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VOL. 140 NO. 27 44 PACES 3 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 75< COPY
Recycling bins
out of county
BY MARK BEARDSLEY
People living in unincor
porated areas of Jackson
County have fewer options
for recycling household
garbage, thanks to SP
Recycling going bankrupt
and liquidating its assets.
Keep Jackson County
Beautiful executive director
Susan Trepagnier reports
that the Gwinnett County
firm pulled all of its recy
cling bins out of Jackson
County as part of its bank
ruptcy process. Its parent
company. SP Newsprint,
also underwent bankruptcy.
“When SP was bought
out of bankruptcy, it was
broken into three pieces,”
Trepagnier said. “Waste
Pro bought its Trucks and
bins.”
SP recycling provided
and serviced at no cost
nearly 35 bins for recy
cling mixed paper and
plastic at the county trans
fer station, in Commerce
near Badcock Furniture, at
Commerce High School,
the Jackson County
Administrative Building
and at many of the Jackson
County Schools. The com
pany also provided KJCB a
nominal payment from the
proceeds of its recycling of
materials collected here.
“It was a great service
while it lasted, but nothing
is free forever.” Trepagnier
said.
That leaves most resi
dents of Jackson County
without a recycling option.
The municipalities of
Commerce and Jefferson
provide curbside recycling
through Waste Pro, while
Garbage Hound does the
same with its Jackson
County customers.
Waste Pro is not likely
to offer recycling bins at
no cost.
“That does not work with
our business plan,” said
Bob Wolk, Waste Pro’s
Atlanta division manager.
“It would be under the pric
ing structure that all of our
other recycling containers
fall under.”
In Atlanta, he said, that
would amount to about $45
per month for a 7-yard bin
serviced weekly. Jackson
County is served by the
Athens division. Waste Pro
takes recyclables picked up
in Commerce and Jefferson
to the Athens-Clarke
Recycling Center.
The removal of the SP
bins leaves the Jackson
County Transfer Station
with few options.
continued on page 12A
Features:
•Christmas event set
at Commerce dance
school
page 2C
More sales tax coming in?
SPLOST projections increase for county
BY ALEX PACE
The county could receive more in sales
taxes than was originally expected. The
Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST)
citizens board met last Wednesday to dis
cuss the county’s progress on the SPLOST
V referendum.
SPLOST V collections occur from July
1, 2011. through June 30, 2017. The coun
ty originally projected to receive $33,747
million through the referendum but Logan
Propes, county finance director, said the
county could receive a little over $39
million.
Additionally, SPLOST projections for
the city municipalities is expected to be
greater than budgeted.
Total SPLOST (including the county
and all cities) was projected to total at
$47.5 million but Propes said the group is
on track to receiving $54,995 million.
Also at its meeting the group discussed
city projects that were completed since the
group’s October meeting. These included:
ARCADE
The City of Arcade spent some SPLOST
funds on debt reduction for the public
safety complex and spent almost $5,000
on road repair.
The city budgeted $1.25 million for
SPLOST and has spent $766,896 to date.
BRASELTON
The Town of Braselton used funds for
tennis courts and road work. Four road
projects including the Hwy. 124 realign
ment. Hwy. 53 StreetScape and the road’s
widening and a repaving project totaled at
$255,000.
COMMERCE
There wasn’t much activity in the City
of Commerce and Propes thinks the city
is saving up for upgrades on bridges and
infrastructure.
The city did spend $291,000 in the parks
and recreation department.
JEFFERSON
The City of Jefferson has made sever
al improvements to sidewalks and storm
drains.
Improvements were also completed for
water and sewer facilities. The city has 75
percent of the SPLOST to spend.
continued on page 12A
SPLOST FUNDS SIDEWALKS
Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST)
revenue funded sidewalks at the histor
ic courthouse in Jefferson. The City of
Jefferson has made several improvements
with its SPOST revenue, including side
walks projects and storm drains.
Photo by Alex Pace
LOCAL NEWS 2-3 I CRIME 6-7A I SPORTS 1-6B I OBITUARIES 15A I CLASSIFIEDS 8-9C
Foreclosures fall 70%
Foreclosures in the three county area of Jackson, Banks and Madison
counties have fallen 70 percent this year from their high in 2011.
Only 651 foreclosures were reported in 2014 in the tri-county area
compared to 2,197 in 2011.
The foreclosure rate is one indication of the health of an economy
and of people’s ability to pay their bank loans. While the local housing
market hasn’t recovered to pre-recession levels, the low foreclosure
rates indicate that the market has stabilized.
Local Foreclosure Rates
Countv
2011
2012
2013
2014
Jackson
1,464
1,230
702
416
Banks
307
276
134
99
Madison
426
347
244
136
Totals
2,197
1,853
1,080
651
Paving scam reported in
neighboring counties
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum has issued a warning about
a “paving scam” that occurred in Banks and Franklin counties and
could take place in Jackson.
“It was reported by Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed that
a group of white males with dark hair representing S&S Paving
Company are approaching homes offering to pave small parts of the
driveway with leftover asphalt for an affordable fee,” Mangum said.
“Once the work is completed, the owner of the business presented
the homeowner with a much higher fee after altering what was orig
inally agreed upon by confusing the homeowner. The men were also
able to enter the residence and observe what was inside the house by
insisting they be given something to drink.”
The men were driving a burgundy pickup truck with S&S Paving
printed on the sides. Mangum asks that anyone approached using this
or any other type of scam to call 911 and have an officer respond.
What’s happening around the county...
S-H-H-H DON’T WAKE THE BABY
Little Hudson Barton slept through having his picture made
with Santa Friday evening. Photos with Santa were offered
at the Crawford W. Long Museum as part of the Christmas
events going on in downtown Jefferson. See more photos
from the event on page 1C.
Photo by Sharon Hogan
THE SAME TEAM
(TOP) Evan Breakspear
(Jackson County) and Justin
Akin (East Jackson) (LEFT,
#92) played for rival football
programs in high school
but have joined forces as
members of Berry College’s
defense. Both made an imme
diate impact this fall, earning
significant playing time as
freshmen. See Page 1B
JCCO plans annual banquet
Christmas events planned in county
The Jackson County Community Outreach will sponsor its 16th
annual Achievement Awards Banquet on Saturday. Dec. 13. at 6:30 p.m.
at the Jefferson Civic Center in Jefferson. Jim Scott, JCCO president,
advises that several Jackson County citizens, leaders and achievers
have been selected for recognition and accolades at this year’s event.
The honorary chair of this year’s banquet is Larry Ebert, Commerce,
chief operating officer of Northridge Medical Center, a local healthcare
employer.
The keynote speaker will be Pedro P. Cherry, vice president, commu
nity and economic development of Georgia Power Company. Cherry is
responsible for the company’s efforts to recruit new industry to Georgia
as well as supporting local and statewide initiatives to improve the mar
ketability of communities in the state.
Visits with Santa and special holiday events are planned in the
county in the next few weeks.
Scheduled events include:
•The City of Pendergrass will host its annual Christmas event on
Friday, Dec. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at the city’s train depot. Children will
be able to take free pictures with Santa. Attendees are also invited to
bring their own camera. Pets are also welcome. For more informa
tion, call city hall at 706-693-2494.
•Maysville’s Christmas in the Park will be held on Saturday, Dec.
13, from 3 to 8 p.m. Booth space is available for selling crafts or
food and a lighted parade will begin at 6 p.m., with Santa to follow.
Parade participants are being sought. Applications are online at city-
ofmaysville.org or by contacting Cyndi at 706-708-6409 or Katrina
at 706-983-1565.
continued on page 12A
continued on page 12A
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