Survey Results on Gumlog Incorporation Expected at Tonight’s BOC Work Session

Franklin County Commissioners will learn tonight the results of a survey on whether the Gumlog Community should incorporate.

The survey was posted on the County Web site and ended at the close of business last Friday.

County Manager Derek Turner tells WLHR News he plans to report the results at the Board of Commissioners work session this evening.

At their spring retreat this month, the idea of incorporating Gumlog came after County Planning Director Scott Delozier told the Board of Commissioners he receives a lot of calls and complaints from Gumlog citizens.

Delozier told the Board he would be willing to help citizens with the process of incorporation if that’s what they want.

Commission Chair Jason Macomson recently told WLHR News many of the issues in the Gumlog Community, such as roads, infrastructure, and crime, are becoming more than the County can handle as more and more people are moving into the area and demanding better services.

At the retreat, County Manager Derek Turner said he’s already talked to some residents of Gumlog and found that most hadn’t thought of incorporation, but he said they seemed open to the idea.

By incorporating, a rural community would then become a city or town and would have its own municipal government, could institute its own ordinances, and most importantly have access to state and federal funding to help pay for infrastructure and roads, among other things.

Depending on the results of the survey, the next step according to Turner would be to hold a town hall meeting for Gumlog residents to provide them with more information on the pros and cons of incorporation.

In other business tonight, Commissioners will get an audit review from Rushton & Associates and hear from the County Manager regarding personnel, roads, and the budget.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 6p at the Franklin County Justice Center and is open to the public. It is also available on Zoom.