Newspaper Page Text
6A
♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23,2006
ISSUES
From page iA
Sen. Ross Tolleson and
Representatives Larry
O’Neal, Willie Talton and
Tony Sellier. Sanders had a
list of nine issues expected
to come before the General
Assembly in the upcoming
session. “This kind of meet
ing is very helpful,” Talton
said at the conclusion. “It
helps us know where you are
coming from.”
The county and the cit
ies disagreed on changes
to the exiting annexation
laws with the cities believ
ing the exiting laws work
well. “We’re very comfort
able with the process,” said
Centerville City Manager
Patrick Eidson.
Perry Mayor Jim Worrall
said “at the present time
were are in a conflict with
the county, we want the pro
cess to follow through. We
can live with the law as it
is.”
Sanders said, the law, as
it is needs to be improved.
There have been instances of
abuse, some disagreements
and instances where coun
ty residents don’t feel they
have a say - city officials
don’t listen to them because
they are not residents.
Warner Robins Mayor
Donald Walker said, “people
in the unincorporated areas
don’t want to see the area
change and have the coun
ty commission fight their
fight.”
Worrall said, “we have
a nucleus of individuals at
all our meetings to protest
annexation.”
DELIVER
From page iA
10.12 percent 0r147 more
patients at 1,599 than 1,452
from last year. At Houston
Medical Center, year-to-date
admissions are up 2.54 per
cent or 213 at 8,595 from
last year’s 8,382.
Outpatient services are
also up from last year. Visits
are up 23.52 percent at
Houston Lake Med-Stop, up
6.33 percent at the Pavilion
Med-Stop and 9.37 percent
at Perry Hospital.
PROTEST
From page lA
adding 60 days on to the
contract.
The changes included
extending the 16-inch water
main across Feagin Mill Road
for future extension to Lake
Joy Road, to support heavy
trucks at the rear loading
dock and on the transformer
pad per Flint EMC specifica
tions, as well as additional
protection for pump bowels
to combat low pH condition
in water.
The commission also
approved three bids on bud
geted purchases including:
• $15,871.33 from Wayne
BUST
From page lA
charged with driving while
license is suspended and fail
ure to maintain lane.
The passenger was also
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Commissioner Jay Walker,
who faced two of those indi
viduals in his re-election,
said he doesn’t object to
annexation if property own
ers want to come in to the
city, as long as it’s within
the bounds of the existing
neighborhood. “If there are
changes to the exiting neigh
borhood, I’m opposed.”
Commissioner Larry
Thomson said, “our biggest
heartburn is in the south
and rural areas, where
developers try to put a high
concentration of housing.”
Commissioner Tom
McMichael said the problem
is PUDs. “I have yet to see
one. A PUD is a Planned
Use development not a hous
ing development.”
McMichael said overall he
has no real problem with
annexation. “We will contin
ue to see more as the county
does not have a sewer sys
tem.”
Commissioner Walker
explained some of the
Association County
Commissioners of Georgia’s
concerns such as cities
annexing roads to get to a
property. “In Dublin, the
city wanted to annex all of
Interstate 16 through the
whole county.”
Sanders said annexation
is not a big problems with
adjacent properties, but in
the outlying areas because of
the impact on roads, police
and fire service.
County Director of
Administration Steve Engle
suggested the legislators
“maybe look at the resolu
tion process and response
time constraints, especially
the seven day response time.
Revenues are also up for
Houston Healthcare. Powell
said net patient revenues
for November exceeded
$16.4 million, up from $14.1
million last year. Houston
Healthcare ended November
with a net funds available
of $4.1 million compared
to the budgeted amount of
$690,759.
Powell said through nine
months of the fiscal year, net
patient revenues exceeded
$133 million compared to
the $128.9 million budget
ed. The net funds available
for capital improvements
Morris Ford for one extend
ed cab pickup truck with
a 6-foot bed for the Roads
Department.
• $42,793.71 from Calhoun
Automotive for vehicle main
tenance for the Sheriff s
Department for calendar
year 2007.
• $223,439.55 for water
department supplies. The
bids were to the low bidder
on each of six items with
each vendor getting a piece
of the pie.
During the public com
ment portion of the meet
ing, Lt. Col. Kevin Smock
raised concerns about a com
mercial rezoning behind his
home in Peachtree Estates
in Bonaire. He said the
charged with permitting an
unlicensed person to drive
as the rental agreement on
the vehicle was registered in
her name.
Chambers said the sus
pects were most likely head-
Play in the sanctuary
9 A.M.-11A.M.
Sometimes we don’t have a
meeting for 21 days.”
Walker said we have a
paradise here in Houston
County with the relation
ships with the cities and
the county. “I have more
problems with the munici
palities on annexation than
with the county. I have none
with Peach County, Perry,
Centerville or Bryon.”
O’Neal said the ACCG
wants substantial changes,
where property owners can
de-annex from the city and
that the county commission
ers have ultimate say so on
annexation.
Sanders said only some
parts need to be changed.
“We don’t want absolute
veto power.”
O’Neal pointed out that
right now the county can
only stall not stop an annex
ation.”
He said, “the beef is the
cities are induced for fiscal
reasons to change zonings.
isn’t it a hit to the county
budget to lose the fire tax
and franchise fees?”
Engle said the increased
value of the property usually
offsets the loss of fire tax
and fees. Mayor Walker said,
“the commissioners receive
a windfall in that they don’t
have to provide services any
more.”
Sanders said, “it’s not the
loss of revenue but the inap
propriate land use.”
The possible land use at
Oaky Woods was also an
issue as is Infrastructure
Development District legis
lation, which may be used to
develop the site as a private
city.
Sanders said he’s had
exceeded $16.4 million, more
than twice the budgeted $8
million.
Houston Medical Center
Administrator Skip Philips
gave the board an update
on some of the capital proj
ects. He said the Houston
Heart Institute project is
going well, with completion
expected soon. Roofing and
exterior cleaning were able
to be added to the project.
Philips said the ground
breaking for the new ener
gy plant is scheduled for
January. Three things were
added to the project - addi-
industrial equipment rental
business creates significant
noise vibrations.
“I don’t think the intent of
the rezoning was to change
the fabric of the neighbor
hood,” Smock said and asked
for some sound mitigation.
County Building Official
Tim Andrews said the appli
cation is appropriate to
the site but there are some
things at the site not in com
pliance.
Andrews has met with the
owner and “he appears to
be cooperative to making
changes,” include meeting
buffer requirements.
“Corrective action has
started,” Andrews said.
ing back to Tallahasee, since
that’s where they’re from,
but they did not say where
they obtained the cocaine.
The street value for the
cocaine seized is estimated
over $12,000.
LOCAL
numerous complaints that
the state didn’t buy the land
and preserve its. The opin
ion of most, Sanders said,
“y’all ought to do what you
can to buy it and preserve
it as a wildlife management
area and for outdoor recre
ation.”
Talton asked/pointed out
“it’s not for sale now, is it?”
Tolleson explained why
the state didn’t buy the
land saying there were
large budgetary constraints
when it came up for sale.
“Weyerhaeuser owned and
had the right to do what
they wanted with it.”
Tolleson said, “nobody
worked harder than Sonny
Perdue to get them to set it
aside for a year,” as a wild
life management area.
He said a deal for the land
to be put in a trust with the
Georgia Land Conservancy
fell through because “the
state had to guarantee
repurchase, but you can’t do
that when you’re broke. The
governor and the General
Assembly wanted to buy
it, but you can’t write the
check if you don’t have the
money.”
Tolleson said the
Department of Natural
Resources wants to protect
the bear habitat. The state
wants to do what it can to
protect Oaky Woods, espe
cially the most sensitive
parts.
Sanders said, “we realize
what the state would like
to, but the issue still comes
up. Does the state have the
wherewithal to do it?”
Tolleson said the issue
comes up daily.
Sanders was also con
tional acoustic buffers, a
third generator and more
fireproofing.
He said the certificate
of need is still in process,
with decision expected in
February on the northwest
tower. He also said the sec
ond floor renovation is com
plete. It’s now open and
operational as of Dec. 11.
The project budgeted at
$3.6 million came in at $3
million, Philips said.
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cerned about the site as a
potential location for an IDD.
O’Neal said he would “not
be involved in it this time,”
referring to IDD legislation
which he and State senator
Cecil Staton each introduced
last session. O’Neal noted
however that the ACCG is
supporting it this time.
McMichael said
Infrastructure Development
Districts may work in the
lower tier counties, but “one
size does not fit all. I don’t
think it belongs here.”
Sanders said, “for those
counties that can control
growth, they should be able
to retain the ability to do
so.”
McMicheal was also con
cerned about the impact to
the county if one of these
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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
example of Lake Wildwood
in Bibb County. “It collapsed.
The county had to take over
the roads and sewer sys
tem.”
Sanders was concerned
about the autonomy of the
private city. The leaders are
not elected.
Mayors Walker and Worrall
agreed. “What do you think
you would have with citi
zens do if the developer is
in charge,” Walker said, and
not answerable to anyone.
Commissioner Gail
Robinson said the develop
ments “would be bonded,
but there is no way to cover
it if it folds.”
Sellier said his district,
which is mostly rural “has
similar concerns about the
land use.”
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