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t—FORSYTH CQUWTY NEWS— Thureday, JwuMry 14,185 S
Tri-state water wars
could hit home - Lanier
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By Jim Riley
Staff Writer
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A “water war” is currently
erupting between Georgia,
Florida and Alabama, with the
governors of the three states set
ting a deadline for an agreement
on the allocation of water to be
reached by the end of the year.
“They will have two choices -
extend the deadline or proceed
through the courts,” said Forsyth
County Administrator Stevie
Mills.
The agreement will certainly
be felt locally due to the fact that
Lake Lanier is a part of the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-
Flint river system (ACF). The
Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa
(4CT) river system is also in
question.
'The Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (EPD) called
a meeting last Friday to update
POLICE from 1C
about the way the county police
force issue was placed on the con
sent agenda and not discussed by
the commissioners.
“I’m really excited to see that
people voted for something
instead of just voting against what
was'already there,” Smith said.
“Voters were obviously concerned
about the issue with the county
polite. I think they became
informed about the issues and the
candidates.”
Voters said they approve of
John Kieffer.
The District 3 incumbent was
re-elected in a runaway, getting
69.39 percent of the vote.
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I Many Thanks to those of you who helped make the 1
I (fw/tfrq 'fain & tyHaqt 1
I a successful community event for 1998. I
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staff and affected parties on the
status of the negotiations. Also on
hand were representatives from
the Geoigia Mountains Regional
Development Commission
(GMRDC) and the Atlanta
Regional Commission
Mills said the meeting was
very positive for Forsyth County
from the standpoint of giving the
county some new directions in
which to look on water and
wastewater matters.
“We have some new options
out there for meeting long-term
needs and we’ll be exploring all
alternatives. In some ways, it’s a
change of direction,” he said.
“Someone commented that
Alabama had been able to do
something no one else in the
room had been able to do - get all
those there (from the City of
Atlanta, Fulton County, Hall
County and Gainesville, Forsyth
County and Cumming, Gwinnett
See related story published on Oct. 30,1998
“I’m just tickled,” Kieffer said.
“I’m very grateful that the voters
understood the issues and thought
about who they would choose. I
see this as a vote of confidence. It
makes me feel I have not stood
alone on the board because it’s
obvious the support of the county
is behind me.”
The District 1 seat will have a
new face this winter.
Embattled commissioner
Lamar Suddeth only managed
12.74 percent of the vote.
The District 1 race also gave
the biggest surprise of the primary
with political newcomer Charles
Laughinghouse getting 15.78 per-
BEST STORIES OF '9B
County and others) - to agree on
something.”
One of the alternatives they
may explore is the inter-basin
transfer of water, such as between
the Chattahoochee basin to the
Etowah basin. This was once con
sidered taboo, but may be reeval
uated as a means of meeting
water requirements and dealing
with wastewater disposal.
While how much Lake Lanier
may be lowered has not been
released, Mills did confirm that
the lake level is an issue in the
negotiations.
Former Forsyth County
Commission Chairman Ron
Seder is the head of Lake Lanier
Association Inc., and is very criti
cal of Alabama’s position on the
issue. Alabama’s original propos
al called for dropping Lanier 36
feet below full pool, which is sure
to create a negative economic
impact for the Lanier area.
cent of the votes to set up a run-off
with former commissioner
Michael Bennett, who nearly
clinched with 48.83 percent.
Laughinghouse said his plat
form of a newcomer concerned
about what he saw going on is
echoed by many residents.
“My basic idea was to get out
the issues,” Laughinghouse said.
Bennett spent the evening with
his supporters and could not be
reached for comment.
The run-off election between
the two candidates is Aug. 11.
Look for more coverage of
Tuesday’s election in Friday’s edi
tion.
Steffey’s tribunal is continuing ;
By Jennifer Eskew
Associate Editor
Retaliation for a lawsuit or willful neglect and
insubordination are the two side s presented to a tri
bunal this week as Susan Stelfey tries to continue her
employment with the Forsyth County school system.
The tribunal hearing was originally scheduled for
two days but another two days, June 22 and 23, will
be needed to finish the case.
Steffey was one of three women who filed a feder
al lawsuit in 1995 against the Forsyth County Board
of Education alleging that between 1988 and 1994
women were not paid as much; as men of similar
SPLOST from IOC
county has roads, water and parks
and recreation.
And it’s amazing what just a
penny can do when those cash
registers ring up purchases every
day.
County roads and intersections
will undergo construction to ease
the traffic congestion. These pro
jects include widening McFarland
Road, McGinnis Ferry Road,
Bethelview Road and Old Buford
Road.
County water will soon be
flowing into more homes than
ever as the county commission
works on construction for a drink
’Alf* ■? ,t. •
rank, experience and education.
Since the lawsuit was settled, Steffey says she has
been the target of retaliation, leading up to her non
renewal of contract and transfer until the end of the
school year to the transportation department.
She filed a grievance over the issue of not being
allowed to take comp time and being reprimanded for
the posting of a “condo for rent” notice in the
teacher’s lounge. The board of education declined to
hear that grievance but agreed to have a tribunal hear
the non-renewal case.
See TRIBUNAL, Page 14C
Published May 20,1998
ing water plant. A new sewerage
plant is also on the list as a top
priority in infrastructure improve
ments.
Those who like to play sports
or just bask in the sun while their
children bat, kick or hit the ball
will have more places for recre
ation.
The county has slated funds
for expansion of two parks, play
grounds for others and land pur
chases for a park along the
Chattahoochee River and one in
the central district.
The city has plans to build a
recreation/meeting center on the
Photo/Tom Brooks
Golden bear
Jack Niddaus teed off
at his signature golf
course at Laurel , i
Springs this spring. A .'
galley of followers '
enjoyed the designer’s
play on the par-71.
Story and photos
published
April 24,1998
Cumming Fairground. - •
Readers or Internet junkies
will have access to even more
information since a South Forsyth
Library Branch and land purchas
es for four future sites are listed
on the referendum.
The special sales tax funds
will also help preserve historic
landmarks and sites.
The low turnout, only 12 per
cent, was attributed to the weath
er, said Superintendent ‘of
Elections Melvin Stancil. Last
year, 16 percent of the voters
turned out for the school’s special
sales tax referendum.