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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2009
Hoschton council holding line on ‘09 budget
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
HOSCHTON appears to be
keeping a tight hold on its 2009
budget, according to a quarterly
financial status report released
last week.
The city adopted a $722,360
budget for 2009 in December
that didn’t include a city property
tax.
Since January, Hoschton has
maintained its general fund
expenses below the amount bud
geted for the first quarter of 2009
— $174,379. Expenses during
that three-month period were
85 percent of that amount, or
$147,352.
As for general fund income,
Hoschton has received $229,098
— or 95 percent of the projected
income of $240,812 — for the
quarter.
Among city departments, pub
lic safety, general government,
municipal court, planning and
development, and mayor and
council all kept expenses below
the amounts budgeted for the first
quarter of 2009.
The public works, and culture,
recreation and economic devel
opment departments spent more
than their budgeted amounts for
the quarter.
Hoschton received more fran
chise fee taxes than anticipated
for the first quarter of 2009,
along with business license fees
and reserve funding.
Permit fees accounted for eight
percent of what was expected
for the quarter, while public
safety income stemming from
police fines was 56 percent of
the amount anticipated January
through March.
As for the city's water and
sewer fund budget, income was
below expectations for the first
quarter of 2009, while expenses
were higher than anticipated.
Hoschton budgeted a total of
$918,579 in 2009 for its water
and sewer fund.
For the first quarter of the year,
income reached 64 percent — or
$265,152 — of the budgeted
amount for January through
March, while expenses topped
108 percent — or $196,632
— of the amount anticipated for
the quarter.
It was recently announced
at a city council meeting that
Hoschton would post a budget
tracking document on its website
at the end of each quarter.
ZONING CONDITION
ISSUE
In other action at last week’s
meeting, the council imple
mented a zoning condition for
a property that was rezoned in
June 2005.
The zoning condition imple
mented by the council states:
“Developer shall be responsible
and pay all costs for infrastruc
ture sewer improvements that
serve the development. Sewer
design shall be approved by the
City engineer. Developer shall
dedicate the new sewer infra
structure to the City but reserves
the right to recoup a portion of
the investment from subsequent
development on a lot tap basis on
or before June 6,2010.”
The developer, Horizon
Communities, has estimated that
the cost of the wastewater pump
station and force main serving
the development is $254,000.
The pump station could serve a
potential 416 residential — or
equivalent — lots, including
those in Brookglen, Oakbrook
Crossing, Wildflower and
Creekside Village.
Hoschton will pay Horizon
Communities $615 each time
there is a sewer system connection
fee paid to the lots in Oakbrook
Crossing and Creekside Village.
Attorney John Stell — who
represents Horizon Communities,
and Gary & Olsson Properties
— said his clients opposed the
council’s move to implement the
zoning condition.
Hoschton has already received
$285,000 in revenue from
Horizon Communities and
should be reimbursed in full,
Stell wrote to the council. The
move was unnecessary since the
parties are waiting for a court’s
decision in a pending lawsuit
involving the development.
“If the City could now pay
Horizon’s claim, the City would
be able to retain all future sewer
systems revenues in total,” Stell
wrote. “We suggest payment
now rather (than) continuing the
use of City funds to continue this
litigation.”
Senior living facility gets approval in Braselton
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
A NEW SENIOR living facility got the
final approval from the Braselton Town
Council on Monday.
The Oaks Senior Living, LLC requested
a conditional use permit that would allow an
86-bed senior living facility on 11.76 acres on
Thompson Mill Road, near the intersection
of Spout Springs Road in South Hall. The
property is zoned for commercial use.
The Braselton Planning Commission rec
ommended approval of the request in March,
but added zoning conditions requiring addi
tional trees to be planted along Thompson
Mill Road and enclosing garages planned for
a section of the development.
On Monday, the council decided to have
the developer submit a landscaping plan that
requires council approval prior to develop
ment of the property. The council also agreed
with the garage requirement for the devel
opment, and decided that the project must
remain a community for those 55 and older.
“We’re a family business that has been
developing senior housing for about 12
years,” said Alex Salabania of The Oaks
Senior Living on Thursday.
Other projects include two in Cherokee
County — one with 75 beds and another
with 95 beds — and a recently-completed
103-bed facility in Cumming. The Braselton
project will mark the company’s fourth senior
living facility.
“Of our four projects, I’m more excited
about being in this community than any
of the previous three for many reasons,”
Salabarria said. “One is the feel of the com
munity and the potential that it poses to serve
the seniors that are very underserved in this
area of the state.”
The Oaks at Braselton Senior Living will
include assisted living and independent living
facilities.
The first phase will include an assisted
living facility with two interconnected build
ings. One of those buildings will be a one-
story, 18,225-square foot facility dedicated
to Alzheimer’s patients, according to plans.
Another building will be one-story and have
38,710 square-feet for assisted living resi
dents.
The second phase will focus on indepen
dent living residents. One two-story building
will total 32,500 square-feet for independent
living residents, while three “cottages” each
with four units will also be constructed.
The assisted living facilities will include 34
beds for Alzheimer’s patients and 52 beds for
other assisted living residents.
The independent living facilities will
include 60 units with one and two-bedroom
apartments, and 12 units in the independent
living cottages.
Salabarria said the facility is great for the
tax base and creates jobs in the community.
The Braselton facility is expected to create
100 jobs, he added.
The company will develop and manage
the facility, Salabarria said. The Oaks Senior
Living also supports programs that provide
services to senior citizens, such as Meals on
Wheels.
Braselton council seeking grants for sewer projects
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
BRASELTON IS hoping other
agencies will help fund portions
of two sewer system projects.
The town is replacing two
aging wastewater pump sta
tions — which pump sewage
from lower elevations to higher
elevations until its reaches the
Braselton Water Reclamation
Facility off Josh Pirkle Road.
One wastewater pump station
— located on Ga. Hwy. 124
across from the Keys Crossing
subdivision in Jackson County
— dates to 1974, and has been
on the town’s priority list for
replacement since 2004.
Braselton is applying for Clean
Water stimulus funds through
the Georgia Environmental
Facilities Authority (GEFA) for
the $850,000 project.
Potentially, Braselton could
receive federal stimulus funds
paying 100 percent of the proj
ect. But a more likely possibility
is that a stimulus grant would
fund 60 percent — or $340,000
— of the project, with a three
percent loan of $510,000 over
a 20-year period funding the
remaining portion.
The “shovel-ready” project is
ready to go to bid, and construc
tion could start in September.
Braselton also plans to replace
an industrial wastewater pump
station located in Barrow County
on Hwy. 124, near Peachtree
Tooling.
That pump station was installed
in 1985 —but with more activity
in the area, town officials say it
has reached the end of its use
ful fife.
On Monday, the town council
approved the final engineering
agreement for an Appalachian
Regional Council (ARC) grant
City of Maysville
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
The City of Maysville will be accepting sealed
bids on the following surplus property. These
items can be viewed on April 18, 2009, 10:00
a.m. to 12:00 noon and April 25 10:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. at the new City of Maysville Utility
Dept, located at 92 Brevard Street. Bid sheets
can be picked up at City Hall.
1999 Crown Victoria
VIN2FAFP71 W0xx202923
1997 F150
VIN1FTDF1729VNC76992
Army Trailer
Red Trailer
Two (2) John Deere Riding Mowers
Stihl Weedeater
Small Tractor Sprayer
Snapper Push Mower
Large square plastic tank
22 inch cut push mower
Four Computers
Dell Printer
Lexmark copier
Bids are to be turned into Barbara Thomas at
City Hall marked “Surplus Property Bid” no
later than Thursday, April 30, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Bid opening will be Monday, May 4, 2009,
7:00 p.m. at the Maysville Library.
for $300,000 for the project.
The total price tag of the proj
ect is $690,000, with sales tax
funds or GEFA money funding
the remainder of the project. The
Clean Water ARRA (American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act)
stimulus funds are not available
for the project, since it is not
geared toward industry or busi
ness.
The project will be ready to go
to bid in June.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council:
•met in a closed-door meet
ing for 30 minutes to discuss
“land acquisition, and pending
or potential litigation.” When
the meeting was opened to the
public, the council authorized
the town manager to negotiate
for the purchase of property dis
cussed in executive session to
improve a town lift station at the
price discussed in the executive
session.
•approved an updated ethics
ordinance to maintain the town’s
“City of Ethics” designation.
•approved an alcoholic bever
age license for wine consump
tion, malt beverage consumption,
distilled beverage consumption,
including Sunday sales, for Hott
Tomatoz, located at 5783 Old
Winder Highway (Ga. Hwy.
211).
•approved the engagement let
ter for Reznick Group to provide
auditing services to the town and
its associated entities for FYE
2009. The town has used the
same company for the past two
years. Braselton pays $59,000 a
year for its auditing services.
CALLING
ALL YOUNG
LADIES!
Miss Georgia 2001
to speak in
Pendergrass
Saturday, April 18
11:00 a.m.
The Pendergrass
Train Depot
Dr. Emily Howell will be speaking
on Character Education, Goal-
Setting and Creating a Positive
Mindset. This presentation is for
young girls in middle and high
school. No fees. Simply come and
enjoy!
Sponsored by the Pendergrass Library.
No citizen vote planned on
increased taxes in Hoschton
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
IT SEEMS that Hoschton
citizens won’t cast a vote when
it comes to the possibility of
increasing taxes.
That discussion came after a
citizen asked the city council
to hold a referendum should
Hoschton consider increasing
property taxes.
"My opinion is that any
increase in the millage rate at
any time — whether it’s this
time or 10 years from now — be
subject to popular referendum,”
said Kelley Gary.
The Hoschton City Council
considered adopting the first
property tax in almost 30 years
during budget discussions last
fall. But after an outcry of public
opposition against the proposal,
the council approved a 2009
budget without a property tax
increase.
For the 2010budget, Hoschton
is getting a jump start on the pro
cess that would give ample time
to consider a potential property
tax.
Still, the council hasn’t decid
ed if it will increase property
taxes in 2010.
“You want us to consider the
fact that we’re going to have
a millage rate increase when
we have not even decided that
amongst the city council,” ques
tioned council member Theresa
Kenerly.
City attorney Thomas
Mitchell said holding a referen
dum on the issue would require
that Hoschton change its city
charter.
And that can’t be done without
approval by the Georgia General
Assembly, which recently ended
its 2009 legislative session.
Gary suggested the city amend
its charter during a proposed
special session that is currently
being debated for state legisla
tors. He said Hoschton should
ask its state representative,
Tommy Benton, and state sena
tor, Ralph Hudgens, to support
the proposed legislation.
Several Georgia Attorney
Generals have said that unless
a city charter allows a “straw
poll,” it’s not appropriate to hold
a non-binding vote on the bal
lot during a contested election,
although other cities have done
that recently, Mitchell said.
Mitchell said he advised
against holding a non-binding
vote, but the decision rests with
the city council.
“I’m not going against what
the attorney has advised,”
Kenerly said.
Mayor Bill Copenhaver said
the city council will continue to
consider its options.
“We’ll take this under advise
ment about what to do with the
charter and we’ll move on,” he
said on Monday.
Council member Tom Walden
— who heads the city’s fiscal
resources committee — said
he agreed with Gary to move
the times of two planned pub
lic hearings during the budget
process.
However, the council would
need to hold a called meet
ing prior to its regular Sept.
10 meeting, should Hoschton
decide to increase property
taxes, he said. The called meet
ing would give time to include
the city property tax on Jackson
County tax bills.
Braselton bond rating rises
STANDARD AND Poor’s —
the bond rating agency which
rates more than 80 percent of the
nation’s municipal and corporate
bonds — raised the Town of
Braselton’s rating from BBB+
to A- in March. The rating is for
the town’s water and sewerage
system revenue bonds.
In assigning a rating for rev
enue bonds, the major rating
agencies assess economy, debt
structure, financial condition,
demographic factors and man
agement practices of the govern
ing body and administration.
Additionally, an analysis is
performed with respect to water
and sewer system users and rates.
“A-” bonds are rated as favorable
investments and considered to be
upper medium grade obligations,
citing factors giving security to
principal and interest structure.
“We are very pleased with the
rating level, as it, in part, rein
forces the mission of the water
and sewer enterprise funds and
its bonding capability which
allows for expansions of our sys
tem,” said Braselton Mayor Pat
Graham in a statement.
Public hearing set April 27 for
church seeking worship permit
THE BRASELTON Planning Commission will hold a public hear
ing on Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m., to hear a request from a church.
The Vine United Methodist Church is asking for a conditional use
permit to allow the church to use property at 1897 Hwy. 211 NW,
Suite 106, for weekly worship services. The property is owned by
CCB2, LLC, and is zoned for General-Commercial (G-C).
The Braselton Town Council will hold a public hearing on the plan
ning commission’s recommendation on Thursday, May 7, at 4 p.m.
The council is expected to vote on the proposal on Monday, May 11,
at 7 p.m.
All meetings will be held at the Braselton Police and Municipal
Court Building, located at 5040 Ga. Hwy. 53, Braselton.
— V.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Jackson County Board of Adjustment will
hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, May 7,
2009, at 7:00 p.m., at the Jackson County
Administrative Auditorium, 67 Athens Street,
Jefferson, Georgia, on the following matters:
BOA-09-04- Keystone Development
Services LLC, representing McDonalds
USA LLC., requests a variance at 5808
Highway 124W to increase ground sign
from 32 sq.ft, to 76.3 sq.ft, per Section
512(l)(2)(b) of the Jackson County
Unified Development Code (Map 104
Parcel 026E)
Complete applications, plats, texts, maps,
and public hearing procedures are available
for review in the Planning Division Office, of
the Department of Public Development during
regular office hours. All interested persons
are invited to attend.
Anyone desiring to speak in opposition to the
above case shall file a Campaign
Contribution Disclosure form at least 2
business days prior to the May 7, 2009 Public
Hearing.