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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010
Walking trails proposed for East Jackson Park
BY ANGELA GARY
WORK SHOULD begin on walking trails
at the East Jackson Park in Nicholson after the
Jackson County Board of Commission meets
Monday night to take action on a contract for
the project. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m.
at the courthouse.
The trails are being funded with special
purpose local option sales tax monies and the
cost will be $273,775.
Consultant Don Clerici gave a report at the
BOC meeting Monday night. He said the
project calls for 1.2 miles of walking trail.
“People use the entrance road and parking
lots now,’’ he said. “It is a heavily used park in
the fall and spring. It is a good time for folks
to be walking.’’
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business Monday night, the BOC
discussed several other items that will be on
the agenda at next week’s meeting for a vote,
including the following:
•a contract with Southern Health Partners
that will allow them to continue to provide
medical and dental services to the inmates
at the Jackson County Correctional Institute.
The cost for providing these services will be
$112,578.
•a request from Bobby Wilkins to build
a guesthouse on his property at 2337 Hog
Mountain Road.
•a request from Joshua and Stacie Hughes
to locate a garage over 1,000 square feet on
their property at 906 Collins Road, off of
Jackson Trail Road.
•a request from GIS manager Joel Logan
to create a stormwater advisory and planning
committee. The main purpose of the commit
tee would be to look into ways the county and
municipalities can work together in prepara
tion of the stormwater plan in an effort to save
money.
•proposed fees from Logan for requests for
information from the county GIS office.
•a request to approve an 87-day extension
to Cline Service Corporation on the Lipscomb
Lake Road Bridge replacement project due to
weather and schedule delays.
•a proposed development agreement with
Commerce Land Holdings for the Bana Road
project.
ALSO AT THE MEETING
•commissioner Bruce Yates announced that
he will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. on
Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Hoschton Depot.
•Yates discussed the possibility of establish
ing a performance review board for the tax
assessors office. He asked that this be on the
agenda at the Feb. 1 BOC meeting for further
discussion.
no’ to flea market; BOC to vote Tuesday
Unknown contract deal
leads to more budget woes
Planners say
BYANGELA GARY
AFTER HEARING from
neighboring business own
ers that a flea market would
be “a step backwards’’ for the
Banks Crossing area, the plan
ning commission voted Tuesday
night to recommend denial of
a request for a conditional use
permit for the project.
Planners Albert Ward, Sammy
Reece and Keith Segars voted
to deny the request. Planning
commission member Alicia
Andrews excused herself from
the discussion and vote because
of a conflict of interest. She is
the manager of the outlet mall.
Commerce Factory Outlets,
adjacent to the site.
The request from Barrow
141 to locate a flea market at
100 Pottery Drive, at the former
location of Craven’s Pottery,
will go to the Banks County
Board of Commission for action
when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday
at the annex building.
At the planning commission
this week, a representative of
Barrow 141 said a furniture store
is already set to locate in a por
tion of the 90,000 square foot
building and that the flea market
would be in the same area. The
hours of operation for the flea
market would be 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays
and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Seven people spoke against
the request at the planning com
mission meeting.
“I think a flea market is a
step backwards,’’ said Joe Cook,
owner of a nearby business.
“We all had hopes we would
see something really viable go
there. If we put a flea market in
that area, we are taking Banks
County backwards. It’s a bad
idea.’’
Another nearby business
owner, Don Bynam, also spoke
in opposition to the project.
“A flea market is about as low
as you can go ... just above a
yard sale,’’ he said. “In this loca
tion, it’s not the right thing. You
are not going to be able to attract
other businesses to come in if
you have a flea market.’’
Alicia Andrews said: “We
will endanger the business com
munity at Banks County if we
allow this flea market to come
in.’’
Jennifer Tucker, a representa
tive of property near Longhorn,
said her company is in nego
tiation with a major restaurant
chain interested in locating at
Banks Crossing. She is con
cerned that a flea market might
cause stop this project.
The representative of Barrow
141 said that large retail stores
have declined to locate on the
site due to the downturn in the
economy.
“We’re trying to do the best
we can,’’ she said.
She added that they have had
to hire security due to vandalism
on the property.
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
A MOVE BY Hoschton’s for
mer mayor could sink the city’s
water and sewer budget for 2010,
according to officials.
Mayor Erma Denney said her
predecessor, Bill Copenhaver,
signed a contract in September
that gave notice for a company
to move forward with a planned
$485,000 water tank conversion
project at the city’s wastewater
treatment plant.
However, the new mayor
and council didn’t know that
Copenhaver had signed the
document with the Siemens
Corporation and were seeking
second opinions about moving
forward with the project.
The Jackson County Water and
Sewerage Authority (JCWSA)
— which started handling
Hoschton’s water and sewer ser
vices on Dec. 21 — told city
officials a few weeks ago that the
project may not be needed.
That was welcome news to city
officials, who took the $485,000
expense out of Hoschton’s 2010
water and sewerage budget —
thus keeping the fund afloat for
possibly the next two budget
years.
But on Monday morning,
Denney said she learned that
Copenhaver had signed a con
tract with Siemens to proceed
with the project. The discovery
resulted in several hours of dis
cussions with the city’s attorney,
engineer, council members and
the JCWSA about Hoschton’s
options, she said that evening.
“We only found this today,’’
Denney said on Monday. “I’m
not kidding.”
Hoschton’s previous council
had budgeted $485,000 for the
project — with $300,000 com
ing from a legal settlement it
received in November from its
former city engineer over faulty
design of the sewer treatment
plant and $185,000 coming from
the remainder of a state loan.
The former city council award
ed a contract to the lone-bidder,
Siemens, in May for the project.
The contract was contingent on
the city receiving an increase in
an existing state loan for the proj
ect, but the council later reject
ed the Georgia Environmental
Facilities Authority’s (GEFA)
proposal to provide financial
backing for the loan. Instead, the
city opted to use money from
the legal settlement to fund the
project.
Copenhaver signed the first
of several documents tied to the
project in August, followed by a
second document in September
— which included notice for the
company to proceed with the
project.
While answering some ques
tions from citizens at Monday’s
council meeting about the con
tract, Denney declined to com
ment on specifics about the city’s
next steps — on the advice of the
city attorney. City officials had
only learned about the document
that day, she added.
When asked if the city could
void the contract, Denney said:
“We’re not going to comment on
that right now.”
The discovery of the signed
contract leaves Hoschton with an
anticipated shortfall of $427,000
for its water and sewer budget
in 2010.
That’s in addition to a
$165,900 shortfall in the city’s
general fund budget — which
was discussed last week by the
council.
Overall, Hoschton expects
income to total $1.06 million
for the waste and sewer budget
in 2010, while expenses to reach
$1.49 million.
Both budgets — the general
fund and the water and sewer
fund — will be discussed during
a called meeting on Wednesday,
Jan. 13, at 6 p.m., at the depot.
Hoschton’s water and sewer
budget includes an estimated
$90,000 to outsource its water
and sewer services to JCWSA.
The authority is expected to
discuss a price for its services to
the city during its regular meet
ing on Thursday. Denney said
the city plans to negotiate “vigor
ously” for the best rate.
The city and the JCWSA are
under a 30-day mutual aid agree
ment to provide emergency ser
vices to Hoschton, after officials
discovered “deplorable condi
tions” at the city’s wastewater
treatment plant on Dec. 18.
Hoschton suspended its water/
wastewater operator, Johnny
Hill, without pay on Dec. 21. He
submitted a resignation letter two
days later and the council accept
ed his resignation on Monday.
Denney said the JCWSA
intends to extend the mutual
aid agreement until the city and
authority negotiate a deal for the
county’s services.
Since Hoschton switched to
county-provided water on Dec.
21, there has been a higher level
of customer satisfaction, she
said.
Before, some residents had
complained about excessive air
bubbles in the water, discolor
ation and city water leading to
damaged pipes or household
equipment. There were also
concerns about the ph level in
Hoschton’s well water.
The JCWSA got exclusive
control of Hoschton’s water and
sewer services because there
were questions about the city’s
well pump and Denney said
she didn’t want the county to
potentially compromise its state
permit.
The latest proposed changes to
the city’s 2010 water and sewer
budget call for paying the author
ity $108,000 for water. In 2009,
the city paid the county $40,000
for water.
Hoschton largely switched to
its lone city well last year in a
cost-cutting move.
The budget amendments also
include a reduction in contract
services and personnel costs with
the anticipated complete switch
to the JCWSA.
Hoschton previously contract
ed its water and sewer services
with the county until 2007.
Council member Scott Butler
— who recently replaced dam
aged copper pipes in his home
and plans to replace two faucets
— said he’d rather pay extra to
stay with the county than return
to the city well water.
“If I had to pay $10 more a
month — it would take nine
and a half years to get back the
money I spent replacing cop
per pipes and two faucets in
my house,” Butler said. “So, I’d
rather pay $10 more a month,
and not have to replace pipes in
my house or replace faucets.”
Braselton named top high-growth area in U.S.
THE GADBERRY Group — a Little
Rock-based research firm — has named
Braselton first in the nation for notable high-
growth areas for 2009.
Braselton was given the top spot in the
U.S. above other cities that are suburbs
of Houston, Nashville, Sacramento, Dallas,
Phoenix and the Raleigh-Durham triangle.
“The number-one spot went to Braselton,
Georgia, whose impressive household growth
was only surpassed by its economic strength,”
said Gadberry Group principal Larry Martin
in a statement. “Braselton topped the list with
an average household income increase of
67% from 2000 to 2009.
Located northeast of Atlanta, Braselton
has maintained strong growth since 2000,
according to the firm. The area has added
7,541 households bringing its current house
hold total to 13,929 - a 118% increase - and
has 6 emerging blocks.
Gadberry Group said even more impressive
is Braselton’s growth in household income.
Since 2000, average household income grew
from $68,102 to $113,664, an average house
hold increase of $45,562. Average household
net worth was second among the nine final
ists, at $532,628.
The firm identified the Braselton area
through large portions of West Jackson,
South Hall, Gwinnett and Barrow counties.
The area includes Hoschton, and stretches to
Hamilton Mill in Gwinnett, Martin Road in
Hall, Gum Springs Church Road in Jackson
and Dee Kennedy Road in Barrow.
“We’re ahead of the curve, setting a tone
for high quality growth, award winning infra
structure and essential services, without levy
ing a property tax,” said Braselton Mayor Pat
Graham in a statement. “Our vibrant busi
ness community offers an array of amenities
for small town living. What a tribute to be on
this prestigious list.”
The data bodes well for Boca Raton, Fla.-
based Halvorsen Development Corporation,
which has long eyed the 1-85 corridor.
“We chose Braselton for the future devel
opment of a 237-acre retail and mixed-use
project for several important reasons, includ
ing high disposable income, its proximity
to the North and South Carolina state lines
and the dynamic growth potential of the 1-85
corridor,” said president Thomas W. Vincent
in a statement. “This location will enjoy a
wonderful infrastructure connection with the
existing world-class Chateau Elan Winery
and Resort, a major tourism destination and
includes an expansive golf community situ
ated across the street from our site.”
Jackson County Area Chamber of
Commerce president Shane Short echoes
those visionary sentiments.
“Braselton serves as a gateway into Jackson
County stretching along the growing 1-85
corridor from Atlanta,” he said in a statement.
“This growth placed Jackson County as one
of the top 25 fastest growing counties in the
nation according to the Census Bureau. The
town plays a major role in our community
because of its excellent employment oppor
tunities, industrial growth, and high quality
residential and retail developments.”
Duke Realty’s senior vice president, Chris
Brown, said: “We identified Braselton as a
prime growth area about ten years ago and
invested over $100 million over that time,
attracting job-generating companies such as
Sears Logistics, Tractor Supply, Mitsubishi
and Progressive Lighting to the town. We
enjoy the pro-business environment created
by the Town and look forward to participat
ing in Braselton’s continued success.”
Gadberry Group provides location intel
ligence services and data for the world’s top
retail brands.
The firm uses proprietary products to
employ a statistical ranking system that eval
uates the 17,000 Census places. Selection
criteria and ranking methodology include
percent change, absolute change and emerg
ing Census blocks (those growing from less
than 10 households in Census 2000 to over
100 in 2009). The analysis considers total
growth from 2000 to 2009, as well as that
from 2008 to 2009. Gadberry also weights
the analysis using key demographic variables
such as ethnicity, household income, net
worth, economic stability, length of resi
dence and age.
“Compiling the 2009 list was especially
interesting as we anticipated the impact of
current economic conditions,” Martin said.
This year’s list averaged household growth
of 170% from 2000 to 2009, compared to
last year’s list average of 267% for the same
period. Martin noted that, in light of current
economic challenges, the 2009 list might
well include the most resilient areas featured
yet.
Gadberry Group’s 9 from 2009 are:
•Braselton, Georgia (Atlanta suburb)
•Atascocita, Texas (Houston suburb)
•Spring Hill, Tennessee (Nashville suburb)
•Lincoln, California (Sacramento suburb)
•Katy, Texas (Houston suburb)
•Wake Forest, North Carolina (in the
Raleigh-Durham triangle)
•Mansfield, Texas (Dallas suburb)
•Wylie, Texas (Dallas suburb)
•Buckeye, Arizona (Phoenix suburb)
Plans for Braselton streetscape project to be unveiled
AN OPEN house next week will give
insight to Braselton’s downtown streetscape
improvement project.
The Town of Braselton — through the
Braselton Downtown Development Authority
(DDA) — will hold a public hearing open
house for phase one of the project.
The event will be held on Thursday, Jan.
14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the courtroom
of the Braselton Police and Municipal Court
Building, located at 5040 Ga. Hwy. 53.
A proposed concept plan for the project
will be presented for public review and com
ment, as part of the monthly Braselton DDA
meeting.
Phase one of the Braselton streetscape proj
ect will include the installation of sidewalks,
street trees, pedestrian lights and drainage
improvement along Ga. Hwy. 53 from the
Braselton-Hoschton boundary to the intersec
tion of Ga. Hwy. 53 and Ga. Hwy. 124.
The project has been awarded a grant from
the state’s Transportation Enhancement (TE)
program.
Representatives from the town and the firm
undertaking the design of the project will be
available with plans and displays. The pub
lic is invited to attend the informal hearing
between the designated hours. There will be
no formal presentation.
Comment forms will be provided at the
open house to give people the opportunity to
make written comments about the project.
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