Regional Advisory
Council members attending: Jack Banks, Jim Bleckley, Randy Dilliot,
John Erbele, Gary Fesperman, Helen Fincher, Joe Hatcher, Ben Hulsey,
Ginger Johnson, Jim King, Tom Murphy, Rob Murray, Joe Satterfield,
Judy Taylor
Regional Advisory Council members absent: Jimmy Adams, James Askew,
Carlyle Cox, Charles Craig, Steve Gooch, James Neal, Joni Owens
Guests present:
Mayor Greg "Mully" Ash, Eric Brinke, Cynthia Easley,
Karen Fite, Winfred Owens, Don Tennant, Bill Thornton
Guest speakers: Matt Bishop, Kent Wolfe
Staff present: Carole Ciriacks, Joel Cordle, Dave Grisham, Kathy
Papa, Cheryl Smith
Chairman Randy
Dilliot called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. He introduced
and welcomed two new RAC members - Ginger Johnson the Director
of the Hart County Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Murphy the Director
of the Union County Development Authority. Randy also recognized
and welcomed guests to the meeting.
Chairman Dilliot
introduced the host of the meeting, Helen Mayor Mully Ash, who
welcomed everyone to the city.
Chairman Dilliot
introduced Dr. Kent Wolfe from the Center for Agribusiness &
Economic Development at the University of Georgia. Dr. Wolfe explained
the services of the Center and presented a program on opportunities
for agri-tourism development. The Center has surveyed consumers
about visiting working farms, and pick-your-own vegetable and
fruit farms. The participants revealed their thoughts about driving
distances to farms, their level of enjoyment of environment and
farm experiences, their use of guides and outfitters, and how
much they would be willing to pay for these experiences. The survey
concluded that there is a demand for agri-tourism activities,
and that the enjoyment of the farm experience is important. The
survey also showed methods for attracting customers. The Center
can assist agri-tourism businesses with website development. Dr.
Wolfe explained that their "agnet" website can be used
by agri-tourism businesses as a marketing tool.
Dr. Wolfe
fielded questions from the RAC. Helen Fincher suggested an inventory
of Region Two agri-tourism businesses and websites from sources
such as county agents, regional tourism representatives, city
and county chambers of commerce, convention and visitor's bureaus,
and travel associations.
Contact: Dr.
Kent Wolfe, (706) 542-0752 or email: kwolfe@agecon.uga.edu
The Center's website is www.agecon.uga.edu/~caed/
The AGNET marketing website is www.iiseyes.org/agnet/
Chairman Dilliot
introduced Matt Bishop, Assistant Director of the Georgia Rural
Development Council. As background on the GRDC, Matt explained
that the council has 30 members appointed by the Governor to advocate
for positive growth in rural Georgia. Some of the priority issues
of the GRDC include workforce housing, rural health care, regional
leadership development and community leadership development. Matt
announced that the Fanning Leadership Institute has hired a new
staff person to focus on promoting youth leadership programs in
Tier 1 and 2 counties and in Tier 3 and 4 counties that do not
have youth leadership programs.
Matt announced
that the GRDC will meet Oct. 17 to begin developing its legislative
policy agenda for the 2003 General Assembly. He pointed out that
previous GRDC policy agenda items have had a 90 percent success
rate in the legislature. This year's policy agenda will be finalized
in December and forwarded to the legislature.
Contact: Matt Bishop (706) 583-2757 or email: mbishop@ruralgeorgia.org
Website address: www.ruralgeorgia.org
The next RAC
agenda item was discussion and action on the Region Two RAC's
list of items to submit to the GRDC for the 2003 legislative policy
agenda. Chairman Dilliot pointed out that the RAC committees had
developed the list of items, and that all members had received
the list for study in advance of the meeting. Helen Fincher made
a motion that the list be accepted, and Rob Murray seconded the
motion. Discussion followed. Rob Murray asked to emphasize that
the wineries are losing potential repeat customers and alienating
new customers who need to have the product shipped to their homes.
Jack Banks questioned how to determine policy regarding wine highway
signage. Helen Fincher explained that the wineries are a major
attraction for the region. Ben Hulsey suggested demonstrating
the economic impact of the region's wineries to help provide support
for them, and Dr. Kent Wolfe suggested that the Center for Agribusiness
& Economic Development might be able to help produce data
to illustrate the wineries' economic impact. Staff will be pursuing
this with the Center. Following this discussion, the RAC voted
unanimously to approve the list of legislative policy agenda items
and forward the list to the GRDC.
Chairman Dilliot
asked for committee reports.
The Litter
Control Committee presented a package of survey results showing
which Region 2 communities had litter control ordinances. The
package included a model for environmental court enforcement of
ordinances. The committee recommended forwarding these items to
all local governments in Region 2.
The Land Use
Planning Committee reported that evaluations of the Planning Commission
training had been completed and were being used to adjust future
programs. The training was highlighted in GMA's monthly newsletter
and on their website: www.gmanet.com
The committee also reported that 7 of the 13 counties in the region
do not have land use regulations. Franklin and Lumpkin are close
to developing and implementing regulations. The committee is considering
the possibility of offering two workshops/meetings inviting elected
officials and community leaders to include testimonials from those
counties that recently instituted zoning and why they did it.
The Leadership
Committee reported that Union and Rabun Counties will be starting
up leadership development programs this year, and Towns County
will start in March 2003. All counties in the region now have
youth leadership programs or are taking steps to start a program.
The Tourism
Committee noted that their recent meeting produced the wine industry
items included in the legislative policy agenda. They also reported
that they had contacted the district DOT office to ask for postponement
of the paving of US 129 from Turner's Corner to the Lumpkin-Union
County line. DOT had the paving project taking place during the
height of tourism traffic season (Sept.-Nov.). The committee also
distributed the new Wine Highway brochures to everyone present.
Chairman Dilliot
recognized and thanked Helen hosts - Mayor Mully Ash, Commissioner
Joe Hatcher, and City Clerk Kim Smith for their wonderful hospitality
and a great lunch.
The meeting
was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
THE NEXT RAC
MEETING WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, PLACE TO BE ANNOUNCED
