Page 2A
The Braselton News
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Area N e ws
Jackson Countv Board of Commissioners
Commissioners split on impact fees
BY ANGELA GARY
J ackson County commission
er Tom Crow continued to
push his fellow commission
ers to move forward with studying
impact fees Monday night, but his
motion failed in a 3-2 vote.
Commissioner Dwain Smith
voted with Crow to do an impact
fee study. But commissioners Jody
Thompson and Bruce Yates and
BOC chairman Pat Bell voted not
to fund the idea.
“I feel like the timing is not
right,” Bell said. “I’m concerned
about the cost. It would totally
wipe out our contingency fund...
I’m against spending money that is
not in the budget.”
Thompson suggested the BOC
consider making the study a budget
item next year instead of taking the
money from the contingency fund.
But Crow said it would take time
to get a study completed.
“We need to do the study,” he
said. “If the study shows we don’t
need impact fees, so be it... I feel
like we need to do the study... It
takes about one year to do it (the
study).”
Yates said he “understands the
importance of impact fees,” but
doesn’t believe it is the time to do
a study.
In other business, two votes were
taken on selecting a bond under
writer before any action was taken.
The first vote, which failed 3-2, was
to name Merchant Capital as the
underwriter. The next vote, which
passed 3-2, was to name Miller &
Martin as the underwriter.
The first motion to name Merchant
Capital was made by Smith. Bell
seconded this motion, but the other
three commissioners voted against
it.
The second motion, to name
Miller & Martin, was made by
Thompson. Crow and Bell voted in
favor of this motion, while Smith
and Yates voted against it.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at Monday’s
three-hour meeting, the BOC:
•named Charles Herrington to
serve on the county dangerous dog
committee.
•approved a $348,370 contract
with Moreland Altobelli Associates
for engineering and design of Zion
Church Road. Funds will come
from the 2004 bond project.
•approved a $1.9 million paving
contract to Pittman Construction
for 2008 road projects.
•approved a $266,000 contract
with Heath and Lineback Engineers
for preliminary engineering and
design for the State Route 53/
Hoschton-Braselton Bypass project.
Thompson voted against this, while
the other commissioners voted in
favor of it.
•postponed closing the bridge
over Possum Creek Road after
hearing from a property owner who
said he uses the bridge to travel to
and from his property.
•approved a request from Ricky
Dale Maddox to locate an addi
tional residence at 1023 Murphy
Road in order to care for a family
member with medical problems.
•postponed a request from
Ninragon for an alcohol license
for a restaurant in Traditions Way,
Jefferson. The request was post
poned because the applicant wasn’t
present.
•approved an alcohol license
for Braselton Golf Club due to a
change in ownership.
•approved a request from Ricky
Raymond and Associates for a
map amendment to change Athens
Stonecasting, located on Hwy. 441,
from gateway corridor to rural plac
es.
•Jim Scott of Commerce asked
the BOC to consider taking bids for
large projects, such as profession
al services. Professional services
include attorneys, surveyors, engi
neers and accountants. Consultant
Don Clerici, who oversees large
capital improvement projects for
the county, said the county selects
the “most qualified firm” and then
“negotiates the price.”
Barrow County
GOP calls for Georgia lawmakers to support H.R. 725
BOC agrees on vision, mission statements
BY ANGELA GARY
Jackson County leaders believe their North
Georgia county is located in the “center
of opportunity.” With its position between
Atlanta and Greenville and its proximity
to Athens and Gainesville, leaders believe
Jackson County has plenty of opportunities
for its citizens, as well as a quality of life
that is commendable.
After three hours Tuesday morning
discussing the county’s strengths and
weaknesses, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners
agreed on the following vision statement: “Jackson
County, the center of opportunity, is committed to
creating and sustaining a quality of life that promotes
family, business and leisure living.”
The BOC decided the “vision statement” would be
used to guide how all county business is conducted. It
will be posted in all county offices and will be used to
promote the county.
“Jackson County, the center of opportunity,’ that is
fabulous to me,” commissioner Bruce Yates said. “...I
think we’ve got some tremendous things today. I’m
excited about it. I think it is great.”
During Tuesday’s afternoon session, a mission
statement was established. It reads: “We strive to
provide innovative, progressive and quality services
to the people of Jackson County. We are committed to
providing efficient, effective, responsive and ethical
service. We are open and accountable to those we
serve.”
The BOC also discussed ways to use the vision and
mission statements to promote the county. Among
the items discussed were using the statements in
presentations to community groups, creating a county
lapel pin and communicating the county’s vision to
cities. The BOC also plans to get bids from marketing/
public relations companies to handle some of these
promotions.
One of the main reasons for the planned promotion
is to “improve the county’s image.” Yates, a former
Braselton city councilman, pointed out that Braselton
has been very successful in improving its image over
the past several years.
YATES
But commissioner Dwain Smith demurred
from that view.
“I don’t think we have a bad image...” he
said. “I don’t know that there is whole lot
wrong with Jackson County.”
BOC chairman Pat Bell responded, “We
are promoting our greatness.”
Commissioner Jody Thompson pointed
out that the BOC needs a clear goal for
promoting the county, whether it is to
improve the image, to attract visitors or
newcomers. He also said the BOC needs to get a cost
for a marketing campaign before moving forward.
REVIEW STRENGHS, WEAKNESSES
Also at Tuesday’s all-day meeting, the BOC discussed
the county’s weaknesses, strengths and challenges.
Among the strengths were: Location; industrial-
commercial-residential balance; value system of faith;
ethics and work habits; large undeveloped areas; well
managed authorities; historic foundation; attractive
to new residents; opportunity for development; great
schools; great emergency services; very involved
citizens and volunteer organizations; good financial
position; diverse citizenship; retaining rural character;
accessibility; great natural resources; abundant water;
and good economic growth.
Among the weaknesses listed were: Perception of lack
of cooperation; health care; lack of a common vision;
lack of a cohesive plan considering all stakeholders;
uncontrolled growth; lack of a skilled workforce;
lack of citizen participation; lack of communication
between governments (city vs. county); diversity of
tax base (need manufacturing jobs); work on image;
ordinances not geared towards future or up to date or
enforceable; no good public relations program to push
Jackson County; and lack of recreation for all ages.
The one-day meeting was moderated by Gordon
Maner of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at
the University of Georgia.
Those attending were: Bell, Smith, Yates
commissioners Tom Crow and Jody Thompson,
county manager Darrell Hampton, finance director
John Hulsey, county clerk Ericka Johnson and former
interim county manager Leonard Myers.
The County Committee of the
Barrow County Republican Party
passed a resolution Monday call
ing for Georgia senators and con
gressmen to support H.R. 725, the
“Veterans’ Memorials, Boy Scouts,
Public Seals, and Other Public
Expressions of Religion Protection
Act of 2007.”
The federal legislation, introduced
by Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana, calls
for a statutory amendment which
would “prevent the use of the legal
system in a manner that extorts
money from State and local govern
ments, and the Federal Government,
and inhibits such governments’ con
stitutional actions under the first,
tenth, and fourteenth amendments.”
According to a written statement
released by Kenneth Young, chairman
of the Barrow County Republican
Party, the legislation is needed to
end abuses by the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU).
The 1976 Civil Rights Attorney’s
Fees Awards Act allows the ACLU
to collect attorney’s fees for lawsuits
involving the Pledge of Allegiance
and displays of crosses or the Ten
Commandments on public property.
According to the resolution, the
ACLU is using the act as a means
of “asserting a civil right not to see
a cross or the Ten Commandments
displayed on public property.”
In Georgia alone, the ACLU has
received over $225,000 in legal fees
stemming from lawsuits against
Barrow and Habersham Counties over
Ten Commandments displays. The
ACLU received over half a million
dollars in the landmark Alabama case
where Judge Roy Moore was forced
to remove the Ten Commandments
from his courtroom.
Submit your school or social news
from Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau
Elan, Mill Creek, South Hall or
West Jackson by e-mailing
news@mainstreetnews.com, fax
ing items to 706-387-5421 or
calling 706-367-5986.
Memorial Park South
Funeral Home & Chapel
Cemetery - Garden Mausoleums
Niches - Crematory
Full Service Facility including
Funeral Home, Cemetery and Crematory
Providing the Lowest Possible Prices.
Serving Braselton - Hoschton
Chateau Elan - Chestnut Mountain
Since 2000
4121 Falcon Parkway • Flowery Branch 30542
770-967-5555
www.memorialparksouth.com
Lanier Family &
Cosmetic Dentistry
Now Accepting
New Patients!
Alla V. Brown, D.M.D.
For Appointments Call
678-714-9199
5328 Friendship Rd., Suite 200, Buford, GA 30518
Visit our website at www.laniersmiles.com
For ALL your signage needs!
Signs
Decals
Banners
Magnets
Vehicle Graphics
(706)367-4817
Locally owned and operated!
Words a Music:
Stories Thru Folktales a Song
Presented by The Crawford W. Long Museum
At the Jefferson Clubhouse
Bring ad for 1 FREE
Admission
Saturday, March 29, 2008
2 Shows:
2-3:30 pm with focus on folktales
k 7-9:30 pm with focus on music
Folktales by Donna Butler and folk
music provided by the “Solstice
Sisters."
'this program generously sponsored fry the grassroots
Arts program which is supported in
part by the georgta Ownedfor the
Arts through the appropriations of the
georgta generalAssembly and
administered by the Arts Qouncd Inc
gatnesvtde—‘Rggton S grassroots
Agency
Formers information: 706/367
-5307
Admission: $1.00
FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH,
YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS!
Let your members know when your group is meeting!
Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in...
• The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News
• The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal
JEFFERSON
ISP AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 3io
White Plains Baptist Church
Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning
at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers
become friends and friends become family.
706-367-5650
White Plains Baptist Church
3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549
The Jackson Co. Republican Party
Would like you to meet us for
breakfast the second Sat. of each
month, 8:00 at The Jefferson
House. For more information, call
706-652-2967 or email
fishyglass@yahoo.com Pd.os/os
BANKS COUNTY
i|I AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.06/08
rpfe VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Mike Buffington, Commander
Phone 706-335-6532 263
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. • (706) 367-1400
Mark Bradley, President
260
UNITY LODGE
F& A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwight Wier • 706-367-5882
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. • (706) 654-2237
Clay Eubanks, President
260
<£& COMMERCE
WAMERICAN LEGION
Commerce Rec. Dept. Post 93
Carson Street - 1st Mon. night
Each Month, 7:30 p.m.
335-6400
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pd.-2/20os
