Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY. JULY 12. 2007 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A
Nelson Council approves budget;
hears update on city clean up
By Jeff Warren
Nelson' s city council voted
approval of a 2008 city budget
and heard a report on the city's
ongoing clean up effort during a
regularly scheduled council
meeting, 7 p.m., Monday, the
2nd of July.
Council members approved
the $420,000 general fund city
budget for 2008 on the first
reading of that budget. An
approval vote at a second read
ing during next month's council
meeting will make the 2008
budget official.
As the council approved this
meeting's agenda near the start
of official business,
Councilwoman Penny Thacker
called for an agenda change to
include a status report on the
city's ongoing effort to improve
lawn decorum in advance of the
October Marble Festival in
Pickens County. Nelson serves
as a stopover on the festival
quarry tour.
Thacker asked that an ordi
nance enforcement report by
Police Chief Charles Allen be
added under new business.
Allen offered instead to make a
full report during time reserved
for committee reports, and the
council accepted Allen's sugges
tion.
The police department began
to actively enforce residential
ordinances for keeping home
areas presentable beginning last
May, Allen reported to the coun
cil at the allotted time.
Residents in violation of city
rules relating to exterior home
orderliness received police cita
tions in May, Allen said, and
had until June 15 to achieve
ordinance compliance.
About 27 residents were
cited in May, Allen said, and
most of those have already
cleaned up their home sites.
"There's nine of them that
have not complied yet, but
they've asked for extensions,"
Allen said. "With the extension,
we've given them until July 15."
One situation involves a resi
dent with a medical issue, Allen
said. And another, tied up in a
pending court case, could linger
beyond the July 15 deadline, he
warned.
While he held the floor,
Allen continued with a full
report on city law enforcement.
Work continues, he said, with a
consulting company for renewal
of Nelson's permit to use radar
for auto speed detection in the
city. The company will check to
see if additional roads should be
authorized for radar and will
check city signs to make sure
those regarding speed and
detection comply with state law
for height and visibility.
On a different topic, Allen
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m
600 Burnt Mountain Road
Jasper, GA 30143
(Next to the Public Library)
Nelson City Council at its July 2nd meeting. (L to R)
Councilman Jim Ingram, Mayor Bill Walker, Councilmen
Johnny Hopkins and Willie Rye, City Attorney Jeff
Rusbridge. (Not shown) Councilman James Queen,
Councilwoman Penny Thacker and City Clerk Brandy
Edwards.
asked the council if the Nelson
Police Department can change
its primary radio network to one
monitored by the Cherokee
County 911 center. The council
approved the change, and Allen
said at a break in the meeting
that he would follow up by mak
ing necessary arrangements
through Cherokee County Chief
Deputy Mike Malone.
"It's gonna provide us with a
reliable radio network that can
be used anywhere in the city
without blind spots," Allen said.
"It's more of a safety issue for
officers on duty," he explained.
Under old business, the
council accepted a $2,200 bid to
remove two diseased trees from
city property at the corner of
Blue Ridge Avenue and
Dogwood Pass. Tree cutter
Terry Duckett was approved to
fell the trees and dispose of
them.
Again under old business,
the council voted to table any
action on repainting the sign-
mural at Edmondson Field until
City Councilman Johnny
Hopkins explores the cost of a
marble replacement.
Hopkins said he would con
tact manager Evan Howell of
Nelson's Blue Ridge Marble &
Granite Company about a price.
Hopkins indicated he will
report on his findings during the
next council meeting.
Repainting the sign was
found to cost thousands of dol
lars with renewal necessary
about every five years.
During time reserved for
Holy Spirit Ranch holds
summer camp for girls
The Holy Spirit Ranch of
Jasper held its second summer
camp for the year 2007 for girls
in 4th-9th grades.
Holy Spirit Ranch is a place
where children from all ethnic
and diverse backgrounds are
accepted. It is a fun place that
offers many activities to enjoy
such as crafts, swimming and
horseback riding.
The program and teachings
are Christ-centered. Each camp
has its own theme and the girls 1
camp theme was “Pure in
Heart.” The teaching was excel
lent and all the counselors and
volunteers did a fantastic job.
Kids Bible Club Ministries,
an outreach serving needy chil
dren from a variety of ethnic
groups and backgrounds in var
ious locations, arrived at camp
with their bus load of girls.
Counselors, teachers and volun
teers alike watched 28 girls with
their faces of apprehension and
sadness get off the bus. And
then watched the same bus leave
with 28 girls smiling, laughing
and at peace.
Saturday night was a night to
remember as God moved our
hearts in a mighty and powerful
way. There was repentance and
forgiveness. No one wanted to
leave. The faces of the girls
glowed in the presence of the
Lord. God did awesome things!
There were 14 girls saved and
four who rededicated their life
to Christ.
We are at awe to see what the
Lord did in those four days at
camp and we are thankful for
each volunteer, counselor,
teacher and friend and for all the
various churches that took part
in making camp a wonderful
experience.
Upcoming camps: July 12-
15, girls in 2nd-3rd grades; July
18-22, boys in 5th-9th grades;
and July 25-29, boys in 5th-9th
grades.
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public appearances, Nelson
Ridge resident Michelle Hodges
asked the council about fire
works ordinances in connection
with the Fourth of July holiday.
Chief Allen responded that
Georgia-legal fireworks are
acceptable.
"Bottle rockets are not legal
in the state of Georgia," Allen
reminded. "Anything that
shoots a projectile is not."
Allen said Nelson Police
would be patrolling the night of
the Fourth to enforce compli
ance with the law. Hodges asked
for a ballpark dollar amount on
fines that might be levied for
non-compliance.
"No more than $1,000,"
Allen said. "How about that?"
Also during public appear
ances, Laurel Lake resident
Annette Kellet praised the city
for roadside clean up. "It looks
better," Kellet noted.
Councilman Hopkins said city
maintenance worker Joey Smith
picks up litter daily.
Resident Clay Lewis com
plained of nuisance stray dogs
on Pickens Street.
"We'll have a trap set up
there tomorrow," Hopkins
assured.
After dismissing into secret
session to discuss a personnel
matter, the council reconvened
to adjourn without any general
comment as to what the private
conclave resolved.
All council members were
present for the regular 7 p.m.,
first-Monday meeting, as were
City Attorney Jeff Rusbridge
and City Clerk Brandy
Edwards.
Main Street Fitness
New Body Pump 62
Launch Monday July 16 at 6:00
(First come first serve,
so get here early!)
Come join us for one of our
many aerobic classes.
706-253-5914
Restoring
Teens and Families
P.O. Box 247
Jasper, GA 30143
Phone: 706-253-7JOY
Email:
info@thejoyhouse.org
On the Web at:
www.thejoyhouse.org
Lunch With a Purpose
Art ijou aware thatthere Is, a ministry injasper
wlnose goal Is to be an agent of healing to teens and
their families?
If you are interested in learning more about this ministry
please join us for a lunch which you will not regret.
Purpose: To share what this ministry is about to those
interested. Includes a free lunch, testimonies from
residents, and a tour of the current facilities.
When: Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 at Noon
Where: The Joy House
Directions to the Joy House: 14 Caring Way - off Samaritan
Drive by the Community Thrift Store (In the Complex with
Crescent Bank Corporate Office) From Jasper Take 53/East
Church Street south toward Tate - after you pass the new
Pickens County Offices (Old Hospital) take the 2 nd right onto
Samaritan Dr. , then take the 1 st Left onto Caring Way - we’re
the 1st blue building on the right.
The Astronaut
Farmer PG
Everyone’s
Hero G
Flicka
PG
Night at the
Museum PG
Jones vs.
Hanshaw
Saturday,
July 14
9 p.m.
* Must subscribe to ETC Digital Cable TV service in order to receive Pay-Per-View.