About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2006)
1 The Led County Ledger Your Hometown Source Of Local News Hometown newspaper of Eric and Kay Lane Volume XXVIII - Number 25 Leesburg, Georgia - - February 15, 2006 Fifty Cents New Commission Meeting Dates Conflict With Leesburg Council The Lee County Board of Commis sioners approved a motion by vice-chair man Morris Leverett at their January 3, 2006 meeting to change the com mission’s meeting to the first and third Tuesdays. That motion was seconded by Commissioner Jo Ealum. The county commissioners meet at 6:00 p.m. According to Leesburg Mayor Bob Boney, the City of Leesburg has held their meetings on the first Tuesday of the month for at least 16 years. The Leesburg City Council meets at 7:00 p.m. A brief check revealed that the county commission has met on Mondays for at least seven years. The reason given for the meeting date change was to allow the commissioners additional time to review their agenda packets that they had been receiving on Fridays before the Monday meeting. The meeting information for the Monday meetings have been compiled by Thursday because both the interim county administrator and county clerk, who prepares the packets, are both off of work on Fridays since they work ten hours a day Monday to Thursday. Commissioner Billy Mathis, who voted for the meeting change, stated that he had forgotten that was the date of the Leesburg Council meeting. Com missioner Mathis said that it should be resolved so that citizens can attend both meetings. Commissioner Wally Roberts, who was surprised when told that the com mission meeting change conflicted with the Leesburg City Council meeting, quickly responded that the commission ers needed to change from that date. Chairman Jackie Sizemore also indi cated that a change needed to be made to accommodate the Leesburg Council meeting. No decision was made to change the meeting date. W.F. Griffin requested the County Commisision consider adding two additional commissioners to the board. The new commissioners would be elected county wide. Need Stressed To Elect Commission Chairman, Vice- Chairman County-Wide Commissioners Deny Group Home W.F. Griffin asked the Lee County Commissioners dur ing their meeting February 9 to develop local legislation to increase the number of com missioners from five to seven. Under Griffin’s proposal, the chair and vice-chair would be elected county-wide. The process of electing a commissioner from each dis trict would continue as now. The proposal could be im plemented according to Mr. Griffin by electing the chair man to a four year term and the vice-chairman to a two year term. Subsequent terms for the vice-chairman would be four year terms. There would not be any change to the current election cycle. Mr. Griffin stressed that the proposed changes would provide specific county-wide representation and account ability, continuity in leader ship and opportunity for increased citizen participa tion. The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted to deny a conditional use permit requested by Betty Day. Mrs. Day was seeking the condi tional use permit to use the secondary residence located at 203 Sportsman Club Road to be used as a group home. Many residents that live in the area voiced their opposi tion to the request. Reasons given by the residents included increased traffic in the area, negative effects on surround ing property, safety of the children and welfare of the people in the area. Concern also centered on the fact that a care giver would not be residing in the group home. The care giver would be liv ing in the primary residence. The planning staff had recommended approval based on Mrs. Day maintaining state license and the group home be limited to the elderly. The planning commission recom mended denial. Mrs. Day stressed to the commissioners that the people she planned to care for had the right under state and federal law to live in neigh borhoods. Before the commission cast their votes to deny the permit, Commissioner Wally Rob erts cited problems caused in another part of the county by a group home and stated that he was totally against the request. The commissioners denied a request to rezone 22 acres of land from C-2, General Busi ness District to multi-family residential district. The plans were to build two bedroom two bath 1200 square feet complexes. Vice-chairman Morris Leverett said that he was opposed to changing commercial property to resi dential before the commission voted to deny the request. The commisison approved the rezoning of Cedric Street (extension) to Pineridge Drive. The rezoning will be from AG to R-l without commercial development. Vice-chairman Morris Leverett added the sti- piulation that lot sizes would be at three-fourths of an acre. Cash History Report New School Costs Rise The Lee County Board of Ed ucation reviewed preliminary designs of the new Twin Oaks Elementary School February 13 during their monthly meeting. Cost estimates of the new el ementary school has increased from ten million dollars to twelve and a half million dol lars. While construction was $85 to $90 a square foot that cost is now $125 a square foot. Greg Smith, the architect with Buckley and Associates who is working with the school board, gave an update on design selec tion by the local committee. Decisions are based on space requirements and using stan dards set by the state. The proposed new school will have 38 teaching areas. Special areas will include drama and science labs. SPLOST funds is being set aside to fund construction costs of the new school. Lee County voters will cast their ballots March 21, 2006 in a special election to extend the SPLOST one percent sales tax for the school system. The school board voted four to one with Frank Griffin, voting no, to keep a challenged book “Killing Mr. Griffin” on the approved reading list at Lee County High School. A parent, Reggie Mobley, had requested the removal of the book from the approved read ing list because of the content including language and behav ior highlighted in the book. Mr. Griffin said that he felt the book had crossed the line and voted for its removal from the reading list. The school board approved several out of state trips for student groups but tabled a request by Sheri Schultz, high school Spanish teacher, to take Spanish students to Spain during the spring break next school term. The school board wanted additional guidelines on the liability the school system takes for such trips. The board approved a request from Walter Burgess, Marketing teacher, to take students enrolled in the hotel - lodging class on a cruise to Nassau, Bahamas as a job shadowing experience. - F Y 1999 FY 2000 FY 2001 - FY 2002 - FY 2003 - FY 2004 - FY 2005 FY 2006 County Cash Balance At Lowest Point In an email sent to the county commissioners Friday, February 10, Darlow Maxwell, Finance Director, pointed out that the cash balance as of the end of January is the lowest since 1998. Mr. Maxwell stated that he can almost absolutely assure the commissioners that the county will be required to utilize a tax anticipation note in the last quarter of the calendar year. Sentences Issued In Smithville Municipal Court Smithville Municipal Court was held February 7 with Judge Jim Thurman presiding. Jason Merell Williams, charged with speeding 46 m.p.h. in a 25 speed zone, had the case continued. Brandon Elijah R. Cameron, charged with speeding 80 m.p.h. in a 55 speed zone, failed to appear in court and had a DPS Form 912 issued which will Doherty, Duggan & Rouse Insurors 4JV EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY 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 “The National Association” of Women in Construction Week March 5th - 11th Building Careers, Building Lives, Building the Future Photo by Derryl Quinn Firemen Recognized For Service Firefighters Bobby Spencer and Clint Hickman, who were deployed for nine days to provide assistance in Waveland, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina were recognized during the Lee County Commission meeting February 9 along with Firefighter Ronnie Garrett, who was alternate to the team. Pictured left to right are Lee County Firefighters Ronnie Garrett, Clint Hickman, and Bobby Spencer. result in the suspension of his license if the fine is not paid. Charles Neff Hough III had the charge of speeding 88 in a 55 speed zone, nolle prossed and on a charge of DUI, was fined $756, sentenced to 12 months probation and 20 hours commu nity service. Robert T. Stewart, charged with speeding 52 in a 35 speed zone, had the case continued. Mitchell Easter Smith, charged with speeding 63 in a 45 speed zone, failed to appear in court and had a DPS 912 issued. Gyasi Aki Wright, charged with speeding 60 in a 45 speed zone and a seat belt violation, failed to appear and a DPS 912 was issued. Kortney James Robinson, charged with a seat belt viola tion, failed to appear in court and a DPS 912 was issued. Jeanette Baked, charged with expired tag, had the case dismissed. Juan Carlos Teran, charged with speeding 51 in a 35 zone, was fined $109.00. Robert K. Taylor, charged with speeding 650 in a 35 zone, pled nolo and was fined $135.00. Joe Kimbrough Jr., charged with speeding 59 in a 35 zone, had the speed reduced to 58 in a 35 and was fined $213.00. Humberto Vincente Sonlay, driving while unlicensed, was fined $161.00. See Court, Page 8A P To Subscribe Call 229-759-2413 PHOEBE 417 Third Avenue ■ Albany, Ga www.phoebeputney.com 229-312-6877 Lee County Retired Educators Meeting Monday, February 20 10:00 a.m. Leesburg Methodist Church Social Hall
