Newspaper Page Text
THE
ACKSON
vtf ss 1 .1
H Wednesday, )une 14, 2017
ERALD
VOL. 143 NO. 2
32 PACES 3 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS
Merged in 2017 with
The Commerce News
A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549
75c COPY
Huge retail coming?
Hearings approach for Jefferson commercial, industrial projects
By Alex Pace
Hearings are approaching on two large
developments in Jefferson including a
massive retail project on the bypass and
an industrial site off Plainview Road.
Those requests will go before the Jef-
ferson-Talmo Planning Commission at
its June 20 meeting, but no action can
be taken until the Georgia Department
of Community Affairs Development of
Regional Impact (DRI) study is complet
ed.
RETAIL SITE PROPOSED
Among the proposals is a rezoning
request from Darrell Garner for a massive
retail facility on Hwy. 129/Major Damon
Gause Bypass.
If approved, the retail project will be
constructed on 235.6 acres above Holders
Siding Road and will front the east side of
the bypass (not at the previously planned
Walmart site).
Developers plan to construct, “Shoppes
at Jefferson,” a commercial retail project
totaling 1.49 million square feet. It will
be divided into 26 parcels and include big
box stores, medium-size retail sites, small
shops and office spaces.
The current design shows three big
box stores, four retail strips and addition
al smaller buildings throughout. It also
shows two proposed new city streets, one
that runs from the bypass to old Hwy. 129
and another off Holders Siding Road.
The first phase of the project could be
completed in 18 months with full build
out in four years.
Developers estimate the project would
generate $2 million in local taxes annu
ally.
The property is currently zoned medium
density residential for “several hundred
residential units” which Garner said could
be “strenuous” on the city’s infrastructure.
HUGE INDUSTRIAL SITE PLANNED
Also at its June 20 meeting, the com
mission will hear three requests from
Jackson County Industrial Partners, LLC.
for 173 acres on Plainview Road near
Logistics Center Parkway. The site is
located next to the Jefferson Distribution
Center.
The group plans to construct three
industrial buildings totaling 2 million
square feet. Developers are requesting
annexation, rezoning and two variances
(to allow more on-site parking spaces and
reduce the required landscape strip).
ANOTHER WAREHOUSE
PLANNED, NOT ON AGENDA
Another group has also submitted a
DRI for an industrial project, but it's not
clear if a hearing will be required.
New Salem Road Investors, LLC, plans
continued on page 2A
BOLES PART OF SECOND EMMY
Laura Boles, the morning executive producer,
for WSPA-TV in South Carolina, was the lead
er of the group that won an Emmy Saturday
in Atlanta. Pictured left to right: Jennifer
Robinson, Fred Cunningham, Boles and
Tracey Early. Photo submitted
Commerce woman
part of second Emmy
A Commerce woman won her second straight
Emmy for news coverage Saturday in Atlanta.
Laura Sanders Boles, an executive producer for
WSPA in Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., area was the
leader of a group that tied for the TV award for “live
coverage.”
Boles, a 2005 graduate of Commerce High School,
called the award an honor, “but it was just so bitter
sweet.”
She is the daughter of David and Jennifer Sanders,
who own Sanders Furniture in Commerce.
The station won for its coverage of a funeral for
a police officer killed in the line of duty in March
2016. The station tied with Georgia Public Broad
casting for the Emmy.
“It was such a tragic event. We were really glad we
could honor him,” Boles said.
“It was a really sad event that we even had to
(cover). We’re very excited that we won, but it was
one of those things we wished we’d never had to do.”
Boles has been the morning executive producer at
the station for about two and a half years. She has
been at the station for six years.
She said she manages “the morning team.” Boles
works a 3:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift.
In 2016, the station won an Emmy for its
continued on page 2A
STEAM CENTER
OPENS FOR CAMP
Children filled the
Jefferson City School
System Science,
Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Mathematics
(STEAM) Center last
week for the first
Extreme STEAM summer
camp. Pictured (ABOVE)
Amanda Jacobs and
Kate James work at one
of the stations set up
during camp and (LEFT)
Clayton Beine works on
an interactive lesson.
Camps were planned
in June for various age
groups at the Jefferson
STEAM Center, which
opened in the former
Jefferson Public Library
earlier this year.
Photos by Clark Buffington
Student spending mostly down
Despite growth pressures, two of Jackson
County’s three school systems spent less in
2016 per student than they did in 2007.
Both the Jackson County and Commerce
City school systems spent less per student
while the City of Jefferson spent slightly
more.
All three school systems saw a growth in
students during the time. The Jefferson Sys
tem had the largest growth of 39 percent in
students. The county system grew by 12 per
cent while Commerce grew by just 3.4 percent.
Despite the drop in Jackson’s per student
spending, the county spent the most per student
of the three systems both in 2007 and 2016.
The City of Jefferson’s per student spending
is among the lowest in the state.
The City of Atlanta schools is the highest in
the state at $14,712 per student.
The statewide average is $9,020 per stu
dent.
Both the Jackson County and City of Com
merce systems were hurt by a declining tax
digest during the Great Recession of 2008-
2012. The City of Jefferson’s digest was more
stable due to its having a larger percentage of
commercial and industrial property.
2007
School System Expenses
2016
School
Svstem
Total
Snendins
Students
Number
Per Student
Spending
School
Svstem
Total
Snendins
Students
Number
Per Student
Spending
Jackson
$59.3 million
6,504
$9,146
Jackson
$65.4 million
7,300
$8,971
Jefferson
$16.8 million
2,377
$7,059
Jefferson
$23.5 million
3,316
$7,099
Commerce
$12.3 million
1,483
$8,281
Commerce
$12.6 million
1,533
$8,269