Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 3A
Commissioners consider special
tax district for commercial areas
Decides to postpone proposed legislation until next year
BYANGELA GARY
JACKSON COUNTY leaders met Monday
morning to consider calling for legislation
that would allow business owners to impose
a tax on themselves to pay for infrastructure
improvements.
The board of commissioners held the
called meeting to consider whether to move
forward on calling for legislation allowing
“Community Improvement Districts” to be
created. The action would have to have
been approved Monday in order to get it
to the legislature in time for approval this
session.
The BOC decided to not move forward at
this time because a document with all of the
details had not been created yet and some of
the commissioners want more study on the
special tax districts.
“I can't feel comfortable voting on some
thing I haven’t seen,” said commissioner
Dwain Smith. “The idea is good. I just don’t
like to be voting on something in the dark.
I’m not comfortable with just slamming this
on the legislature at the last minute unless it
is real, real urgent.”
The BOC agreed to form a committee to
study this issue further and create proposed
legislation to be introduced next year.
A “Community Improvement District”
would allow commercial areas to tax them
selves to make improvements within their
boundaries. A majority of the business own
ers would have to agree. The special tax
district would be able to issue bonds and the
county would have no financial responsibil
ity.
“It is a tool for economic development
where you have areas that need improve
ments and the government has no funds to
make the improvements,” BOC chairman
Hunter Bicknell said.
NWA approves $365,000 budget
BY BRANDON REED
THE NICHOLSON Water
Authority voted unanimous
ly last week to approve a
2010 budget.
The budget is $365,000, a
drop from last year’s total of
$367,000.
That amount includes
budgeted water revenue of
$360,000; tap fees of $4,500;
and interest income of $500.
Chairman Tully
Westmoreland was absent
for the vote.
Last year, the NWA came
in under budget with a
total operating amount of
$329,371. That gave the
authority a net income of
$45,281.
Among items budgeted for
2010 are: $69,000 in repairs
and maintenance, $80,000 in
salaries and wages, $10,000
for engineering and $76,000
in depreciation.
In other business, the
NWA voted to pursue GELA
funding for 2010. To do this,
the authority will need an
Engineer of Record to be
allowed to represent them.
The authority voted unani
mously to accept an offer
from Peoples and Quigley
to move forward as the engi
neer of record, with the NWA
paying only when funding is
secure.
Chairman Westmoreland
joined the meeting late and
read a section to the author
ity members from the inter
governmental agreement
with the City of Nicholson
that states that the two enti
ties will meet in April of
each year to discuss water
projects within the city to
be paid for with SPOLST
funds, which the city has the
right to accept or deny.
The authority voted to
send the individual council
members a letter requesting
a joint meeting and includ
ed projects on Peach Street,
James Maxwell Road and
TacJabs Road, as well as
meter placement and the
need for the refurbishment
of the NWA's 75,000 gallon
tank.
The authority has received
a quote of $2,409 for work
ers compensation insur
ance. Several board mem
bers voiced the opinion that
the liability limit under the
quote may be too low. Board
member Walter Barnett made
the motion to accept the
quote, but to request quotes
on higher liability limits at
the same time. The authority
unanimously approved the
motion.
Maysville PD may get upgraded radios
BY KATIE HUSTON
JACKSON COUNTY is implementing an
upgraded radio system for police officers and
Maysville is considering switching over as
well.
Steve Nichols, director of Jackson County
Emergency Services, recently met with the
Police Chief Association discussing upgrades
to the radio systems that must be in place by
2013.
Currently, the radios used by Jackson
County police officers cover about 80 percent
of the county. With upgrades, the system
will have about a 98.5 percent coverage area
of Jackson County and about 50 percent of
Banks County.
Banks County will not be implementing the
upgraded system. This means that Maysville
officers would need to stay compatible with
Banks County if they switched to Jackson
County’s system and can do that by keeping
some of the compatible radios. If Maysville
does not switch, the city could not communi
cate with Jackson County.
The city would incur the cost of its radios if
it decides to get in on the new system.
The new system would eliminate bleed over
from other counties. In addition, it includes a
GPS system, private call features, encryption
ensuring security, a potential data package
allowing for laptop use in patrol vehicles and
911 enhancement capabilities. It also notifies
an officer when they've been out of range for
over two minutes.
“It’s really a robust system,” Nichols said.
“We’re going to have capabilities we haven’t
thought of before.”
Grant money would be available for the
radios and each portable runs between $600
and $700.
Nichols said that the county is hoping to
have the new system implemented by the end
of the year.
No action was taken on the matter, but
Nichols said he would keep the city updated.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at the Maysville City
Council meeting Monday night:
•a Water and Sewer Capital Improvement
Program was approved for $3,500. The project
will help improve waterlines around the city.
•it was decided that Credit Corporation, a
company that has a relation with the Georgia
Municipal Association, will begin collecting
money on behalf of the city for money that is
due. The company will receive a percentage of
fees collected. It will receive 16.5 percent on
accounts aged less than two years and 19 per
cent on all other accounts. Credit Corporation
is only paid if it collects and the city hands
over accounts at its discretion. The council
said that Maysville does not have the resources
to spend time collecting money itself, and it is
less expensive to go with Credit Corporation
than hire a lawyer to collect fees.
•the council approved a $35,885 bid from
Georgia Power for the streetscape project for
streetlamps around the city. The funds will be
covered by the streetscape grant.
•the council approved the $3,777 installa
tion of a fire hydrant at the end of Deer Run.
•it was announced that persons interested in
being on the city’s new Historic Preservation
Committee may find applications on the
city's website at cityofmaysvillega.com or at
City Hall.
•a contract with Jackson County Housing/
Booking was tabled per request.
Correction on Benton announcement
Rep. Tommy Benton has announced that he
will seek election to his fourth term in the Georgia
House of Representatives from District 31.
Benton, 59, represents most of Jackson County
and small parts of Barrow and Hall counties.
Qualifying for the July primaries will take place
the last week of April.
Benton, a Republican from Jefferson, is vice
chairman of the House Retirement Committee,
secretary of its Education Committee and serves
on the Education and Rules committees.
An announcement in last week's edition incor
rectly stated Benton’s age and one of the house
committee he serves.
Road closed for construction project
HOG MOUNTAIN Road was closed
Tuesday, April 13, for a road improvement
project. The road is closed from its inter
section with Valentine Industrial Parkway/
Possum Creek Road to the Racetrac
entrance.
Reopening is scheduled for July 31. The
detour route provided will be signed to direct
traffic on a safe alternate route.
The project will reconstruct and widen
Hog Mountain Road from Hwy. 129 through
the Valentine Industrial Parkway intersec
tion. The project will also include improve
ments to the Hwy. 129 intersection with Hog
Mountain Road and New Salem Church
Road.
SPEAKING ABOUT CHILD ABUSE
Annette Raymond Bates, executive director of the Piedmont CASA (Court Appointed
Special Advocates), talks to a group of students from the Boys and Girls Club of
Jackson County on Wednesday about “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” She also
read a proclamation adopted by the board of commissioners. Representatives from
The Tree House, Juvenile Court, District Attorney’s office, Jackson County Sheriff’s
Office and others were among those at the event held in Jefferson’s Pocket Park.
Photos by Kerri Testement
REPRESENT CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS
Students from the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson
County place pinwheels at Jefferson’s Pocket Park on
Lee Street on Wednesday during an event to mark “Child
Abuse Prevention Month.” Each of the 131 pinwheels
placed at the park represents a child abuse victim from
Jackson County assisted by The Tree House in 2009.
ELEVEN-year-old “Eugene”
— who has been in and out of
foster care for most of his life
— has a simple request.
Now living in a group home in
South Georgia, Eugene requires
extra medical attention because
of cerebral palsy.
“Will you help bring me back
to Jackson County,” he wrote in a
brief narrative about his life.
Eugene's story isn't uncom
mon for some children in Jackson
County. In fact, approximately
75 children in the county are now
in temporary custody through
the Department of Family and
Child Services (DFCS). The
agency needs more foster fami
nes to welcome children into
their homes.
Of those cases, many of the
children have endured some
form of abuse - including physi
cal, emotional and sexual abuse.
“There are innocent children
out there,” said Ranata Pittman,
who works in the District
Attorney's office. “They are
being abused everyday.”
April is “Child Abuse
Prevention Month,” a time
when organizations — such
as the Piedmont CASA (Court
Appointed Special Advocates)
and The Tree House — bring
community awareness about
child abuse.
This year, 131 pinwheels
representing the number of
child abuse victims in Jackson
County assisted at The Tree
House in 2009 were placed
in Jefferson's Pocket Park on
Lee Street.
While The Tree House helped
127 abused children in 2008,
Juvenile Court Judge Kevin
Guidry encouraged the group of
advocates and students from the
Boys and Girls Club of Jackson
County at Wednesday’s event to
keep helping victims year round.
“Y’all coming here and stand
ing up for the kids is very impor
tant,” Guidry said.
The Tree House — which
serves children in Jackson,
Barrow and Banks counties
— provides help for abused chil
dren and works to prevent it,
too.
Courtney McVey, executive
director of The Tree House, said
the 131 pinwheels represent hope
for those local children helped
through the nonprofit organiza
tion.
Pinwheels represent child abuse victims
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
Jefferson Freedom Festival location changed
BYANGELA GARY
THE PLANNED streetscape
improvement project in Jefferson
will lead to the annual Freedom
Festival being moved from the
downtown area.
Main Street Jefferson manager
Beth Laughinghouse reported at
the city council meeting Monday
night that the city recreation
fields is being considered as the
location for the event. She asked
for input from the council on this
recommendation.
The festival, which features
live entertainment and fireworks,
is tentatively set for June 25,
which is the only day that the
recreation complex is available.
Laughinghouse said the
streetscape project is set to begin
“very soon.” She added that a
meeting will be held within the
next few weeks with downtown
merchants and others to be
impacted by the construction.
In other business at the city
council meeting Monday night:
•an update was given on the
tree grant project. Some 110 trees
have been purchased and they
will be planted soon. The city
received $50,000 in federal stim
ulus funds for this project.
•library manager Amy Carlan
spoke on the need to appoint one
member to the library board.
•public works director Jeff
Killip gave an update on ongo
ing road projects, including on
MLK Road and Old Swimming
Pool Road.
•a report was given on health
insurance renewal. Several
options were presented with a
vote to be taken at the April 26
council meeting.
•city manager John Ward
reported that repairs are under
way on the 55 College Street
property owned by the city.
Keep Jackson County Beautiful's
Annual Spring Event
Saturday, May 8, 8 a. m. - 1:30 p. m.
Location: Jackson County Landfill/Transfer Station
DOCUMENT SHREDDING
Everyone worries about Identity Theft. DON’T! Start cleaning out those files of unwanted paper
trails, place them in the truck or car and bring them to the the Jackson County Transfer Station to
have them shredded. Items people may want to bring include bank information, cancelled or blank
checks, credit card offers/information, financial statements, personal bills, income tax records,
insurance coverage, investment information, legal papers and medical records.
I E-WASTE
HELP OTHERS 1
Computers, Monitors or Mice, Printers, Copiers,
CD Players, Stereos, Microwaves, Scanners, Disk
and Floppy Drives, Fax Machines & More.
Televisions - $10.
Donate your Good Used Clothing,
Eyeglasses, Cell Phones and Canned Goods
For Local Charities.
Flourescent light bulbs, ink cartridges, household batteries, oil and latex paint (6 gallons from each
household - More? We’ll take them, but it will be $1 per gallon), aluminum, small metals, news and
office paper. We’ve added Auto Oil and Auto Batteries.
REMEMBER TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR IF THEY ARE OLDER OR DISABLED!
A Keep Jackson
County Beautiful
For More Information Call
706-708-7198