Newspaper Page Text
o
O
THE
ACKSON
H Wednesday, April 26, 2023
ERALD
VOL. 148 NO. 46
44 PACES 3 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS
Merged in 2017 with
The Commerce News
A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 $1.00 COPY
BOC
MARTY CLARK
Clark
plans run
for BOC
chair
District 5 county
commissioner Marty
Clark has announced
plans to seek the chair
manship of the Jackson
County Board of Com
missioners in 2024.
Current BOC chair
man Tom Crow plans
to retire at the end of
his term (see letter) on
Dec. 31, 2024. Crow
has endorsed Clark for
the position.
Clark is a sec
ond-generation poul
try and cattle farmer
and native Jackson
Countian. Raised on
the West Jackson farm
where he currently re
sides, Marty graduated
from Jackson County
Comprehensive High
School where he was
active in the FFA pro
gram.
He joined the Unit
ed States Navy after
graduation and served
for four years. After re
turning from the Navy,
Marty married his wife,
Cyndi. and began work
ing more on the family
farm to help his father.
Realizing how much he
enjoyed the work envi
ronment, he acquired
a few head of cattle in
2007 and started raising
chickens in 2008. To
day, Clark Hill Farms
is home to a number of
registered Angus cattle.
In addition to his
work in the agricultural
world, Marty has also
served on numerous
boards and committees
throughout his life.
See Clark, page 2A
MAILING LABEL
Jefferson
Jefferson considers buying county admin building
By Hannah Barron
hannah@mainstreetnews.com
Jefferson could be looking
to acquire Jackson County’s
administrative building and
other related property in the
downtown city limits as the
county prepares to break
ground on its new adminis
trative complex.
Jefferson city planner
Jerry Weitz presented a pro
posal for the potential acqui
sition at the Jefferson City
Council’s April 24 meeting.
The county will likely
surplus property that com
prises 6.35 acres fronting on
Athens St., Park Ave., Pine
St. and Gordon St. The total
acreage includes the admin
istrative facility, the Jackson
EMS facility, an open space
behind Jefferson’s city hall
and Bill Mahaffey Ln.
It is assumed that the ad
ministrative facility will be
torn down and Jackson EMS
may remain at its site until it
locates another property in
the downtown area, Weitz
said.
The surplus property
could be key for Jefferson’s
downtown redevelopment —
something the city has been
looking at for many years.
“[Downtown redevelop
ment] has been on the books
since 2016," councilmember
Clint Roberts said. "It's been
harboring on the Focus and
Execute plan for a number of
years as an unfunded project.
We’ve been beaten up over
lack of vision downtown.”
“It is a huge infill opportu
nity for the city,” he added.
“This to me is a key opportu
nity to show some vision for
our downtown.”
Weitz also referred to the
property as a “linchpin” for
downtown redevelopment,
though he noted there is
still time to formulate a po
sition on whether the city
has any interest in the prop
erty.
One concern the city has
about acquisition is the price
tag.
The city has looked at
swapping its fire station on
Washington St. for the sur
plus property, giving Jackson
EMS another facility, but it is
likely that the station would
not be suitable for EMS op
erations.
Jefferson could look at
partnering with the county
and Downtown Develop
ment Authority (DDA) on a
See Jefferson, page 2A
Prom time for
JCHS Panthers
Photos by Ben Munro
Ethan Logan and Samiha Sarwar were crowned Jackson County High
School prom king and queen Saturday (April 22) at the Braselton Civic Cen
ter.
Jackson County High School held its prom Saturday night (April 22) at the
Braselton Civic Center. Here, Daniel Stites is hoisted above the crowd on
the dance floor. See more on page 5A.
Commerce planners
Shown is a design of what a potential conve
nience store could look like at the corner of
Maysville Road and B. Wilson Road. Although
the rendering includes a canopy showing
“Marathon,” the applicant noted Monday that
no fuel provider has been chosen yet.
Convenience store
planned near
Quality Foods
By Alex Buffington
alex@mainstreetnews. com
A convenience store could be coming to the cor
ner of Maysville Road and B. Wilson Road in Com
merce.
The Commerce Planning and Zoning Commission
voted Monday ( April 24) to recommend approval of
a variance for the project with several conditions.
The Commerce City Council will consider the re
quest at its May 1 and 15 meetings.
Applicant Seery Realty is requesting a variance
to allow a convenience store/gas station in such
close proximity to residential property. The proper
ty backs up to an apartment/townhome complex on
B. Wilson Road.
Developers plan to renovate the existing
See Commerce, page 2A
Jefferson BOE
Facility plans, special
education updates highlight
Jefferson BOE retreat
By Hannah Barron
hannah@mainstreetnews.com
Enrollment for the Jefferson school system is expected
to increase by about 100 students next year.
Growth is expected to also continue in coming years
with multiple subdivisions still under development in
Jefferson, financial officer Kim Navas shared at the Jef
ferson Board of Education’s two-day spring retreat on
April 13 and 14.
To help with future needs, Jefferson City Schools is
looking at facility improvements, including the contin
ued expansion at Jefferson Middle School.
Craig Buckley of James W. Buckley & Associates,
Inc., gave a tour of phase one construction at the middle
school, which will be ready by fall. The current phase
includes a wing of eight classrooms, a science lab.
See BOE, page 2A
piggly wiggly
WE CASH CHECKS!
INCOME TAXES PAYROLL INSURANCE SSI
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SETTLEMENT MONEY ORDERS
14 14 0
