Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3A
Enjoy a blind date with a book at the library
Need a date for Valen
tine’s Day? No worries,
they will be offered up
by the armloads at the
J. Joel Edwards Public
Library.
For the entire month
of February, the library
will have a selection
of books available for
check out that will be
wrapped in paper, mask
ing the identity of the
book until you take it
home.
“You may choose an
eligible single,” said
library employee
Alyssa Williams,
“a double date,
or even an entire
bevy of bookish
beauties. You
can spend some
time getting to
know your date.
Maybe you’ll be
disappointed or maybe
you’ll have a great time
reading a book you nev
er would have pursued
prior to this date.”
The library
has been
busy care
fully inter
viewing its
candidates to
ensure a vari
ety of suitable
dates. Whether
their dream date
is a rib tickler, a
heartbreaker, or
a dark mystery, par
ticipants are likely to
find just the right match
who seems just the right
size and says all the right
things.
As an added bonus,
patrons may Rate Their
Date on an enclosed
slip. Each rating slip will
be entered into a draw
ing. At the end of the
month, one lucky Blind
Dater will win dinner for
two at a local restaurant.
There is no limit to the
number of entries per
person. So, check it out.
Who knows? You may
find your perfect match!
PICK UP PIKE: Encourages county cleanup
FROM PAGE ONE HITTH— ill'i i "■■ liBITI T . _ iifc J* ,
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Scouts and leaders who helped Pick Up Pike Jan. 23 include (l-r) Alex Anderson,
Dakota Fenn, Jacob Fenn, Kaleb Fenn, Christy Fenn, Jacob Fenn and Tyler Cheek.
“Please post photos of before
and after if possible, so that we
all can celebrate,” said Rossi.
The group hopes to clean up
County Farm Road and William-
son-Zebulon Road by the end
of February with the help of the
community.
Walker Chandler and other lo
cal leaders founded Pick Up Pike
several years ago. He and group
members Rossi and PUP volun
teer Linda Swetmon met with Pike
extension agent Brooklyne Wassel
and extension intern Elizabeth
Ward to discuss future plans for
the organization in promoting a
clean and beautiful Pike. Plans
include an annual community
Clean up event and promoting
monthly volunteer opportunities
with numerous incentives.
The mission of Pick Up Pike is
to raise awareness of the ongoing
trash problems along the roads
in Pike County. Find out more at
the Pick Up Pike (PUP) Facebook
page.
“It is the intent of the group
to aide in group pick ups and to
work with other groups to help
support them with supplies, etc.
If you are tired of all the trash
along the Pike County Roads
then join us. We are hoping this
effort will catch on and people
will begin by cleaning up in their
own neighborhoods then begin
to reach out and aide in pickups
throughout the county. Our im
mediate focus will be on the most
traveled corridors then move to
secondary roads! Get involved
folks!”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Reese McNair (right) was recently presented with the Elpis
Athlete Award by PCMS teacher Todd Child to honor her for
her selfless acts of kindness toward others.
Reese McNair earns
Elpis Athlete Award
Pike County senior
cheerleader Reese
McNair was awarded
the Elpis Athlete Award
during halftime of the
Pirates basketball game
on Jan. 19.
McNair was given the
award for her selfless
acts of kindness toward
others and putting their
needs above her own.
The Elpis Athlete
Award is sponsored by
Elpis Athletes, founded
by Todd Child as a way
to honor college and
high school students
who demonstrate a
desire to better the lives
of others and giving hope
to those in need.
Meansville council discusses possible water fee increase in city
BY DWAIN W. PENN
news@pikecountygeorgia.com
Meansville added two
new council members at
the January 11 meeting
along with incumbent
mayor Virion Rachels
requiring the trio to take
the oath of office upon
convening in the spa
cious city hall activity
room.
City clerk Jerome
Finley swore in Rachels
before administering
the oaths of office for
new councilmen Randall
Parker and David “Chip”
Ward. Both councilors
occupy posts held long
term by council women
Betty Bradshaw and
Sandy Mitchell.
With a February
deadline looming to lock
in terms for use of the
GEFA water improvement
grant, council settled
quickly into a roundtable
discussion of ideas led
by city spokesperson
councilwoman Janet
Milner.
“For such a big under
taking, 1 wrote a hypo
thetical letter to all resi
dents,” explained Milner.
“It assures a definitive
plan of action and shows
customers the road we’re
on.”
The grant has been
approved providing
up to $1.6 million for a
complete upgrade of the
water system. The city
qualifies for 40% forgive
ness of the debt regard
less of the final cost of
specific improvements.
The full grant, if cho
sen, will incur a debt to
the city of $960,000 at an
interest rate of less than
1% due to qualification
as a water conservancy
project. Reducing costs,
based on specific needs,
down to $1 million be
comes a $600,000 debt.
The consensus among
council members, in
order to meet the am
ortized cost of repairs,
water rates need to be
raised across the board
to $30 a month. And even
with that action, the
choice of grant features
may be limited to new
meters and core system
repairs.
Raising the water fees
provides the city an ad
ditional annual income of
about $180 per customer
translating to approxi
mately $20,000 annually
for security of payment
on the debt. An aspect of
the grant mentioned at
the June 8, 2020 council
meeting may be encour
aging to customers bear
ing the burden of higher
water bills. Fire protec
tion within the city will
increase reducing the ISO
rating translating to lower
fire insurance costs.
Finley has agreed to
meet with Kurt McCord
of Carter & Sloope to fill
out an application desig
nating specific projects
available with the grant.
As to raising water rates,
public hearings will be
held prior to a final deci
sion.
COUNCIL ALSO:
• Heard from Aaron
“Ziggy” Clark of Air-Fi
that their WIFI broad
band service for the city
should be operational
very soon. Their plans
range in cost from $91 to
$200 a month.
• Heard from Finley
the city will purchase
tables and chairs for con
tinued meetings in the
assembly room paid for
by CARES act funds.
• Received the fire
department report from
assistant fire chief Tim
Lane for the year 2020,
revealing responses to
318 emergency calls.
Hydro, hose and pump
tests were all completed
successfully last year.
Also noted was COV1D
vaccines are ready for
department personnel.
• Learned the city
used 430,000 gallons of
water in December.
CHAPLAINS: Story to be told Feb. 7
FROM PAGE ONE
“Based on the value
to our community and
despite the coronavirus
pandemic, the Legion
Family 197 thought it
important to continue the
annual hosting of a Four
Chaplains Program,” said
Richardson. “We decided
to minimize participa
tion and video tape this
year’s program along with
added visual effects. We
believe you will truly en
joy viewing this program
at your own leisure and
in the safety of your own
home.”
Starting Sunday, Feb. 7,
go to YouTube.com and
search for 2021 American
Legion Pike County 4
Chaplains Program.
“If this is your first
time or as a regular at
tendee over the years,
you will enjoy the pro
gram,” said Richardson.
PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF APPEALS
MONTHLY MEETING
February 18, 2021 6:00 p.m.
The Pike County Board of Appeals will conduct its scheduled monthly meeting on February 18,
2021 at 6:00 p.m. on the second floor of the Pike County Courthouse located at 16001 Barnesville
Street, Zebulon, Georgia. The Board will conduct PUBLIC HEARINGS on the following items:
(1) VAR-21-01. Mark Whitley, applicant, and Janet Whitley, owner, are requesting a variance
to CH 156.204 (C) and CH 160.12 (4) (b) regarding setbacks for the front and side yards. Current
ordinance requires a 50-foot front yard setback and a 25-foot side yard setback. The subject prop
erty is 2.01 acres zoned C-2, General Commercial located at 14814 US Hwy 19, Griffin, GA 30224.
It is located in Landlot 104 in the 2nd land district of Pike County. It is further identified by Parcel
ID: 074-100. The public is invited to attend to speak in favor or in opposition of this request. BOA
decisions on variance applications are final.
(2) VAR-21-02. Beth Stephens-Johnson applicant and owner are requesting a variance to CH
156.43 (C) (13) (e) regarding the construction of a detached guest quarters with and enclosed
garage. Current ordinance prohibits an enclosed garage/carport or basement on detached guest
quarters. The Subject property is 2.1 acres zoned A-R, Agricultural-Residential located at 76 Arbor
View Dr., Williamson, GA 30292. It is located in Landlot 256 in the 1st land district of Pike Coun
ty and is further identified by Parcel ID: 065-116. The public is invited to attend to speak in favor
or in opposition of this request. BOA decisions on variance applications are final.
(3) VAR-21-03. AT&T c/o Providence Consulting, applicants, and Mindstream Media, LLC,
owner, are requesting a variance to CH 113.05 (B) and CH 113.21 (G) regarding design standards
for new telecommunications towers. Current ordinance requires monopole designed towers in
A-R zoning and applicant must submit a variance request for heights above 250 feet. The subject
property currently has no address assigned and is 95 acres zoned A-R, Agricultural-Residential
on Mountain Creek Rd. It is located in Landlot 193 of the 9th land district of Pike County and is
further identified by Parcel ID: 020-046 A. The public is invited to attend to speak in favor or in
opposition of this request. BOA decisions on variance applications are final.
(4) SE-21-01. AT&T c/o Providence Consulting, applicants, and Mindstream Media, LLC,
owner, are requesting a special exception per CH 113 to construct a new telecommunications
tower. The subject property currently has no address assigned and is 95 acres zoned A-R, Agri
cultural-Residential on Mountain Creek Rd. It is located in Landlot 193 of the 9th land district of
Pike County and is further identified by Parcel ID: 020-046 A. The public is invited to attend to
speak in favor or in opposition of the request. The BOA will forward a recommendation for final
decision to the BOC.
The Board of Appeals decisions on variance applications are final. The public is invited to at
tend to speak in favor or in opposition of the requests.
The Board of Appeals will recommend a decision to the Board of Commissioners for final
decision regarding the special exception application. The Board of Commissioners will hold a
PUBLIC HEARING on 2/23/21 at 6:30 pm on the second floor of the Pike County Courthouse
located at 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia. BOC will make a final decision on the spe
cial exception application. The public is invited to attend to speak in favor or in opposition of the
request.
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Pike County
Journal Reporter
16026 Barnesville St. • Zebulon
www.pikecountygeorgia.com
jennifer@pikecountygeorgia.com