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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. TANUARY 16.2008 - PAGE 5A IDA Re-Elects Officers For '08 The Jackson County Industrial Development Authority will keep its officers for 2008. Meeting for the first time this year last Friday the IDA unani mously re-elected Scott Martin as chairman; John Buchanan as vice-chairman; Jim Shaw as secre tary-treasurer; and Jon Milford as assistant secretary-treasurer. The only other action requiring a vote — other than approving the minutes of the last meeting and the financial report — was a deci sion to change the meeting date from the second Friday morning of each month to the third Friday. Meetings will be held at 9:00 in the offices of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce on Athens Street in Jefferson. Attorney Daniel Haygood reported that the authority com pleted the buy-back of a lot in the Central Jackson Industrial Park at a cost of $ 120,000. A tenant in the park, WTI, is considering acquir ing that site for the construction of a 100,000-square-foot refrigera tion building. In other business, the IDA wel comed Gerry Nechvatal, the chamber’s new vice president for economic development. He’ll be the county’s point man for work ing with industrial and commer cial prospects considering locat ing in the county. Nechvatal expressed apprecia tion for the welcome, and said he was “looking forward to help ing the community achieve its goals’’ and followed up with sev eral projects in process. In spite of the economic slowdown, he expressed optimism about con tinued commercial and industrial growth. “We have so much to offer here. The future is very bright,’’ he promised. “If anybody can do well in the next 12 to 18 months, I think Jackson County can.’’ Martin promised that the IDA will be a resource to Nechvatal. “Any time y’all need us to do or to participate in something, that’s what we’re here for,’’ he stated. The position of vice president for economic development is new this year and represents a chamber decision to grow its pro fessional staff. Road Bonds Martin reminded the board that the IDA must have an intergovern mental agreement with Jackson County before it issues the recently-approved $45.9 million in bonds for the construction of what are being called “economic development roads.’’ The IDA will issue the bonds, and under the agreement, Jackson County will guarantee payment. Martin also indicated that the IDA will insist on “controls’’ to assure that the project “runs smoothly.’’ The roads are expected to spur commercial and industrial growth; the presumption is that the increases that result in the county tax digest will more than pay for the bonds. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tree ‘Trimming’ Was Excessive Editor: Our family, over the years has lost more than I care to elaborate on — numerous fam ily members due to cancer, accidents and other things. But one of the things that has hap pened as a result is that we have all grown close, broth ers, sisters, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, nieces and nephews. We all see each other as often as possible and try to stay in touch. We have been strength ened in many ways and have a close bond. One of the things that we have continued to do year after year and in spite of adversity is get together for family reunions. One of my first memories as a child is going to Uncle William's and Aunt Louise's for the family reunion. We ate, we played, and I can honestly say that most of the best times in my life took place in their yard. The highlight for every one of us was to play in the giant magnolia tree that stood in the front yard. Over 200 years old, you could stand up under the branches, which hung to the ground. We would, jump, play and climb for hours until we were made to come out. Now that I have children, they have done the same thing each year, waiting eagerly for the next family reunion. This has taken place for going on six genera tions now. Recently, Jackson EMC came out to "trim" the tree. In the past they have always done a good job. However, this year it was absolutely mutilated. The family was devastated by this. They knew how much this tree has meant to the children over the years. There have been sto ries and poems written about the tree and how much it has meant and symbolized to this family. One of the workers made the comment that "we can do anything we want to on our right of way." I'm sure they legally can but what is so sad about this is that people's feel ings are not taken into consid eration anymore, and to them, a 200 year old magnolia is "just a tree." We do realize that trees near power lines need to be trimmed but they don't have to be destroyed. They have offered to send an arborist out to try to fix what's left or "cut it down." I'm mostly saddened by the fact that this is what life has come to. People just don't care anymore and as long as they feel like restitution is made everything is okay as far as they are concerned. The important things in life are just not that important to some people. As far as our family is con cerned we will not be discour aged, but will in some way make the best of this and con tinue to make memories for our children and their children and the generations to come. Donna Garrison Maysville Thanks To All For Father’s Care Editor: I want to thank the staff and everyone at BJC Nursing Home for the excellent care, kindness and consideration to my dad, Andrew Strickland, during his illness and passing away. I shall always be grateful to each of you. Thanks so much. Trent Strickland Commerce — Trying To End The Playoff Dilemma Cont. from Page 4A the current format, the power lies with the commissioners of the major conferences. If the NCAA ran the event, the money would flow through the NCAA before it went to the members (individual uni versities)." Just for fun, let's all make a list of the people we know who would willingly give up millions of dollars. Major conference commis sioners are not going to give up control of the multi-mil lion dollar purses they cur rently receive. I applaud Michael Adams for promoting this much needed change, but he is going to need to organize and execute some much needed consen sus building before bring ing this issue to the NCAA Convention for a vote. At least someone's trying to fix it and hopefully by 2010 when the BCS contract expires, we won't be subjected to the dull and uninspiring BCS schedule we slept through this year. Hasco Craver is the execu tive director of the Commerce Downtown Development Authority. He lives in Commerce. The Commerce News Get the local school, church, sports and other community news delivered to your home each week! Just clip the coupon below to begin saving today over the newstand price! Name Address City State Zip Subscription rates for The Commerce News are asfollozvs: $19.75 per year for Jackson and adjoining counties; $17.75 per year for senior citizens in Jackson and adjoining counties; $38.85 per year for delivery elsewhere in Georgia; $36.85 per year for delivery elsewhere in Georgia with senior citizen discount; $44.50 per year for delivery out of Georgia; $42.50 per year for delivery out of Georgia with senior citizen discount; $42.20 per year for the militant with APO address. Enclosed is my check for $ or dl MC or □ visa # Expiration MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. 33 Lee Street, P O. Box 908 Jefferson, GA 30549 Phone 706-367-5233 Fax: 706-367-8056 Website: www. mainstreetnews. com —Cooper Farm Rd. Residents To Get Water Cont. from Page 1A jected. ‘That is under $35 a linear foot,’’ observed engineer Rob MacPherson. “That’s the best price I’ve seen since I’ve been up here.’’ Eight companies submitted bids. The project includes 12-inch ductile iron water mains along Ed Bennett Road from the inter section with Brooks Drive to Cooper Farm Road and lines along Brooks Road and Cooper Farm Road. The project crosses Sandy Creek twice, which is why the authority added additional funds for rock. Vulnerability Assessment In other business at last Thursday’s meeting, Klerk report ed that a “vulnerability assess ment’’ ordered by the state in 2002 but never completed is under way and has identified a couple of issues with the author ity’s offices in Central Jackson Industrial Park. The authority authorized Klerk to install an estimated $11,000 in fencing — including a gate — around the office. “The money will be spent to protect what we already have,’’ Klerk said, adding that funds would come from the sale of surplus or scrap materials and equipment. The key pad gate is similar to what has been installed at the authority’s waste treatment plant, which officials say has prevented at least one burglary. Also last Thursday, the author ity: • voted to move work sessions forward to 5:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. They had been scheduled at 6:00. • heard appeals from three peo ple of $250 fines that had been levied for using irrigation meters during the ban on outdoor water usage. The authority agreed to let staff resolve the matters. •re-elected officers for 2008, including Hunter Bicknell as chairman, Randall Pugh as vice chairman. The authority also named staff member Denise Nation as secretary. She suc ceeds Judy Davis in that role. — County Begins Comprehensive Plan Update Cont. from Page 1A tion and recommending “charac ter’’ areas. To involve the public, the plan is to identify all of the “stake holders,’’ the methods of getting them to participate, and to plan a schedule for completing the community agenda. That third step—the community agenda - requires the creation of what Yates called “a community vision’’ of what the consensus of stakeholders says the community wants to become. It will include a “vision statement,’’ future devel opment maps and a “defining narrative.’’ The agenda will also include a list of those agreed- upon issues and opportunities, a strategy for implementing the program and policies to provide ongoing guidance. All five county commissioners took to the podium for com ments at the chamber breakfast. Chairman Pat Bell opened the program, pointing out that the county remains in good finan cial condition and has built a 20 percent budget reserve. Noting the talk of a recession, she told her audience, “This is the reason you build a reserve — for bad times.’’ Major issues of the year, said Bell, will be water and economic development. She reported that county and city officials were due to meet the next day to talk about water, and will meet monthly. “Collectively, we’ve got to keep our eye on the state capitol,” she warned. “We’ve spent a lot (developing water resources) and we’ve got to protect our own interests.’’ She praised local leaders for their efforts, saying, “We are out there on the cutting edge because of our leadership.’’ District 1 Commissioner Tom Crow pointed out that the coun ty approved $42 million in bonds for the first half of a second round of “economic develop ment’’ roads and is working with agreements from developers to help pay off the bonds. He also cited the need to develop more reservoirs, to conserve water and to “set a realistic goal in the amount of uninterruptible water we can sell.’’ District 2 Commissioner Jody Thompson stressed the impor tance of shopping locally to generate sales tax revenues and promised that major retail developments now in process will bring “more shops, theaters and big box stores — names you never thought you’d see in Jackson County.’’ “Keep your dollars here. You’ll get your roads built quicker and your schools taken care of bet ter,’’ Thompson added. District 4 Commissioner Dwain Smith addressed eco nomic development as well, say ing he’d like to see industrial development account for 30 to 35 percent of the county tax digest — up from its 18 percent current level. “Bear with us and help us any way you can,’’ he urged. “The big gest problem is we can’t satisfy everybody.’’ Like Yates, Bell stressed coop eration. “We’ve got to come together on the big issues. We’ve got plenty to fight about that’s little,’’ she said. “We have got to work on the issues that affect the most people.’’ Later, she added, “If we all have our hidden issues and are going in different direc tions, the outside interests are going to be the ones that win.’’ New Year's Party Turns A Profit The 2007 New Year’s Dance produced a $2,800 profit for the Commerce Business Association, the group’s board of directors reported last week. Abbie Lawler called the turn out of more than 300 people to dance to music from The Jesters “fabulous’’ and reported that 64 availed themselves of the buffet dinner her Common Road Bakery offered before the dance. “We had groups from Jefferson, Winder and Braselton,’’ she noted, in addition to people from the Commerce area. President Brad Johnson asked members to invite nonmembers to next month’s CABA meet ing to hear Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. give a “state of the city address’’ about Commerce. The organization will stress building its membership during 2008, Johnson said, and encour aged each member to help grow the group. Letters will be sent to nonmembers, Johnson indi cated, but he also stressed the importance of a personal invita tion. “If you invite them, it means a whole lot more to them than a letter,’’ Johnson told the group. That meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the Commerce Room of the Commerce Civic Center. In other business at last Wednesday’s meeting, Kay Remar of the Small Business Development Center presented a program on “marketing on a tight budget.’’ City Issues Few Building Permits In December Construction permits issued in 2007 fell by more than two- thirds — in estimated value at least — from 2006, according to year-end figures released by the Commerce Department of Building Inspection. The city issued building permits for $10.7 million in construction last year, compared to permits for $33.4 million in construction during 2006. 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