A lot of ground was covered at a Forsyth County Commissioner’s work session on Tuesday, ranging from tobacco devices, to library expansion and a new guardrail on Sanders Road.

Changes likely for smoking devices

Commissioners voted unanimously at the meeting to go ahead with a public hearing for changes to non-traditional tobacco paraphernalia and e-cigarettes and “alternative nicotine products.” County Attorney Ken Jarrard said that the changes would make it easier to deal with those who broke county rules.

Non-traditional tobacco paraphernalia would be centered around items like hookah pipes, bongs and “things that are marketed as being used for traditional tobacco but … are used for illicit drug use.”

The change would make the permitting system tougher by increasing the fee to $2,000 and require such items be bought in a separate area.

The change to e-cigarettes will attempt to clarify some rules for county permitting and regulation. Jarrard said he is still meeting with representatives from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office to address concerns.
One issue Jarrard brought up was stores mixing chemicals on premises.

Sharon Forks expanding

During the meeting, the commission also unanimously approved advancing $500,000 and bid out construction for the remodel and expansion of Sharon Forks Library.

Cooper & Company Inc., will handle construction at a total cost of $5,078,000.

The advanced money will come from impact fees.

Sharon Forks was recently named as the busiest library in the state and is not expected to close during the project.

The library will increase by about 18,000 square feet, nearly doubling its size, with an expected completion of fall 2017.

Sanders guardrail approved

Commissioners also approved an agreement with the city of Cumming to install a guardrail at a previously damaged portion of Sanders Road.

The guardrail was an unresolved issue tied to the 2013 collapse of Sanders Road after a culvert under the road washed out after heavy rain caused an earthen dam breach at the former Lake Alice. The road reopened in May, and neighbors at the opening pushed for a new guardrail.

In November 2015, the governments reached a deal for each side to pay for half of the $434,000 cost for repairs, but the guardrail was not part of that agreement.

Though most of Sanders is a county road, a portion belongs to the city, meaning the county needed the agreement to move forward.
In 2011, a driver was killed after flipping into Lake Lanier from the road at the area the guardrails will go.