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Serving the communities of Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Mill Creek, West Jackson and South Hall October 10,2007 Vol. 3 No. 2 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. BraseltonNews.com 26 pages, 3 sections Inside Braselton looking to build reservoir near river •Publix moving on con struction of new store in West Jackson page 3A Reservoir permitting process could take a decade for approval BY KERRI TESTEMENT Braselton is hoping to construct its own reservoir on the Mulberry River that can store up to 4 million gallons of water, according to the town’s engineering con sultant. Jerry Hood, vice president of Engineering Management Incorporated, said last week that Braselton has submitted a request to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to withdraw water from the Mulberry River. And while the town hasn’t identified a potential site for the proposed reservoir, Braselton officials are beginning the long process of getting a new reservoir approved by state and federal officials. Building a new reservoir can be a decade- long process, Hood said. It takes about 10 years for the EPD and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve new reservoirs, he added. Braselton will need 75-100 acres along the Mulberry River for a reservoir, Hood said. The river borders Jackson, Gwinnett, Barrow and Hall counties. The town plans to withdraw 2 million gallons of water a day from the river for the short-term, which will be five to 10 years after the reservoir opens; Braselton may withdraw up to 4 million gallons a day for the long-term, which will be about 10-20 years after the reservoir opens, Hood More Inside The Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority is taking the first steps to begin planning for additional water reservoirs. See page 2A explained. But during this unprecedented drought, Braselton officials say the town is handling See RESERVOIR on page 10A JACKSON COUNTY •Commissioners ditch proposal to increase tax rate page 2A Sports: •Petit LeMans brings world-class drivers to Road Atlanta page IB Features: •Sells Mill Park is West Jackson’s hidden gem page 10A Public safety: •Man with fake badge asks cop for a break’ page 5A •Church events page5B •Obituaries page 6A Getting the word out about fire safety FIREFIGHTERS VISIT AREA SCHOOLS The West Jackson Fire Department visited West Jackson Primary School on Tuesday, as part of National Fire Prevention Week. This year’s theme is “Practice Your Escape Plan,” and local firefighters are reminding families to practice their household escape plan in the event of a fire. West Jackson firefighters also visited West Jackson Intermediate School this week. Firefighter Steve Turner is shown talking to a group of kindergartner students at WJPS about a fire engine and gear. Photo by Kerri Testement Hoschton gets lone bid to manage city depot BY KERRI TESTEMENT Only one bid to manage and promote the Hoschton Depot was received by the city council this week — and the bid comes from a group of citizens who have opposed the city council’s proposal to privatize the historic facility. The Hoschton Historic Depot Preservation Foundation submit ted the only bid by Monday’s deadline. The Hoschton City Council public works committee is slated to discuss the proposal before it goes to the full council, although no meeting date has been deter mined The Hoschton Historical Depot Foundation was recently founded for “saving and offering for use the historical heart of Hoschton — the Depot,” according to the bid proposal. The non-profit foundation has ties to the Hoschton Women’s Civic Club, whose members helped to restore the 124-year-old depot starting in the late 1990s. The foundation proposes to use volunteers to manage and main tain the Hoschton Depot at a lease with the city of $1 a year. The foundation would assume respon sibility for all expenses of the depot, including utilities, mainte nance and historic improvements, according to the proposal. The foundation further propos es that it will provide “care tak ing” of the depot as a community center and museum. As for leasing the facility, the foundation proposed that the city wouldn’t be charged for using the building and non-profit clubs would be asked to make a dona tion for its use. The foundation would also establish a board of directors, with one member nominated by the city council. According to the bid propos al, the foundation has received inaugural pledges totaling $8,500. The group also plans to continue its fund-raising effort and use See DEPOT on page 10A Braselton council approves retail project Hotel proposal also approved More Inside BY KERRI TESTEMENT A new retail center on Ga. Hwy. 53 and Ednaville Road will not have to complete a study for a possible traffic light, as was previ ously recommended. On Monday, the Braselton Town Council approved an annexa tion and rezoning request by the Fitzpatrick Mynatt Group, which plans to build a development with 30,414 square feet of retail space on 14.6 acres at the Jackson County intersection. The Braselton Planning Commission had recommended recently that the developer com plete a study for a traffic light at the intersection of Hwy. 53 and Ednaville Road. But Braselton mayor Pat Graham said this week that she asked town manager Jennifer Scott and town attorney Gregory Jay to review the legality of that proposal. The Georgia Department of Transportation already has plans to widen the state highway and provide a traffic light at the inter section — although the DOT has not specified a timeline for the project. Attorney Jay said in lieu of requiring the developer to provide a traffic study, they should be asked to provide improvements at the intersection. Those improve ments could include providing enough area for turn lanes. The town council agreed to require the developer to address traffic issues at the intersection of Ednaville Road and Hwy. 53 in front of their property according to DOT plans. The remaining three sides of the intersection are not in the Braselton town limits, but include a retail center under construction. Bill Fitzpatrick told the town council on Thursday that the Fitzpatrick Mynatt Group plans to develop shops and retail stores for its project, but no “big box” stores. He added that the project hasn’t been marketing for potential tenants, but a dentist has expressed interest in the location. Braselton gets a proposal for a large-scale, mixed-use project on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County. See page 3A “We really like this marketplace and we like Braselton,” Fitzpatrick said of the Hwy. 53 corridor. Two additional requests for prop erty to be annexed into Braselton for retail uses along Hwy. 53 will be heard by the planning commis sion on Monday, Oct. 22. Those requests are proposing a total of 150,875 square feet of retail space on a total of 26.1 acres. HOTEL APPROVED Also on Monday, the town coun cil approved a rezoning request for two acres on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County for an 80-room hotel. Try-La, Inc. requested that the property be rezoned from Manufacturing-Distribution to See HOTEL on page 3A Jackson Co. B0E taking letters for vacant seat The Jackson County Board of Education is accepting letters from interested candidates to fill the unexpired term for the Post 1 seat — which covers West Jackson, including Braselton and Hoschton. Steve Bryant resigned from the post in September, after learning that he doesn’t live in District 1. The term for the Post 1 seat will expire on Dec. 31, 2008. Candidates must have lived in Jackson County for 12 months, reside in the Post 1 school board dis trict and be a qualified voter in Jackson County. The BOE will accept letters of interest from qualified candidates until Friday, Oct. 19. Interested candidates may e-mail a letter to kwilbanks@jackson.kl2.ga.us or mail letters to: Kathy Wilbanks, Jackson County BOE chairperson, 3006 Brockton Loop, Jefferson, GA 30549. BRYANT Braselton section no longer to be in The Herald subscriptions The Braselton News section will no longer be included inside sub scriber copies of The Jackson Herald, as of Nov. 1. The Braselton News is available for .25 cents at newsstands and is mailed for free to residents in Hoschton and Braselton.