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PAGE 8A BARROW JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008 County staff to keep paid holiday — for now Audit continued from 1A BY SUSAN NORMAN The economic Grinch didn’t steal Christmas for Barrow County government employees, at least this year. Christmas will continue to be a paid holiday for employees of Barrow County’s local government after the board of com missioners removed a controversial pro posal to save money from the agenda Tuesday night that would have made the holiday an unpaid day off. With scores of employees packing the Barrow County Board of Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday night, BOC chairman Doug Garrison announced that the board would not be voting on a cost-saving plan recommended by chief administrator Keith Lee. Garrison said that the majority of the board would be new in January and that those newly elected officials should be making the decisions about how to handle the more than $2 million in projected defi cits recently announced by Lee and CFO Beth Horacek. When he asked for a motion to remove the political hot potato from the agenda, every commissioner at the meeting spoke up. “I heard four firsts,” Garrison quipped as laugher erupted in the audience. Lee’s recommendations for how to deal with the projected budget shortfall were laid out in a Dec. 5 memo that he sent the board. His recommended actions include: cutting out pay for eight county observed holidays; •making President’s Day in February 2009 a county-observed holiday that is unpaid; •cutting out the overtime-scale pay scale for anyone working on a holiday; •filling some of the county’s 31 vacant county positions by transferring underuti lized employees in departments handling the county’s sagging land development and building services and not filling the rest; •eliminating $58,840 in capital expen ditures budgeted for the current fiscal year. OTHERS TO BE CONSULTED Garrison said after Tuesday’s meeting that in addition to the newly elected com missioners, all other elected officials need to be consulted and that county employees need “input and clarity” before decisions are made. Department heads met Nov. 18 to dis cuss ways to cut expenses, but only two elected officials other than Garrison and Lampp were at that meeting. They were chairman-elect Daniel Yearwood and out going district attorney Rick Bridgeman. County administrators also apparently did not consult with the sheriff, the pro bate judge, the clerk of court or the chief magistrate, all of whom have employ ees potentially affected by the proposed changes. Chief magistrate June Davis said after the meeting that she came prepared to advocate for employees in her depart ment, as well as for employees in other departments. “I told mine I would take their concerns to the commissioners,” she said. “Then I had calls from other county employees and they asked if I would do the same for them. I said, ‘I will speak for you, but you have to come.’” Based on the size of the standing-room only crowd in attendance, Davis estimated that 80 employees showed up. She said she has been surprised both by the scope of the budget problem explained by Lee and Horacek and by their recommended actions. “There are many things we can do before we furlough employees or take away their holidays,” Davis said. “Those that make the least are impacted the most. We have employees that have two jobs and four children and are trying to make ends meet and are living paycheck to pay- check. They were real concerned about taking away Christmas and holiday pay with such short notice.” She said the delay in the board’s action was a good thing. “Whatever it comes down to this Christmas, we need cool heads and time to think and to look at different ways we can do it without sacrificing service,” Davis said. “Even the taxpayers would want us to do that. They don’t want us to be rash, but to be very deliberate about what we do.” UTILITIES The city’s utility operations are the town’s largest sources of overall revenues with water, sewer, gas and other enterprise funds netting $26.3 million in FY08. The system had $22.2 million in operating expenses on the year. After adjustments for non-operating expenses and revenues, the city’s utility sys tem had a net of $3.5 million on the year. OTHER NOTES Other items of note in Winder’s 2008 audit; •The city’s general govern ment had a long-term debt bal ance of $2 million and the utility system had a long-term debt balance of $27.4 million. Long term debt payments due in 2009 for both areas com bined will be $1.95 million. •New water meter installa tions fell in FY08 to 598 from 631 the year before. While the overall customer base for water grew in the year to top 14,000 customers, the average daily water plant production fell to 3.55 million gallons per day, down from 4.37 mgd the year before. •New gas meters installed also dropped in FY08 to 263, down from 301 the year before. • New residential permits fell during FY08 to 138 from 166 the year before. Commercial permits remained steady at 11 each year, however the value of commercial construction grew in FY08 to $8.3 million from $3.6 million. •Over the last five years, the size of Winder’s general government has nearly dou bled, growing from $7.2 mil lion in expenses in 2003 to $13.7 million in FY08, a 90 percent increase. Income has grown slightly more at a 94 percent increase over the last five years. •cutting out pay for eight county- the meeting that she came prepared to what we do.” Commissioners give thumbs up to 305-home project BY SUSAN NORMAN Several nearby residents said Commissioner Ben Hendrix with District 3 Commissione: BY SUSAN NORMAN When the housing market recovers, Barrow County will have a new 144-acre mixed-use development at Highway 53 and Rockwell Church Road. The Barrow County Board of Commissioners recently approved a rezoning appli cation for a Master Planned Development by Daniel Blitch, a former board chairman of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce who now resides in Athens. The approved plan includes up to 305 single-fami ly homes and 19 acres of com mercial development. The commercial develop ment will front both sides of Rockwell Church Road, which runs through the property. Several nearby residents said they were opposed to the density of the development. Rockwell Church Road resident Gwen Hill said the development is in the Cedar Creek watershed, which she said is supposed to have low-density projects, as well as conservation and agri cultural properties. “Once this is changed, it is gone,” Hill said. But Blitch’s attorney, John Stell, said it is likely that fewer than 305 homes would actually be built because engineering and topographical studies of the site have not been done. A sewer line running through the property also would affect density, he said. Before the vote. District 7 Commissioner Ben Hendrix said he had received many phone calls and emails con cerning the application. “Sometimes in this process, I have felt like King Solomon who wanted to cut the baby in half,” he said. “I agree we need to have Master Planned Developments, but they need to be quality developments.” Hendrix said the plan includes conditions that will protect a historic cemetery on the site, will slow build-out to up to 10 years, will have some lots that are 15,000 square feet or larger, and will include a section of houses restricted to older adults, reducing the impact on the public schools. The board’s vote was 5-1 with District 3 Commissioner Bill Healan voting against. Blitch said that he has held onto the family property for 42 years and has refused many opportunities to sell it to other developers because he wants to “do it the right way.” In other business, the board: •an application by Sara Gaynell Skinner to rezone 2.59 acres from AR to R1. •an application by Bruce W. Turner to rezone 1.74 acres from AG to Rl. •a joint resolution with the Town of Carl for a grant of up to $500,000 from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the extension of public sewer to serve a new industry in the town. City outlook continued from 1A The U.S. recession is hit ting major sources of Winder’s revenue. The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) proceeds for Barrow County and its municipali ties the past two months has declined by double digits. And demand for Winder’s water and natural gas services has weak ened. “One of our industries has gone to a reduction in natural gas and is using alternative fuel available through their organi zation,” Beck said. “Another is doing repairs and maintenance on their facility and has shut down part of their operations. Our December natural gas sales to them will be zero.” The mayor added: “We’ve got several businesses - Johns Manville, Stepan, Rodia Inc. - that use our gas during the summer. If they were to stop production and lay people off, that money is usually the money that takes us through the summer. Natural gas is not sold to households in the sum mer. Industrial use of natural gas in the summer is extremely important. If they lay off peo ple, then we’re in a bind. We can’t wait until that happens. So we’re looking at different options of revenue we might have to put in place.” Thompson said Georgia’s unemployment rate is expect ed to climb to 9 percent next year. “If it’s 9 percent statewide, it’s going to be 10 percent in Barrow County, from looking at past situations. It might be because we have a lot of people that depend on the type of jobs that are usually cut, which is manufacturing. “On the other hand, we have Belk and Target about to do a job fair. When they do that, hopefully that will help some. But it won’t be the total answer.” Cost-cutting measures already in place at the city include a hard freeze on hiring and promotions. As a result, the police depart ment in 2009 will operate with out anyone in the position of major. Major Robert Schuenemann, commander of the Criminal Investigation Division, retired in November. Major Clifford Poole, the patrol command er, will retire Dec. 31. Both have worked for the police department for more than two decades. Capt. Lamar Reynolds is now running criminal investi gations and support services with its dozen or so employees. Capt. Dennis Dorsey is taking the reins of the patrol division with its 27 employees. City of Winder 2008 Audit Revenues: Taxes $4.5 million Licenses/Permits $237,300 Intergov. $622,700 Service Chgs. $149,300 Fines $648,800 Interest $327,500 Misc. $105,000 Indirect Allocation* $3.18 million Total Revenues $9.79 million Expenses: General Govt. $3.2 million Judicial $199,500 Public Safety $6.28 million Public Works $1.92 million Housing & Devi. $553,700 Capital Outlay $1.17 million Debt Service $314,100 Total Expenses $13.7 million Trsfr. From Utilities +$3.99 million Trsfr. Out -$1.25 million Borrowing** +$1.64 million Asset sale +$32,000 Net Change in Funds +$527,200 *Indirect allocation reflects money that is mostly from the city’s utility funds to defray overhead operating costs. **Borrowing reflects a 5-year lease note with Bank of America part of which was for a police department firearms trailer and a vehicle. Utility Funds 2008: Operating Revenues Operating Expenses Non-Operating Income/Expense - Net Transfers Out* $26.3 million $22.2 million $629,300 $3.47 million -$2.88 million *This reflects net dollars transferred out to other funds. Read Crime News Every Week in the Barrow Journal it ROOF DOCTOR Roofing & Repair 99 - Metal - Shingles - Flat Roofs - Flashing - Maintenance - Inspections HOMER CARVER OFFICE 706-677-1986 CELL 678-617-4503 FAX 706-677-1369 Need Holiday Cash? We Have Plenty! SjfSL BRASELT0N FINANCE COMPANY 1 Personal Loans • Title Pawns • Affordable Payments | Come in or apply by internet. : 81B Lagree Duck Road • Braselton, GA 706-658-5300 . www.braseltonfinance.com I • THANK YOU Words cannot express the appreciation for all that was done for me during my illness. The phone calls, cards, meals, visits, trips to therapy, but most of all the prayers. The prayers are what saved me for all of you have witnessed a miracle. God has truly blessed me with healing and wonderful dedicated family and friends. May God truly bless all of you. Much Christian Love. Donna J. Cain and The Mike Cain Family Bunion before treatment A LOT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. Bunion after treatment Bunion surgery on an outpatient basis is now available to you. Our patients have their bunions corrected conveniently and quickly. It’s usually in by 7 a.m. and walking out in time for lunch. We utilize the latest in anesthesia methods to help make it easy on you. And you can generally begin your normal activities in a short period of time with little discomfort. Not only is this good medicine, hut it is cost-effective. Dr. Xenos has been serving Jackson and Barrow County Residents for 31 years. WF. SPECIALIZE IN THE CORRECTION OF THESE COMMON PROBLEMS: • Bunions • Corns and Callouses • Heel Pain • Hammertoes • Injuries to Foot & Ankle • Warts • Ingrown Nails • Flat Feet • Office & Hosp. Surgery DR. DREW XENOS Podiatric Surgeon Diplomats, Amercian Board of Podiatric Surgery. Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery. Winder, Across from Barrow Medical Center 770-867-4110 WHEN YOUR FEET HURT, YOU HURT ALL OVER. As in all sugery, complications may occur, surgical results may vary depending on the decree of deformity. Inventory Clearance Sale 40 to 60 % o OFF With deep sadness we are closing out our Bridal & Giftware Departments which have been a tradition at Evans for over 50 years. Closing out All China, Silver, Crystal and Giftware Including, Waterford, Arthur Court, Lenox and All Christmas Giftware on % All Diamond Jewelry, fcy oF Watches, Earrings, Qtn% Bracelets, Cultured Pearls, I 4woff Honora, and Lorenzo Come In and Register for .50 ct. Diamond Pendant* .50 ct. Diamond Earrings* $250. Shopping Spree* $100. Shopping Spree* Evans Jewel Box Professional Jewelry & Watch Repair. In-House Service. 55 N. Broad St. • Downtown Winder • 770-867-3761 *To be given away December 21, 2008. Must be 18 to Win. Lay-A-Way Now for Christmas Free .Gift Wrar 1 KmerIcSnI I |_LLL|^PREsj*^»|