The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners made changes in the county's Land Development Code at the group's regular meeting held Thursday, November 12.

The following zoning changes were approved by the commission:

(1) The county will allow property owners to upgrade to a newer manufactured home in areas that are not zoned for manufactured housing (A-3 [Agricultural] and R-1 [Residential]). However, the home cannot be over five years old when the owner applies for a permit to relocate the structure.

"This only applies to lots with mobile homes on them today," said Planning and Zoning Director Roby Seymour.

(2) Vinyl skirting cannot be used for underpinning in manufactured home parks.

According to Seymour, "Currently, vinyl skirting is allowed, but it gets sun-baked and brittle and does not provide the home with any protection from the elements."

Acceptable materials include masonry, stone, metal, etc.

Presently, there are three manufactured home parks in the county.

(3) The county voted to allow property owners to subdivide land into five-acre parcels. Prior to the vote, the minimum was 10 acres. The access easement was likewise reduced from 80 to 50 feet.

(4) Carport awnings and accessory structures will be permitted provided they are placed to the side or rear of homes on entrance corridors and those in agricultural zoning districts.

"As a result of this change, a carport or accessory building can now have rounded eaves as opposed to gabled ends with a 12" overhang, as long as it sits to the side or rear of the house," said Seymour, adding, "Gabled eaves can add as much as $500 or $600 to the cost of an outbuilding."

In a related item of business, the commission voted to table a recommendation from the Planning Commission to reduce the setback requirement for manufactured homes and accessory structures on entrance corridors from 450 to 250 feet and to remove the following roads from the list of entrance corridors to the lake: Ashmore-Barden Road, Bethany Church Road, Highway 220 East, Highway 220 West, and the portion of Double Branches Road from the Augusta Highway to Ashmore- Barden Road.

"I want us to discuss the entrance corridors - I see 220 East as an entrance corridor," stated Commissioner Cooper Cliatt. "On the whole, I have a lot of questions about this."

The Planning Commission's recommendation will appear on the agenda for the commission's regular December meeting.

In other business, the commission looked at amendments to the roads section of the Land Development Code.

According to Barry Fleming, county attorney, "There are three types of roads: county roads, private roads, and public roads. Public roads are different creatures. They were dedicated to the county, but never formally accepted by vote. Even so, you could make an argument that some roads were accepted by action because the county maintained them over time.

"There are 15 public roads in Lincoln County - the question is what does the county need to do about them. These amendments make it possible for the county to accept unpaved public roads. Other roads have to be paved before the county can accept them."

At the conclusion of the discussion, the commission approved the amendments listed below:

(1) The addition of the definition of a public road as "any road that has a dedicated right of way and services the general public, but it not owned or regularly maintained by the county."

The addition of a public road definition allows the county to specify which roads will be accepted unpaved without bringing any unwanted roads into the registry. The roads will be accepted by a resolution based on a recommendation from the Public Works Department.

(2) The addition of the following statement: "The requirement of paved streets prior to acceptance shall not apply to the acceptance process related to public roads."

This amendment creates the exception that allows the county to begin regular maintenance of the unpaved roads.

The commission also adopted a policy that will be added to the county's Plan for Public Roads, establishing four criteria for the Public Works Department to use in deciding whether to start maintaining a public road.

In further business, the commission:

• Heard Chairman Wade Johnson commend Richard Brown, owner of the Huddle House, for his service to the community.

"Mr. Brown donates a great deal of time, food, and money to the people of Lincoln County. The next time you see him, thank him for what he's done for our community."

.. Voted to send out an RFP (Request for Proposal) to stripe or restripe 99.25 miles of roadway, centerline only.

The project will be funded by SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenues.

.. Heard two requests made from the floor by Barbara Sublet.

Her first request involved changing the December 20 due date for property taxes. She pointed out that other obligations facing county residents in December makes this a difficult time to pay taxes.

She then asked the commission to install a railing by the sidewalk leading to the tax commissioner's office.

"I don't believe it would cost that much to put a railing there, and it would certainly help citizens who have trouble walking and use that entrance to the tax office."

In closing, Sublet thanked Chairman Johnson for all of the good things that he and the commissioners have accomplished in the short time he has been in office.

The chairman indicated that the commission will look into these requests.

.. Heard Commissioner Cliatt thank those who serve on the various county boards. "It's a tremendous sacrifice - I'm grateful to the members of these boards for being willing to serve the people of the county in this way."

.. Reviewed the Public Safety Department Report submitted by Director Danny Smith, who indicated that ambulance personnel responded to 77 calls for service during the month of October.

.. Voted to authorize Chairman Johnson to sign a contract with Southern Link, which calls for the company to upgrade the communications tower on Graves Mountain in exchange for space on the tower at a reduced rate for the next two years.

The upgrades are estimated to cost around $31,000.

.. Reviewed the Recreation Department Report submitted by Director Kathie Davis, who indicated that the contact football program for ages 8-13 will end the week of November 23. Eighty-six children are participating in the program.

In conclusion, the director gave the commission an update on the gymnasium. "S.D. Clifton (the contractor) replaced the caulking between the block and metal on the outside of the building to prevent any water from getting into the blocks. However, there is still moisture there.

"Repairs were also made to areas where the roof was leaking," she continued. "We are still experiencing leaks, but most are not in the same places as before. It's almost like the water is coming through the floor."

Davis added that the hallway tiles seem to be separating due to the leaks.

.. Reviewed the Finance Department Report submitted by Director Traci Bussey.

.. Reviewed the Public Works Department Report submitted by Director Seymour, who indicated that his office billed 1,335 water customers and 491 "availability" customers a total of $42,577.32 for the month of October.

.. Reviewed the Planning and Zoning Department Report submitted by Director Seymour, who stated his office issued one business license last month for a total of $25.

Regarding code enforcement, 26 building permits were issued during the month of October for a total of $1,020, and 99 building inspections were conducted.

.. Voted to renew the alcoholic beverage licenses for American Legion Post 194, Griff's Place, L.W.'s Bait & Tackle, Soap Creek Marina, Golf de L, and Cliatt Crossing.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to discuss one real estate matter and two legal issues. No action was taken upon returning to regular session.