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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2023)
PAGE 2A THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023 Briscoe leaves Pendergrass, returns to Jefferson PD Pendergrass Police Chief ployed for 17 years. one part-time officer and is John Briscoe has resigned Billy McDaniel has been fully staffed according to his position and returned promoted to interim chief in city manager Rob Russell, to work for the Jefferson Pendergrass, town officials Briscoe had been at Pen- Police Department where said Tuesday. The PPD has dergrass for two-and-one- he had previously been em- seven full-time officers and half years. Water supply and distribution nearing capacity, authority says By Hannah Barron hannah@mainstreetnews. com The Jackson County Wa ter and Sewerage Authority received a presentation about the 2022 water master plan during its March 9 meeting. Nathan Hester, the author ity’s senior engineer, report ed the findings and the 2030 and 2050 capital improve ment plan projects. Since 2015, the authority’s customer base has grown from 7,800 to 11,500 — nearly 50% growth in just seven years. In those seven years, wastewater connections also jumped from 900 to 3.346, for a growth rate of 371%. “That kind of growth is just amazing and hard to deal with, plan for.” Hester said. Of particular concern is the West Jackson area, he added. West Jackson grows by about 500 houses a year. If the growth continues at that pace, the water distribution system will be at capacity in that area in seven years. “That timeframe is with out any corrective mea sures,” Hester said. As part of the capital improvement plan, he dis cussed projects that would be corrective measures to help buy some time and pro vide more capacity. The 2030 projects for the overall service area include large-diameter transmission mains concentrated on get ting water to West Jackson; fire flow coverage in North Jackson; an elevated storage tank in South Jackson; and the redundancy of the Gal ilee pump station with the construction of an additional pump station in the area to get water to the west. The projects total an es timated $151 million and would need to be complete by 2030. Of that total, $98 million is in projects needed to better serve West Jackson. “If the trend continues, which is what we have to plan for, we’re at that limit,” Hester said. “Everything we commit to, especially be yond what we have now, is putting us on the hook for those CIP projects.” “I think we can we can bring that number down through some policy initia tives,” he added. “We really need to get creative to try to buy some time. Because it’s happening so quickly, that time has become more and more pressing.” “We strive as a water util ity to say yes ... we want to serve, we want to sell water and sewer. We just want to do it as smart as we can, and we want to sell what we can actually provide.” The authority also plans to design a lot of the projects in-house to save on some of the costs. There are also other op tions to help with time and costs, as well as to provide more capacity. Options discussed in clude locating groundwater resources through the test ing of well sites; partnering with neighbors in different basins that may have better reservoir yields; looking into building a regional authority; looking into regional con nection fees; potentially re ducing the amount of whole sale water sold to Braselton and Hoschton; and potential ly limiting subdivision size by number of lots or phases. The water master plan will be refined as needed and ad opted at a later meeting. In other business, the authority approved a pre liminary water and sewer application for Heroes Ele mentary, which will be the newest elementary school in the Jackson County School System. Heroes Elementary is set to open in August 2024 and will be located off Hwy. 332 and Skelton Rd. in West Jackson, near Legacy Knoll Middle School. BOE continued from 1A “We’d like to have more options for school place ment,” said superintendent Philip Brown. The system does own a tract of land in North Jack- son on Brooks Rd., but of ficials said there aren’t any plans to build on that site within the next five years. One of the issues with that location is it will require a major upgrade to roads in the area, something county leaders have pointed out. In a related development, Jackson County manager Kevin Poe told the BOE that the county and state were working on upgrading the interchange at Hwy. 124 and Skelton Rd., but that the thinking now is to put a roundabout at the site rather than a T-intersec- tion as previously planned. He said that would delay the upgrade probably by a year. Poe also told the BOE that the state was doing a major road study in West Jackson that should be completed by summer. It is one of only two major road studies in the state, he said, noting that transpor tation is a “huge issue” in the West Jackson area. DeWitt continued from 1A family from experiencing ginning his senior year of entirely preventable and this in the future.” high school and was set to should not have happened. “Elijah had his whole life continue his football career It is our intention to hold ahead of him,” said Alex at the next level when his the Defendants responsible Brown, attorney with Rafi life was cut short on Oc- for this tragedy and obtain Law Firm. “He was just be- tober 5. This incident was justice for Elijah’s family.” Mims continued from 1A life are both at their peak, and these things take prece dence over my city council duties,” Mims wrote in an email. “I wish Hoschton the very best.” Mims is the second Hoschton councilmem- ber to resign his post since the beginning of February. Adam Ledbetter stepped down from his position on Feb. 2. Ledbetter left to fo cus on medical care for his son, who is facing a double kidney transplant. Mims and Ledbetter’s de partures leave the Hoschton council with five members (including the mayor). Mims’ unexpired term runs through 2026, while Ledbetter’s runs through 2024. PUBLIC NOTICE SPLOST 6 Citizen Oversight Committee On March 6, 2023, the Roads, Bridges and Sidewalks Oversight Committee heard a presentation from Jackson County regarding proposed projects to be funded by SPLOST 6. The Committee determined: “The Paving of Various Roads Throughout the County in 2023 is a project that complies with the project list the County included on the SPLOST ballot.” The Committee also recommended that the project move forward. For additional information, please contact the Jackson County Manager’s Office at 706-367-6314. www.jacksoncountygov.com No action planned this month on Commerce parks and rec future By Alex Buffington alex@mainstreetnews. com Commerce leaders aren’t likely to make a decision this month on whether to turn over its parks and rec reation department to the county. City manager James Wascher said the Com merce City Council will likely take some time to consider the idea before making a final decision. “I think council is going to spend a couple weeks considering all the infor mation before we explore our next steps,” Wascher said in an email to The Jackson Herald. “There is a lot to process and I know nothing is going to happen this month. There may be further discussion in April.” BACKGROUND City leaders have been working over the past sev eral years on plans to ex pand the city’s rec depart ment. During a town hall meeting earlier this month on the matter, Mayor Clark Hill said the city’s inten tion initially was to buy land and build new facili ties. City leaders considered a number of options, but later learned the estimated cost to build additional fa cilities would be $20-$30 million. On top of those steep capital costs, an expand ed program would require more operational funding beyond the city’s current $568,000 annual budget. Of that, around $75,000 comes from recreation fees, the rest from city gen eral funds. To build new facilities would mean a tax hike in the city to pay for bond funding and to pay for additional ongoing opera tional expenses. Because of the steep price tag, city officials met with several county leaders to see if the county could play a role in the city’s need to expand its facilities and programs. The result of those meetings is a draft proposal to be used as a possible framework for an intergovernmental agree ment between the city and county. Essentially, the two-page document calls for the city to turn over all its recre ation parks and equipment to the county recreation department and to pay the county $500,000 over two years to operate recreation facilities and programs in the city. In addition, the city would agree to retain $1 million from its SPLOST 7 recreation money for the county to use to help pay for facilities upgrades. The county would honor the city’s agreement with the city schools for use of the ballfields for two years and retain the use of the Tigers mascot with the city’s youth football and cheerleading programs, per league rules. It would also retain the name “Tiger Sharks” for the Commerce swim team program. The agreement also in dicates the county would attempt to locate new facil ities in or around the city. Police firearm range in Jefferson gets green light By Hannah Barron hannah@mainstreetnews. com Jefferson got the green light to start its police firearm range project at the city council’s March 13 work session. The city council voted to allocate designated funds with a cap of $370,000, giving staff the go-ahead to start the proj ect. The staff has already lo cated a feasible site near the developing 1-85 reclamation plant and plans are for the project to come in under bud get, Jefferson’s city manager Priscilla Murphy said. The facility would be used for public safety training. OTHER BUSINESS In other business March 13, the council: • approved a 2023 budget adjustment amendment for the fund balance account to pur chase a different truck for the planning department. The cur rent truck is in need of a repair and will be traded in. • received a presentation from Boy Scout Troop 158 about requests for improve ments at the troop’s Scout Hut located on Boy Scout Ln. The troop’s requests include lights in the parking lot; trashcans for the area; and additional or reserved parking for when the troop’s Monday night meetings conflict with near by t-ball sessions. Troop 158 also invited the council to the Scout Hut’s 20th anniversary held on Sunday, May 7, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. • received updates from the community development de partment. Community devel opment director Michele Head announced a number of up coming events including Foli age Fest scheduled for March 18 and Cigars, Bourbon & Music scheduled for March 31. The department also plans on using funds for the Roos evelt Theater to repair the the ater’s roof, which was recently damaged in a storm. • considered a resolution to accept the dedication of 0.10 acres of right-of-way along the north side of Gordon St. from Heritage Group Homes, LLC. • considered the final plat for Phase I of the Jefferson Hills subdivision. Applicant Winterset Holdings, LLC, seeks final plat approval for 30 lots on 22.708 acres zoned PCD Conditional, fronting on the south side of Peachtree Rd. The final plat includes the dedication of Blue Dragon Dr. and part of Red Dragon Dr., as well as the dedication and acceptance of water and sew er facilities including a force main and pump station within the full boundary of the subdi vision. The council also con sidered a resolution to accept the dedication of the right-of- way along the south side of Peachtree Rd. • considered a zoning change from C-l to MFR for 0.976 acres fronting on Ath ens St. and Wilson Ln. Appli cant Chris Worley already has three single-family homes on the property and the zoning change would allow for the construction of three addition al homes. • considered annexation and a zoning change to R-l from A-2 for 11.65 acres fronting on Rambler Inn Rd. at Rolling Acres Ct. near Sterling Lake Way. Applicant D. Cole Hud gens sought the annexation and zoning change in order to subdivide the property into eight single-family residential lots, with one already existing. CITY OF HOSCHTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS The Hoschton City Council will conduct public hearings at Hoschton City Hall, 79 City Square, Hoschton, GA 30548, at 6:00 p.m. on the following dates: March 16, 2023 April 13, 2023 The purpose of the public hearings will be to gain public input on the following matter: An Ordinance to Amend the Code of Ordinances of the City of Hoschton, Georgia, to amend Ordinance 0-20-06, known by short title as the Development Impact Fee Ordinance, fully titled as follows: An Ordinance Relating to the Regulation of the Use and Development of Land in the City of Hoschton, Georgia; Imposing a Development Impact Fee on Land Development in the City of Hoschton for Providing Public Safety, Park and Recreation and Related Facilities Necessitated by Such New Development; Stating the Authority for Adoption of the Ordinance; Making Legislative Findings; Providing Definitions; Providing a Short Title and Applicability; Providing Intents and Purposes; Providing Rules of Construction; Providing Definitions; Providing for the Computation of the Amount of the Development Impact Fee; Providing for the Payment of a Development Impact Fee; Providing for a Development Impact Fee Service Area; Providing for the Establishment of a Development Impact Fee Trust Fund; Providing for the Use of Funds; Providing for the Refund of Fees Paid; Providing for Exemptions and Credits; Providing for Review of the Fee Schedule; Providing for Appeals; Providing a Penalty Provision; Providing for Severability; Providing a Repealer; Providing for Codification; Providing an Effective Date; and For Other Purposes.” Amendment of this ordinance is anticipated to include but shall not necessarily be limited to the following: Amend Section 7, “Computation of the amount of development impact fee" to modify or repeal and replace the Residential Development Impact Fee Schedule and the Non-residential Development Impact Fee Schedule; Amend Section 10 to repeal the fire facilities impact fee trust fund; and amend Section 11 to repeal a provision regarding the use of fire facility impact fees. This city reserves the right to amend any additional section or subsection of Ordinance 0-20-06 not specifically cited here, as it deems appropriate. Prior to vote on the amendment which may take place as early as the regular meeting of City Council on April 17, 2023, the city anticipates convening a development impact fee advisory committee and will consider the recommendations and suggestions of said committee prior to adopting the ordinance amendment. All interested persons are invited to attend. The proposed ordinance amendment is on file in Hoschton City Hall, 79 City Square, Hoschton, GA 30548, and available for public inspection during regular business hours. For more information, call 706-654-3034. This, the 1 st day of March, 2023. This, the 15 th day of March 2023.
