Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

The Commerce News Page 2A • December 19, 2007 Region Roundup Farm Bureau Honored Jackson County Farm Bureau president Greg Pittman, left, accepts an award from state president Zippy Duvall for represent ing one of Georgia's top county farm bu reaus. The Jackson County Farm Bureau was recognized as one of the top 15 Farm Bureau programs in the state for the ac tivities it sponsored during the past year to promote agriculture. Ownership Of Water Authority Finally Cleared Up HOMER - Banks County Development Authority members approved a resolution Friday that will clear up the ownership of the county water authority. Banks County Attorney Randall Frost drew up the resolution that reconveys all property conveyed to the development authority in connection with the financing of the expansion of the water and/ or sewer system to the county. This resolution was prepared to clear up some confusion about the wording in some documents that were pre viously approved by the authority transferring the ownership of the water system back to the county. DA Chairman Wayne Abernathy said this should clear up any con fusion over the ownership of the water system. “It was not our intentions (the development authority) to get in the water business,” he said. At Friday’s meeting, the authority also approved Abernathy to sign a deed transferring ownership of the recreation department building back to the county since the recre ation bond has been paid off. Funds From '06 To Help Hoschton Balance '07 Budget Money carried over from the 2006 budget will give a financial boost to Hoschton’s 2007 bud get. The Hoschton City Council is expected to approve amend ments to its 2007 budget tonight (Wednesday), following two public hearings. Last week, council member Tom Walden said the 2007 budget amendments include $92,000 in 2006 carryover in the city’s general fund budget, and $177,000 in 2006 carryover in Hoschton’s water and sewer fund. The city’s departments also made some budget cuts, while $77,281 is slated to be carried over to the 2008 general fund budget. For future budgets, the city should include the previous year’s car ryover funds to reflect that the city already has money in the bank, Walden said. Despite the additional revenue from the 2006 budget, the city council is still projecting less income from key revenue sources. The council now estimates the city will receive $22,000 in building and sign permit fees, compared to $40,000 it proposed in October, when it slashed $80,000 in antici pated revenue from such fees. In October, the council amend ed its 2007 budget to reflect a 13 percent drop in revenue from the initially-proposed $923,710 to $798,808 for the general fund. The 2007 general fund budget is slated to be amended to $831,858. The 2007 water and sewer bud get was also amended in October from $4.05 million to $3.71 million. That budget is now proposed for $3.74 million, due to 2006 carry over funds of $177,000. However, revenue of water and sewer installation and connection fees is expected to drop again — from $242,500 earmarked in October, to $137,500 with the lat est budget amendment. Recently, the Hoschton City Council approved a 2008 general fund budget of $771,110, which excludes $173,927 in sales tax rev enue. The water and sewer budget was approved for $969,528, with out $342,738 in sales tax funds. Banks County Fire/EMS Gets $300,000 Grant HOMER -- The Banks County Fire/EMS department received a $299,592 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services orga nizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehi cles. AFG also supports regional projects in which multiple orga nizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from activities implemented with grant funds. Danielsville Police Chief Turns In Resignation DANIELSVILLE - Joe Merk has turned in a letter of resignation as Danielsville’s Police Chief. “It is with sincere regrets that I must submit to you my resigna tion as Chief of Police for City of Danielsville,” wrote Merk. “For nineteen years I have served the Mayor and Council and the citi zens of Danielsville with dignity and professionalism. But due to circumstances beyond my control, I cannot serve as police chief any longer.” Mayor Glenn Cross fired Merk on Nov. 12. According to the “change of status” form that Cross filled out for the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council, Cross fired Merk for “subordination and inefficiency in performing duties.” But the mayor’s termination of Merk as police chief could not be officially approved by the Danielsville City Council during its December meeting, because the council is short a member and did not have the necessary votes to take the action. Council members Barbara Dove and Roger Watson voted for the dismissal, while coun cil member Janice Merk, the wife of Joe Merk, abstained from the vote. But the firing has now been changed to a voluntary resigna tion. “After discussion between the city of Danielsville and Joseph H. Merk, Mr. Merk’s employment sta tus has changed to voluntary resig nation,” wrote Cross in a Dec. 10 letter to POST. The city also provided this news paper with a Nov. 6, 2007, letter from the legal firm that handles its workers’ compensation, Drew, Eckl and Farnham LLP. “Previously, we received notifica tion from the claimant’s attorney that the claimant would be resign ing from his position with the city of Danielsville,” stated the letter from Drew, Eckl and Farnham LLP. “Therefore, please update us regarding the status of the claim ant’s employment. Additionally, we have learned from the claimant’s attorney that due to the claimant’s intent to resign his employment with the city, he also intends to pursue resolution of his pending workers’ compensation claim.” It's Braselton Vs. Hoschton Over Territory Attorneys for Braselton and Hoschton presented evidence before a Superior Court judge Monday over a legal battle between the neighboring cities. The case of Town of Braselton vs. City of Hoschton centers on a September 2006 decision by the Hoschton City Council to annex and rezone 124 acres located between Maddox Road and Ga. Hwy. 124. Hampton Homes plans to build 302 houses on the prop erty. After the council’s decision, Braselton filed a lawsuit contend ing that the property is located in Braselton’s water and sewer ser vice delivery area. State law requires that local gov ernments in each county develop a service delivery strategy that will minimize inefficiencies and dupli- cation of services, such as water and sewer services. Jackson County and its nine cit ies agreed to its service delivery strategy in 2006. Braselton attorney Gregory Jay said the issue centers on who is the proper service provider for the Hampton Homes property, based on Jackson County’s service deliv ery strategy agreement. Free Legal Services Available To Elderly In Area Free legal services are available to senior citizens and low-income clients in the area. Services are based on case type and financial eligibility. Georgia Legal Service Program does not handle criminal cases. For an appointment, call 1-800 745-5717 or 770-535-5717 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Times Are Tough For Food Banks In Northeast Georgia Rising fuel prices, higher unem ployment rates and a troubled housing sector have combined to increase demand for services from area food banks. John Becker, president of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, said his agency serves the 65,000 people living in poverty in the northeast Georgia area. “There are a lot of people with basic needs,” Becker said. “Fuel prices and other factors have put a lot of people in that poverty region.” Currently, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia has a two-day supply on hand. “The word doesn’t get out,” Becker said. “[The food drives] are what keep folks having a rough time from suffering a lot worse. The critical canned goods go not only to people under poverty, but also go to people having emergen cies. It’s a more universal type of thing.” This year, the food bank has shipped over 5 million pounds of food. Becker said most of the food is distributed through the food bank’s 250 partner agencies. Development director Tina Laseter said the food bank seeks organizations and businesses will ing to host food drives. “In very recent months, we’ve seen an increase in need,” she said. “At the same time, there has been a decrease in resources. This has made us branch out and depend on local community support more than ever.” Laseter said individuals and busi nesses can donate directly to the food bank or to any of its part ner agencies. The primary differ ence between the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and the smaller partner agencies is that the food bank can accept large quantities of both perishable and non-perish able items. Laseter said the food bank des perately needs help from commu nity members. Businesses or organizations will ing to host a food drive should contact Laseter at 706-354-8191 or send an email to donations@ foodbanknega.org. Individuals may also contact local partner agencies including: •Banks-Jackson Food Bank, 706 335-5143. •Christian Outreach, 706-335 6084. • Duds & Spuds of Zion Baptist Church, 706-654-3205. • First Baptist Church of Jefferson, 706-367-8332. •Jackson Co. Food Pantry- Action, 706-367-9599. •Mulberry Baptist Association, 706-824-0063. •Romans Road Baptist Church, 706-367-2289. •Rising Families, 706-367-2240. •Barrow County Food Pantry 770-867-3925. •Barrow Co. Food Pantry-Action, 770-307-3026. •East Side Baptist Church, 770 867-5774. •Women Walking Worthy, 678 732-6172. •Community Food Pantry, 770 535-1471. •Northside Family, 770-983-4100. •Outreach Christian, 770-967 3136. •Spirit of Joy Christian, 770-965 3333. -m; A O' PUBLIC NOTICE Terra Renewal of Russellville, Arkansas provides wastewater residuals management services for food processors throughout the Southeastern U.S., including six permitted operations in Georgia. Food processing wastewater residuals are land applied via subsurface injection for beneficial use as fertilizer. Terra Renewal is currently working on an application to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to obtain a permit to land apply food processing residuals to farmland near Maysville and Gillsville communities in northeastern Jackson County and southwestern Banks County. Terra Renewal will conduct an informal public meeting on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 6:00 P.M. at the Maysville Library located at 9247 Gillsville Road, Maysville, GA. Members of the public and interested farmers and ranchers are invited to attend. For more information, please call Michael Roys at 479-567-1269 or John Pipkin at 479-264-5383. Mail any comments to: Terra Renewal, P. O. Box 3036, Russellville, AR 72811-3036. CARHARTT-LARGEST INVENTORY LOWEST PRICES ANYWHERE! One of Georgia’s largest Carhartt dealers. Winter clothes just arrived! IF CARHARTT MAKES IT, IRVIN’S HAS IT! Sizes from 2T for kids to 60 and 4XXXL IRVIN’S STORE & HUNTING SUPPLY Located 6 miles South of Baldwin on Old 441. Look for the signs. 4964 Hwy 441 N, Baldwin • 706-778-6116 Hours 9:00-5:00 Mon-Sat, December Hours: Sun 10:00-4:00 CARHARTT COATS, PANTS, BELTS, CAPS, GLOVES, VESTS, THERMAL UNDERWEAR, INSULATED & UNINSULATED OVERALLS & COVERALLS jyi'COKMICK JI CpkMieE k 7 m 375ml (Pint) 75Dm» (Fifth) gm RTACK'S mCKAGF 2992,Athens Hwy. Jefferson Fh#706-367-8141 LILAjCK*