Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Georgia HomePLACE, a project of the Georgia Public Library Service.
About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2023)
PAGE 2A THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023 Jefferson continued from 1A Commerce cont. from 1A possible joint project to help with costs, city manager Pris cilla Murphy said. The DDA could help with getting bonds issued, she added. Previous concept plans for redevelopment drawn up by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government did include a new town center consisting of a county space, a DDA space and an amphitheater. "I think we saw some vi sion being cast during this planning process that did not include how do you pay for it and that’s been the frustra tion of our citizenship, that’s been the frustration of this council,” mayor Jon Howell said. “To me, it’s going to just fuel frustration for people to see us wrestle with the same ideas over and over and over again ... to give people false hope that we have these re serve funds on hand I think is just going to feed into the frustration.” "I just ask everyone to con sider the bandwidth of what this city can do without tak ing out additional debt,” he continued. “I for one am not going to be in support of mas sive millage rate increases, so we just have to be thoughtful about all those things. Is it on the wish list? Absolutely. Do I want it? Yes, enthusiastical ly. Do I want to make people pay more taxes to do it? No sir, I don’t.” OTHER BUSINESS In other business April 24, the council: • received a presentation about Georgia Cities Week from community develop ment director Michele Head. There are a number of events to highlight the city during the week, including a meet- and-greet with city leaders, a tour of the Crawford W. Long Museum, a community-wide day of kindness, a “Touch a Truck” event, a utilities ap preciation lunch and a mov ie at Hughey Park. Students in the city school system did art and social media activi ties showcasing their favorite spots and love for Jefferson, which were also highlighted in a video created by Jeffer son Middle School students. • received updates about the recreation department and downtown parking plans. An additional 30 to 40 parking spaces will soon be available at City Park near the site of the old tennis courts. Jeffer son Parks and Recreation director Fenton Morris is get ting updated price quotes and bids for the possible option of pickleball courts and a dog park proposed for City Park, Murphy said. City staff is also working on bids and updated drawings for the downtown parking project. • proclaimed May 2023 as Historic Preservation Month. April 23-29, 2023, was also recognized as National Li brary Week. • appointed Lamar Roberts to the DDA. • approved the final plat for Northminster Farms, a 130- lot active adult community zoned PCD Conditional and comprising 67.334 acres on YZ Sailors Rd. and Mauldin Rd. • approved an ordinance amending permitted use pro visions and defining certain uses for Jefferson’s down town district. Uses that are not permitted in the Down town Business District zon ing include body piercing establishments, bail bonding services, payday loan estab lishments, personal forecast ing services, pawn shops, tattoo studios and vapor bars/ lounges (including hookah lounges). • approved a condition al use permit for 0.89 acres located at 171 Jett Roberts Rd. for a modified home oc cupation. The permit allows for non-passenger vehicles to be parked on-site as well as the storage of tree remov al equipment in connection with a tree removal compa ny. A condition placed on the property is that no more than six commercial vehicles are allowed on-site at any given time. BOE continued from 1A agriculture lab and band room. Future phases to be completed in sum mer 2024 and 2025 include expanded parking, a larger common space and a larger library. There will also be new construction for the cafeteria, gymnasium, office space and exploratory labs. Buckley also presented a site plan for future expansion at Jefferson High School, which will be “feeling the pinch” in a few years. The concept plan includes green space, additional parking, new fine arts and CTAE classrooms, a new administrative pod and a 40-yd. band practice field. Areas to be expanded include the parking lots, cafeteria, media center and JROTC space. Secured fencing is included in the front of the school to connect buildings and parking together for safety. Buckley also presented ideas for expan sion at Jefferson Elementary School, as Pre-K and kindergarten enrollment num bers continue to grow. Ideas presented include expanded front office space, additional parking, addi tional classrooms, a new gym and a new media center. Buckley also presented an idea for an additional wing for Pre-K, which would include more classrooms, restrooms and daycare space for three- year-olds. Other facility improvements being con sidered include expanded seating at the baseball/softball complex and a bridge at the wetlands. SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATES JCS will soon see a change in the con tinuum of supports for special education services. The Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Supports (GNETS) is an option in the continuum for students who "exhibit intense social, emotional and/ or behavioral challenges with a severity, frequency, or duration such that the pro vision of education and related services in the general education environment has not enabled him or her to benefit educational ly based on the IEP” Rutland Academy has been the center for GNETS services for Jefferson and other districts in the region, but a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against GNETS is causing Rutland to close at the end of the school year. Rutland is the last of the GNETS cen ters to close, as others in the state have transitioned to school-based models after the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that the state's op eration of the GNETS program segregates students with disabilities, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. It alleges that students at the centers have not had access to the same opportunities and in teraction as their peers. For a possible option to transition to a school-based model, JCS is looking to partner with the Barrow County School System next year. Three teachers and three paraprofes- sionals will run the GNETS services at County Line Elementary School, Russell Middle School and Winder-Barrow High School. A site coordinator (administrator) will supervise the services. Students will be transported to the schools via bus just like the Rutland route. The total operation costs are projected to be $540,000, split 50/50 between the two school systems. JCS special education director Trevor Metzger is confident the school system can eventually run the program on its own, but he believes the immediate next step is to partner with Barrow County Schools. "We have a great partnership with Bar- row and our goal is to continue to meet our students’ needs,” he said. OTHER TOPICS Also at the retreat, the BOE: • discussed a number of security up dates as the school system continues to in vest in safety protocol. The board is look ing into options that include protective shatterproof film for doors, extra gates at access points and more cameras. • heard a presentation about a school- based health center provided by ESE Tele health Services. ESE provides the option of virtual appointments at nurses’ offices, offering a number of medical and diag nostic services. It allows for the conve nience of medical appointments at school, so patients don’t have to visit an urgent care or doctors' office. The telehealth ser vices would be provided at no cost to the school system, including the training for nurses on how to use the equipment so doctors can see patients’ ailments through the computer screen. There is the option for parents to attend appointments via FaceTime and ESE takes typical payment options. • received an update from communica tions director Teresa Stier. A new district website and app will launch in the sum mer. • heard from the student advisory com mittees and teacher advisory committee about classes, clubs, community and oth er topics. BOARD MEETING During the monthly meeting prior to the retreat, the BOE: • received updates about Pre-K from Annette Beckwith, the director of the Center for Early Learning. Enrollment is up to 10 Pre-K classes and a waitlist. The Center also recently received a grant from Bright from the Start for a summer school program to help area Pre-K students with the transition to kindergarten. • recognized the JHS Air Force JROTC for winning the national championship in armed and unarmed drill exhibition. AFJROTC cadet Michael Ballman was also recognized for being appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy. • recognized the JHS Literary Team for winning first place at the regional compe tition. JHS student Abigail Foreman was also recognized for being named the state champion in extemporaneous speaking. • approved the installation of outfield fences at the JHS baseball field and soft- ball field by Sports Edge Safety Matters, costing $76,438 and $35,891 respectively. • approved the installation of concrete and drains at the district's agricultural facility by Southland Lawn Care in the amount of $10,400. Commerce City Schools KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2023 Academic Year 2023/2024 REGISTRATION INFO: Online application will open 4/10-4/28 Child must be 5 by 9/1/23 Required documents: Proof of Residency, Birth Certificate, Social Security number, Immunization form, Hearing/Dental/Vision GA 3300 form, Picture ID of the Parent/Legal ' Guardian. v yS Contact Mandy Lund @ 706-335-5587 or mandy.lund@commercecityschools.org Visit our website automotive repair garage into a fast food and conve nience store. Eight gas pumps are planned under two canopies. A drive-thru is also planned. The applicant hasn’t yet determined who the fuel provider will be (BR Texaco, etc.). Several planning commission members voiced their support of the project and noted it's a step in the right direction for a section of town that's seen recent devel opment and renovations. “We’ve been talking for years about our gateways and how we want to see improvements and see things get better,” said planner Melinda Cochran-Davis. “That particular portion coming into town has a lot of aban doned or even dilapidated-looking spaces that are start ing to see some revitalization now... This is yet another adaptive re-use that is continuing to improve that area.” OTHER BUSINESS Also at its meeting, the planning commission voted to: •deny a variance request for setbacks at Battery Park Townhomes, planned on 8.57 acres on Old Harden Or chard Road. The development was approved in 2021. Applicant, Georgia Civil, Inc., is requesting a reduc tion in the front and rear setbacks from 20 feet to 15 feet to reconfigure the property. Planners denied the request because it didn't meet the city’s standards for a variance, but also voiced their dislike of the reconfig ured design. •table the plat for White Mill Village, a 60-lot subdi vision planned on 92 acres on Whitehill School Road at Hwy. 441. The request was tabled after the applicant, Smith Planning Group, presented a new design of the property to include 20% green space. Area residents voiced their concerns with potential water runoff. Clark continued from 1A Prior to being elected as the Jackson County District 5 Commissioner in 2022, he served as Chairman of the Jackson County Planning Commission, Vice-Chair man of the Jackson County Board of Adjustments, a member of the Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and Chairman for the Jackson County Agricultural Facility Steering Committee. In 2016, he was awarded Top Flock of the Nation from Mar-Jac Poultry and was chosen as The Jackson Herald’s 2018 Newsmaker of the Year due to his strong push to raise $1.2 million for the Jackson County Ag ricultural Facility. In 2020, Marty was awarded the Jackson County Community Outreach Community Leadership Award for his civic involvement. He believes that the biggest asset to any community is the strength and compassion of its citizens Clark is a past Master of the Rockwell #191 Mason ic Lodge in Hoschton and he has recently coordinated and still heads up the monthly Jackson County Prayer Breakfast. Marty is married to the former Cyndi Hill of Hoschton. They have two children: Will who is a re cent graduate of the United States Naval Academy and is stationed in Spain and Allianne who is a sophomore at the University of Georgia. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY Applications & Appeals We Do All The Hard Work! Hynes & Associates LLC Disability Advocates Call 678-935-3923 • SSIHelp.org BBB 17 Years Experience • No Fee Unless Approved Thank you for voting Commerce School of Dance “ Best Dance Lessons” 2023! Don’t miss VeJ'lUtty U&LC/ acid lances benefiting Jackson County Boys and Girl’s Club featuring our Senior Company dancers interspersed with live musical performances! Saturday, June 3rd, 7:00 p.m. The Commerce Cultural Arts Center. Tickets can be reserved beginning May 1st. 706-335-7543
