Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023
Winder continued from 1A
living quarters, to as
sisted living, to memory
care.
By diversifying land
use designations, Wind
er will become a more
attractive destination
for businesses to locate,
or to relocate. A plan
for working with local
high schools to develop
a strong local workforce
is being considered, as
well. Improved roads,
intersections and other
infrastructure attract both
businesses and new resi
dents.
With respect to the
community of Winder, its
characteristics and rich
history, the Comprehen
sive Plan identifies ways
to preserve the city’s
unique history, preserve
its natural resources, ex
pand transportation op
tions, and expand housing
options and affordability.
A Character Area Map
is a key part of the Com
prehensive Plan. This
map identifies areas of
the city by their charac
ter, or by their desired
character. For example,
certain areas have been
characterized as being
natural, rural, suburban,
downtown, a Town Cen
ter, and an urban core.
These designations will
serve to guide future zon
ing decisions made by
this city council and fu
ture councils.
The first steering com
mittee meeting was held
on March 7, 2023.Three
subsequent steering com
mittee meetings took
place this year, the last
of which was held June
19. Public input was con
sidered at each of these
meetings. Two open
house events and a pop
up event were also held,
giving the public an op
portunity to review and
comment on the proposed
plan.
Citizen input addressed
concerns about traffic
congestion, safety and
flow, especially in the
downtown area. Public
comments also included a
desire for more parks and
recreational areas, fewer
fast-food restaurants and
more diversity in dining
and entertainment op
tions, more bike and pe
destrian routes (especial
ly around high schools),
and redevelopment and
use of Holly Hill Mall, to
name just a few.
“This plan was devel
oped alongside updated
zoning ordinances, which
will support growth in
the right locations and
guide the council when it
comes to making future
land use decisions,” said
Katie Strickland, Wind
er’s communications di
rector. “The result for the
updates to the code of
ordinances and compre
hensive plan will act as a
foundation for the future
of the city, as these doc
uments will give council
legal standing for future
land use decisions.”
Winder’s first Compre
hensive Plan has taken
months to shape, and it
includes views and input
from the general public,
as well as a vision for the
best path of growth in the
future.
City council members
voted Aug. 8 to transmit
the draft plan to the Geor
gia Department of Com
munity Affairs, where it
will be verified for com
pliance.
Visit https://www.city-
ofwinder.com/Home/
Components/News/
News/1944/474 to view
a description of the Plan
and an interactive map of
the city.
Utility rate increases in
Auburn take effect Sept. 1
By Morgan Ervin
City of Auburn residents
will see increased utility rates
next month following the city
council’s approval of the new
rates last month due to cost
increases associated with us
age and maintenance. The
increased cost of products,
wages and services caused the
rates to be insufficient com
pared to the revenue needed
to support such services., ac
cording to city administrator
Michael Parks.
WATER
The new base water
rate for residents living in
side Auburn’s city limits
will increase from $15 to
$16.50. For seniors 65 and
older, the base water rate will
increase from $ 10 to $ 11. The
rate pereach additional 1,000
gallons will increase from
$7.37 to $8.09.
SEWER
Sewer rates will remain
the same at a base rate of $17
for the first 1,000 gallons and
$5.85 for every additional
1,000 gallons.
GARBAGE
The garbage rate will in
crease from $18.20 to $23.30.
An extra can is $13.20 with a
$50 deposit. Sanitation is set
up directly through Republic
Services/Robertson Sanita
tion within the city limits.
FEES
The following utility fee in
creases uwill also take effect:
Damage to meter fee will
increase from $100 to $400;
tampering fee from $300 to
$500; meter box/lid replace
ment from $50 to $100; re
read fee from $15 to $25; af
ter-hours reconnect fee from
$25 to $325.
The rate increases take ef
fect Sept. 1.
GOLF CART
ORDINANCE
A golf cart ordinance was
passed by the council, which
allows personal transportation
vehicles (PTVs), also known
as motorized carts, to be op
erated on public roads within
the areas designated that have
a speed limit of 35 miles per
hour or less. All drivers must
be licensed and have proof
of liability insurance carried
on the PTVs. PTVs may be
operated only during daylight
hours between a half hour be
fore sunrise and a half hour
after sunset unless equipped
with two operating head
lights, taillights and brake
lights that are visible from a
distance of 500 feet.
OTHER BUSINESS
During the Auburn City
Council’s July 6 and July 20
meetings, the council also ap
proved the following:
• Naming of the street
leading to the new munici
pal complex to 1 Hawthorne
Way. The original street name
was to be 1 Auburn Way but
was changed suddenly.
• Renewal of the water
agreement contract between
Auburn and Barrow Coun
ty to ensure water usage
from the county, which will
expire in 10 years. The wa
ter purchase rate under the
agreement is $4.30 per 1,000
gallons. Water purchase rates
from the county are set in the
contract and adjusted yearly
based on the consumer price
index.
• GEFA loan modification
necessary to continue the
loan for the water treatment
facility. The new construction
completion date is set for May
2024.
• Renovations to the Per-
ry-Rainey Center after sus
tained damage due to a water
line break in the attic. During
the repair process, it was dis
covered the flowing system
was unsustainable for factors
not covered by insurance. The
approved bid was from Fox
Building for $266,329, which
will come out of the general
fund.
• Project list for a Trans
portation Local Option Sales
Tax (TPSLOST) Intergovern
mental Agreement with the
county and all six of its mu
nicipalities.
• Revision to the commer
cial vehicle parking ordinance
to provide a clearer definition
of what is considered a com
mercial vehicle.
Boswell elected as secretary of state transportation board
Jamie Boswell, of Ath
ens, has been elected as
secretary of the State
Transportation Board of
Georgia. The board elect
ed its new executive lead
ership team at its monthly
meeting on Thursday, Au
gust 17.
Boswell represents
Georgia’s 10th Congres
sional District on the State
Transportation Board. He
is a graduate of the Uni
versity of Georgia’s Terry
College of Business with
a major in real estate. Bo
swell is president and own
er of the Boswell Group,
which includes insurance,
real estate and appraisal
companies. Secretary Bo
swell has previously held
the roles of chairman, vice
chairman and secretary.
The 14-member State
Transportation Board de
termines policy and gov
erns the Georgia Depart
ment of Transportation.
Each member is elected by
a caucus of Georgia Gen
eral Assembly members
from their specific con
gressional district. Board
members serve staggered,
five-year terms.
Board elections are held
annually to ensure all re
gions of the state are rep
resented at the executive
leadership level.
Jamie Boswell, of Athens, has been elected as secretary of
the State Transportation Board of Georgia. Pictured are:
(L-R) Vice Chairman Ann R. Purcell (Congressional District
1), Chairman Robert Brown (Congressional District 4) and
Secretary Jamie Boswell (Congressional District 10).
A Atlanta Gas Light
atlantagaslight.com/safety
Smell Gas? Act Fast!
Natural gas is a colorless and odorless fuel. For safety reasons, a chemical odorant called mercaptan is
added for easy detection of a suspected natural gas leak. This odorant has a distinctive "rotten egg"
type odor. Natural gas odors should be reported immediately.
IHay olor a gas? jActue rapido! El gas natural es un combustible incoloro e inodoro. Por razones de seguridad, se le agrega un
aromatizante quimico llamado mercaptano para que se pueda detector facilmente. Este aromatizante tiene un olor caracteristico a
"huevo podrido.” Los olores a gas natural deben informarse de inmediato.
If you detect even a small amount
of this odor in the air:
Si detecta este olor en el aire, por mmimo que sea:
m
D 2023 Southern Company Gas. All rights reserved. AGL-22004
Do not try to locate the source of the smell.
No intente localizar la fuente del olor.
the area immediately and alert others.
area inmediatamente y alerte a los demas.
Avoid using any sources of ignition, such as cell phones,
cigarettes, matches, flashlights, electronic devices, motorized
vehicles, light switches or landlines.
Evite usar cualquier fuente de ignicion, por ejemplo, telefonos celulares, cigarrillos,
fosforos, linternas, aparatos electronicos, vehiculos a motor, interruptores de luz o
telefonos fijos.
Call Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 or 911 once you are out
of the area and in a safe place.
Llame a Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 o al 911 una vez que este fuera del area yen un
lugar seguro.