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The Led County Ledger
Your Hometown Source Of Local News
Volume XLIII- Number 45
Leesburg, Georgia - - July 14, 2021
Hometown Newspaper of Sarah Harris
Fifty Cents
Georgia’s Burn
Notification
System Changes
Special to the Ledger
As of July 1, 2021,
changes go into effect
regarding the legal re
sponsibilities of Georgia
landowners burning out
door yard debris. Under
Senate Bill 119, GA code
section 12-6-90 was
changed to eliminate
the need to notify the
Georgia Forestry Com
mission (GFC) by the
person, firm, corpora
tion, or association who
intends to burn hand-
piled natural vegetation/
yard debris.
Changes to Burn
Permit and Notification
Statute with respect to
Residential Burning of
Leaves, Yard debris and
Hand-piled Vegetation
O.C.G.A. §12-6-90
(c) currently requires
persons wishing to burn
pastures, crop land
residue and leaf piles
to notify the Georgia
Forestry Commission
prior to commencing the
burn. Failure to provide
such notice is a misde
meanor offense under
§12-6-90 (e). This statute
was amended by Senate
Bill 119, which goes
into effect July 1, 2021.
Under the amendment,
persons wishing to burn
pastures and crop land
residue must still notify
the Georgia Forestry
Commission. However,
persons wishing to burn
leaves, yard debris and
hand-piled vegetation
“on the premises at
which they occur” will
no longer be required
to notify the Georgia
Forestry Commission
or obtain a state burn
permit.
Such burns are never
theless subject to a list
of specific rules: Fires
must be at least 25 feet
from woodlands and 50
feet from any structures;
they must be attended
at all times until the fire
is extinguished; and
necessary precautions
must be taken to keep
the fire contained. These
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Smithville
City
Council
will meet
Monday,
July 19 at
7:00 p.m.
at the
Community
Building
burns may only take
place between sunrise
and sunset. It remains a
misdemeanor offense to
violate any of these new
provisions of the statute.
Any person violating
these provisions can
be cited by any law
enforcement officer
without the necessity
of a county ordinance
making the conduct
illegal. Counties are not
required to adopt an or
dinance requiring notice
to the county of burning
activities regulated by
the new provisions of
§12-6-90 (c). However,
counties are not pre
empted from adopting
an ordinance requiring
that the county be no
tified of these activities
so that public safety
officers can monitor the
fires. This is a matter of
local discretion.
Any pre-existing local
burning ordinances
remain applicable. In
addition, restrictions on
burning in 54 northern
Georgia counties under
the Environmental Pro
tection Division summer
burn ban from May 1-
September 30 continue
to be in effect.
Sistrunk Awarded $225,000
Former Lee County
Co-Manager Mike Sistrunk
agreed to settle his case
against the Lee County
Board of Commissioners for
$225,000. Sistrunk resigned
his position based on accu
sations of mistreatment by
Chairman Billy Mathis but
offered to work 90 more days
to see the completion of road
projects. The commissioners
accepted his resignation and
agreed to pay for 90 days of
employment, but Sistrunk was
told not to report to work.
Vice Chairman John Whea
ton then wrote a letter that
was published in the Ledger
detailing inappropriate and
wrongdoing by Sistrunk. Vice
Chairman Wheaton was inter
viewed by the Albany Herald
and expanded on those issues.
Sistrunk, through his attor
ney, Louis Hatcher, responded
requesting compensation and
for Wheaton’s resignation. The
mediated settlement between
the Lee County Board of
Commissioners, the Associa
tion County Commissioners of
Georgia (ACCG), John Whea
ton and Sistrunk last week
brings an end to the legal
action.
Mike Sistrunk
Photo by Lee County Chamber of Commerce
On Thursday, July 8, 2021, the Lee County Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting for Steven
Brannan, Licensed Agent with New York Life, (480) 385-9948, www.newyorklife.com/agent/
sebrannan. As a licensed Agent of New York Life Insurance Company Steven offers a variety
of products that can help you meet a number of insurance and financial needs, including,
but not limited to college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended periods of care
and lifetime income strategies. Contact Steven to help you fully analyze your needs and
recommend appropriate solutions.
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Georgia Community Bank
3000 N. Slappey Blvd.
(229) 446-0102
Online @ GCB.bank
NMLS # 648124
To Subscribe Call 229-759-2413
Subject to
credit approval.
Submitted Photo
The Artesian City Sertoma Club donated $6,802 to the Lee County School System to purchase
new equipment for students with hearing impairments. The check was presented to Robin
Giles, Director of Special Education, and Dr. Jason Miller, Superintendent. Presenting the check
were board members of the Artesian City Sertoma Club Taylor Jenkins (left) - Assistant Vice
President, Flint Community Bank and Bradley Abell (right) CPA, Hutchins Clenney Rumsey
& Huckaby.