Newspaper Page Text
Page 8A
The Braselton News
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Barrow County Board of Education
Winder
Barrow ESOL enrollment to double by 2012-13
BY KRISTI REED
P roviding further evidence of Barrow County’s
growing diversity, a recent report shows
enrollment in the school system’s English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program is
expected to more than double by the 2012-13 school
year.
Jan Masingill, ESOL coordinator for Barrow County
Schools, presented a program update at Thursday’s
Board of Education work session. Statistics show the
system’s ESOL enrollment has increased at a rapid
pace over the past few years. During the 2005-2006
school year, total program enrollment was 588 stu
dents. This year’s enrollment currently stands at 842.
By 2012-2013, system planners expect to enroll 1,953
students who speak English as a second language.
That number represents 11.9 percent of total school
system enrollment.
Masingill told board members that additional per
sonnel would be needed to provide ESOL services
and support. Masingill also emphasized the chal
lenges involved in communicating with non-English
speaking parents of ESOL students. Masingill said
Barrow County’s need for translation and interpreta
tion services would continue to grow with the ESOL
population. Currently, Barrow students include native
speakers of over 24 different languages.
The ESOL program is a state funded program
designed to help students learn the English language
while at the same time achieving academic goals.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 5.8
percent of Barrow County residents spoke a language
other than English at home in 2006. According to a
November 2007 school system demographics report,
15 percent of Barrow County students speak a pri
mary language other than English.
In other business at Thursday’s work session,
Superintendant Saunders presented an update regard
ing single gender math education classes at Winder
Barrow Middle School. Currently in its first semes
ter, the single gender program has resulted in reduced
disciplinary issues and increased requests for more
single gender instruction.
OTHER BUSINESS
At Tuesday night’s regular meeting, board mem
bers:
•honored Colura Lindsey of County Line Elementary
for achieving the designation of National Board
Certified Counselor.
•recognized the Special Education Department as
a state leader in improving performance of students
with disabilities.
•recognized Katherine Brown of Bethlehem
Elementary School. Ms. Brown has been selected to
teach state math standards in videotaped training to
be distributed to educators statewide.
•approved Career, Technical and Agricultural
Education (CTAE) course revisions. The revisions
include new course names and numbers.
•approved a new Middle School agricultural text
book. The textbook has been available for review by
the public for the past month. No public comments
were received.
•voted to request a waiver for the Georgia Virtual
School policy. Currently, the program allows stu
dents to take only one course during the school day.
The school system is requesting that students be
allowed the opportunity to take additional coursework
if desired.
•placed several items on the table for review includ
ing a new graduation policy which will bring Barrow
County’s policy in line with new state requirements.
Other items subject to review include the 2008-2009
and 2009-2010 school calendars, the 2008 Board
meeting calendar and a new social studies elective for
Winder Barrow High School.
PROJECT — continued from page 1A
Vintage Communities is the
developer of The Village at Deaton
Creek — which was approved for
1,300 residential units and 143,000
square feet of mixed-use retail
space in July 2005.
Since then, the company says
The Village at Deaton Creek has
become one of the most successful
in the Atlanta region, according to
planning documents.
The Village at Deaton Creek is
Georgia’s first Del Webb active-
adult community by Pulte Homes.
The community is open to resi
dents who are 55 years or older.
The concept for Thompson Mills
Village includes several segments.
According to planning documents,
they include:
•“The Village Center and Comer
Market Area”: A pedestrian area
for both sides of Deaton Creek
Parkway at the main entrance of
The Village at Deaton Creek. It
will contain a mix of residential
and retail uses, including a gro
cery store, pharmacy and several
shops.
•“The Central Park and Park
Avenue Area”: An “upscale” resi
dential townhouse condominium
area that makes use of rear-access
alleys to serve 15 buildings. A cen
tral greenspace area is planned.
•“The Town Center Area”: A
mixed-use area with 238,458
square feet of retail space with
359,249 square feet of office space
over 62 live/work condominium
homes, 330 condominiums and a
200-room hotel with several park
ing decks.
•“The Mansions”: The area will
include 70 condominiums in four
and five-story buildings.
•“The Cottages”: The area will
include 70 rear-entry townhouses
planned in the final phase of devel
opment.
Vintage Communities plans to
build Thompson Mills Village over
an eight-year period, according to
plans.
THOMPSON PRESIDES OVER FIRST MEETING
George “Chip” Thompson presides over his first meeting as the new mayor of Winder. Thompson
replaces Buddy Ouzts, who recently retired after 17 years of service. Council members shown from
left to right are: Frank Dunagan, David Maynard, Charlie Eberhart, Mayor Thompson, Ridley Parrish,
Mike Mingus and Sonny Morris.
City’s tax digest jumps over five-year period
BY KRISTI REED
The City of Winder has a bright
future according to the recently
released Citizen’s Report. The
report, also known as the Popular
Annual Financial Report, provides
an overview of government opera
tions for the fiscal year ended June
30, 2007.
Among the highlights: Winder
has experienced an 84 percent
increase in the city’s tax digest
during the past five years. The
city has also enjoyed increased
revenue from utility sales. Over
the past five years, the number of
water customers has increased by
26 percent while the number of gas
customers has grown by 22 per
cent. Special purpose local option
tax receipts have increased by over
30 percent.
Since Winder does not levy a
property tax, the city relies on sales
taxes, business licenses, building
permits and utility sales for rev
enue. Though utility revenues are
down for the current fiscal year due
to the drought and unusually warm
weather, the report states the city is
well positioned to enjoy continued
economic growth as its customer
base expands.
During the previous fiscal year,
the city’s net assets increased by
$3,183,271 or 7 percent from the
previous year. General fund rev
enues for the same time period
increased by $1,288,863 or 14 per
cent. Revenues exceeded expendi
tures by $327,866.
The city’s business revenues,
which include utility sales,
increased by $418,488 or 1.6 per
cent. Expenditures also increased,
but overall revenues exceeded
expenses by $2,848,160.
Lastly, the report shows a posi
tive cash flow of $ 1,696,211 for the
fiscal year. In 2005, the city had a
negative cash flow.
In addition to financial and eco
nomic information, the Citizen’s
Report provides information about
several major initiatives and accom
plishments during the past fiscal
year. These initiatives include
plans for downtown redevelop
ment, the streetscape beautification
program and the completion of the
cultural arts center.
The report also includes facts
and figures related to government
operations. During the fiscal year:
•The police department handled
16,000 calls for service.
•The fire department responded
to 1,261 emergency calls with an
average response time of 3.36 min
utes.
•The license and permit depart
ment issued 1,139 business licens
es.
•The street department picked up
and disposed of over 23,500 loads
of debris and responded to 1,800
work orders.
•Utility administration answered
17,000 calls.
•The city treated 4.37 million
gallons of water per day.
The City of Winder distribut
ed its first Citizen’s Report for
the fiscal year ended June 30,
2006. The financial department
received an award for Outstanding
Achievement on Popular Annual
Financial Reporting for that report.
The current report is available on
the City’s web site, www.cityof-
winder.com. The report will also
be available at City Hall and the
Chamber of Commerce.
Winder lifts business license moratorium
SEWER — continued from page 1A
will enhance the county’s tax digest, as opposed to
residential development, for South Hall, he added.
Hall County officials, however, don’t know if one
major project in the works — a medical campus by
the Northeast Georgia Health System in Braselton
— will be served by county sewer.
The Town of Braselton may provide sewer service
to the hospital, Banks said. A medical office build
ing under construction at the 119-acre Thompson
Mill Road property will be served by county sewer,
he added.
Sutton said officials hope more healthcare-related
services and retail projects in the area will be served
by Hall County sewer.
And Hall County is already making plans to
expand the Spout Springs Reuse Facility.
The facility currently has the capacity to treat
750,000 gallons of sewerage a day, but officials say
the three subdivisions using the plant leave plenty of
capacity available.
Hall County plans to soon ask the Georgia
Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to expand
the facility to treat 1.6 million gallons a day. The
facility is already capable of being expanded to treat
1 millions of sewerage a day.
“This plant was at a standstill (until the county
purchased it). It could only serve those three com
munities,” Banks said. “Now that we’ve taken it
over, we can run lines down Friendship Road and
wherever it’s needed.”
Hall County announced plans in September 2006
to purchase the sewer treatment facility. The only
difference current customers will experience with
the change is that they will pay a new provider,
Banks said.
“The people here now should not see any change,”
he said.
The Spout Springs Reuse Facility currently has the
capacity to provide sewer treatment for 3,000 homes,
said Charlie Evans, project manager Environmental
Management Services, Inc., the company that oper
ated the privately-owned plant.
The facility has one primary holding pond and
103 acres of sprayfields available to disperse treated
wastewater, he said. Reuse water lines are also avail
able, but currently are not being used by the three
developments now served by the facility, Evans
said.
“This is a good technology for this process,”
Evans said, who added that the former John Wieland
Wastewater Plant had been operating for five years.
Banks said the Lanier Wastewater Authority
attempted to buy the private facility in 2003, but the
move was unsuccessful.
BY KRISTI REED
Citing improved water conditions and a desire to
attract new businesses, Winder City Council members
voted unanimously at Tuesday night’s meeting to lift
the moratorium on licenses for businesses that use
outdoor watering.
The moratorium, which was voted into effect this
past November, was set to expire in February. Council
members will now consider each request involving
businesses that use outdoor watering on a case by
case basis.
Mayor Chip Thompson said he was in favor of lift
ing the ban.
“Are we going to deter positive growth in our city?
I would hate to see us do that. We want to be user
friendly to nurture positive growth,” he said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council members also rec
ognized 26 graduates of the city’s Management
Development Program (MDP). The program was
created last January for the purpose of enhancing the
leadership and management skills of administrative
personnel and department heads.
City administrator Bob Beck said the program will
improve the effectiveness and efficiency of govern
ment operations.
“As a group of people, they have a better awareness
now of the problems of our city, not just their areas,”
Beck said.
The 2007 program graduates are: Sabrina Wall,
Penny Wilkins, Leslie Ginn, Sue Fowler, Alex Wages,
Ken Chalker, Dean Kyte, Michael Sams, Freida
Harwell, Barry Edgar, Stanley Rodgers, Clifford
Poole, Frank Farr, Dennis Dorsey, Thomas Taylor,
Roger Wilhelm, Lynsay Dalton, Mike Jewell, Ray
Mattison, Randy Wells, Tim Wallace, Wesley Cox,
Barry Garrett, Jeff Carlyle, Matt Whiting, Tommy
Evans, Jennifer Toler, Stephen Eades and Nicole
Smith.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, council members:
•accepted the Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report and Citizen Financial Report.
•authorized the expenditure of $86,800 for improve
ments to the Broad Street gazebo area. The improve
ments comprise Phase I of the Broad Street Streetscape
plan. The Dickerson Group Inc. of Lawrenceville has
been awarded the contract for the work.
•authorized the execution of two contracts with the
Georgia Department of Transportation for the Horton
Street and McNeal Road improvements. Winder is
responsible for right of way acquisitions and engi
neering for the project with federal funds provided for
actual construction costs.
•approved the reappointment of Larry Evans,
Mike Cain and Jerry Maynard to the Downtown
Development Authority Committee.
•approved the reappointment of Syble McDaniel and
the appointment of Troy Hensley and Elaine Dickens
to the Historic Preservation Committee.
•approved the reappointment of David Smith and
Tommy Sanders to the Joint Development Authority.
•approved the appointment of Don Jennings to the
Public Facility Authority.
•approved the reappointment of David Smith to the
Winder Industrial Building Authority.
•approved the reappointments of David Jackson,
Jim Neu, Betty Segars and Mary Ann Price to the
Winder Planning Board.
•voted to issue a beer permit by the drink for
Rigoberto Garcia, El Arco Iris #2, Inc. located at 232
North Broad Street.
•annexed property located at 44 West May Street
into the city at the request of applicants and owners
Gerald R. Sims and Darrell Wall. The property was
approved for B-l (neighborhood commercial) zoning.
•rezoned property located at 9 and 13 West Wright
Street from R-2 to B-l. Council members also
approved a conditional use request for the property to
allow continuing use of a residence at 13 West Wright
Street.
•approved a variance for applicant Alex Roshan and
owner David Elder which allows a wall sign above
the drive thru for the Church’s Chicken at 168 West
May Street.
•approved a variance for applicant Steven Smith
and owner Verity Bank to allow a wall sign on the east
end of Verity Bank and a reduction in the setback of a
freestanding sign to be located on the comer of North
Center Street and West Athens Street.
The Winder City Council will meet for its next work
session on Monday, Feb. 4, and will meet in regular
session on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The meetings will be held
at the Cultural Arts Center due to primary elections
scheduled at the Winder Community Center.
BARROW — continued from page 1A
board of education in the form of
sales tax revenue.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, board mem
bers:
•appointed District 2
Commissioner Bill Brown as
Chairman Pro Tempore for 2008.
•appointed Jarrard and Davis
LLP as county attorneys. Jarrard
and Davis will provide legal rep
resentation for the board of com
missioners and all other county
agencies, departments and enti
ties at the rate of $165 per hour
for attorney services and $75 per
hour for paralegal work.
•reappointed Michelle Sims as
county clerk.
•adopted a new food service
rules and regulations ordinance.
The ordinance was adopted in
order to codify state rules and
regulations into county law there
by enabling prosecution of viola
tions in Magistrate Court instead
of bringing complaints before the
State Court.
•set qualifying fees for the
offices that will appear on 2008
ballots.
•approved an amendment to
the ethics ordinance which will
allow the ethics committee to
meet once per year instead of
biannually as previously sched
uled.
•affirmed the county’s support
of prescribed fire as a land man
agement and public safety tool
and expressed the board’s sup
port for the Georgia Forestry
Commission and the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources
in their public education efforts.
•tabled a rezoning request
by applicant Hwy. 316 LLC.
Applicant has requested 57 acres
on Loganville Hwy. be rezoned
from AG to R3 for a master
planned development.
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