Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
BARROW JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013
Winder officials relax sign ordinance
By Susan Norman
snorman @ barrowjournal. com
The construction work
on North Broad Street in
downtown Winder is cost
ing businesses in the work
zone some lost sales.
The project includes
the replacement of sever
al blocks of the street and
streetscape enhancements.
But the work isn’t sched
uled for completion until
July 2014.
So the Winder City
Council at a called meeting
Tuesday night agreed to a
request from its downtown
development authority to
relax the city’s sign ordi
nance for businesses inside
the work zone and only until
the project is complete.
The DDA is planning
a publicity campaign to
remind shoppers that the
downtown area is open for
business.
DDA chairman Chris
Maddox said the authority
would post three large signs
and offer for sale to local
businesses individual signs
that boast, “Downtown
Winder, Y’all. Open for
Business!”
The large signs will be
posted on the steel braces
at the site of the former
Granite Hotel and on build
ings on both ends of the
work area.
“Everybody recognizes
that the streetscape project
is a good thing, but it is
causing some pain along the
way,” he said. “It has caused
some merchants to drop off
in volume pretty good.”
To cover the cost of the
signs, Maddox said partici
pating businesses would be
asked to pay to have their
logos added to the large
signs.
The council’s action also
allows owners of properties
in the work zone to post
banners advertising those
buildings for lease or sale.
DDA member Mike
Welch, general manager
of Smokin’ Po-Boys BBQ,
said he hopes the signs
would generate some “warm
and fuzzy feelings” for the
downtown merchants.
“I think it’s a good thing
all around,” he said.
Councilman Bob Dixon
asked if the campaign
could be publicized on the
city’s public access televi
sion channel. DDA director
Meredith Cameron agreed
to work with the station’s
manager to make that hap
pen.
In other business, the city
council voted to approve
the expenditure of $6,246
for Keck & Woods Inc. to
design pedestrian lighting
in the streetscape project
area. The designs will be
used in request for bids for
the lighting.
In addition, the council
authorized the city to enter
into an agreement with eGIS
Associates, Inc. for support
services for the Cityworks
software. The support will
cost $900 per quarter for 12
months.
WSA continued from 1A
Shortly after the start of the new
four-year term this year, the BOC did
raise the wholesale water rates, though
they were somewhat lower than those
recommended by the WSA.
But incoming BOC chairman Pat
Graham early on raised questions about
the need for the proposed Rocky Creek
Reservoir and called instead for a more
comprehensive study of the county’s
infrastructure needs.
After Winder officials refused to help
back a $2 million reservoir planning
loan through the Governor’s Water
Program, the BOC in March scrapped
the entire project.
“To my understanding, that was the
last project the water authority was
working on,” Connell said Tuesday
night. “I don’t know that there is any
immediate responsibility in front of the
authority right now. That being said, I
certainly think the authority needs to
remain intact."
Graham added: "I know technical
ly the role of the authority changed
in September 2011 when the assets
and funding were transferred back to
Barrow. And when the reservoir project
didn’t move forward, it left a gap here
in activity.”
She said the authority’s role could be
more as a financing vehicle for infra
structure projects. The county govern
ment needs a capital project plan with
short-range, mid-range and long-range
projects, she said.
“I think we are going to be develop
ing that plan. Then the projects will
need to be financed, and that is where
the role of the water sewerage authority
becomes critical.”
Connell said the WSA also should
receive regular briefings about the
county’s water and sewer system. And
he said members’ feedback on future
county proposals would be valuable.
“You are citizens,” he said. “You
have some interest in this, or you
wouldn’t have agreed to serve. I think
we would be wise and very, very fool
ish not to use you folks as a sounding
board.”
Ronnie Morrow, the WSA’s new
chairman, recommended that the WSA
from now on have only quarterly meet
ings unless there is a specific need
requiring a called meeting.
In a unanimous vote, the author
ity then agreed to schedule all regular
meetings during the first month of each
quarter.
Voting for the schedule change were
members Wesley Skinner, Barbara
Garland, David Hawthorne, and Mark
Staley. Absent were members John
Taylor and Michael Miller.
County attorney Angela Davis said
Wednesday that all of the changes in
the WSA’s statutory authority have
been authorized through intergovern
mental agreements between the WSA
and the county.
the meeting, Connell also intro
duced Lynn Smarr, who as the county’s
newly hired public works director will
oversee the county’s water and sewer
services and other departments.
In the audience of the meeting were
commissioners Joe Goodman and
Isaiah Berry.
Statham approves
$2.3 million budget
By Michelle Stewart
mstewart@ barrowjournal. com
The Statham city council unanimously approved the 2013-
2014 fiscal year budget in the amount of $2.3 million at their
June 18 council meeting. The new budget approval comes
after a series of workshops held over the last few months. July
1 will begin the new fiscal year.
Also discussed at the recent meeting:
•the minutes from the May 21 council meeting were
approved by a unanimous vote.
•the meeting was also a public hearing and second reading
on the revised zoning map, which was adopted with unani
mous approval.
•after receiving numerous complaints about the poor quality
of the water, the city is currently using Barrow County water.
•the council voted unanimous approval to sign the Barrow
County water agreement with no minimum purchase.
•the memorandum of agreement with Northeast Georgia
Regional Commission will be signed and completed at the
recommendation of the city attorney. A unanimous vote was
passed by the council.
•unanimous vote for community center rate change to $175
flat rate and to standard eight-hour rental period.
•the council held the first reading of an amendment to ordi
nances to delete hobby kennels due to the current ordinance
being too broadly written to enforce. The current ordinance
gives too much leeway that allows sanitary issues that create
nuisances to neighbors. A unanimous vote waived the reading.
•the first reading of the urban camping ordinance. The
amendment to the current ordinances will prohibit urban
camping and improper use of public places, allow for the
enforcement of penalties and repeal any conflicting ordinanc
es. This amendment is necessary after the city has received
several complaints about people living in Furr Lane Park. Also
mentioned at the June 13 work session was the possibility of
Statham police patrolling the area by golf cart or fourwheeler.
The council voted unanimous approval to waive the first read
ing.
•bids open for school roadwork project, and a decision has
been requested by June 21. The council may have a special
called meeting later this week to approve bid.
•the water department has applied for a grant to test the
city’s existing meters. Approximately 300 meters need to be
replaced and there has been mention of a Georgia Environment
Finance Authority (GEFA) loan to accomplish those replace
ments. There will be a monitoring of the meters for a four-
month period both before and after their replacement.
•flooding in the city hall offices due to rain will result in
remodeling to fix the problem. The current offices will be
rearranged and security will be updated while construction is
underway.
ST ATLANTA'S PREMIER
NIGHTTIME AUTO AUCTION!
Buy Your Next CAR at Auction and
SAVE MONEY!
Cars
Trucks
Minivans
SUVs
Every Thursday at 6:00 PM
NIGHTTIME IS THE
RIGHT TIME TO BUY!
/ Save hundreds with public access to
wholesale prices!
✓ Clear title Run & Drive vehicles!
SOLD AT AUCTION!
✓ 150+ cars offered weekly!
✓ Bid live in-person with free preview
every Thursday from 12:00-6:00!
2005 CHEVR0LETE AVE0
Produced by:
/A
insurance Georgia Auction
auto auctions License # ACNR002333
SAVE MONEY on your next car!
Come see us anytime M-E, or visit:
BuyatNight.com
Thursday
at 6:00 PM
in Winder!
Auction preview every
Thursday from
12:00 PM-6:00 PM
START BUYING
FREE FOR
To start buying register at Stars of Atlanta
in Winder or go online to www.iaai.com
and use Promo Code: S0A311. The
registration will allow you full auction
access to buy, where you meet state
licensing requirements, for 60 days. This
offer is for new, first-time buyers only who
provide this flyer, a government issued I.D.,
and business license, if applicable. A $200
registration fee is required after 60-days to
extend bidding privileges.
Promo Code: S0A311 Expires: July 17,2013
Stars of Atlanta
Atlanta's Premier
Nighttime Auto Auction
10 mi. west of Athens in
Winder on Atlanta Highway SE
1045 Atlanta Hwy SE, Winder, GA 30680
877-868-4544