Franklin County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Franklin County sets 2026 millage rate at 8.352 mills

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a 2026 county millage rate of 8.352 mills at its Aug. 20 meeting, passing 4-0 with Chair Courtney Long absent. The rate applies to county purposes; a separate 14.760 mills for the Board of Education was noted in the resolution, but the county has no authority to change that figure. The board also approved its agenda and adjourned, each by 4-0 votes.

Planning and Zoning Commission weighs RV park rezone and variance

The Planning and Zoning Commission met Aug. 20 to consider a rezone and conditional use application for a proposed RV park on a 13.16-acre tract at 700 Prospect Rd, Carnesville. The items are:

• Rezone RZ-2026-014: from Agricultural (AG) to Highway Business (HB) for an RV park.
• Conditional use C-2026-001: RV park in the Highway Business district at the same location.
• Variance V-2026-005: a 737 sq ft home on 1.11 acres at 7291 Hwy 320, seeking a waiver of the 800 sq ft minimum.

The commission also adopted minutes from its July 16 meeting. No decisions were recorded; the agenda did not list vote outcomes.

Board of Assessors reviews property appeals and ratio studies

The Board of Assessors met Aug. 19 for routine business, including a review of the 2026 digest submission and 2027 ratio studies. The agenda covered processing of CUVA applications and vehicle appeals, review of superior court appeals and commercial/industrial revaluation, a 2026 appeals update, homestead exemptions, and a review of the TBS Audit List for 2027. No dollar amounts or new ordinances were listed.

Board of Elections reviews office and poll worker training

The Board of Elections and Registration met Aug. 13 to approve July minutes and discuss routine election administration. The agenda included an overview of the election office by the elections supervisor, a discussion of privacy screens, and poll worker training tentatively scheduled for the week of Sept. 14. The board set its next meeting for Sept. 10, 2026. No policy decisions were listed.

Coming up

The Board of Commissioners will hold a work session on Aug. 25. The agenda includes a proclamation recognizing National Emergency Management Awareness Month, a discussion of an extension office van, and a recreation board appointment. The county manager and district commissioners will give reports. No votes are scheduled; the session is discussion-only.

Franklin County approves AutoZone settlement, fee hikes; planning commission to weigh RV park

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a settlement with AutoZone, an indigent defense agreement, and increased Convenience Center fees at its Aug. 3 meeting. The board also tabled an alcohol license application that was later approved at a separate public hearing.

Board of Commissioners

At the regular Aug. 3 meeting, the board voted 5-0 to approve the AutoZone settlement agreement, the indigent defense agreement, and Convenience Center fee increases. It also approved a waiver of conflict for a radio system intergovernmental agreement with Habersham County, and approved the agenda and minutes. The board tabled an alcohol license application for Sandy Cross Truck Stop Inc. by a 5-0 vote.

Later that day, the board held a public hearing on the same alcohol license application. No one spoke in favor or opposition. The board approved the license for Sandy Cross Truck Stop Inc. at 9961 Sandy Cross Rd Ste B, Carnesville, due to a change of ownership. No vote tally was recorded.

Also on Aug. 3, the board held a joint special called meeting with the Recreation Board. The joint board approved the agenda, entered an executive session to discuss personnel, then reconvened and adjourned. All votes were 10-0. No substantive decisions were made.

Board of Assessors

The Board of Tax Assessors met Aug. 5 and approved several items unanimously. These included a policy change for personal property exemption amounts with a vehicle appeals exception, 12 CUVA applications, 3 CUVA releases, 2 appeal waiver and release forms, 28 homestead applications, an exempt questionnaire for parcel R005-047 for 2027, and 2026 value changes with second 30-day notices. The board denied a parcel split request for parcel 051-008-A that would have given 6-7 acres to Stephens County.

Board of Elections and Registration

The Board of Elections and Registration met Aug. 13 to approve July minutes and discuss routine election administration. The agenda included an overview of the election office, privacy screens, and poll worker training scheduled for the week of Sept. 14. No decisions were made; minutes have not yet been published. The board's next meeting is set for Sept. 10.

Coming up

The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Aug. 20 to consider a rezone and conditional use application for a proposed RV park on a 13.16-acre tract at 700 Prospect Rd, Carnesville. The rezone would change the property from Agricultural to Highway Business, and the conditional use would allow the RV park in that district. The commission will also hear a variance request for a 737 sq ft home on 1.11 acres at 7291 Hwy 320, seeking a waiver of the 800 sq ft minimum. Minutes from the July 16 meeting will be adopted, and the commission will receive an update on Board of Commissioners actions.

Franklin County commissioners approve data center moratorium, courthouse repairs, and several zoning actions

Franklin County's Board of Commissioners approved a data center moratorium running through December 2026 and authorized $48,398.27 for courthouse clock tower repairs at its July 6 meeting, part of a broad agenda that also included rezoning decisions, intergovernmental agreements, and board appointments.

Data center moratorium and courthouse repairs

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a data center moratorium with amended language, pausing such development through December 2026. The Board also approved $48,398.27 for the courthouse clock tower repair project, also by a 3-0 vote.

Zoning and variance actions

The Board approved rezoning of the 4-acre tract at 8016 Highway 320 from Rural Residential to Agricultural (3-0). Earlier in the same day, the Board had tabled that rezoning request 5-0 before later approving it.

Commissioners also approved a variance for parking and storage on Hwy 17 in Canon (3-0).

Intergovernmental agreements

Two IGAs passed by 3-0 votes. The first established an Animal Control Ordinance agreement with Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter. The second created a cross-jurisdictional road maintenance agreement with Banks County.

Appointments and administrative actions

The Board appointed Andrea Smith and Kenneth Dove to the Family and Children's Services Board (3-0). Commissioners also approved an agenda amendment removing Item 9f (3-0), approved the June 2026 meeting minutes collectively (3-0), and approved meeting adjournment (3-0).

Board of Elections and Registration (July 9)

The Board of Elections and Registration met July 9 to approve minutes from April and June 2026 meetings, hear an overview of the Election Office from the Elections Supervisor, and discuss questions or concerns about upcoming elections. No ordinances or financial decisions were on the agenda. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

Board of Assessors (July 15)

The Board of Assessors was scheduled to address personal property business including Auto Zone #875, Superior Court appeals review, commercial and industrial revaluation, budget items, and CUVA applications including a voluntary breach at 058-043-B1. Minutes have not yet been published.

Planning and Zoning Commission (July 16)

The Planning and Zoning Commission was set to review three rezoning applications from Stanton Porter and Paradigm Communities Inc for a commercial flex-space park:

• RZ-2026-011: Rezone 14.15 acres at 869 Old Stagecoach Rd from Agricultural to Light Industrial
• RZ-2026-012: Rezone 1.0 acre on I-85/Stagecoach Rd from Highway Business to Light Industrial
• RZ-2026-013: Rezone 1.0 acre on I-85/Stagecoach Rd from Highway Business to Light Industrial

The Commission was also scheduled to receive updates on two items previously approved by the Board of Commissioners: the rezone of 4.0 acres at 8016 Highway 320 to Rural Residential (RZ-2026-006) and a variance for equipment parking on 0.54 acres on Hwy 17 in Canon (V-2026-004). Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

No public meetings are listed for the next 14 days in Franklin County. Residents should check the county's official website for any newly scheduled or special-called meetings.