Newspaper Page Text
Page 12, Wednesday, June 8, 2022 — The True Citizen
Marijuana
“Well, with changes to Geor
gia law regarding medical
marijuana and the 0.3% of
hemp, the GBI has discontin
ued that program,” Green said.
“Once your certificate expires,
you are done. You can’t get it
reinstated.”
The GBI has also put law
enforcement agencies on notice
that they will no longer accept
anything under an ounce for
testing.
“They are not going to waste
their time with it,” Green said.
“I don’t blame them.”
Green believes that people
holding less than an ounce of
pot should not be thrown in
jail. He is more likely to give
a warning to someone caught
with part of a joint. Midville
is tossing around the idea of
creating an ordinance that
would require those busted
for possession of less than an
ounce to pay a fine to the city’s
municipal court. The ordinance
would eliminate the need for
fingerprinting and posting
bond and would not affect the
smoker’s criminal record.
“It’s not worth it, to pros
ecute for under an ounce,”
Green said. “Obviously, over
an ounce is a different story,
that’s a felony still.”
With Sheriff Alfonzo Wil
liams’ urging, Burke County
adopted a similar marijuana
ordinance in 2017, allowing
the BCSO to issue a citation
for less than an ounce. Wil
liams said it was beneficial for
students and certain adults and
was a proactive step toward
decriminalization; however
the department is not willing
to overlook it altogether.
Sardis Police Chief Scotti
Sanford says his department
will issue a citation the first
time, however, the second time
offenders will find themselves
in a courtroom. Sardis has had
a marijuana ordinance in place
since before Sanford took over
as police chief in 2011.
Complicating the issue fur
ther, is the legality of hemp
flower in Georgia. The state
legalized all parts of hemp with
less than 0.3% THC, includ
ing hemp flower that can be
smoked. To the untrained eye,
hemp flower looks and smells
like marijuana. Additionally,
because it contains low levels
of THC, legal hemp products
test positive for it during held
tests. However, without the
certifications and without the
GBI’s willingness to test for
THC when there isn’t enough
to warrant felony charges, there
will eventually be no one to at
test that what people are caught
with is illegal marijuana.
Williams said he expects
that the GBI will soon provide
law enforcement agencies with
parameters of how to mitigate
those cases.
“When there is a challenge,
that is going to be an issue,”
Williams said. “Some lawyers
will not allow their clients to
plead guilty without having a
test to ensure that’s what it is.
That is something that we are
going to have to look at. It’s
obviously going to be an issue
down the road.”
Legalizing hemp products,
while the GBI discontinues
examiner certification and re
fusing to test less than ounce,
has created a grey area that
law enforcement agencies can’t
fix themselves.
“To be honest, cops don’t
like grey areas, they like black
and white, let’s make it clear
cut,” Sanford said. “It’s great
for everybody to have a solid
line that says, ‘this is legal
and this illegal, so there are no
questions.”
Marijuana use for recreation
al purposes is still illegal in the
Peach State, but as with any
law, deputies can use discre
tion when making a decision
to issue a warning or to make
an arrest.
“Everybody says it’s for
medical reasons,” Green said
laughing. He believes that if
what the person possesses is
far beneath an ounce, it’s not
even worth it for deputies to
figure out which of the two
substances they possess, illegal
marijuana or legal hemp.
Weed has become the to
bacco of the 1980s. As he drove
a school bus this year, Williams
noticed primary and elemen
tary kids getting on the school
bus every morning smelling
like pot because their parents
smoke it. Sanford recommends
those who smoke even the legal
hemp products to leave them at
home. When officers detect an
odor that smells like marijuana,
it gives them probable cause to
search the driver’s vehicle. It
can cost a defendant thousands
of dollars to prove they pos
sessed legal hemp product in a
court of law.
“Anything that we see that
looks like marijuana that is
not clearly labeled, clearly
packaged, vacuumed sealed
from a reputable source, we
treat it as marijuana,” he said.
“Leave it at home; don’t even
take the chance of having it in
Continued from front
your vehicle. It looks like pot;
it smells like pot, the only way
you can tell the difference is
under a microscope.”
Although legislators may
be heading toward decrimi
nalization, Williams sees it as
dangerous for children whose
minds are developing and who
lack the ability to prioritize and
set personal boundaries.
Law Enforcement Agencies,
the military and employers are
currently struggling with hir
ing young people because they
can’t stop smoking pot and
therefore can’t pass required
drug tests, he said. In other
states where more significant
steps to legalize marijuana
have taken place, educational
institutions are struggling with
elementary students selling pot
at school.
Sanford shares similar senti
ments. He believes if legisla
tors do legalize marijuana, they
will need to put restrictions in
place that resemble age limits
for cigarettes and alcohol.
“I don’t think we can leave
it to young children to do that
because I do think it is a gate
way drug,”
Williams said. “We are
already seeing the effects of it
so I think we are going down
a slippery slope just one step
at a time by going toward a
non-prosecutorial position on
marijuana. The law doesn’t say
you can have a little bit, it says
you can’t have any. So, we are
the last step to holding people
accountable.”
The Waynesboro Police De
partment did not respond to a
request for an interview.
Business
Continued from front
that loan, there is additional
work that has to be done and
bankers don’t necessarily like
to do that work,” he said. “So,
if you can meet regular lending
standards, they would rather
do that.”
McMurtrey said it is also
important to note that the
federal government recently
raised the interest rates by 50
basis points, the first of several
expected hikes.
“Interest rates are going to
start going up,” he said.
Communication, time man
agement and organizational
skills are also crucial attributes
to measure. Business owners
should expect new businesses
to consume their time for the
first two years. Thinking stra
tegically helps owners stay
focused on a vision for busi
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ness growth.
A recording of the seminar
is available on the chamber’s
YouTube channel.
New business owners may
want to consider Chamber of
Commerce membership. Some
of the benefits of membership
include networking and rela
tionship building, educational
and resource information, as
well as opportunities for ad
vertising.
“One of the main functions
of the Chamber of Commerce
is to act as a liaison between
the business community and
the larger community as a
whole,” Roberts said. “The
Burke County Chamber is
proud to have nearly 200 mem
bers ranging from small busi
nesses to our largest industries
all committed to advancing our
local business community and
continuing to drive our local
economy.”
An application is available
at www.burkechamber.org or
printed applications can be
obtained at the chamber’s of
fice in the historic courthouse.
Membership costs depend on
the size or type of the business
and the number of employees.
The county does not require
business licenses, said County
Manager Merv Waldrop. How
ever, a number of the cities
do. Potential business owners
should check with their city
hall if they are located within
the limits of one of county’s
municipalities.
Information on Waynes
boro’s licensing requirements
is available on the city’s web
site, www.waynesboroga.
com/128/Licenses-Permits.
Even though business licens
es are not necessary in the un
incorporated areas, compliance
with zoning laws is required.
Potential business owners
should check with the Burke
County Planning Commission
to make sure their business is
allowed in the area they wish
to establish it. Also, if the busi
ness requires construction or
remodeling, a building permit
is needed.
“If alcohol sales are in
volved, then an alcohol license
is required,” Waldrop said.
“The health department may
be involved if food is sold or
if the business needs a septic
tank installed.”
TENTATIVE BUDGET - BURKE COUNTY BOE
July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Governmental Fund Types
AMOUNTS ROUNDED TO $1,000
GENERAL SPECIAL
FUND REVENUE FUNDS
ESTIMATED REVENUES:
LOCAL TAXES
$
83,740
$
-
OTHER LOCAL SOURCES
$
325
$
160
STATE SOURCES
$
1,475
$
80
FEDERAL SOURCES
$
-
$
3,735
TOTAL ESTIMATED REVENUES
$
85,540
$
3,975
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES:
INSTRUCTION
$
36,542
$
-
PUPIL SERVICES
$
1,893
$
-
INSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT
$
1,190
$
-
EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
$
813
$
-
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
$
3,083
$
-
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
$
3,816
$
-
BUSINESS SERVICES
$
521
$
-
MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
$
5,720
$
-
TRANSPORTATION
$
6,482
$
-
OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
$
148
$
-
SCHOOL NUTRITION SERVICES
$
-
$
4,536
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES
$
60,208
$
4,536
EXCESS (DEFICIT) REVENUES OVER
EXPENDITURES
$
25,332
$
(561)
ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE
JULY 1, 2022
$
136,752
$
2,000
TRANSFERS TO BUILDING FUND
$
(10,950)
$
-
ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE
JUNE 30, 2023
$
151,134
$
1,439
THE BUDGET WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR FINAL ADOPTION BY THE BOARD AT 5:00 P.M.
JUNE 21,2022, AT THE BOARD OFFICE LOCATED AT 789 BURKE VETERANS PARKWAY,
WAYNESBORO, GA.
The City of Sardis Georgia
2021 Water Quality Report
Georgia Water System ID #: GA0330002
Is my water safe?
We are pleased to present this year's Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) as required by
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This report is designed to provide details about where your water comes
from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. This report is a snapshot of last
year's water quality. We are committed to providing you with information because informed customers are our best
allies.
The City of Sardis water system is tested for more than eighty (80) drinking water parameters on a periodic basis
determined by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (EPD) Drinking Water Program and/or the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Sample/testing schedules are based on initial contaminant level
assessments and can be changed if deemed necessary. EPD may also issue waivers for the analysis of any of the
mentioned compounds if analytical data shows that the distributed drinking water in this area is not vulnerable to
contamination from these chemicals.
Generally, samples are collected from the City of Sardis water system for analysis of inorganic compounds, volatile
organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, radionuclides, lead, and copper at least once in a three (3) year
cycle. Nitrate-nitrites, total trihalomethanes, and haloacetic acids are sampled annually, while bacteriological
content is monitored monthly.
Do I need to take special precautions?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno
compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ
transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly
at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline (800-426-
4791).
Where does my water come from?
Your water comes from two (2) community groundwater wells. The water source is an unconfined Coastal Plain
Aquifer and provides ample volumes of water for your community. Treatment is performed at the wells to include
removal of contaminants and chlorine disinfection.
Source water assessment and its availability
The Wellhead Protection Plan (WHPP) for this facility has been completed. This is a report in which the GA EPD
identifies any types of pollution to which your water supply could be vulnerable and includes information regarding
potential sources of contamination in your watershed. There are no cited potential pollution sources for either well
in the control zone of fifteen (15) feet.
For more information on potential pollution sources, the full WHPP report is available upon request at the facility
office.
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More
information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and
bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface
of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material,
and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic
systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban
stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or
farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater
runoff, and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products
of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater
runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and
mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain
contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
How can I get involved?
The City of Sardis strives to maintain the highest standards of performance and quality possible. In order to
maintain a safe and dependable water supply, improvements that benefit the community must be made. Please help
keep these costs as low as possible by utilizing good water conservation practices.
Description of Water Treatment Process
Your water is treated by disinfection. Disinfection involves the addition of chlorine or other disinfectant to kill
dangerous bacteria and microorganisms that may be in the water. Disinfection is considered to be one of the major
public health advances of the 20th century.
Water Conservation Tips
Did you know that the average U.S. household uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day or 100 gallons per
person per day? Luckily, there are many low-cost and no-cost ways to conserve water. Small changes can make a
big difference - try one today and soon it will become second nature.
• Take short showers - a 5-minute shower uses 4 to 5 gallons of water compared to up to 50 gallons for a
bath.
• Shut off water while brushing your teeth, washing your hair and shaving and save up to 500 gallons a
month.
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a
month.
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a
month.
• Water plants only when necessary.
• Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. To
check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If it seeps into the
toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it or replacing it with a new, more efficient model can
save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered. Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it and
during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation.
• Teach your kids about water conservation to ensure a future generation that uses water wisely. Make it a
family effort to reduce next month's water bill!
• Visit www,epa.gov/watersense for more information.
Cross Connection Control Survey
The purpose of this survey is to determine whether a cross-connection may exist at your home or business. A cross
connection is an unprotected or improper connection to a public water distribution system that may cause
contamination or pollution to enter the system. We are responsible for enforcing cross-connection control
regulations and insuring that no contaminants can, under any flow conditions, enter the distribution system. If you
have any of the devices listed below please contact us so that we can discuss the issue, and if needed, survey your
connection and assist you in isolating it if that is necessary.
• Boiler/ Radiant heater (water heaters not included)
• Underground lawn sprinkler system
• Pool or hot tub (whirlpool tubs not included)
• Additional source(s) of water on the property
• Decorative pond
• Watering trough
Source Water Protection Tips
Protection of drinking water is everyone's responsibility. You can help protect your community's drinking water
source in several ways:
• Eliminate excess use of lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides - they contain hazardous chemicals that
can reach your drinking water source.
• Pick up after your pets.
• If you have your own septic system, properly maintain your system to reduce leaching to water sources or
consider connecting to a public water system.
• Dispose of chemicals properly; take used motor oil to a recycling center.
• Volunteer in your community. Find a watershed or wellhead protection organization in your community
and volunteer to help. If there are no active groups, consider starting one. Use EPA's Adopt Your
Watershed to locate groups in your community, or visit the Watershed Information Network's How to Start
a Watershed Team.
• Organize a storm drain stenciling project with your local government or water supplier. Stencil a message
next to the street drain reminding people "Dump No Waste - Drains to River" or "Protect Your Water."
Produce and distribute a flyer for households to remind residents that storm drains dump directly into your
local water body.
Monitoring and reporting of compliance data violations
Our water system failed to collect routine samples for Total Coliform in the water that we deliver to you during
November 2021. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what
happened and what we did to correct the situation.
There is nothing you need to do. You did not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. You may
continue to drink the water. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you would have been
notified within 24 hours.
Additional operational measures have been implemented to insure all samples are collected in a timely manner.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have
received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). “The
health effects are unknown”
Additional Information for Lead
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young
children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home
plumbing. The City of Sardis Georgia is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control
the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can
minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for
drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.
Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available
from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
The table in this report lists all the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the 2021 calendar Year.
The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.
Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table are from testing done January 1 through December 31,2021.
The state requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these
contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of the data, though representative of the
water quality, is more than one year old.
Contaminants
MCLG
AL
Your
Water
Sample
Date
# Samples
Exceeding AL
Exceeds
AL
Typical Source
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper - action level
at consumer taps
(ppm)
1.3
1.3
.051
(90th
Percentile)
09-27-2021
0
No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural
deposits
Lead - action level at
consumer taps (ppb)
0
15
2.7
(90th
Percentile)
09-27-2021
0
No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural
deposits
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Contaminants
Contaminants
MCLG
AL
Water
Sample
Date
# Samples
Exceeding AL
Exceeds
AL
Typical Source
Substance
MCL
MCLG
Our Water
Range of
Detection
Sample Date
Violation
(Y orN)
Typical Source
Chlorine (ppm)
4
(MRDL)
4
(MRDLG)
1.03
(RAA)
0.00-1.60
January thru
December
2021
No
Water additive used to
control microbes
Unit Descriptions
Term
Definition
ppm
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb
ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (j/g/L)
NA
NA: not applicable
ND
ND: Not detected
NR
NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended.
Important Drinking Water Definitions
Term
Definition
MCLG
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there
is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
AL
AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements which a water system must follow.
Variances and
Exemptions
Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under
certain conditions.
MRDLG
MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants
to control microbial contaminants.
MRDL
MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.
There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial
contaminants.
RAA
Running Annual Average
For more information please contact:
Contact Name: Jennie Johnson
Address: 713 Charles Perry Avenue
Sardis, GA
Phone: 478-569-4315
JACOBS prepared this water quality report as a sendee to the City of Sardis, GA.