Gordon County Commission Previews Budget Actions & IT Overhaul
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners convenes tonight, Tuesday, September 1, in the Judicial Building Assembly Room, opening with a 5:00 PM Work Session followed by the 6:00 PM Regular Session.
During the work session, commissioners will review the upcoming Millage Rate Advertisement, evaluate departmental operational needs, and analyze the latest LOST/SPLOST financial figures.
Leading the regular agenda is a proposed $492,889 enterprise server and storage overhaul through Arctiq, requiring an FY27 budget amendment. The board will also vote on $92,719 in General Fund supplemental allocations for outside agencies and school nurse programs:
$34,125 for Gordon County Schools Nurse Services
$34,125 for Calhoun City Schools Nurse Services
$9,919 for Hand Up, Inc. (Voluntary Action Center)
$5,000 for Prevent Child Abuse Gordon County
$5,000 for the Calhoun-Gordon Arts Council
$4,550 for the Winner’s Club
Additional business includes a City of Calhoun deannexation request, utility right-of-way easements to North Georgia EMC for Fidem Energy, an ACCG Employee Safety Grant acceptance, rescheduling the October 6 meeting time, and a proclamation designating September as National Recovery Month alongside county employee service milestone recognitions.
Gordon County Jail Report
Larry Knowles, 61, of Fairmount: Charged by GCSO with bestiality and probation violation (commit new offense, original charges: credit fraud, identity fraud, sex offense).
Breanna Lee Tucker, 25, of Villa Rica: Charged by GCSO with headlights violation, possession of marijuana less than 1 oz., possession and use of drug-related objects, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Akhil Sadanand Naik, 30, of Antioch, Tennessee: Charged by GSP with reckless driving and speeding (110 mph in a 70 mph zone).
State of the City and County Focuses on Growth and Infrastructure
Tonight’s commission session follows last Friday’s annual State of the City and County breakfast, hosted by the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
Calhoun Mayor Jimmy Palmer and Commission Chair Bud Owens delivered joint keynote remarks to local business and civic leaders, focusing primarily on managing rapid residential and commercial development across Gordon County. Both officials highlighted the necessity of proactive infrastructure planning, joint municipal-county economic development, and stable property tax policies to keep public services in step with ongoing community expansion.
Economic Outlook: Canadian Tariffs, Middle-Class Inflation & Energy
Northwest Georgia manufacturers are closely monitoring escalating trade tensions as U.S.–Canada tariffs and retaliatory duties threaten cross-border trade. Canada is Georgia’s top international export customer, taking in roughly $7.8 billion in Georgia-made goods annually, with regional flooring, textiles, and carpet shipments leading the nation. With Georgia also importing $6 billion in Canadian goods, the $13 billion two-way trade corridor faces localized pressure:
Textiles & Flooring: Slower orders and margin compression on commercial carpets, synthetic yarns, and luxury vinyl tile exported to Canada.
Manufacturing Inputs: Elevated duty costs on Canadian chemical polymers, resins, industrial coatings, and timber.
Freight & Warehousing: Softer transport volumes across the Interstate 75 logistics corridor.
At home, persistent inflation continues to squeeze middle-class family budgets. While Gordon County gas prices are holding steady between $3.24 and $3.79 per gallon, families face sustained price pressure on supermarket staples—including beef, dairy, coffee, and packaged pantry goods—alongside elevated residential utility bills. With core inflation proving stubborn, financial markets are increasingly pricing in a potential Federal Reserve interest rate hike before year-end, which would further raise borrowing costs on mortgages, auto financing, and commercial credit lines.
Legal Insights with Attorney Giles Jones
Local attorney Giles Jones addressed key legal and business strategies impacting Gordon County residents and business owners:
Child Custody Modifications & Academic Performance: A substantial decline in a child’s grades or school attendance under one parent’s primary care can serve as a legal “material change in condition” under Georgia law. Petitions require thorough evidentiary backing, including report cards, teacher evaluations, IEP records, and tutoring logs.
Commercial Property Tax Appeals: Property owners disputing high tax valuations can appeal from the Board of Tax Assessors to the Gordon County Board of Equalization or pursue binding arbitration, leveraging certified independent appraisals, income capitalization data, and local commercial vacancy trends.
Employee Handbooks & Business Protection: Written employment manuals protect small-to-medium businesses against unemployment claims, wage disputes, and wrongful termination exposure by formalizing Georgia’s at-will doctrine, PTO accruals, anti-harassment protocols, and social media rules.
Entity Structuring & Tax Strategy: Businesses can mitigate self-employment tax liabilities and safeguard personal assets through strategic elections, such as S-Corporation status for LLCs, while properly capturing overlooked depreciation and operational deductions.
Local Registered Agent Representation: Appointing a local attorney as a registered agent protects owner privacy, prevents missed legal notices, and ensures timely compliance with Georgia Secretary of State filings, lawsuits, and regulatory mandates.
For legal counsel or to schedule an appointment, contact the Law Office of Giles Jones at 706-625-2233.
Community Events & Public Notices
Voluntary Action Center (VAC) Needs: The Voluntary Action Center urgently requests food pantry donations to restock depleted shelves. Critical needs include cheese, butter, sour cream, and canned goods. Donations can be dropped off directly at the VAC.
Calhoun-Gordon County Public Library: The library hosts Noni’s Nook Storytime today, Tuesday, at 10:30 AM, featuring children’s books and craft activities for ages five and under.
Keep Calhoun Gordon Beautiful Golf Tournament: The annual tournament tees off tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2, raising funds for year-round community enhancements—including Adopt-A-Mile cleanups, local plantings, recycling centers at county compactor/landfill sites, and school environmental education programs. Visit keepcalhoungordonbeautiful.org to get involved.
Platinum Sponsors: US Fibers and Mohawk Industries.
Gold Sponsors: Southern Wholesale, Capital Waste, and Engineered Floors.
Silver Sponsors: Greif Recycling and an Anonymous Silver Sponsor.
Harris Arts Center Y’Art Sale: The deadline to submit original artwork or gently used pieces for the 2026 Y’Art Sale is Wednesday, September 2, at 6:00 PM. Artists may keep 50% of the sale price or donate 100% to the center (10-piece maximum per household). Guidelines and submission forms are available at harrisartscenter.com/yart or by calling 706-629-2599.
Calhoun Rec Fall Sports Tailgate & Picture Day: Set for Thursday, September 3, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Calhoun Recreation Football Field. The event celebrates all youth fall sports—football, cheer, volleyball, soccer, and cross country—and serves as official team picture day with youth sports merchandise vendors.
Gordon Central Football Volunteers: Volunteer workers are needed for the Warriors’ home football game on Friday, September 4. Positions include parking (5:00–5:30 PM), Chop Shop merchandise (6:00 PM), chains (6:30 PM), and a clock operator. Dinner is provided for all volunteers during the pre-game tailgate.
Annual Northwest Georgia Fair: Scheduled for September 11 through September 19 at the fairgrounds on Liberty Road off Highway 53 West / Rome Road. Gates open nightly at 5:00 PM, featuring carnival midway rides, live musical entertainment, livestock shows, pageants, and the traditional Wall Street parade.
Georgia DNR Hunter Education Course: An in-person hunter safety certification class will be held September 23 and 24 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Sonoraville High School (7340 Fairmount Highway SE).
Bettye Butler Memorial Unity Run 5K: The United Way of Gordon County’s 33rd annual race takes over Downtown Calhoun with an “Under the Big Top” circus theme, featuring costume contests, food trucks, and family activities.
Drive Out Domestic Violence Car Show: The 2nd Annual Revving Up Awareness charity car show takes place Saturday, October 10. Food and craft vendors interested in participating can register via email at [email protected].
Gordon County Young Farmers Hay Bale Animals: Pre-orders remain open for decorative hay bale animals crafted by the Gordon County Young Farmers to decorate storefronts and businesses for the fall season.
Atlanta Braves Baseball
The Atlanta Braves saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end last night with a 7-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Drake Baldwin drove an RBI double in the first inning and Michael Harris II added a solo home run, but the Giants broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning.
The Braves open a road series against the Washington Nationals tonight at 6:45 PM.