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Lake Oconee News
Friday, December 11, 2015
GREENE COUNTY
Tax digest a big puzzle for Greene commissioners
Mark Engel
news@lakeoconeenews.us
Greene County Commission
Chairman Ed Bullard is continu
ing his efforts to push for a plan to
increase industrial development.
In September, a proposed study,
championed by Bullard, of six
potential locations throughout
the county that would have cost
$7,500 was tabled by the commis
sion
At a called meeting on Dec. 2,
commissioners heard a presen
tation on how to lure industry to
the county from Rope Roberts of
Georgia Power’s Community and
Economic Development depart
ment.
Roberts displayed a graph
showing the sources for the 2014
Greene County Tax Digest. Res
idential land accounted for 71
percent of the revenue, a figure
he said was too high. The second
highest revenue generator was
commercial property with 7
percent. Agriculture, conserva
tion use and miscellaneous each
were at 6 percent. Industry in
Greene County accounted for only
2 percent of the county’s revenue
in 2014, about the same as motor
vehicle registrations.
The need for industrial develop
ment is clear, but the commission
ers haven’t been able to come to
a consensus on the procedure for
making Greene County inviting
as an industrial site.
District 4 Commissioner Jimmy
Britt, who opposed the study of
potential industrial sites, said
“what you got is a big puzzle. You
got to put the pieces together on
where we want to go to first. And
that’s what we have not done. In
frastructure, affordable housing,
we have to go through all of those
pieces, one at a time, and see what
our priorities would be.”
District 1 Commissioner Jeffery
Smith asked, “What do most
counties do? Do they go out and
purchase property and put all the
infrastructure in and spend all the
money and hope they come?”
Roberts said that companies
like to see infrastructure - water,
sewer, gas, electricity - in place
on land they consider. The cost
of buying land and making those
improvements can be daunting,
said District 1 Commissioner
Angela Deering.
“Just the thought of going out
and buying several hundred acres
of land, and it sits, just didn’t feel
like a wise use of resources. But
that we have property available
that already has water, and that
we can possibly work on an agree
ment for an option sounds better
to me.”
One location being looked at is
a 300-acre parcel near the Siloam
exit 138 off 1-20. Water, sewer and
other utilities are nearby servicing
the truck stop at that interchange.
But the property is privately
owned.
Roberts says that public/private
partnerships can work well, but
the profit margin on industrial
land is small. “You’re going to have
to find a partner who realizes that
this is an investment back into the
community,” he said.
Roberts thinks the county
should, first, work with what it
has.
“I would like to see the other
parcels in your industrial park
completed as well. I know they
have some topographical chal
lenges.”
Bullard chimed in “25 acres.”
Roberts responded, ‘You can
put a lot of building on 25 acres.”
In the end, Roberts indicated
he could set up another meeting
for the commissioners with some
statewide planning managers
who would give advice from the
viewpoint of companies. Not only
would it be good for commission
ers to get the advice, he said, but it
would also reinforce in the minds
of people who help locate indus
tries that Greene County is inter
ested in moving forward.
Also at the called meeting, com
missioners extended for another
60 days the moratorium on ac
cepting applications for building
permits for poultry production fa
cilities. The hold is also continued
on applications for rezoning land
to Al for poultry production use.
A group of residents is upset
that the county granted permits
for 16 chicken houses on a (270-
acre) tract of land on Veazy Road
at Leslie Mill Road. They say the
facilities will have a punishing
impact on roads, the environment
and water. The commission plans
to use the time to determine what,
if any, policies regarding poultry
production need to change.
646 G Old Phoenix Rd. Eatonton, GA
706-484-0999 • deerrunfarmfloristbiz
Tree
Continued from Al
Santa shared that all is well
in the North Pole. His elves
are busy working to make
gifts for children all over
the world - but, especially,
for the boys and girls of our
area!
Santa reports that as
always the children of
Greene County were
well-behaved. “I heard lots
of pleases and thank-yous
from my visitors,” Santa
said. “I’m sure that with
such polite manners and
good behavior that I’ll be
bringing a sleigh-load of
toys to Greene County when
I return in a few weeks.”
After a visit with Santa,
children stopped by the craft
tent to make their very own
Christmas ornament from
Greensboro First United
Methodist Church. Other
Saturday, December 12th
11:00am to 4:00pm
-
^ 176 Dennis Station Road
Eatonton, Georgia
vendors for the evening
included a bounce house
by the Greene County Beta
Club, Liberty United Meth
odist Church, Greensboro
Fire Department, Cakes
for any Occasion, Delicious
Baked Goods, Calligraphy
by Claire, Hay Rides by Ray
Foster and Family, Knight
of Columbus with hot cider
and cocoa, and Washington
Grass Inn at the Christmas
Cafe.
Remember to support
your local businesses
this holiday season! The
downtown merchants will
have extended business
hours on Friday and Satur
days until Christmas and
they are more than able to
help you find the perfect
Christmas gift. Be sure to
check out the unique se
lection of clothing, hand
made gifts, local art, special
holiday items, and more that
are available at the shops of
downtown Greensboro.
For more information
about the holidays in
Greensboro visit www.
GreensboroHoliday.com.
ROTARY-
Super
RAFFLE
2015
2015
2015
ROTARY
Rotary Club is Happy
to Announce the
December 3 rd Winner
r
Club of Greene and Putnam Counties
November 26 th Winner
Tom Doss
I Grjjfine £ Putnam Rotary ,
120 5 SUPER raffle!
Winner
ere Mills
#382
a Shopping Spree at Greensboro
Jewelers valued at $300 donated
by Greensboro Jewelers
December 10 th PRIZE
a Shopping Spree at The Oconee Cellar
valued at $300 donated by
Date:
Item - Retailer (Value):
Date:
Item - Retailer (Value):
Date:
Item - Retailer (Value):
1-Jan
Infrared Grill - Pike's Nursery ($750)
7-May
Pro Shop Water Toy - Crowe Marine ($300)
3-Sep
Countertop Appliance - Askew Appliances ($300)
8-Jan
00 & BV Pairing once month for 12 Months - Plantation Olive Oil ($325)
14-May
Costa Del Mar Gift Package - The Clothing Depot ($320)
10-Sep
Round of Golf for Four - Harbor Club ($550)
15-Jan
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
21-May
Gift Certificate - Greensboro Tire ($400)
17-Sep
Gift Card - Art Work or Picture Frame - Frames on Main ($300)
22-Jan
Catered Party for up to 30 People - GA Butts/Tim Cadiere Band ($1,000)
28-May
Rover 5 String Banjo with Carry Bag - Milledgeville Music Man ($450)
24-Sep
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
29-Jan
Shampoo, Cut and Style monthly for 12 months - PJ Kinchen at Salon Essentials ($420)
4-Jun
Tokyo-Obrien Stand-up Paddle Board - Singleton Marine Group ($1,295)
1-Oct
Blue Tooth Speaker & Headphones - Lakeside Comp/Radio Shack ($300)
5-Feb
Shopping Spree - Greensboro Jewelers ($300)
11-Jun
Gift Certificate - Bone Island Grillhouse ($300)
8-0ct
iPad - Micki Tanner/Susan Couch ($300)
12-Feb
Full Teeth Whitening System - Dr. Scott Roberts ($350)
18-Jun
Gift Certificate - Oconee Fast Lube ($300)
15-Oct
Ruger 10/22 Rifle with Scope and One Estate Planning Consultation - Frier and Oulsnam ($500)
19-Feb
5' X 7'10" New Zealand Rug - Dalton Carpet One ($599)
25-Jun
Kayak - Pathway to Healing ($300)
22-Oct
Gift Certificate - Jimmy Britt Chevrolet ($300)
26-Feb
Shopping Spree - Maggie Lane ($300)
2-Jul
Shopping Spree - Lights of Oconee ($300)
29-Oct
Services (Hair Color) - Zapiens ($300)
5-Mar
Round Trip ATL Airport for Two - Lakeside Travel & Limo ($324)
9-Jul
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
5-Nov
Shopping Spree - Classic Wines ($300)
12-Mar
Shampoo, Cut and Style monthly for 12 months - Cindy Griffeth at Salon Essentials ($420)
16-Jul
Eye exam + $ 200 towards frame - Eyewear Gallery ($329)
12-Nov
Seafood/ Meat - Pounders Market ($300)
19-Mar
Yeti Cooler - Jay Dell ($300)
23-Jul
TaylorMade Driver-The Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation ($500)
19-Nov
Gift Certificate or Piece of Art - Genuine Georgia ($300)
26-Mar
Melody Soundcast Bluetooth Wireless Speaker- RF Designs ($400)
30-Jul
Artwork - Main Street Furniture ($300)
26-Nov
Bose Quiet Comfort 25 Headphones - Advanced Audiology & Hearing Care($300)
2-Apr
Gift Certificate - Da Corrado's ($300)
6-Aug
Golf for Four (Choice of Course) Reynolds Plantation ($980)
3-Dec
Shopping Spree - Greensboro Jewelers ($300)
9-Apr
Round of Golf for Four and $100 Gift Certificate for any Cuscowilla restaurant - Cuscowilla ($700)
13-Aug
iPad - Mindy Chandler, On Q Financial ($450)
10-Dec
Gift Card - The Oconee Cellar ($300)
16-Apr
Services or Products at Sinclair Marina - Sinclair Marina ($300)
20-Aug
Tailgate Green Egg w/stand and 10 lb. Charcoal - Spa & Patio Center ($550)
17-Dec
Two 50 min Massages and Lunch at Gaby's - Ritz Carlton ($400)
23-Apr
Yeti Cooler - Allstate ($300)
27-Aug
Queen Mattress Set - The Furniture Outlet ($499)
24-Dec
42" Television - Wells Fargo Advisors ($350)
30-Apr
Handmade Silver Bracelet - Aurum Jeweler ($300)
31-Dec
Two 6 mo. Memberships, Three Personal Training Sessions, & One Year Tanning - Max Fitness ($300)
