About Barrow journal. (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016 | View Entire Issue (June 29, 2016)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016 BARROW JOURNAL PAGE 3A BOE approves $112 million budget 2 percent salary bonus included By Al ex Pace Journal Reporter The Barrow County Board of Education unan imously approved its $112 million budget for fiscal year 2017 on Tuesday eve ning. Expenses are expected to total $112.1 million, up from $103.5 million in its original FY2016 budget. Most of the increase is dedicated to salaries and benefits. Revenues are projected to total at $110.5 million, up from $103.3 million in the original FY2016 bud get. The district could be forced to use $1.6 million of its reserves, bringing the total to $8 million. The budget does not show a millage rate increase, but the rate won’t be set until fall. The budget includes a one-time two percent sal ary supplement for some employees. The supple ment will likely be given in January to employees below the assistant princi pal and director positions. The budget also con tinues the step increase implemented this year from a salary study. Also included are sev eral new positions. They are: 25.5 new teachers to accommodate growth. along with two special education employees at Sims Academy of Innova tion and Technology. BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS Highlights from the bud get are: •Local property tax rev enues are expected to go up 3.25 percent to $31.3 million. •State funds are expected to go up by $3.1 million. But the district's overall increase in state funds was lower than it was for FY2016. •the district plans to pay $7.23 million towards its debt service. •capital project expenses are expected to total $23.6 million. RMS construction nears completion BOE discusses McNeal Road progress By Alex Pace Journal Reporter Construction on the new Russell Middle School is nearing completion and crews are still on track to open for the next school year. But some Barrow County Board of Education members are con cerned about whether students will be able to get to the school. The City of Winder is continuing con struction on McNeal Road. Likely, the city will continue working on the construction project throughout August. But Barrow County School System assistant superintendent of system oper ations Joe Pemo said the McNeal Road entrance to the school (which will be the bus entrance) has been paved. He expects the Candler Street entrance to be also paved before opening. BOE member Lynn Stevens expressed frustration over the slow progress. “They’ve known about this project since we’ve known about this project.” said Stevens. “They’ve been working on it. it seems like, forever. We’re building a school in the time it’s taken them to put some sidewalks out. What is the issue?” Perno assured the BOE the project has been a “major undertaking” for the city. The district met with city officials last week to discuss the project and a fol low-up meeting is planned. The Winder Police Department and Bar- row County Sheriff’s Office will likely be on site to direct traffic during the first couple of weeks of school. Inside the school, BCSS construction crews are working to install furniture. The fire marshal will inspect the building on Friday. Administrators could move in on July 11, followed by teachers on July 18. OLD RMS The new school is being constructed to replace the current RMS. But the old RMS building still stands and plans could soon be made to utilize the space. The gym (previously used as classroom space) is currently being renovated to become a Winder-Barrow High School cheerleading gym. Other plans could soon be discussed by the building committee. CONSENT AGENDA Items added to the consent agenda to be voted on July 14 were: •a new policy that would require at least 30 minutes of recess. •a new policy on school property dis posal. •two technology purchases includ ing: 566 Dell Chromebooks from Dell Computers in Round Rock, Texas, for $130,000; Aruba Wireless Access points for the new Russell Middle School from MXN. Woodstock, for $26,000. •implementation of a fraud prevention policy. •implementation of a federal funds pol icy. •adoption of the World Language and ESOL resources. OTHER BUSINESS Also at its meeting, the BOE: •discussed its copier lease agreement. The lowest bid for the 36-month lease was with Nova Copier, totaling $18,400 per month. This doesn’t include toner or paper. The district produces an average of 18 million copies a year and a little over 17 million are covered in the lease. •learned parents could soon receive non school related fliers (recreation depart ment, non-profit, etc.) through the district app. Hard copies will still be available at the schools. •discussed progress on the new elemen tary school being built near the new RMS. •approved an easement request from Georgia Power for utilities at the new ele mentary school project on McNeal Road. Vehicle upkeep: Sheriff receives partial fleet maintenance request By Chris Bridges Journal Editor Barrow County sheriff Jud Smith was hoping for an additional $75,000 for fleet maintenance from the Board of Commis sioners Tuesday night. He got $40,000 instead. With the county recently entering into a fleet maintenance agreement with Akins Ford of Winder, Smith said there has been an expected high cost associated with it. “The county has never had this before,” the sheriff said. “Akins has to have a starting point with the vehicles. They are checking them over from top to bottom, front to back. These vehicles have never had belts replaced or fluids drained. While the oil was kept changed, brakes repaired and new tires put on, certain maintenance was never done.” This promoted a response of “Never?” from chairman Pat Graham. “Never.” the sheriff responded in kind. Smith said there are no funds to transfer elsewhere from his budget. Currently, Akins Ford is owed $21,000 for repair and maintenance work done to the first wave of sheriff’s department vehicles. More than 50 vehicles still have to be taken in for service and other repair work. “We have not paid Akins in sever al weeks,” Smith said. “They are mak ing sure that the vehicles which were in deplorable conditions are safe to drive. They want them safe for the deputies and safe for the citizens. Be aware that we owe them $21,000 before we even get back to a zero balance. We have two vehicles right now that need repair that we can’t do anything with.” The sheriff estimated each vehicle is needing $1,000 in work and repairs. Some need more, some may need less. Commission member Kenny Shook said he expected this type of cost once the county went to a fleet maintenance agreement. Graham said there was a dilemma since the county had to grant an extra $36,000 to the Juvenile Court in mandated funds. She said she would have officials look through the county budget in the next two weeks to see if additional funds could be found for fleet maintenance costs. Jug Tavern Festival to feature first ever bed race The 2016 Jug Tavern Festival (JTF) announces the first-ever Jug Tavern Festival bed race will be held at this year’s festival in September. The sport of bed racing consists of a team of five people, and a homemade/constructed bed on four wheels. Each team must design and construct their own bed according to the race’s construc tion regulations, and push the decorated bed down the street against other teams at full-speed. The awards, which are custom-made jugs especially made for the JTF, will be given to the Jug Tavern Bed Race Champion, both the second and third place teams, the Most Creative Bed & Attire, the People’s Choice Award and the Broken Spring Award. The race will be held on Saturday, Sep tember 10 at approximately 12 p.m. on East Athens Street, directly in front of the Jug Tavern Park. For more information or to register, call 678-425-6805 or email april. plank@ cityofwinder.com. RECOGNITION Roger Wilhem, City of Winder utilities director, Earnest Earn, vice president of GAWP, Leslie Harbin, Jamey West, Winder Mayor David Maynard and Neil Counts, ESG Operations Regional Manager are shown during the June council meeting. OPERATOR OF THE YEAR Tyson Page (second from left) was named Operator of the Year He is shown with Earnest Earn, Jamey West, Winder Mayor David Maynard and Neil Counts (from left). Winder employees receive awards ESG Operations, Inc. and the City of Winder was the recent recipient of multiple awards from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) for the operation of the City of Winder’s water and wastewater treatment facilities. Earnest Earn, vice president of the GAWP, presented the awards at the city’s June meet ing. The top award, Water Reclamation Facility of the Year, was given to the city's Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Earn stated: “This award is very tough to receive.” Tyson Page, a Certified Class 1 Wastewater Operator (the highest level of certification), has been a member of the wastewater treatment plant staff in Winder since 2010. Page received the Operator of the Year Award, the highest achievement an operator can obtain. The City of Winder and ESG Operations also received the Gold Award for the Marburg Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Gold Award for Marburg Creek Reuse, Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and a Certificate of Achievement for the Hwy. 53 Treatment Plant. I f fl $ 10 20 lb Cylinder Fill on July 1st r * i Located just off of Exit 140 from I- 85 on Bill Wright Rd. Call Today 706-367-8782 1950 Bill Wright Rd. Jefferson, GA !
