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Wednesday, December 12, 2007 The Braselton News Page 3A Barrow Countv Board of Commissioners Winder mayor honored by commissioners BY KRISTI REED Barrow County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Garrison proclaimed December 11, 2007, as “Mayor Buddy Ouzts Day”. The commissioners com mended Ouzts at Tuesday night’s board meeting for his 17 years of service as Mayor of Winder. Ouzts was recognized for his contributions to several community programs and facilities, including the Winder-Barrow Adult Literacy Program, the Boys & Girls Club of Winder-Barrow, Peace Place, and Highland House. Garrison said Ouzts has been a source of guidance and leadership over the years. “You’re one of the first ones I sought out for advice and you have always steered me in the right direction,”” Garrison told Ouzts. Mayor Ouzts said he was hon ored by the recognition. “I more than appreciate the com mission having me here tonight and recognizing me in this fashion,” Ouzts said. “I’m very humbled.” In other board business, com missioners amended a proposed host fee agreement contract with Oak Grove Landfill. The amend ment makes the new arrangement applicable only to the company’s currently proposed expansion. Oak Grove Landfill has proposed expanding its landfill in the area of the old Speedway landfill. Commissioner Bill Healan requested the amendment after expressing concern that the con tract, as written, would prevent the county from renegotiating fees in the event of future expansions to the landfill. As part of the compa ny’s contract with the county, Oak Grove pays a host fee in addition to a state mandated surcharge. Over the course of the new contract, the host fee would increase from 50 cents per ton to $1.50 per ton. These fees would be paid in addi tion to the state mandated $1.00 per ton surcharge. As a result of the agreement, Barrow County will see an increase in revenue from $90,000 a month to approximately $120,000 a month. Commissioners approved the amended contract by a vote of 5-1. Commissioner Bill Brown was the sole dissenting vote. Brown said he is concerned about the proposed landfill expansion. “The people in that area were misled to start off with,”” Brown said. “"’Their future is not too bright. They have nothing to look forward to. There are other rural counties that could better serve our needs and I think [the landfill] needs to go somewhere else.” OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the meeting, Barrow County commissioners: •approved a resolution authoriz ing the transmittal of the Barrow County Comprehensive Plan to the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Committee and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The plan, updated every five to 10 years, outlines issues fac ing Barrow County and solutions for improving the community. After a review period, the plan will be brought before the commission for final adoption. •passed a resolution opposing House Bill 900. HB 900 as origi nally proposed would eliminate local property taxes along with certain sales and use taxes. These taxes would be replaced with a state sales tax, the revenue from which would be distributed as determined by the state legislature. The reso lution opposing HB 900 states the belief of county and other local government officials that the legis lation is not in the best interests of the citizens of Barrow County. •approved a contract for services with Peace Place, a women and children’s shelter. Peace Place provides assistance to the county in helping victims of domestic vio lence. •recognized the Barrow County Human Resource Department for its accomplishments in maintain ing excellent employee relations and providing other services on behalf of the county. •approved 4-2 a request to allow Carter Watkins and Associates to design and engineer a new heat ing and air system for the Barrow Regional Library. District 3 Commissioner Healan and District 6 Commissioner Hendrix voted against the proposal after express ing concerns about the costs. •approved the Piedmont Judicial Circuit Alternative Resolution Dispute Program Contract. •reclassified the position of the grade 11 legal secretary within the District Attorney’s Office to a grade 16 investigator. The change was requested to better reflect the responsibilities of the position. •voted 4-2 to approve a new health service agreement amend ment with CorrectHealth LLC, the company which provides medical services to inmates at the detention Northeast Georgia Bank to host Santa Northeast Georgia Bank, Braselton, will be host Santa Claus in the lobby of the bank on Thursday, Dec. 20, from 3-5 p.m. Children and families are invited to stop by to visit. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. The bank is located at 5045 Hwy 53 in Braselton. FOR THE BEST BUYS, READ THE CLASSIFIED ADS Choose & Cut Christmas Trees Located Just 10 Miles from Athcti* 7 G's Farm 2131 Old Kinj^ E3rid^ Rd Nicholson 757-U26 Proud Spon nor ot' 'Trees for Troops” V Si r-VmM 2 h SO0 Leyland Cypress Chriumas Trees $ - 14 fi Open Daily 9 am- 5 pm until Dec 24 lh Please Recycle This Newspaper! WINDER MAYOR HONORED Barrow County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Garrison presents Winder Mayor Buddy Ouzts with a certificate proclaiming December 11,2007 as “Mayor Buddy Ouzts Day.” center. Captain Mike Katsegianes of the Barrow County Sheriff’s Department said the amendment would result in more cost effective health care. Healan and Hendrix voted against the amendment cit ing cost concerns. The contract amount of $467,174 had been pre viously approved as part of the fiscal year 2008 budget. •authorized the submittal of a grant application which would pro vide funding to bring four Barrow County polling locations in com pliance with the American with Disabilities Act. •approved a request by the finance department to spend $21,840 to upgrade its current payroll system from Kronos 5.0 to version 6.0. The upgrade is necessary in order to process this year’s W-2 forms and receive legislative updates. •tabled the adoption of new food service rules and regulations in order to allow for a public hearing on the ordinance. •approved the implementation of a new environmental health fee schedule to bring Barrow’s fees into alignment with surrounding counties. The fees would result in an additional $50,000 a year in revenues. •approved a request by applicant Allison Moravec to allow a home barber shop at 674 Rivermill Road. The business will not be open to the public. •approved a request to rezone the property located at Hwy 8 and Midland Avenue from Ml to C2. The property will be developed as a convenience store with connected office and retail space. •approved a request by applicant Mary Ann Prater to rezone three acres located at 1031 Clacktown Road from AG to AR. •approved the appointment of Frankie Cabe to the Keep Barrow Beautiful Board. •changed the rules of procedure to require that items and informa tion being placed on the board’s agenda be submitted at least five days prior to the meeting. Drought ‘Unique’ water method used for new landscaping BY KERRI TESTEMENT The total outdoor watering ban in Jackson County has prompted one couple to resort to a unique water conservation method. Larry and Jean Beck were recent ly putting the finishing touches on their new home in Traditions of Braselton when the outdoor water ing ban nearly stopped the residen tial project. Jackson County currently doesn’t allow new landscapes to be watered — but the Becks didn’t want to leave their 10,000 square-foot home without a yard. “It was almost done, but it was sitting there with no landscaping and just dirt,” said Jean Beck, who designed the house. “It was just sad.” Instead, the couple opted to find a unique way to water their new landscape without violating water ing restrictions. The Becks are using their unfin ished pool to store water trucked in from another county that doesn’t have an outdoor watering ban. The water is then pumped from the pool to the landscaping. And just so neighbors don’t won der how the new landscaping is NEW HOUSE Larry and Jean Becks’ new house in Traditions of Braselton is using water that is trucked in from another county for the land scaping. The couple has placed a sign in their yard about the method. surviving the drought conditions, the Becks have placed a sign in the yard that states, “Watering Done From Pool with Trucked in Water.” The idea to use their pool as a holding pond for landscaping water first came to Jean Beck as a dream. She admits the method is one that came out of “desperation” after other ideas failed. The couple asked officials in Jackson County and the subdivi sion about drilling a well for water on their property on Traditions Way. That idea was rejected by both authorities. Later, Jean Beck asked her land scaper about using pool water for the new sod. That idea worked, but the pool remains unfinished while it holds water trucked in from another county. Larry and Jean Beck, who are both local real estate agents, hope to finish their Traditions home in two weeks. Hoschton Commercial land rezoned back to residential BY KERRI TESTEMENT A request to change the zoning of property from commercial to residential was approved by the Hoschton City Council last week. The council approved a request from Hilliard Lott to rezone property located on Pendergrass Road (Ga. Hwy. 332) and Oak Street from C-l to R-l. A portion of the vacant land was subdivided and sold to a real estate office several years ago. When the RDC updated the city’s zoning map, it was unaware of the property being split and sold, and showed the entire property as being commercially-zoned. “This was done without the applicant’s plan or desire,” city planner Wistar Harmon said. Lott was asking for the rezoning of his 2.73-acre property due to his taxes being increased with the commercial-zoning designation. Council member Theresa Kenerly voted in opposi tion to the request. OTHER REQUESTS In other zoning and planning business, the city council: •approved a request from Cornel Oroian to build a new office building at 4165 Hwy. 53 in Hoschton’s Downtown Overlay District. The property includes a historical house, which Oroian offered to donate to anyone who would move the structure off the site. The council agreed to reduce a buffer requirement to preserve trees along Hwy. 53 and allow a sidewalk along the state highway. •tabled a request by Shannon Sell to rezone lot 7 on Oak Street from Office-Residential (O-R) to C-2. Sell asked the city council to table the request until January, since he was out of town this week. Hoschton council meets on committee assignments BY KERRI TESTEMENT The Hoschton City Council is expected to stick with the may or’s recommendations for the city’s commissions. The council met briefly Monday night to discuss which members will be assigned to one of six council committees. Last week, council member Jim Jester said the city’s ordinance states the mayor must make the recom mendations for the council commit tees at the beginning of each year. However, new council members Tom Walden and Theresa Kenerly said last week they didn’t want city business slowed because the council committees are not filled. Mayor Bill Copenhaver had rec ommended the following chairper sons for the council committees: Jim Jester, public works and properties; John Schulte, business, commerce and economic development; Tom Walden, fiscal resources; Theresa Kenerly, planning and zoning; Richard Shepherd, public safety; and Richard Green, water, waste and environmental services. Hoschton council members also serve as members to more than one other commission. BRASELTON — continued from page 1A OTHER BUSINESS In other business on Monday, the Braselton Town Council: •met in a closed-door meeting for 13 minutes to discuss “pending or potential litigation.” The coun cil took no action when the meet ing was opened to the public. •approved an alcoholic beverage license for Houndstooth Grill, for merly the Braselton Grill on Grand Hickory Drive. •approved an alcoholic beverage license for Tea Garden, located on Ga. Hwy. 53. The restaurant plans to serve malt beverages, wine and offer Sunday sales of alcohol. •approved the transmittal of a resolution to the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center for the town’s updated capital improvement element for 2008. •approved an amended easement request with Georgia Transmission to provide a greater distance between a new power line and the town’s reuse water lines in Braselton’s 71 acre park, locat ed on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County. The difference between the initial easement and the latest easement is .590 acres. Christian Outreach Thru? St ore UEW AMD OSED FU£NirU££, Viarreesses, eLorriiw<s, nouseuoLp &oove>, etc. holiday vj) DEADLINE 12 N °u n D^ 26 publication Friday, l> ec - 281 for the Jan- ,12 The Braselton 33 Lee Street tfetson P.O.Box Ga. 30549 908 335-6084 2!S3 N.filro SLCwmwnxGA Your patronage helps provide f;: these in need. Tetter^ (706) 3 67 ' 52 / 1