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Park Site
Still Needed
By County
Landowners who feel they have the
perfect location for a park in south
Forsyth County, are being asked to
contact the board of commissioners
immediately.
Donald Glover, vice chairman of the
commissioners, said the county is now
in the process of evaluating two pro
spective park sites.
The county was unable to obtain any
land donations for the park, but is still
open to any offers.
Glover said the county was offered
one site, which was evaluated by pro
fessional planners. Two appraisals also
were done on the site, which he said
would involve much grading, and some
wasted property due to the layout of
the land.
“Just after studies were completed
on the property, the commission was
offered another site in the same general
area,” Glover said. “At this point in
time, we have had the same study done
on the second site, and have had two
appraisals made of the property.”
The commissioner said that any resi
dent who is interested in donating or
selling land to the county, must act
immediately. “The study and appraisal
procedure takes about two months,” he
said. “If we continue to receive and
evaluate offers, it will add to the ex
pense of the search, to say nothing of
the delays. We are now at the point of
evaluating appraisals and looking over
the results of the second study.”
Glover added that delays are also
preventing the commissioners from
applying for development grants. “Un
til we have actually purchased a site,
we can’t apply for any development
grants,” he said.
“No type of property suitable for
park development will be ruled out,
unless it is likely to present flooding
problems, or is so steep that grading for
a ball field would be impratical,”
Glover said. “The land can either be
totally open, or include shade trees for
a picnic area; and, it can be reasonably
rolling land.”
Child Support Recovery Unit
Moved Here From Canton
A Child Support Recovery Unit,
which had long been located in Canton,
has moved to Cumming. District Attor
ney Rafe Banks says the unit is a
division of his office.
The purpose of the unit is to locate
absent fathers who are not supporting
their children. Those children are
usually dependent on welfare, and the
fathers, when located, are ordered to
reimburse the state and support their
children.
Banks said that for the past five
years, the unit was funded by the five
counties in the Blue Ridge Judicial
Circuit.
“Local governments once contracted
with the state to carry out the pro
gram,” Banks said. “The federal gov
ernment reimbursed these local
governments for 75 percent of their
costs, and 15 percent of all money
collected under the program was paid
to the counties.”
Banks noted that as of July 1, a new
procedure was adopted, which elimi
nates the necessity of local government
participation in the program. He added
that the new procedure also provided
funds for an assistant district attorney,
who will specialize in child support
cases.
Kathleen Buchanan, who will fill the
position, was sworn in by Superior
Court Judge Richard Neville on Friday,
August 27. Ms. Buchanan attended the
University of California, and Emory
University, where she received a Juris
Doctorate degree. Banks said that be
fore the addition of the new assistant
district attorney, child support cases
were spread out among everyone in the
district attorney’s office.
The district attorney said that the
Developers Violating R
By CHUCK THOMPSON
News Editor
Forsyth County’s building and water
system regulations are being violated
by a number of developers, who appar
ently are unfamiliar with those regula
tions, or have no intention of complying
with them.
Those violations have prompted the
Forsyth County Planning Department
to create a strict enforcement policy
regarding the regulations.
Planning Director Lanier Bannister
accompanied a News reporter on a tour
of several subdivisions in Forsyth
County, in which he pointed out a num-
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Forsyth County students had a break Monday, but classes
resumed as usual Tuesday morning, following the Labor Day
holiday. First graders just adjusting to a new schedule may
have gone to school with a song in their hearts as well as on
Last week, The News received a
petition signed by persons protesting
the closing of the boat launching ramp
at Lan Mar Marina by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers on August 6.
The original petition was sent to the
Corps office in Buford and contained
some 92 signatures requesting the ramp
be reopened.
decision to operate under the new pro
cedure produced some staff changes in
the child support program, which led to
the relocation of the office in the Butler
Office Center, in Cumming. Banks
added that most of his time is spent in
Forsyth County, and that having the
program in Cumming, will allow for
better communication between his of
fice, and the Child Support Recovery
Unit.
The new office of the unit will be
manned by Donna M. Steckell, who will
serve as administrative head of the
office. Ms. Steckell will be interviewing
absent parents, once they’re located.
“If, after the interview, they won’t
agree to a court order of support, the
case will be turned over to Kathleen,”
Banks said.
Backing up the actions of the new
office will be the Uniform Reciprocal
Enforcement of Support Act (URESA),
which allows the unit to enforce any
child support order. Banks says about
90 percent of the states have passed the
act.
Carol Homiller, the only remaining
member of the program’s former staff,
will serve as URESA Secretary. Ms.
Homiller will also conduct interviews
with parents who have been absent, and
are located by the office.
Locating those individuals will be the
responsibility of Deanna Whelchel, who
has located nearly 40 absent parents in
only two weeks, according to Banks. He
added that the main sources used to
trace absent parents are the post office,
former employers, the IRS, drivers
licenses, social security and the depart
ment of labor.
The program’s eventual goal, accord
ing to Ms. Buchanan, is to get children
off of welfare. She said that in one
ber of violations.
One planning department regulation
calls for a minimum six-inch water line
in the county’s subdivisions. Bannister
said that six-inch lines are the smallest
lines capable of accommodating fire
hydrants. “We will allow four inch
lines,” he said, “but only if sufficient
pressure is provided.” At present, one
east Forsyth County subdivision has
installed a two-inch line, to serve a
development which is to contain 24
homes.
Another regulation provides that
where no county or city water is avail
able, subdivisions with less than one-
VOLUME LXXIII—NUMBER 36
A Song In Their Hearts
Lan Mar Ramp Closing Protested
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1982 CUMMING, GA. 30130
In response to receiving a copy of the
petition, The News contacted Cecil Pat
terson, the Corps resource manager in
Buford and asked him about the clos
ing.
“The Lan Mar ramp closing was part
of the closures program that started
earlier in the summer,” said Patterson,
referring to the fact that the Corps
year’s time, the program collected $9,-
400,000 52,600,000 of that figure was
returned to the state treasury. “The
cost of the taxpayers was recovered,
and the cost of the program was only
$621,000,” Ms. Buchanan added.
Banks says the program will be re
sponsible for child support cases in all
five counties of the Blue Ridge Judicial
Circuit, which collected $113,780.44 un
der the program in 1980. Ms. Buchanan
says monthly collections under the pro
gram this year are about SII,OOO.
Building Permits Up Over ‘Bl
Figures for the month of August show
the number of building permits issued
by the Forsyth County Planning De
partment is 79 percent higher than
permits issued in August of last year.
In August of 1981, the planning de
partment issued 29 permits, with a
valuation of $1,572,200. In August of this
year, permits totaled 52, with a valu
ation of $2,271,300.
Helping to boost last month’s figures
were 29 permits issued for single-fam
ily homes a 70-percent increase over
last year’s figure of 17. Permits for
single-family homes this year carried a
valuation of $1,604,000, which was $31,-
000 higher than the value of all types of
permits issued in August of 1981.
The second highest number of per
mits issued last month were for addi
tions to present structures. Seven
permits were issued for additions, car
rying a total valuation of $95,200.
In August of 1981, only two permits
were issued for additions, with a total
valuation of $27,500.
acre lots must provide water through a
community well system. Those systems
are required to provide a minimum
water flow at each lot of 400 gallons per
day, and a minimum pressure of 30
pounds per square inch.
However, at the subdivision men
tioned above, builders at times
were said to be without sufficient
water pressure, even to mix concrete.
One resident of that subdivision told
The News that he paid a S3OO fee to hook
on to the water system there, and has
since been without water as much as 20
times. He said that he was later ap
proached by the developer, and asked
their lips in Wylene Samples’ room at Cumming Elemen
tary School. These little ones are pictured learning a tune
from music teacher Patricia Browning.
scheduled ten of its parks on Lake
Lanier to be closed in order to reduce
expenditures to compensate for cut
backs in federal funds.
“Originally Lan Mar was not on that
list Vann’s Tavern was set to be
closed. But Lan Mar is extremely small
ana the facilities could not be ex
panded. On the other hand, Vann’s
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Permits for non-residential buildings
were down 88-percent when compared
to last year, and other than mobile
home permits, were the only type of
planning department issues which had
decreased when compared to August of
1981.
Mobile home permits were down by
only five percent, when compared to
last year. Out of the 35 mobile homes
for which permits were issued, only
three will be located in parks, while 32
will be placed in other locations. A total
of 230 mobile home permits have been
issued this year.
Other permit issues last month, and
their valuations include two, for resi
dential garages 525,700; three, for
commercial stores 5156,000; two, for
industrial buildings 5123,200; four,
for other buildings 526,800; and one
each for duplexes 567,200, truck
terminals 5120,000, utilities buildings
56,300 and structures and other build
ings 52,100.
Planning Director Lanier Bannister
ules, Bannister
to sign a new contract, which included
another S3OO fee.
The resident said he refused to sign a
new contract until the water system
was approved by the Environmental
Protection Division (EPD), which led
to his water line being disconnected by
the developer. He added that his water
service was eventually restored, but
that aside from the S3OO contract fee, he
is now being asked to pay $350 for
having his water line disconnected and
reconnected.
EPD spokesman Tim Cash said that
anytime a developer plans to operate a
community water system, the water
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY, KATHLEEN BUCHANAN, IS SWORN IN
...she will work with Child Support Recovery Unit here
20 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS—3S CENTS
Reward Offered
On ‘Documents’
A total of $3,500 has been pledged as a
reward to be paid upon the arrest and
conviction of persons responsible for
distributing “political material” prior
to the recent runoff election in Forsyth
County.
The Cumming Police Department
has requested the assistance of the
Georgia Bureau of Investigation to
probe the preparation and distribution
of the material, which consisted of
political stated stories and cartoons.
Chief Gabe Dukas said the distribu
tion of the material was in violation of
Section 34-1307 A of the Georgia Code
which involves the unlawful campagin
practices.
The law states in section A, “No
person shall distribute, circulate, disse
minate, or publish or cause to be dis
tributed, circulated, disseminated or
published any literature in connection
with any political campaign for any
public office or question unless such
literature shall bear the name and
address of the person or organization
distributing, circulating, disseminat
ing, publishing or causing the same to
be distributed, circulated, dissemin
ated, or published. To be in compliance
herewith when an organization rather
than a natural person commits any of
the above acts, then the names and
addresses of at least three of the high
est officials thereof shall also appear
thereon. Campaign literature published
Tavern, which is nearby, could be ex
panded. So the decision was made to
close Lan Mar and leave Vann’s Tavern
open,” Patterson said.
When asked what expansion would
mean for Vann’s Tavern Patterson
replied, “The parking lot is being ex
panded to provide more room for visi
tors and eventually, there will be
has also issued a financial report for the
month of August. Receipts for the 52
building permits issued by the depart
ment totaled $2,594.85. Other total rec
eipts include electrical permits,
$952.05; mobile homes, $752.75; adver
tising (legal ads), $350; plumbing per
mits, $234; and heating permits, S2OO.
Total receipts for the planning de
partment last month was $5,498.65. Out
of that figure, $5,431.43 was paid to the
K mart To Open Sept. 23
K mart’s Discount Department Store
at Tri-County Plaza on Atlanta Road in
Cumming will open for business on
Thursday, Sept. 23.
Doors will open at the new 55,552
square foot store at 9 a.m.
An extensive advertising campaign
source must be approved by the EPD,
prior to the drilling of the well. Bannis
ter also has stated that his office will
not issue any building permits for those
subdivisions served by community wa
ter systems, which are not certified by
the EPD.
“Our county has an obligation to
people moving in,” Bannister said. “We
are having difficulty in assuring the
purchasers of homes in some subdivi
sions, that they will be assured of a
proper supply of water, especially with
community water systems. These peo
ple are buying a pig in a poke.”
Bannister said that some developers
and disseminated by the candidate him
self, bearing his name and the office for
which he is a candidate, shall be consid
ered as in compliance herewith.”
Chief Dukas said it was his opinion
the material circulated around the
community prior to the election was in
violation of the law.
Several persons in the community
have made pledges toward the reward
fund, and more money may be added in
the future, Chief Dukas said.
The material distributed was circu
lated around town and spread into the
county as early as three days before the
runoff election, held Aug. 31.
The material, in several forms, made
insinuations toward local political can
didates as well as some who are not
politically involved.
Some of the material was found out
side downtown stores on Monday, Aug.
30 and the owners of local businesses
found items stuck in their doorways
Tuesday morning.
“We along with the GBI are following
leads which have come to our attention
since the documents first appeared,”
said Chief Dukas.
“Most persons will agree here that
this type of literature has no place in
this community,” he said. “No one
thinks it’s funny and I think it hurt a lot
of people and didn’t do anyone any
good.”
another boat ramp added.”
Patterson said that the decision to
close Lan Mar and expand Vann’s Tav
ern was not made by the local officials.
“That decision was made by the
Corps’ district office in Mobile. When I
received the petition, I sent it straight
on to the district officials and now it’s in
their hands,” Patterson said.
The Beacon Is
Sold To News
The Beacon has been sold to The
Forsyth County News, it was an
nounced this week.
Publication of The Beacon will con
tinue weekly as part of a new, extended
circulation program which will begin
next week by The Forsyth County
News.
The Beacon, launched three months
ago, is mailed each week to 10,240
homes, most of them located in Forsyth
County.
The News’ extended coverage will
reach more than 13,000 homes in For
syth and adjacent counties.
board of commissioners. Other disburs
ements totaled $66.72.
The increase last month in the num
ber of building permits for single-fam
ily homes, may be a sign of better times
ahead for the housing industry. Also, in
interviews last week, several Forsyth
County real-estate agents told The
News that they expect the housing
market to pick up more within the next
several weeks.
will help launch the new store, accord
ing to Manager Joseph W. Young.
“Our concept is to stock only first
quality goods and price everything to
move in large quantities,” he said.
“Plans for the opening include substan
tial savings for K mart customers,” he
added.
Says
entered the county before building and
zoning requirements were adopted;
and then left, after selling lots in poorly
equipped subdivisions. “They put on
high-priced advertising campaigns,
and promised clubhouses and other
amenities,” Bannister said. “As soon
as the land was sold, they’d run off and
leave the buyers, and head for another
county that didn’t have protective zon
ing laws. Most older subdivisions are
not up to standards, and few have a
road right-of-way of 60 feet (a require
ment which new subdivisions must
meet).”
Continued on Page 2A