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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2023)
PAGE 2A THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 Jefferson to proclaim Jan. 4 as Tred Wilson Day’ Jefferson will proclaim Thursday, Jan. 4, as “Fred Wilson Day” in the city. Wilson, known by many in the community as “Mr. Fred” has served the city for over 30 years. Many of those years were spent as the crossing guard for Jef ferson City Schools. All who remember “Mr. Fred” and those who would like to wish him well are invited to attend a recep tion in his honor on Thurs day. Jan. 4, 4:30-6 p.m., at Jefferson Station Meeting Room. In addition to the recep tion, signs will be placed around town announcing “Fred Wilson Day.” “We encourage everyone to participate in an act of kindness in honor of the work Mr. Fred has done,” city leaders said. Hoschton delays approval of Barrow water agreement Seeking to add another water source, the City of Hoschton is working on a purchasing agreement with Barrow County, but that deal is on hold for now. The city council voted Monday (Dec. 18) to table action until January. Ac cording to Mayor Debbie Martin, the postponement was at the request of the city’s engineer, who need ed extra time for review. The Barrow County Board of Commissioners (BOC) must also approve the agreement. The BOC was scheduled to meet Tuesday to vote on the proposal. Hoschton currently buys water from neighboring Braselton and Jackson County and generates some of its own water from wells. AVreaths continued from lA or organization and placed on a headstone by volun teers as a small gesture of gratitude for the freedoms Americans enjoy. For cen turies, fresh evergreens have been used as a symbol of honor and have served as a living tribute renewed annually. Wreaths Across America believes the tra dition represents a living memorial that honors vet erans, active-duty military, and their families. When each wreath is placed the service member’s name is said out loud, ensuring their memory lives on, or ganizers said. Through January 16, 2024, wreaths purchased through a sponsorship group will be matched 1 -for- 1 by Wreaths Across Amer ica. To purchase through a sponsorship group, visit www.wreathsacrossameri ca.org/GAWJCC and click the red “View Our Groups” button near the bottom of the page. Save the date for next year’s National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Satur day, Dec. 14, 2024. Hoschton continued from lA November, the council vot ed to reject a portion of the map that created an exten sion of Town Center Pkwy to East Jefferson St. and ex tended Broad St. to the pro posed Town Center Pkwy. extension. There was also a proposed connector from Hwy. 332 — also through SelFs property — to the pro posed Town Center Pkwy. extension, but that connec tor became irrelevant when the council decided against the Town Center Pkwy. ex tension. In a related matter, Coun- cilmen Sam Waites and James Lawson pushed for a comprehensive traffic study of the city dining Monday’s discussion of the corridor map. “I have talked to pret ty much everybody on the council about proposing a comprehensive traffic study for the entire City of Hoschton,” Waites said. “... We’re growing. It’s a fact of life. Instead of nitpicking here, let’s take the time and do a comprehensive study.” Waites said the study should incorporate county, county school system, and DOT input. Brown agreed with the study but also asked that the suggested corridors be incorporated into that study. BOC continued from lA request for 1.8 acres from Bra selton to the county. • approved a lease agree ment extension with the City of Hoschton for the West Jack- son Recreation Park. • approved qualifying fees for the 2024 elections. ZONING In zoning-related action, the BOC approved: • rezoning 5 acres at 478 Doster Rd., Jeffer son, from A-2 to AR to di vide the property into two tracts. • rezoning 1.5 acres at 402 Thaxton Rd., Nichol son, from AR to PCFD to combine with an adjacect tract. • special use permit for 2 acres at 1248 Whites Bot tom Rd., Braselton, for a landscaping firm. • special use permit for 12 acres at 91 Henry Bra selton Dr., Braselton, for tilt construction of an in dustrial facility. • the withdrawal of two map amendments for a combined 97 acres at Maysville Rd. and Wheel er Creek Rd., Maysville, for a residential project. Photos courtesy Commerce PD The Commerce Police Department recently hosted its Shop with a Hero. This year “Heroes” were provided by the Commerce Police Department, the Commerce Fire Department and Game Wardens from the Georgia De partment of Natural Resources. ‘Shop with a Hero’ spreads Christmas cheer in Commerce Officers with the Com merce Police Department spread some Christmas cheer on Dec. 13 by host ing the annual Shop with a Hero event. Officers have raised money and solicited sup port from the community to allow them to provide gifts and needed items to 22 children from the community. The children are identified by the Com merce City Schools as in need of some additional care this Christmas sea son. The children are brought to Walmart where they are paired with “Heroes” who take them shopping for things they may need and a few things they want. Heroes spend approxi mately $250 on each of the children they have an opportunity to care for. “Each year this program serves to bring our officers and firemen together with children in our communi ty,” organizers said. “Of ficers get an opportunity to see needs within the community and position themselves to meet those needs. The officers of the Commerce Police Depart ment are thankful to our community and supporters for providing an opportu nity to care for the chil dren in our community.” This year “Heroes” were provided by the Commerce Police Depart ment, the Commerce Fire Department and Game Wardens from the Geor gia Department of Natural Resources. “The Commerce Police Department would like to thank Walmart, Sand ers Furniture, Nicholson Quilt with Friends, and the Christian Outreach Thrift and Variety Store for your help in making the event possible,” orga nizers added. “We want to especially thank Tom and Gretchen Mitchell and the The Commerce Police Department recently hosted its annual Shop with a Hero. members of our commu nity who made donations, bought raffle tickets, and showed support to help us fund the event. Without friends and the support of the community, the Com merce Police Department would not have been able to care for these children.” Jefferson BOE approves cost for Phase II of Middle School construction By Cheyenne Tolleson cheyenne@mainstreetnews. com The Jefferson City Schools Board of Education recently approved a $51,665 proposal for the Jefferson Middle School Phase II material testing and inspection cost. At this time, the expansion project has 20% of the storm water pipes and man holes installed. The construction process is at a place of working on grading and utility work. This allotted funding will pay to help move it forward. In other business at its meeting last week, the Jefferson BOE: • approved $20,000 of funding be grant ed to Jefferson Academy to finish its Me dia Center Enhancement Project. • celebrated and thanked Angela D’Zam- ko for her years of service on the board. •celebrated the Leading Edge Award given to the system for the use of music therapy in special needs classes. Jefferson continued from lA a low bid of $1.6 million from Summit Construction & Development of Stone Mountain. Since the DOT is funding most of that project, that agency will also have to sign-off on the contractor, officials said. OTHER BUSINESS In other action, the coun cil approved: • the withdrawal of a pro posed residential rezoning and annexation of 12 acres on the Winder Hwy. for 33 single-family houses and 8 townhouses. The with drawal was without preju dice so that the developer doesn’t have to wait a full 12 months before bringing an alternative plan back to the city. • the postponement of action until January of a controversial proposed resi dential project on Athens St. and Carriage Ave. • a rezoning of 10 acres on Danielsville St. from multi-family to single-fam ily R-l zoning. • the final plat of Phase 2 of Sycamore Grove Town- homes. • an ordinance restricting on-street parking in the Syc amore Grove Townhome development. Commerce continued from lA Billy Chandler as munici pal court judge with Kev in Christopher as backup; Amy Cater as city prose cutor for municipal court; Susan Rigdon as public defender for municipal court; and John Stell as city attorney. All terms run for two years. •appointing Mike Ed- wardson and Ron Silver to the housing authority board for 5 years. •reappointing Stacey Rucker, Brad McCook and Eubanks to the down town development au thority. •2024 meeting dates for the council and various boards. •2024 alcohol licenses, •a list of surplus items to be disposed of. •an intergovernmental agreement with the Jack- son County Correctional Institute to turn over a 1994 fire engine the city no longer uses to the JCCI. •a bid from Tank Pro for $168,900 for painting and inspection of the Bowden Street water tank. The city is improving all of its wa ter tanks over the next 4 years. •a bid to Bennett Fire for $35,0000 for personal protective equipment for the city’s fire department. City of Commerce SPLOST # 5 Annual Project Reporting Fiscal Year Ending 2023 Projects Year Approved Original Estimated Cost Current Estimated Cost Year 1 Year 2 Amount Expended Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Amount Expended Susequent Years Total Expended To Date Project Complete Project Budget Estimated Completion Date Excess Proceeds Water & Sewer 2011 $ 1,830,320 $ 2,166,262 99,422 702,853 1,342,787 2,145,062 No S 2,166,262 6/30/2024 21,199.97 Roads & Bridges 2011 $ 1,118,530 $ 1,513,272 - 2,220 565,770 932,819 12,463 1,513,272 Yes $ 1,513,272 9/30/2020 Recreation 2011 $ 1,118,530 s 1,337,867 113,707 149,330 18,280 249,275 16,534 80,409 710,332 1,337,867 No S 1,337,867 6/30/2024 City of Commerce SPLOST # 6 Annual Project Reporting Fiscal Year Ending 2023 Projects Year Approved Original Estimated Cost Current Estimated Cost Year 1 Year 2 Amount Expended Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Amount Expended Susequent Years Total Expended To Date Project Complete Project Budget Estimated Completion Date Excess Proceeds Recreation 2017 $ 750,000 s 750,000 73,405 73,405 No $ 750,000 6/30/2024 Roads & Bridges 2017 $ 1,000,000 s 1,000,000 73,911 234,620 158,590 575,355 931,489 No S 1,000,000 6/30/2024 Water & Sewer 2017 $ 1,500,000 $ 1,500,000 20,650 146,255 265,616 515,465 474,619 - 1,422,605 No $ 1,500,000 6/30/2024 Public Safety 2017 S 530,000 s 530,000 39,736 238,063 78,339 356,138 No $ 530,000 6/30/2022 Tourism & Culture 2017 $ 804,300 s 804,300 61,500 84,704 69,709 83,775 451,668 - 751,356 No S 804,300 6/30/2024
