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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010
Towns, county plan projects to fund with SPLOST revenue
Voters to decide with Nov. 2 ballot
Chamber looks at changes
for Taste of Jackson event
BYANGELA GARY
PAYING OFF existing
debts, repairing roads and
adding recreation facilities
are among the plans for using
revenue from the one-cent
special purpose local option
sales tax revenue that is being
proposed in Jackson County.
This issue will be on the bal
lot in the Nov. 2 election.
The county government,
as well as each of the nine
towns, would get a portion of
the projected $47.5 million
revenue over six years.
JACKSON COUNTY
Jackson County would get
an estimated $33.7 million in
revenue and would use it as
follows: $23 million to pay
off debt service for the jail;
$6.8 million for roads, streets
and bridges; $2 million for
recreation; and $1.2 million
for satellite EMS facilities.
The roads and bridges
money would be used for
resurfacing, base and paving,
bridge repairs and rehabili
tation, intersection improve
ments, sidewalk and pedes
trian upgrades; and safety
upgrades within school
zones.
As for the funds proposed
for recreation, some 40 per
cent. or $800,000, would be
used in part for park improve
ments. The remaining $1.2
million would be designated
for property acquisitions.
The new EMS stations
would be located in Braselton,
Commerce and Plainview.
ARCADE
Arcade would get an
estimated $1.2 million in
SPLOST revenue, which
would be used as follows:
$875,410 for a public safe
ty complex; $250,162 for
repairing and paving roads,
streets and bridges; and
$125,031 for parks and rec
reation, including the acqui
sition of land.
“Most of our SPLOST
funds will be utilized to
reimburse the loan for the
municipal complex (city hall)
and the police department,”
according to city adminis
trator Debby Mockus. “As
for the roads, the plan is
to continue with efforts to
resurface those roads in need
and begin developing a plan
and prioritized list for paving
the remaining gravel roads.
And for the park, we’re look
ing at simple upgrades and
improvements to the restroom
facility and picnic shelters
BRASELTON
Braselton would get an
estimated $1.1 million in
SPLOST revenue, which
would be used as follows:
$563,345 for parks and rec
reation and $563,345 for
paving and repairing streets,
curbs and sidewalks.
“For parks and recreation,
we are using the funds for the
town green and, if funds are
available, for the amphithe
atre.” city manager Jennifer
Dees reports. “The streets/
curbs/sidewalks is for road
maintenance and repairs as
needed and for streetscapes
in downtown. Those will be
designed as the funds become
available.”
COMMERCE
Commerce would get an
estimated $4 million in rev
enue, which would be used
as follows: $1.8 million for
water and sewer projects;
$1.2 million for parks and
recreation; and $1.2 million
for roads, streets and bridg
es.
City manager Clarence
Bryant reports that water
plans include West Ridgeway
Road water main, fire hydrant
upgrades. Waterworks Road
water main upgrade, valve
insertion in water mains,
Wheeler Cemetery Road
pump station upgrade, water
main extensions, maintenance
equipment and improvements
at the water plan.
Sewer plans include a bar
screen upgrade and oxida
tion ditch at the wastewa
ter plant, improvements to
the Lathan Road pump sta
tion, Old Mill sewer main
upgrades. Waterworks Road
sewer main upgrades, man
hole upgrades at Broad and
Elm streets, sewer line exten
sions and a pump station
emergency power system.
Commerce would use its
road funds for a Wood Street
extension, street and right of
way maintenance equipment,
road resurfacing, road pav
ing at the cemetery, sidewalk
improvements and work at
the Oxford building parking
lot and civic center parking
lot.
Plans for parks and rec
reation include acquisition
of property and design of a
community park, improve
ments and additions at
Willoughby Park. Veterans
Memorial Park and Ridling
Park and purchasing mainte
nance equipment.
HOSCHTON
Hoschton would get an esti
mated $932,481 in SPLOST
revenue and would use it as
follows: $699,464 for water
and sewer; $186,413 for
roads, streets and bridges;
and $46,603 for parks and
recreation.
“All of the proceeds from
this allocation (water and
sewer) will be used to pay
debt (principal only, no inter
est) for previous improve
ments to the waste water
treatment plant, reports city
clerk Cindy George.
The City of Hoschton
would use the proceeds allo
cated to roads for work on
two projects: the realign
ment of Highway 332 onto
the current Towne Center
Parkway and sidewalks con
necting Towne Center and
downtown.
“The realignment proj
ect is essential for future
economic development in
the high-traffic corridor of
Highway 53,” George said.
“It will allow for a traffic
light at its intersection with
Highway 53 at some point
in the future. The sidewalk
project is a major compo
nent of our comprehensive
plan to provide multi-modal
connectivity between resi
dential and activity centers
in the city limits. Other road
projects include patching and
repairs ahead of DOT-funded
repaving projects.”
As for the parks and rec
reation revenue, the city
would add some additional
equipment to the playground
beside the historic depot.
JEFFERSON
Jefferson would get an esti
mated $4 million in SPLOST
revenue and would use it as
follows: $1.6 million for cul
tural historical and recreation
facilities bond debt; $1.7 mil
lion for roads, streets, bridg
es, storm water management
and sidewalks; $1.1 million
for water and sewer facilities
and $81,351 for public safety
facility improvements.
The public safety funds
would be used for improve
ments to the city’s police
station and two fire stations,
according to city manager
John Ward.
The bond debt for recre
ation would be used to pay
the bond debt at the city’s
recreation center.
“This will allow us to be
prepared for continued slow
impact fees on new residen
tial, which is how we are
currently paying for this,”
Ward said.
The water and sewer
money would be used for
existing repairs and for con
tinued development of the
Parks Creek Reservoir.
MAYSVILLE
Maysville would get an
estimated $431,117 in
SPLOST revenue and would
use it as follows: $301,782
for water and sewer improve
ments; $64,667 for roads;
$43,112 for buildings; and
$21,556 for parks and rec
reation.
Plans for the water and
sewer revenue include drill
ing new wells, installing fire
hydrants and upgrades to the
water lines, according to city
clerk Barbara Thomas.
Plans for parks and rec
reation include designing a
playground area and pur
chasing playground equip
ment, including basketball
goals and swings.
The building funds would
be used to restore city hall,
including upstairs and the
roof area.
The road money would
be used to resurface and
upgrade roads.
NICHOLSON
Nicholson would get an
estimated $1.1 million and
would use it as follows:
$516,003 for roads and
bridges; $286,976 to pur
chase property to expand
existing parks and purchas
ing picnic and playground
equipment; $57,395 for
renovation of the public
library; $57,395 for res
toration of the Crossroads
Traveling School; $172,185
for tractors and mowers and
other equipment to maintain
the parks; and $57,395 for
water and sewer improve
ments.
PENDERGRASS
Pendergrass would get
a projected $371,890 in
SPLOST revenue and would
use it as follows: $260,133
for construction of a public
library; $55,878 for parks
and recreation; and $55,878
for streets, roads and bridg
es.
TALMO
Talmo would get an esti
mated $377,400 in SPLOST
revenue and would use it
as follows: $132,526 for
administrative space/library;
$113,018 for parks and rec
reation; $94,182 for roads,
streets and bridges; and
$37,672 for public safety.
“Talmo is building a pavil
ion adjacent to our city park,”
city clerk Debra Fontaine
said. “ It will be part of the
city park which was also
built with SPLOST funds.
The building will be 20 X
20 and will be an addition to
our picnic area.”
She said plans also call
for adding new equipment to
the playground for younger
children and adults.
By Mark Beardsley
WITH FEWER businesses
participating and fewer peo
ple buying tickets to the 2010
Taste of Jackson/Business
Showcase, the Jackson
County Area Chamber of
Commerce is looking for new
ideas.
Without offering any spe
cifics, chamber president
Shane Short advised his board
of directors last Friday that
some recommendations for
changes will be forthcoming.
The event has been held
every fall for almost two dec
ades in the Commerce Civic
Center. Short noted that par
ticipation in the event has
“slowly gone down.”
This year’s event, held
Oct. 7. had only 31 non-food
booths, noted Linda Foster,
director of member services,
who organized the event, and
the 214 tickets sold at the
door was something of a dis
appointment. Only seven peo
ple entered a dessert contest.
Thirteen companies served as
BYANGELA GARY
A TRAFFIC study for a
proposed retail development
near Kroger at the cross
ing of Hwy. 129 and Old
Pendergrass Road that shows
the road is sufficient to han
dle maximum vehicle flow in
that area was approved in a
4-1 vote of the Jefferson City
Council Monday night.
Councilman Roy Plott
voted against the traffic
study, while the other coun
cil members voted in favor of
it. Plott said he believes the
intersection should be stud
ied further.
Applebees and CVS are
two businesses that are con
sidering locating at this site.
In other action at the meet
ing Monday night, the coun
sponsors, but some of those
were trade-outs and gener
ated no income, she added.
Nonetheless, the chamber
turned a $15,771 profit on
the event, which is among its
most successful fund-raisers.
Short told the directors
that it has become “increas
ingly more difficult for busi
ness vendors to participate”
because they have a difficult
time seeing a return on their
investment.
“Small businesses have
said it’s good PR (public rela
tions) but they don’t get any
business from it,” Short said.
“Some have said it’s trick-or-
treating for adults.”
Short said the staff will
work on ways to “create more
value for vendors.”
Changing the location might
be one option. Short hinted.
He said some businesses “on
the Braselton side” of Jackson
County “don’t figure they get
any business from the Taste
of Jackson because it’s in
Commerce.”
cil:
•agreed to apply for a grant
for a sidewalk and drain
age improvement project on
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
The city’s portion of the proj
ect would be $153,000.
•approved the meeting
schedule and employee holi
day schedule for 2011.
•approved the water and
sewer budget for 2011
which shows a 4.08 percent
decrease. The budget includes
just under $4.02 million in
expenses. Revenues are pro
jected at a little under $4.06
million.
•met in closed session to
discuss property acquisition
and personnel but took no
action when reopening the
meeting to the public.
Correction
A story in last week’s edition contained incorrect dates foi
a public hearing in Hoschton about a request for a conditional
use permit for a proposed tattoo parlor. The Hoschton City
Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal during its
work session on Thursday, Nov. 4 and is slated to vote on the
request during its regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 8, both at
7 p.m. The council had changed its meeting dates in November
to await the results of the Nov. 2 election and how it could
affect the city’s budget. We apologize for the error.
Traffic study approved 4-1
Report: roads can handle
traffic from development
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