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Wednesday, October 24, 2007 The Braselton News Page 3A Hall County Sheriff’s office to open new jail Crime prevention tips offered to local community BY KERRI TESTEMENT As South Hall continues to grow, law enforcement services are expanding, too, according to Hall County sheriff Steve Cronic. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office will soon open a 230,000 square-foot jail on 50 acres on Barber Road, off Calvary Church Road. An open house is planned Thursday, Oct. 25, from 4-7 p.m. The 1,096-bed jail will not only have enough room to house Hall County’s inmates, but is expected to have 300 beds that may be available for out-of-county inmates. Hall County has the potential to earn $5 million a year housing out-of- county inmates; before the new jail, Hall County was sending some of its inmates out of the county and paying those counties about $2.2 million a year for housing inmates, Cronic said. The sales-tax funded jail has a $54 million price tag — and since the project is finishing ahead of sched ule, about $1 million will be returned to the county, Cronic said. “We put so much planning into that project,” he said on Thursday. Cronic also outlined the operations of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office to the Forum Club at The Village at Deaton Creek, an age-restricted develop ment in South Hall on Thompson Mill Road, near Chateau Elan. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office is one of the larg est law enforcement agencies in Georgia, Cronic said. The sheriff’s office answered more than 174,000 calls in 2006. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety recently awarded the Hall County Sheriff’s Office its highest honor in its class for traffic enforcement and safety. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office will also be honored later this year as the top law enforcement agency in the nation in its class for traffic enforcement and safety. Cronic said his department is a “full-service” sher iff’s office whose responsibilities span to the court system, jail, issuing warrants and law enforcement. “We will always be the largest budget in the (coun ty) general fund,” Cronic told the Forum Club. However, Cronic said the sheriff’s office deter mines its “needs” and “wants” for each budget. For additional funding for its “wants,” such as teen driving classes and summer programs for children, Cronic said the sheriff’s office seeks grants and cor porate sponsorships. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office has received more than $3 million in grants in the past few years, he said. The sheriff’s office is also recognizing that South Hall is the fastest-growing area of Hall County, Cronic said. Sixty-five percent of the population in Hall County lives in South Hall, he added. Improving technology is helping the sheriff’s office respond to crime through out Hall County, Cronic said. The depart ment uses “crime mapping” to track trends of criminal activity and deputies are com pleting incident reports on computers. However, Cronic said he wants the sher iff’s office to maintain its community service in Hall County. He explained that for every hour a deputy is patrolling in their vehicle, they are asked to follow a “10 minute rule” and get out of their vehicle to speak to the public, such as in stores or residents working in their yards. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office also uses a “reserve” unit of 22 retired law enforcement officers to help throughout the county. The volunteer unit may help during parades and festivals, patrol parks on motorcycles or patrol Fake Fanier on wave runners, Cronic said. “The lake is a big economic engine in this county,” he said. SECURED COMMUNITIES Ft. Gene Joy also talked with the Forum Club about the difference between “gated” communities and “secure” communities. The Village at Deaton Creek has a security gate at its main entrance. Joy said gated communities are becoming more popular in the United States, with more than 16 mil lion Americans living in such neighborhoods, accord ing to 2004 Census data. “People want to feel that blanket of protection,” Joy said. “Gated” communities can physically restrict access by non-residents, while “secured” communities can also restrict access, but they may include additional measures — such as a fence around the development or security guards at entrances, Joy said. Gated and secured communities can help improve property values and create a sense of pride among homeowners, Joy said. To maintain the effectiveness of gated and secured communities, he recommended that residents regu larly inspect the gates and fence of a development and limit how access codes are distributed. Joy also rec ommended that subdivisions begin a neighborhood watch program and homeowners ask the sheriff’s office about home security assessments to determine the security of their house. For more information, contact the crime preven tion unit of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, at 770-533-7806 or 770-533-7808, CRONIC Jackson County Housing slump stumps area sales agents BY KERRI TESTEMENT Focal real estate sales agents have a key question on their mind: How do you “sell” Jackson County to potential homebuyers amid news of a housing slump? That’s what several local real estate sales agents discussed dur ing a luncheon last week at Vinny’s restaurant in Hoschton. They hope their ideas will not only spark the creative light for realtors, but also generate new sales in a slower real estate market. Fisa Macy, president of Coldwell Banker RMR, said the houses that are selling in Jackson County are either priced below $250,000 or above $800,000. However, there is still a 16-24 month inventory of unsold houses on the market in Jackson County, she added. “In Gwinnett County, the con sensus is Jackson County is dead,” Macy said about the real estate market. And that’s why she’s wondering how real estate sales agents can encourage people to buy houses in Jackson County. Broker Jan Baker suggested fol lowing the lead of other metro Atlanta counties and market Jackson County in advertisements in Atlanta and interstate billboards. She added that the advertisements should focus on why now is a good WCVA CINEMAS 340 Tanger Dr. • Commerce, GA Located in the Tanger Outlet Center MOVIE HOTLINE (706)423-9659 www.novacmemas.com —— 1 r iT r'T Ti" t Call 706-423-9659 for all movies and show times or visit our website www.novacmemas.com I ALL MOVIES PRESENTED IN A STEALTH CINEMA ENVIRONMENT! time to buy in Jackson County. Focal real estate sales agents, however, also said they’re facing some tough realities in the slower residential market. Their concerns, they said, are not just limited to Jackson County, but most metro Atlanta counties. Some banks are not loaning money as easily for new hous es without first having residents for the houses. News of recent tax hikes in Jackson County has deterred some customers from buying locally. And real estate sales agents throughout the nation are having to deal with customers hearing bad news about the hous ing industry. “It’s not a local issue, it’s a national issue,” said developer Shannon Sell. The national media, he said, is focusing on the declin ing market. That’s why Baker said it’s key for local real estate sales agents to find their niche in the market and work hard to be successful. She said the two communities appeal ing to older residents with smaller lots - The Village in Deaton Creek in South Hall and The Village at Hoschton - are still selling well. Those developments, Baker said, are appealing to the area’s rural and small-town character. Macy agreed that local realtors should promote Jackson County’s positive aspects, such as its rural character and less traffic conges tion. Sell suggested that local real estate sales agents work with the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson County Builder’s Association and the 1-85 North Board of Realtors. “It’s going to take time and lower interest rates,” Sell said of the housing market. We'll come to you with custom design and products to fit your style and budget. From concept to completion, we do it all! Call for your complimentary consultation - you'll love us! Kathy Sliz 706-367-7645 www.DecoratingDen.com £och franchise independently owned and operated. JCCHS HOMECOMING WINNERS Jackson County Comprehensive High School held its homecoming against Loganville on Friday night. The homecoming court winners were: Elizabeth Castro, Miss Freshman; Christa Beth Vaughn, Miss Sophomore; Sarah Holcombe and Dana Page, Miss Junior (tied); and Chelsey McDaniel, Homecoming queen, senior. Photo by Kerri Testement Braselton More commercial projects on Hwy. 53 get approval BY KERRI TESTEMENT Two requests for new commercial projects on Ga. Hwy. 53 received a nod of approval from the Braselton Planning Commission on Monday night. The Braselton Town Council will hold a public hearing on the recommendations of the planning commission on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. A vote is expected during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. The first request came from Harold Fletcher to annex and rezone 22.56 acres from A-2 in Jackson County to General Commercial (G-C) in Braselton. The property is located about a half mile north of Cracker Barrel and has several residential build ings on the site. Fletcher is a former chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Farry Beck, Hoschton, presented the proposal to the planning commission. Fletcher is proposing to create a commercial office park on the property. The development will include two, two-acre parcels along Hwy. 53, Beck said. Those two buildings for a retail store or restaurant will total 18,000 square feet, according to plans. An internal road through the Submit your school or social news from Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Mill Creek, South Hall or West Jackson by e-mailing news@mainstreetnews. com, faxing items to 706-387-5421 or calling 706-367-5986. Feature story ideas are also welcomed. development will lead to an addi tional 16 smaller buildings for office and warehouse space. The Braselton Planning Commission recommended approval of Fletcher’s request. The planners also recommend ed approval of another proposed commercial development located directly across Hwy. 53, between Johnson Drive and Fagree Duck Road. Dunhill Developers, FFC is requesting annexation and rezoning of 3.653 acres from A-2 in Jackson County to G-C in Braselton. Dunhill Developers is planning to build three buildings, across Johnson Drive from Cycle Nation, Beck said. The development will include 17,000 square feet of commer cial building space, according to plans. LAND USE REQUEST The Braselton Planning Commission also recommended approval of plans for a 61.76-acre property on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County. Property owner Anna Properties is asking that the town’s current future land use classification for the property be changed from light industrial/warehouse to general commercial/business and high- density, single-family residential. Greg Hill, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, said the property is surrounded by a commercial development on the north and resi dential property on the south. The property is currently zoned for industrial use. The property now includes an office and warehouse building, and vineyards for Chateau Elan. Those facilities will be removed and replaced with the proposed mixed-use project, according to plans submitted to the town. Plans call for the property to include 106,700 square feet of building space for office and com mercial uses. A proposal submit ted to the town also includes 206 residential townhouses. Planning commission chairman Allan Slovin said the townhouses are more appropriate for the area than the initially-planned indus trial uses. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 4PM - 5 BR/4.5 BA HOME & 27.7± AC IN 3 TRACTS 257 Sims Bridge Rd. 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