zoning meeting on May 19, there were approximately 189 in attendance), it has a much better sound system, and it is air-conditioned. However, after further reflection, we decided it would be best to have the meeting at the originally advertised location in order to ensure that we adhere to the correct process.”

Macomson said he wants to make sure that the Board adheres to the letter of the law with regard to advertising requirements.

“The advertisement in the paper was less than 15 days from the date of the meeting change. We weren’t changing the date or time, just the location, and it was an attempt to better accommodate the meeting, but we decided ultimately it was more important to follow the letter of the law,” he said Friday.

Citizens attending that public hearing as well as many who watched the May 19 meeting on Zoom, complained of a poor sound system that made it difficult to hear what was being said by Pilgrim’s representatives and citizens who got up to speak before the Planning and Zoning Board.

Macomson agreed but said finding a suitable venue has been difficult. The Board he said also looked at booking the Swails Center in Franklin Springs.

He said between now and then, the County will be working to improve the sound system at the Ag Center.