BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council will take up several delayed items Tuesday night that were postponed earlier this month after council members said they needed additional time to review the proposals.
The council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. March 17 in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom at 155 Willingham Ave.
Two key items — ratification of Habersham County’s Local Emergency Operating Plan and an automatic aid agreement between the Baldwin and Cornelia fire departments — were originally on the agenda for the March 3 council meeting but were tabled after members raised concerns about not having enough time to study the materials.
The new agenda also notes when council members received packets for each item, a detail added after questions were raised at the earlier meeting about when documents were distributed.
Emergency plan ratification
One of the items returning to the agenda is a resolution ratifying Habersham County’s Local Emergency Operating Plan.
The plan outlines how local governments, public safety agencies and emergency management officials coordinate during disasters and other major emergencies. It establishes the framework for communication, resource sharing and response operations during events such as severe weather, major accidents, or other large-scale incidents.
While the plan is maintained by Habersham County Emergency Management, municipalities across the county typically adopt resolutions acknowledging and participating in the countywide framework.
The resolution was provided to council members on Feb. 17, according to the agenda.
During the March 3 meeting, several council members indicated they wanted more time to review the document before voting on the measure.
Fire automatic aid agreement
Council members are also expected to consider an automatic aid agreement between the Baldwin and Cornelia fire departments.
The proposed agreement would formalize how the two departments respond to certain emergency calls across city boundaries. Automatic aid agreements allow the closest available fire units to be dispatched regardless of jurisdiction, improving response times and ensuring additional personnel and equipment are available when needed.
City officials have previously said the agreement is intended to strengthen regional cooperation and ensure faster emergency response in areas near the cities’ shared borders.
According to the agenda, council members received the proposed agreement on Feb. 27.
Like the emergency plan resolution, the item was postponed earlier this month after council members requested additional time to review the agreement before taking action.
Work session discussion
During Tuesday’s work session, council members will also discuss reallocating payroll funds to lift a hiring freeze on a firefighter position within the Baldwin Fire Department.
The proposal would shift existing payroll funds to allow the city to fill the position.
Agenda materials show council members received information about the proposal on March 12.
Council retreat scheduled
In other business, city officials announced that the Baldwin City Council will hold its spring retreat April 20–21 at the EMI Habersham office on Luthi Road in Alto.
A formal notice and agenda for the retreat will be released at a later date.
