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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008
EJCHS marching band on parade
CHOSEN FOR ATLANTA PARADE
The East Jackson Comprehensive High School Marching Band was chosen to par
ticipate in Saturday’s Atlanta Children’s Healthcare Parade, which was televised.
The band is shown ready to march.
WINTERGUARD IN PARADE
Ashley McDonald (L) and Catheron Sewell (R) lead the way as members of the East
Jackson Comprehensive High School color guard marched with the band in the
Atlanta Children’s Healthcare Parade held Saturday. The parade was televised.
Photos courtesy of Kris Stephens
Jackson plans to move ahead on water lawsuit
REBUFFING lawsuit threats made
in October by Barrow County Board of
Commissioners Chairman Doug Garrison,
Jackson County said last week it intends to
pursue its litigation against the Upper Oconee
Basin Authority.
Jackson County filed suit in October
against the regional water authority saying it
had miscalculated the actual amount of water
in the Bear Creek Reservoir, a situation that
was allowing Athens Clarke County to draw
more than its fair share from the facility.
Jackson, Barrow, Athens-Clarke and Oconee
counties make up the authority and co-own
the reservoir and related facilities.
Speaking on behalf of Barrow County,
Garrison sent a letter in October to Jackson
County BOC chairwoman Pat Bell threaten
ing to sue if Jackson County was successful
in its litigation. Garrison said that Barrow
County had made certain plans and obliga
tions based on the earlier water yield number
and that if Jackson County won its lawsuit,
those obligations would be in danger.
Last week, attorney Mike Bowers, who
represents Jackson County in the litiga
tion, responded to Garrison’s letter, saying
Jackson intends to proceed with its suit.
Bowers also said that if Jackson County
won, Barrow would not have legal standing
to counter sue.
“I am not aware of any cause of action that
would allow you to sue Jackson County,”
Bowers wrote. “I am not aware of how
Jackson County would be liable if a court
ruled, based on Georgia law and the provi
sions of the Intergovernmental Agreement,
that UOBWA is required to re-calculate the
Established Yield...”
Bowers said that Barrow and Jackson
counties both have a common interest in
seeing that the reservoir’s water capacity is
calculated correctly.
“Both Jackson and Barrow Counties face
similar future problems that require action
now or the residents and businesses in our
counties are certain to face hardships that
are avoidable if we act responsibly now,”
Bowers said in his response to Garrison’s
letter.
Jackson County’s litigation argues that the
authority miscalculated the real amount of
water available in the reservoir and that the
mistake allows Athens-Clarke to withdraw
much more water than its fair share. Barrow
and Oconee counties voted to stand with
Athens-Clarke in the dispute.
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DQ GROUNDBREAKING
A groundbreaking was held recently for the new Jefferson DQ Grill and Chill restaurant located on Panther
Drive at the Hwy. 129 bypass. Owners David Gillespie Sr. and David Gillespie Jr. were joined by family members,
friends and members of the Jefferson Business Community for the occasion.
Adams to continue as school superintendent
By Brandon Reed
SHANNON ADAMS will
continue to serve as school
superintendent for Jackson
County. The board held a
closed meeting Monday night
during the regular monthly
meeting to discuss Adams’
evaluation. Following the
closed meeting, board chair
Kathy Wilbanks announced
that the evaluation had been
satisfactory, and that Adams’ contract
was extended for one year. However,
she also stated that, due to an mutual
agreement, Adams’ salary would
remain the same as the previous year
due to budget concerns.
The board also approved Wilbanks
to continue to serve as chair
for the board, while Jill
Elliott will again serve as
vice chair.
The board also learned
during Monday night’s
meeting that East Jackson
Elementary School is the
recipient of two awards, the
Bronze Award for Student
Achievement, as well as
being named a 2008 Georgia
School of Excellence.
The board was informed by Adams
that the system had received $533,000
in SPLOST revenue for the month, an
increase of $64,000 over the previous
month.
“As long as it varies upward, I guess
we shouldn’t worry about it,” Adams
said.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other items, the board;
•voted to approve a SPLOST expen
diture for $18,000 to change the locks
and keys at North Jackson Elementary
School.
•was informed that their retreat will
be held at the Georgia Center for
Continuing Education in Athens on
March 26 and March 27. Adams told
the board that having the retreat in
Athens will be much less expensive.
•approved a list of individuals for
employment, as well as a list of subs
titute teachers, and a list of termina
tions and resignations (see separate
story).
ADAMS
City of Maysville
Notice of Availability of Proposed Budget
For
Fiscal Year 2009 and Public Hearing
A proposed budget for the City of Maysville
has been submitted and is available for public
inspection at the Maysville City Hall. A public
hearing regarding the budget will be held at the
Maysville Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on
December 18, 2008, at which time any persons
wishing to appear and comment on the budget
proposal will be heard.
The Mayor and City Council of the Town will
consider adoption of a budget at its regular
meeting to be held at 7:00 p.m., on January 5,
2009, at the Maysville Public Library.
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Braselton in the black in FY08
But water/sewer fund sees red ink
THE TOWN of
Braselton’s general fund
finished in the black in
fiscal year 2008 with a net
of $818,300 on the year,
according to a recently
released audit.
The town took in $4.4
million in FY08, which
ended June 30. For gene
ral government expenses,
Braselton spent $3.6 mil
lion.
But the town’s water and
sewer operations were in
the red for the year by
$734,800.
HIGHLIGHTS
Among the highlights of
the FY08 audit were:
• Despite the economic
downturn, Braselton was
spared a hard hit during
its fiscal year. The town
managed to grow its gene
ral fund revenues from $2.7
million to $3.38 million in
the year.
• Braselton took in over
$500,000 in federal and
state forfeitures in FY08,
mainly from police enforce
ment along 1-85. That,
along with fine money,
netted the town nearly $1
million in the year.
• Building licenses and
permits actually grew in
the year beyond what was
first budgeted. Building
permits and licenses top
ped $578,000 on the year
while impact fees topped
$270,000.
• The police department
is the town’s largest expen
se at $1.4 million.
• The town’s planning and
development department
expenses topped $537,000
on the year.
• Braselton has a total
debt of $25.5 million, most
of which revolves around
the town’s water and sewer
infrastructure.
County BOE approves
personnel changes
THE JACKSON County
Board of Education approved
the following personnel
changes on Monday night.
NEW HIRES
Sherrie Hall, bus driver,
GSES; Sheena Huskin,
media/special education
paraprofessional, MES; and
David Wilkerson, bud driver,
BES.
TRANSFERS
Stacey McRight, parapro
fessional, EJMS, to recep
tionist, EJCHS.
RESIGNATIONS
Shannon Barbee, food
service cashier, NJES; Griff
Carithers, food service assis
tant, EJCHS; Kim Crane,
media/special education
paraprofessional, MES;
Audrey Jackson, bus driver,
BES; Genae Lindsey, bus
driver, GSES; and Melissa
McDaniel, custodian,
WJMS.
The following were
approved as substitute teach
ers for December, 2008;
Emily Peek, Andrea
Joseph, Misty Wood, Jennifer
Gibson, Candra Williams,
Hannah McFay, Melanie
Seagraves, Jennie Wilbanks,
Gerene Cole, Austin Smith,
Melanie Holman, Dru
Satterfield, Thelma Ware,
Jamie Sam, Sandy Dean,
Jennifer Warren, Cheryl
Turner, Christina Sgier and
Christopher Kidd.
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