Newspaper Page Text
Page 4D
May 3, 2023
Exporter
PUBLIC NOTICES
Continued from page 3D
Public Hearing Location: 38
West Main Street, Forsyth, Ga
31029.
For questions and concerns,
please contact Kelsey Fortner,
Community Development
Manager at 478-994-7040,
kfortner@monroecoga.org or
visit www.monroecoga.org,
Facebook Page or Instagram
5/3
I
23-180
STATE OF GEORGIA
MONROE COUNTY
ZONING/ VARIANCE NOTICE
VARIANCE(S) APPLICATION
IN AGRICULTURAL
MONROE COUNTY PLANNING
AND ZONING
Application: 2023-007
Legal Description: Renouf Road,
Forsyth, Ga 31029
Map 030 Parcels 012B
Property Owner: Angela and
Paul Boyd, Jr.
Applicant: Angela and Paul
Boyd, Jr.
Request: A variance is being re
quested to divide 3-acres, less
than the required amount on a
private road, for a family mem
ber to build a home. The re
maining acreage will be added
to the adjacent lot not leaving a
lot noncompliant.
Planning and Zoning Public
Hearing: Monday, May 22, 2023,
at 5:30 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Public
Hearing: Tuesday, June 6, 2023,
at 6:00 p.m.
Public Hearing Location: 38
West Main Street, Forsyth, Ga
31029.
For questions and concerns,
please contact Kelsey Fortner,
Community Development
Manager at 478-994-7040,
kfortner@monroecoga.org or
visit www.monroecoga.org,
Facebook Page or Instagram
5/3
I
23-181
STATE OF GEORGIA
MONROECOUNTY
CITY OF FORSYTH
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/
VARIANCE
The Mayor and Council of the
City of Forsyth will consider,
and the public may be heard as
to amendments to Article 10
Nonresidential
Zoning Dis
tricts Table 10.1 at City Council
Chambers at City Hall at 23 E.
Main Street in Forsyth at 6:00
PM on the 15 th day of May
2023, or as soon thereafter as the
matter may be reached. A copy
of the recommended amend
ments to Table 10.1 is available
for inspection in the office of
the Clerk of the City of Forsyth
during regular business hours.
The public hearing will be con
ducted in accordance with the
procedures set out in the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Forsyth
and generally pursuant to Arti
cle 31 of the City Zoning Code
(Public Hearing Procedures).
This 26th day of April 2023.
Mayor and Council of the City
of Forsyth Date: April 26, 2023
To: Monroe County Reporter
Please publish the above legal
advertisement in the issues of
The Reporter of May 3 and May
10, 2023, and bill the cost of
publication to the City of For
syth.
Janice L. Hall, City Manager
City of Forsyth
478-994-5649
5/3-5/10
Participants in the Forsyth Main Street visioning workshop place stickers to mark their
priorities.
A vision for Forsyth
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
Forsyth Main Street hosted two work
shops, one on Tuesday evening, April 18
and one midday on Wednes
day, April 19 to invite
citizens to give input about
what they like, don’t like and
envision as the best possible
evolution for downtown
Forsyth. About 20 people
took the opportunity each
day to express their visions
for the downtown district of
Monroe County.
The sessions were orga
nized and promoted by
Kemie Childs, who has
been Forsyths Main Street
director since January. The
Tuesday session was led by
Ebony Simpson of the state
agency that oversees the Main Street pro
grams in Georgia. Childs led the session
on Wednesday.
The purpose of Main Street is to promote
downtown and to help create activities and
events that bring both locals and visitors to
downtown to keep it a successful, vibrant
location that enhances the quality of life
for all associated with it. Main Street is
directed by a board that is appointed by
city council for four-year terms. It re
ceives some funding from the city but also
recruits sponsors and seeks other sources
of revenue. It advertises events by social
media and other means and it recruits vol
unteers to help with events and promotion,
such as the Summer Concert Series, the
Farmers Market, July 4th and New Years
Eve celebrations, Trick-or-Treat on the
Square and the Christmas tree lighting.
“Your downtown should be the heartbeat
of the community” said Simpson, who said
she lives in Savannah. “The purpose of
today is to hear from you about how you
want to feel about downtown.”
In the first session Simpson asked par
ticipants what they like about downtown
Forsyth. Responses were that it is walk-
able, has good restaurants, has interesting
history and architecture, that it is clean
and safe, that businesses are supportive of
one another like a family and it has special
events like the Christmas parade.
Simpson asked what those present would
like to see in downtown in 2031. Answers
included more youth, more trees and
flowers around the square, more lighting,
security cameras, an enlarged downtown
area and more consolidated government
offices.
Answers to what they consider the assets
of downtown Forsyth ranged from the
Rose Theatre, Art Guild, Fine Arts Center,
historic courthouse and city hall to the
golf course, library, local shops, brewery
and public safety complex. Suggestions
for what Main Street could do better were
educate on funding available for local busi
nesses and create/distribute a newsletter.
The mention of problems centered on
parking in downtown. Some of those who
have been a part of downtown Forsyth for
a number of years said that studies have
shown that Forsyth has sufficient parking.
The problem may be a need for better
signage to point drivers to off-the-square
parking.
Shop owners said that elderly and less
mobile customers aren’t willing to walk
from off the square and that employees of
downtown businesses
and those attending
court should be direct
ed to use parking off
the square.
As there was discus
sion of what attracts
people to Forsyth, a
man who recently
bought a tract of land
in Monroe County
said that when a work
er on the square told
him there’s nothing
to do in the county, it
sealed the deal for him
and his wife because
that was the type of
place they were looking for. He, and oth
ers, said the thing that draws them most
to Forsyth and downtown is the friendly
people.
Five members of the Main Street board
of directors attended the April 19 meeting,
as well as the mayor, a council member, a
commissioner and the Forsyth fire chief.
The discussion turned to the need for
communication with all businesses and
ways to help small businesses grow There
were suggestions of more events targeting
younger adults, of a line of Forsyth mer
chandise to develop a brand and identity
and joint events with the county.
Brandi Starr, owner of Branded Starr
Western Boutique on the square, said that
she often hears from customers that they
make a point to stop in Forsyth when they
are traveling on 1-75 because it is a town
where they can walk around and feel safe.
They tell her they plan a stop in Forsyth
into their trip. She said the strong law en
forcement presence because of the Georgia
Public Safety Training Center and Dept, of
Corrections headquarters helps create the
feeling of safety.
“There’s a lot of downtowns where people
don’t want to walk around,” said Starr.
There were comments that Forsyth
doesn’t need any more gas stations or
liquor stores. But, like the preceding night,
those present said the greatest challenge
is parking, followed by more attractive
landscaping and other improvements to
enhance the walkability of Forsyth’s down
town. Two people who are associated with
downtown businesses that have come to
Forsyth recently commented that “Forsyth
parking is a dream” compared with some
other cities.
However, all agreed that Forsyth will
continue to grow and that more park
ing will be needed. Cody Ellis, Forsyth
economic development director, said that
Forsyth’s zoning ordinances require spe
cific numbers of parking spaces per square
footage for businesses in the city, but the
central downtown district is a different
story since the buildings are conjoined and
parking spaces are finite.
Mayor Eric Wilson said the city engineer
is looking at how to improve traffic flow
and how to improve the sidewalks, partic
ularly in the area of Jonah’s on Johnston.
Kemie Childs & Kerri Swearingen
City of Forsyth Water Dept I.D.# GA2070001
2022 Water Quality Report
Your Water is Safe to Drink
The City of Forsyth is proud to report that your drinking
water exceeded all safety and quality standards set by the
Slate of Georgia and EPA, The 2022 Water Quality Report
provides you with a snapshot account of the monitoring and
testing results gathered from water quality analysis during
the 2022 calendar year. The employees at H20 Innovation,
Inc. are committed to providing you with safe, dependable
drinking water and are proud to serve the community of
Forsyth. For more information about your water call
478/994-3423 and ask for Craig Helms.
Special Population Advisory
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/Center For Disease Control guidelines on
how to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and
other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline 800/4264791.
Drinking Water Sources
Your water comes from the Tobesofkee Creek Reservoir.
This is a surface water source located approximately two (2)
miles south of the city limits. Source water assessment
information may be obtained by calling the Georgia
Environmental Protection Division at (404) 463-1511 or
visiting their website at www.gaepd.org.
Public Participation Opportunities
If you are interested in participating in water policy
decisions, the Forsyth City Council meets at 6:00pm the first
and third Monday of each month. These meetings are open
to the public. For more information call City Hall at
478/994-5649. For additional information concerning your
drinking water, visit Forsyth's website @
www.cilyofforsyth.net.
Contaminants in 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 aboul contaminants and potential health effects
can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline 800/426-4791 or visiting the EPD's website at
www.gaepd .org.
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 can pick up
substances resulting from the presence of animals or
from human activity.
Contaminants Lhal may he present in source water
before we treat it include:
* Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria,
which may come from sewage treatment plants,
septic systems, agricultural livestock operations,
and wildlife.
* Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals,
which can he naturally-occurring or result from
urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic
wastewater discharges, oil and gas production,
mining or farming.
* Pesticides & herbicides, which may come from a
variety of sources such as agriculture and
residential use.
* Radioactive contaminants, which are naturally
occurring.
* Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic
and volatile organic chemicals, which are by
products of industrial processes and petroleum
production, and also can come from gas stations,
urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
Water Quality Monitoring
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. We treat our water according to EPA's
regulations. Food and Drug Administration regulations
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which
must provide the same protection for public health.
Water Quality Data
The table in this report represents the annual average of
the contaminants listed. 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, 2022. 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.
Terms & Abbreviations
• AL; Action Level - the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
• 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: 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.
• N/A: not applicable • ND: not detectable at testing limit • NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units
* RL: Reporting Limit
• pprty'mg/'L: parts per million or milligrams per liter - (corresponds to one minute in two years)
• ppb: parts per billion — (corresponds to one minute in 2,000 years)
• ug/L: micrograms per liter
• TT: Treatment Technique - A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water
• MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level - Tin* highest residual disinfectant level allowed.
• MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant l-evel Goal - The level of residual disinfectant below which there Is no known or expected risk to health.
MCL or RL
in mg/L or
Violation
Substance
ug/L
MCLG
Level Detected
(Y or N)
Typical Source of Contamination
Microbiological Contaminants
Turbidity (NTU)
1.0
N/A
Soil Runoff.
% of samples < 0.3 NTU
100%
100%
N
Highest single daily average
0.00
.15
N
Yearly Average
0.00
.03
N
Total Organic Carbon (ppm)
TT
N/A
Naturally present in the environment. Has no health
Yearly Average
1.52
N
effects. Provides a medium for ihc formation of
Trihalomcihancs and Haloacetic Acids.
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper (ppb)
AL=1300
0
35ppb or. 035
N
Corrosion of household plumbing systems: Erosion of
ppm in 2020
(90 h percentile)
natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives.
Fluoride (ppm)
4
.85
Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which
Highest Monthly Average
.91
N
promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and
aluminum factories.
Lowest Monthly Average
.81
N
Yearly Average
.86
Lead (ppb)
AL=15
0
1.7ppb or
N
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of
.0017ppm in
natural deposits.
2020
(90 m percentile)
Sodium 23 (ug/L)
RL=1000
0
14000 or
N
Naturally occurring. The use of Sodium Hydroxide to
14.0mg/L
balance the pH of the water.
Manganese 55 (ug/L)
RL=25
0
87 ug/L or
,087 mg/L
N
Naturally occurring.
Volatile Organic Contaminants
Haloacetic Acids (ppb)
Highest Individual HAA Result
60
0
36
N
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Highest Running Annual Average
29.5
N
Total Trihalomethanes (ppb)
Highest Individual THM Results
80
0
43.9
N
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Highest Running Annual Avg.
38.875
N
Residual Disinfectants
Free Residual Chlorine (ppm)
MRDLG
4
MRDL
4
Highest annual
individual
measurement
1.90
N
Water additive used to control microbes. A
disinfcctartt/oxidizer.
The City of Forsyth has one hundred-eight (108) microbiological samples tested annually by the EPD. Out of these one hundred-eight samples, zero samples
tested positive for total coliform bacteria and Ecoli. The water provided to you by the City of Forsyth was bacteria free throughout the year of 2021.
• MCL: For systems that collect less than 40 samples per month (The City of Forsyth is required to collect 9 samples per month), the MCL is one
(1) positive sample per month.
• Total Coliform and Ecoli are naturally present in the environment.
• Conforms are bacteria used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present
The City of Forsyth participated in the monitoring of unregulated contaminants in 2017, aka UCMR3. Unregulated contaminant monitoring helps the
EPA to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether the contaminants need to be regulated. The last samples collected and
analyzed for these contaminants was December 2017 and was found to meet all applicable standards. A detection of a UCMR3 analyte above the
MRLfMinimum Reporting Limit) does not represent cause for concern. The implications of the detection should be judged considering health effects
information, which is often still under development. For more information, consult "UCMR 3 Data Considerations, Definitions, Reference Concentrations
and Summary PDF" at hltn://watcr.cpa-Wov/lawsreKs/rulesrPtts/sdwa/ucrnr/data.cfrn#ucrnr2013,
Health Effects
Turbidity: Turbidity is the measurement used to describe the cloudiness of water. Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can
interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms.
Total Organic Carbon. Total organic carbon has no health effects. However, total organic carbon provides a medium for the formation of
disinfection byproducts. These byproducts include Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic acids (HAAs). Drinking water containing
these byproducts in excess of the MCL may lead to adverse health effects, liver or kidney problems, or nervous system effects, and may
lead to an increased risk of getting cancer.
Copper. Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level over a relatively
short period of time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level
over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson's Disease should consult their personal doctor. When your water
has been silling for several hours, you can minimize the potential for copper exposure by flushing your lap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes
before using water for drinking or cooking.
Fluoride: Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain
and tenderness of the hones. Children may get mottled teeth.
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 line and home plumbing, The City of Forsyth Water
System is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.
When your water has been silling for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your lap 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.
Haloacetic Acids. Some people who drink water containing Haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased
risk of getting cancer.
Total Trihalomethanes. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience
problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
Free Residual Chlorine: The portion of available chlorine remaining in the water after disinfection has occurred. It is important to have a free
chlorine residual in the distribution system all the way to the customers tap. This protects the consumer from the introduction of microbes
after the water treatment plant process. Some people who use water containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience
irritating effects to theirs eyes and nose, as well as stomach discomfort.
Sodium: Sodium salts are found in virtually all food (the main source of daily exposure) and drinking water. Sodium levels in the latter are
typically less than 20 mg/litre. The City of Forsyth's water supply was analyzed and found to be at 14.0 mg/L. It is generally agreed that
sodium is essential to human life, but on the basis of existing data, no lirm conclusions can be drawn concerning the possible health effects
of sodium in drinking-water. However, sodium may affect the taste of drinking-water at levels above aboul 200 mg/L.
Manganese: Manganese is one of the most abundant metals in Earth's crust and is naturally occurring in surface water. Manganese is
essential to the proper functioning of humans. Manganese is an essential element utilized by antioxidants. It should be noted that the
presence of manganese in drinking-water will be objectionable to consumers if the manganese is deposited in water mains and causes a
darkening discoloration in the water. Concentrations below 0,05 mg/1 are usually acceptable to consumers.
This water quality report was prepared by H20 Innovation, as a service to the City of Forsyth.
Reports will not be individually mailed to our customers but will be given upon request.