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The tee County lector
Volume XXIV - Number 41
your Hometown Source of Cocal flews
Leesburg, Georgia -- May 23, 2002
Hometown Newspaper of Bill and Teri Champman
Fifty Cents
Smithville Council Votes To Pay Off Water Debt
During their meeting Monday
night, the Smithville City Coun
cil voted to pay off a $200,000
debt on their water system im
provement debt. The city owes
$198,000 in principal on the loan.
The city is paying an interest rate
of five percent on the loan while
earning two percent on money in
savings. By not paying off the
debt, the city would have lost
$5,940 yearly or $495 a month in
interest.
Councilman Raymond Williams
expressed concern that the animal
control staff are only coming to
Smithville for five to ten minutes
before leaving. Police Chief Walt
Causey was told that with a wit
ness, tickets could be issued even
if dogs are not picked up by the
animal control staff.
that if they obtain judgements that
actions must be taken in a timely
manner or all efforts are wasted.
A court date of June 7 has been
set concerning Eddie Taylor’s
property.
Chief Causey updated the coun
cil on the police department’s re
quest for Governor’s Discretion
ary Funds. If approved, the funds
will be used to purchase a police
car. Mayor Smith reminded the
council that they will have to fund
the remaining portion on the car
or the grant money will have to
be returned; it can not be used for
anything other than the patrol car.
John Paul Mansfield has joined
the Smithville Police Department
as an officer.
Mayor Smith directed Chief
Causey to issue tickets to anyone
who parks their vehicles in areas
other than designated parking ar
eas at the city park. Signs will be
posted.
Ms. Jana Watkins, director of
membership for the Lee County
Chamber of Commerce, addressed
the council on benefits of joining
the Chamber on a business level.
After a brief discussion, the coun
cil voted to join the Chamber.
Lee County Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Bishop
Clean Care Friday, May 17. Bishop Clean Care is located at 234 Cedric Street
near the Winn Dixie shopping center.
Pirates Cove
and I believe we should always
seek funding of certain projects
from grants and other state pro
grams. Lee County is one of
Georgia's more wealthy commu
nities and as a result, our citizens
pay more than their fair share of
state taxes. It is high time we as
elected officials, seek the return
of some of these funds for our
local use and I can assure the tax
payers, we will continue to look
under every rock, at the state
level, for funding our needs
where appropriate,"
The 41 acre site, located just
east of the old high school
ballfields along Academy Street.
4th Street and Canal Street, will
be professionally developed into
a central city park. Harris, who
Doherty
Duggan
zrRouse
Insurors
Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health
P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040
Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040
2301 Dawson Road (31707) Fax (229) 435-3036
www.ddrins.com
Lee County
Board of
Commission
will meet
Monday
June 3 at
6:00 p.m.
Gates Road and the portion of
Bowers Road requested the com
missioners consider abandon
ment of those sections of the
roads.
Lee Stanley and Lewis Harris
County Acquires Site For
Leesburg Central Park
Leesburg Commissioner Lewis
Harris, with the assistance of Lee
County's Chief Appraiser, Lee
Stanley, has successfully negoti
ated the purchase of a 41 acre site
from Community National Bank
of Ashburn. Mr. Don Davis. Se
nior Vice President of the bank
has signed a contract with the Lee
County Board of Commissioners
to sell the property for a price of
$72,990. The sale will be closed
within the next 10 days. All funds
for the purchase will come from
a grant under the "Georgia
Greenspace Program." Governor
Barnes first presented his ideas
for a greenspace program in a
speech at the National Governors'
Conference in 1999. Senate Bill
399, passed in 2000, created
greenspace grant funds for Geor
gia counties. Under the program,
the new park site will be protected
from future development.
Commissioner Harris stated,
"This is a perfect site for the use
of the Governor's Greenspace
funds. The land will be purchased
with funds from the state level
serves on the Advisory Board for
the Lee County Recreation Com
mittee and was instrumental in
the development of recreation in
Lee County over 25 years ago,
went on to say, "The children of
this community need more of our
attention. So many of our young
children do not have the oppor
tunity to participate in local rec
reational activities. This new
park, located within one mile of
90% of Leesburg's population
will provide a safe and clean
place for all citizens to enjoy, but
especially our children. Now that
the site has been acquired, we will
move quickly toward the devel
opment stage. However, before
any final plans are made. I will
work closely with the citizens, the
County Commissioners, the
Mayor and City Council to make
sure the final park development
meets their approval. With all of
us working together, we will build
a park we can all be very proud
to have in our community and a
park that will last for many years
to come."
Mayor Jack Smith gave an up
date on bids to repair the depot.
Wayne Adams will install a new
roof for $4505.80 and do the
frame work at cost plus 20 percent.
The council approved the bid with
a unamious consent.
The council approved a motion
to pay $250 per year for a Model
Licensing Agreement. The agree
ment is a simple comprehensive
and cost-effective way for local
governments to obtain authoriza
tion for music performances on
government owned property and
government hosted events and
functions. The contract pays the
royalties for using the music. The
council discussed the potential li
ability that cities face for some
thing as simple as a little music at
their next town festival. If more
than $25,000 is grossed from the
activities, the city pays one per
cent.
Tommy Coleman, City Attorney,
gave an update on the lien process
on the Henry Street property of
Mamie Ladd/Mamie K Lewis
Woodbridge. On October 29,
2001, an order was issued to clean
up the property but no action taken
by City of Smithville. Legal ac
tion will be implemented concern
ing the Henry Street property. Mr.
Coleman stressed to the Council
County’s Budget
Shows Decrease
Lee County’s budget shows a
decrease from last year. The new
budget of $12.8 million is a de
crease of 3.6 percent. The com
missioners will conduct a public
hearing on the proposed budget
during their meeting June 3. The
commissioners are scheduled to
adopt the budget June 17 and the
new budget will go into effect
July 1.
The commissioners denied a
request from Bob Haas for a tem
porary sales trailer in the North
Pebble Ridge Subdivision. Chair
man Billy Mathis expressed his
concern with using a mobile
home for a sales office in a sub
division. He said that if it was ap
proved, other builders may re
quest using mobile homes also.
Vice Chairman Jackie McCorkle
said that a mobile home that was
used for a sales office was still
set up in another location even
though it was not being used.
Lee County commissioners ap
proved the application for a
GEMA pre-disaster mitigation
plan grant. New federal regula
tions require that state and local
governments have an approved
hazard mitigation plan in place by
November 2003 before they can
be considered for future disaster
assistance, including hazard miti
gation funding.
The commissioners approved a
motion to begin the process to
close Gates Roads and a portion
of Bowers Road. The three prop
erty owners and residents on
A Joint Venture with Nature
By Lee Stanley
“Simplify the outward circum
stances of your life, simplify your
needs and your ambitions; learn
to delight in the simple pleasures
which the world of Nature af
ford”. So wrote
Henry David
Thoreau in the
summer of 1845.
On Saturday, the
Lee County
Board of Com
missioners offi
cially opened “Pi
rates Cove” a
$211,000 nature
park designed by
Robert and Com
pany and built by
Southern Wilder
ness. Inc. The
new nature park
will be open to
the public be
tween dawn and
dusk on a daily
basis.
In 1965, the late
Leland Ferrell designed Pirates
Cove as part of his Northampton
residential community develop
ment. In 1995, Mrs. Norma
Ferrell and her real estate consult
ant, Gary Eller, decided to ap
proach county leaders for their
help in the preservation of Pirates
Cove. County Administrator,
Langford Holbrook, County En
gineer, Brian Shoun and a local
surveyor. Gary Harrell worked
closely with
Eller and
Mrs. Ferrell
to acquire
the 60-acre
site. After
submitting
plans to the
U.S.Corpof
Engineers,
the Lee
County
Board of
Commis
sioners ap
proved the
idea of a na
Lee County Commissioner Vice-Chairman Jackie
McCorkle shown with map of Pirates Cove Nature
Park.
ture park
and the two-
year con-
See
Cove,
Page 5A
The Lee County Teacher of the Year Award was
presented to Priscilla Hammond. Mrs. Hammond is
a first grade teacher at LCPS with eight years
experience working with young children, the last
three years as a first grade teacher. This award is for
exceptional service to the Education profession. Mrs.
Hammond states that positive early learning
experiences sets the groundwork for a lifetime of
learning. Presenting the award is President Barbara
Akridge and President-Elect Ruth Goodson.
Leesburg Police Charles Moore
reports that officers worked sev
eral cases during the past week
including cases involving reck
less driving, attempting to elude,
violation of probation, criminal
trespass, disorderly conduct, dis
rupting public school, DUI, open
container, speeding, drinking in
public, and battery (family) vio
lence.
Michael Isreal Lopez, 19, of
1919 Edgerly Drive Albany, was
charged May 19 with reckless
driving and attempting to elude
by Officer Chris Prokesh.
Prokesh observed Lopez go
through the intersection at Fourth
and Hwy 32 East. He accelerated
very hard and turned on Highway
32 at an erratic speed and was
sliding. Prokesh pursued Lopez
and Lopez turned off his head
lights and crossed the median
onto west bound traffic and
ditched the vehicle. Lopez fled on
foot. He turned himself in later
after Officer Prokesh contacted
his mother.
Daychal Wyolean Lewis, 35, of
126 D Magnolia Street, Lees
burg, was charged May 18 with
See Police, Page 2A
BUFFALO ROCK
Lee County
High School
Graduation
Friday
May 24 at
8:00 p.m.
Leesburg Police Files
Weekly Report
Magenta cyan