Currahee Saddle Club Told to Move off Fairgrounds

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

They’ve been holding horse shows and riding events on the Stephens County fairgrounds for decades.

Now, members of the Currahee Saddle Club say they’re being forced off their property along SR17/Toccoa Bypass by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The group has used the acreage near intersection of SR17 and Currahee St for over 20 years.  But members say GDOT is telling them they are not allowed to be there.

Members of the equestrian club appeared before Stephens County Commisssioners Tuesday.

Club officer Terri Wofford told commissioners that in 2012, they were informed by the Georgia DOT that Stephens County does not own the property, but that the DOT owns it and had considered the Fairgrounds property abandoned.

“(A DOT official) contacted us and let us know that Stephens County does not own that property, that it is actually owned by the Department of Transportation,” said Wofford. “Up to this point, the Currahee Saddle Club was not aware that Stephens County was paying the Department of Transportation for the lease.”

However, Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said the county has not been paying the Department of Transportation for the property.

“I still do not know how the DOT, since 2003, was getting a check from Stephens County government because I have been the finance director and I have not written a check,” said Ayers.

The Saddle Club was paying the county $1000 per year to use the property up until 2009.

Stephens County Recreation Department Director Richard Adams said it was his understanding that money was to cover the county’s costs in maintaining the property and paying utilities.

In 2009, Adams waived the $1000 yearly fee if the club took over maintenance and utilities, which the Club did and has continued to do.

County Attorney Brian Ranck said the county needs to see what the DOT has.

“It sounds to me candidly that from at least 2003 until this came out, it just slipped through the state’s cracks,” said Ranck. “I think they were not paid anything for years and just now realized it.”

Wofford said the DOT is willing to lease the property to the Club for $483 a month, which the Club cannot afford.

County officials said the DOT will not lease it to the county because the agency claims the county broke the lease by sub-leasing the property to the Club.

If the Club does not lease it, Wofford said the DOT has told her nearby property owner Marvin Dunson has right of first refusal to buy the property and if he does not, then it would go out to a sealed bid.

Wofford said the Club has until November 14th to respond to the DOT’s lease offer.

She said they are asking for the county’s help in resolving the lease situation, or helping the Club find a property that will meet its needs elsewhere.

Stephens County Commissioner Stanley London said this is a difficult situation.

“It is embarrassing that our government failed to keep records,” said London. “It is silly. Not to scapegoat or whatever, but not one party on this board here was aware of it until it was brought to my attention two years ago. I would publicly like to say ‘I’m sorry’.”

Commissioners said they will do what they can and will also work on finding what exactly has been going on regarding the property over these years.

They also encouraged the Club to continue talking with State Representative Dan Gasaway and State Senator John Wilkinson to try and find a resolution.