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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 BARROW JOURNAL PAGE 3A City fuel surcharge to be dropped Officials given power to close roads Illegal trash dumping becoming increasing problem BY CHRIS BRIDGES BY CHRIS BRIDGES City of Winder garbage pickup customers will no lon ger see a surcharge for fuel on their bills beginning next month. The amount will be removed beginning Dec. 1, city admin istrator Bob Beck said dur ing Tuesday's council meet ing. The surcharge is being dropped due to the decrease in the cost of fuel in recent weeks. United & Robertson’s contract with the city stated A wayward email acci dentally sent to teachers by Statham Elementary School principal Mac Almond in August is a “closed” mat ter, school leaders said this week. The email had a variety of joking, some vulgar, attach ments. Almond reportedly forwarded several e-mail files he received from some “Marine buddies" by acci dent to all teachers at his school. Once he realized he had forwarded the e-mails as an attachment, he imme diately sent another e-mail asking those who received it to delete the files. Since no complaints had been received concerning the contents of the email, superintendent Ron Saunders said Monday he considers the issue closed. A package was sent to area newspapers containing cop ies of the email and attach ments. An anonymous letter it could charge a surcharge if fuel costs increased. That surcharge has been passed on to citizens in their monthly city bills. While many citizens expressed dissatisfaction at having to pay the extra cost, Beck said it was in the con tract. The charge was approxi mately $1.50 per month. Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council: •voted to change the hours of operation for city hall to 8 with the package stated, “If a teacher or parapro were to do something like this then they would be fired on the spot!!! We are held to high standards. Why are principals not held accountable for their actions? Why is the Board of Education protecting this principal???” In his second email to teach ers asking them to delete the information, Almond said he was “embarrassed and truly apologetic.” “This is an issue that I would consider resigning my position for...I am embar rassed beyond words," he wrote. Saunders said he did not receive any complaints from teachers and that sev eral letters of support were received. “Basically, the letters from staff members show that they are upset that this situation has made the papers,” he said. “They feel the person or persons who had sent this to a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Jan. 1. Hours are currently 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. •approved a beer and wine permit request for Don Holliday of Johnny's New York Style Pizza and Subs on Athens Street. •approved a beer permit for Rafael Martinez of La Tegua Night Club on Athens Street. •heard a report from Beck on condemnation procedures being taken by the city on various buildings and houses. ‘closed’ matter the papers after three months from when it happened are vicious and have a beef with the principal on other issues. They stated they get daily ‘spam’ that are much more offensive from just having an e-mail account.” “I do not see anything fur ther being done in this situa tion,” Saunders said. When situations of this type occur, Saunders said he judges the intention of the action and how it affects the school. “Mr. Almond mistakenly sent the e-mail and within minutes he sent out another e-mail apologizing and direct ing the staff not to open it,” Saunders said. “Many of the staff did not open the e-mail. They did not complain to Mr. Almond at the time or to me since that point which is the process we have in place. Mr. Almond and I have discussed the situation and I feel the matter is now closed.” Faced with an increasing issue of illegal trash dumping, the Winder City Council voted Tuesday night to give several city officials the authority to close unoccupied roads. City administrator Bob Beck requested during a work session Tuesday afternoon that he, the police chief, fire chief and public utilities director be given the authority to close roads if the need arises. The request was later officially approved during the regular meeting that evening. “Currently, to close a street requires action by the coun cil,” Beck said. “Right now we have some streets where people are going in and dump ing trash including items such as old refrigerators. We have had some reports of even some commercial trash collectors taking oilcans and paint cans BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Barrow County Board of Education gave a resound ing vote of disapproval to a report put together by the state Commission for School Board Excellence during a called work session last Thursday. BOE members balked at sug gestions that the state become involved in local school board issues and policies. “They are using Clayton County as a way to beat up the rest of the state,” BOE member Larry Ballard said referring to the embattled Clayton County school system which recently lost accreditation due in part to and dumping them. These are items which cannot be taken to the landfill.” Police chief Stanley Rodgers told the council the issue is continuing to become more of a problem. “It’s worse than ever before,” the chief said. “Something needs to be done.” City council member Mike Mingus inquired if this was mainly a problem on roads where no one was living. Beck said those were the areas where it was occurring most. Some of the roads have one or two houses where construc tion began but was never com pleted. Rodgers said it happens pri marily where roads end in cul-de-sacs with trees giving cover. “Nearby homeowners can’t see what is happening,” school board problems. The study was put togeth er by a group of state busi ness leaders as a way to study national school board govern ing practices and then to make recommendations for improve ments. The commission's recom mendations fall into three categories: Board governance accountability, an education task force and board candidacy and elections. A board survey was includ ed asking school boards if it believed the state should inter- Rodgers said. Beck said he would like to have permanent road barriers placed up, something in the ground and chains put across the entrance. The city would pay for this cost, he said. “Something permanent would have to used,” Beck said. “Something would have to used other than just a hors- esaw type barrier. We would have to get the approval of the property owner.” In order to encourage the property owner to comply, mayor Chip Thompson said it needs to be stressed the city is trying to help protect the land. “They are already having trouble selling it,” the mayor said. “This would help keep it from being used as a trash pit.” The council passed the pro posal unanimously. vene if local boards were hav ing trouble or were not meet ini certain standards. Barrow BOE chairman Bil Bramlett polled members ir attendance on each questior to formulate a response and al questions were answered “No' when it came to allowing the state to become involved wit! local issues. “I will respond and say the whole concept done by the commission to bring the state in to oversee local boards flies in the face of what we believe,' Bramlett said. f \ The Family of LEE ROY (Bo) HAMMOND Wishes to thank all of our family and friends for their generosity - flowers, food, and support - during this very sad time of our family’s loss. See this web site for past photos www. mem. com/Story. aspx?ID=2686I60. With our sincere gratitude Bobbie Hammond, Barbara Taylor & Children v y “We Got You Covered” Residential * Commercial * Agricultural • Ship Anywhere In The USA • We Stock Your Metal Needs • Visit Our Showroom u Sales • Service • Installation Hwy. 60 / Candler Hwy. Pendergrass, Ga. www.metalroofmg.com 706-654-5836 In Loving Memory of CHARLES CRONIC November 12, 2007 Gone are the days we used to share, But in our hearts you are always there, The gates of memory will never close With tender love and deep regret, We who love you will never forget. Always in our hearts, Your wife, children and grandchildren Principal’s wayward e-mail a BY CHRIS BRIDGES Barrow BOE gives thumbs down to stat report RICHARD SCHLOSSBERG MD FAAFP Auburn Primary Care University of Georgia Medical College of Georgia Georgia Baptist Residency 10 years experience ...is pleased to introduce Trina McMillan APRN Nurse Practitioner with 10 years experience NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Pediatrics • Adult Medicine • Minor Emergencies 770-822-5555 12 Seventh Street, Auburn, GA 30011 Need Holiday Cash? Come See Santa's Best Helper! 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