About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition - May 13-14, 2020 9A V. Bobby Banks Age: 66 Occupation: administrative coordinator of CBT Inc. in Oakwood Political experience: Served on the Hall County Board of Commissioners 2007-2010 Residence: South Hall Richard Hiqqins Age: 67 Occupation: ran a logistics company for 30 years Political experience: Elected chairman of the Hall County Board of Commissioners in 2016 and previously served as chairman of the Hall County Board of Education for 11 years. Residence: North Hall Judy Sartain Age: 62 Occupation: Founder of North Georgia Adoptions, a legal practice focusing on adoption law. Political experience: First run for office Residence: Chestatee area $ ‘We have to continue focusing on areas like that, or if we have any other areas that pop up. I think we’re at a great place to do that now because of the hospital bed capacity, the number of ventilators we have.’ Gov. Brian Kemp COMMISSION ■ Continued from 1A financial decisions in light of the C0VID-19 pandemic. “We’re getting all our depart ment heads to look at ways to reduce non-essential spend ing. We’re eliminating discre tionary spending, prioritizing purchases, and we’ll prob ably postpone major projects unless it’s critical,” Higgins said. Avoiding a tax increase will be his goal. “We’re going to have a bare bones budget as best we can, but we still have to provide services for people. You have public ser vices, public safety and the courts that still have to go on,” he said. Sartain: Her goal would be to avoid tax increases, although she said that even when the millage rate stays steady, taxpayers can end up paying more for several reasons, including if their property assessment value increased. “The revenues through property taxes have continued to be a burden, not only on the homeowner but also on folks that own com mercial property,” Sartain said. She said tax increases can then affect prices for consumers. Development Banks: He would work to recruit new businesses and jobs to Hall County while bal ancing the needs that come with that growth. “(Develop ment) is probably one of the biggest priorities, other than the budget, that we have — how to manage it without overcompensating for hous ing versus new business,” Banks said. “That would be one of my main projects, would be to attract new busi nesses and to control the growth of the county govern ment and to bring new jobs to the county.” Higgins: The county has seen growth over the past few years and that is expected to continue, espe cially in South Hall. The county has been planning for that growth, including with master plans looking at ser vices such as fire services, parks and sewer and water treatment. He said officials aim to be especially con scious of greenspace needs in the county as developments move in. “We’re trying to still preserve the Hall County that we know and love,” Higgins said. Sartain: While growth in Hall County can be expected, the county government can plan ahead. “Nobody that I know of wants Hall County to look like Gwinnett. Growth is inevitable. Growth is com- ingtocome,” Sartain said. “... But I believe it can be man aged much more thought fully, much more carefully, and with a longer view.” She said the county’s infrastruc ture should match its devel opment. “So far, they’ve been putting the cart before the horse. They’ve been allowing the growth and the new struc tures and businesses and new development, and then play ing catch up,” she said. Infrastructure Banks: He hopes to address potholes on county roads and expand sewer services. He said the county government should commu nicate with municipalities about infrastructure and services. “The best thing we can do is work closer together with the cities and the county to do a better job of trying to coordinate ser vices and combine services if possible,” he said. Higgins: Higgins said infrastructure priorities will include the widening of Spout Springs Road in South Hall and the construction of the Sardis Connector. “That’s been on the planning books for a number of years, and it’s hopefully going to alleviate some traffic from downtown and have another way to get through,” he said. Sartain: Sartain said the Sardis Connector could alleviate traffic on areas of Green Street, Thompson Bridge Road and Cleve land Highway. “Everything comes to a bottleneck in downtown Gainesville,” she said. She said decisions about projects should be made with a tighter budget in mind. “But right now, is that something we need to be spending our money on?” she said. “The budget short fall, I’m hoping, is going to be short-term, but the reality is working with the restric tions now that we’ve been handed down by the reality ofCOVID.” STATE ■ Continued from 1A and other places like Upson County and Carrollton and the Rome and Cartersville area, we were able to jump on that very quickly, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” he said. Kemp said King had another visit to Hall planned for Friday, May 15. Kemp and Toomey both emphasized residents should continue following the rec ommendations of health officials, including social dis tancing and wearing masks when proper distancing is difficult. “We’ve got to keep hunker ing down up there,” Kemp said. “... We have to continue focusing on areas like that, or if we have any other areas that pop up. I think we’re at a great place to do that now because of the hospital bed capacity, the number of ven tilators we have.” Northeast Georgia Health System reported Tuesday that 44% of the health sys tem’s 108 ventilators were in use. The health system reported Tuesday it was treating 112 confirmed posi tive patients at its four hos pitals and New Horizons Limestone, a long-term care facility. The system was treat ing 135 patients a week ago. NGHS spokesman Sean Couch said hospital officials are “cautiously optimistic.” Northeast Georgia Medi cal Center Gainesville had 61 COVID-19 patients, and NGMC Braselton had 17 COVID-19 patients Tuesday. Couch said intensive care units in Gainesville and Bra selton were at about 70% capacity. The system had projected to reach staffing capacity May 22, but Couch said offi cials are revising that this week and now feel comfort able removing that date from the health system’s website, based on the amount of help coming from the state. A temporary unit provided by the state is tentatively set to be operational May 20. The 20-bed unit, which will be located near the North Tower of NGMC Gainesville and provide medical surgical beds, will be staffed by Jack- son Healthcare, a Georgia company that has partnered with the state and helps health systems with staffing needs. Jackson Healthcare plans to provide about 100 health care professionals, including nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and emergency medical technicians, for the unit. Editor in Chief Shannon Casas contributed. BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF LANIER This year we are going VIRTUAL and invite you to come along! Join us on Facebook for this year’s 22nd Annual Rubber Duck Derby! Like us on Facebook, then tune in at 2:30 on Saturday, May 16th on Facebook Live and join us as we announce the Duck adoption winners. Enter today for a chance to win $10,000 cash, Gainesville Jewelry diamond valued at $5,000, $1,200 two-night stay and golf package for four at Lanier Islands, free Chick-fil-A for a year and many other great prizes! We Are Going Virtual! Saturday, May 16th at 2:30 pm Thank you to our Sponsors: Northeast Georgia Health System Xjamesotffe floldala farms corporation f^J Mansfield Energy. Simplified o PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS CHARITIES McKinney-Geib jjfof ©ntCS *s / o Linda tioi i gainesvilletimes . CO m CONDITIONEDAIR SYSTEMS
