Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 13, 2008 - PAGE 3A
—Commerce Council
Cont. from Page 1A
two trees for every tree removed.
City Manager Clarence Bryant
said the plan calls for the plant
ing of 87 trees.
“If they’re going to do the deal,
they’re going to remove the
trees,’’ Bryant told the council.
Hardy and Bryant also explained
that the city was able to get
Walgreens to relocate the state-
required runoff retention pond
from right next to the sidewalk on
Homer Road further into the prop
erty — and to screen it from view.
The city had hoped that
Walgreens would place the pond
underground, which is how CVS
handled a similar problem, but
Bryant said the company refused
that option due to the cost.
Hardy said the company has
also agreed to build a stone wall
and a wooden fence, and to install
plants, all so the pond will not be
easily seen from the sidewalk or
road.
'That’s the best we can do if
we’re going to have the pond on
the site,’’ the mayor said. The pond
is designed to handle 28 inches of
runoff, according to Bryant.
All of the buildings on the site
will be demolished, except the
Pittman House, which is slated to
be removed, Hardy said.
Other Business
The council also:
• accepted the recommenda
tion of the Commerce Planning
Commission and granted a vari
ance to Steven Sears, 193 Willow
Street, on the size of a utility build
ing. The approval comes with con
ditions relating to building mate
rial and design.
•agreed to allow the planning
commission to hire a consultant
to re-write its sign ordinance,
which has been made virtually
void by all the variances approved
by the city council.
• approved a budget amendment
of $10,596 to buy a new truck for
the Meter Department to replace
one that was wrecked.
•approved a demolition ordi
nance covering only the part of
the downtown governed by the
DDA
•learned from finance director
Steve McKown that the city is
$1.1 million in the black through
January for its fiscal year, which
started July 1.
• heard councilman Donald
Wilson request that a metal detec
tor be installed at the civic center
in light of the Missouri case where
a disgruntled citizen killed six
people at a city council meeting,
but Hardy pointed out that the
man killed two policemen to get
into the council chambers and
would likely “have shot the police
man operating the metal detec
tor.’’
•approved a package license
for the sale of beer and wine
for SKSK LLC, which is the new
owner of a convenience store at
517 South Elm Street.
—Water Restrictions To Ease
Cont. from Page 1A
man Randall Pugh, a reminder
that what the governor gives today
he may take back tomorrow.
Assuming that it followed the
course set at the work session, the
authority planned to immediately
remove the level four exemptions,
but to wait until April 1 to permit
the filling of pools and the water
ing of landscapes. The reason for
that delay is that the governor still
requires water suppliers to main
tain a 10 percent reduction, but on
April 1, that figure will be based
on average summer sales — which
are much higher than the average
winter sales which are the base of
the current 10 percent mandate.
Removing the exemptions is not
seen as a threat to Jackson failing
to meet its winter reduction goal.
“Since we’ve been running close
to 30 percent, there is no way
we’re going to jeopardize going
under the 10 percent,’’ said Hunter
Bicknell, chairman.
“We will allow (outdoor water
use) as long as the conditions
warrant it,’’ Bicknell added. “One
of the real keys is that we monitor
this on a weekly basis — the level
of the reservoir.’’
No Watering Yet
As for the governor’s suggestion
that limited outdoor watering of
landscapes can be permitted and
swimming pools can be filled, the
authority decided to wait.
“I wouldn’t touch that until April
1,’’ commented Rob Jordan.
“With all the rain, who’s water
ing anyway?’’ Bicknell wondered,
but authority staff members say
that following the governor’s state
ment last Thursday, they’ve had
numerous calls from people want
ing to resume the irrigation of
yards and landscapes.
The authority would like to sell
more water. The drought restric
tions are hurting its cash flow,
but members are also cautious
about attracting penalties should
the authority fail to meet the gov
ernor’s 10 percent reduction man
date. As of April 1, that thresh
old will be based upon average
summer sales, which would allow
the authority to sell a lot more
water and still meet the 10 percent
reduction.
— Commerce Wants Out
Cont. from Page 1A
Harbin.
It the city had to rely on its
retail customers, it would find
its cash flow barely able to cover
the city’s water-related debt, he
added.
“If we didn’t have our wholesale
customers, we’d be barely scrap
ing by, but we haven’t missed a
debt service payment yet,’’ said
Harbin. “We built our rate struc
ture just on our city customers to
meet our debt service. If we had
to cut back and we didn’t have
our wholesale customers, we’d
meet it, but it would be by the
skin of our teeth.’’
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Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, Feb. 14
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, Feb. 18
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, Feb. 19
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Feb. 21
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Parham's Restaurant. The Pilot
Club of Commerce meets on
the third Thursday of each
month.
Monday, Feb. 25
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Medical Center. The BJC
Medical Center Authority man
ages BJC Hospital and Nurs
ing Home. It normally meets
on the third Monday of each
month but was moved back a
week due to the Presidents' Day
holiday.
City planning meeting:
7:00 p.m., Peach Room,
Commerce Civic Center. The
Commerce Planning Commis
sion makes recommendations
on zoning requests and land
use matters.
Tuesday, Feb. 26
JCCO Meets: 6:30 p.m.,
conference room, BJC Medical
Center. Jackson County Com
munity Outreach is a grassroots
organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, March 3
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, March 4
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
JCCO Meets: 6:30 p.m.,
conference room, BJC Medical
Center. Jackson County Com
munity Outreach is a grassroots
organization.
Wednesday, March 5
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., Jefferson Civic Center. All
members of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
are invited.
Thursday, March 6
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Primary
School media center. This "work
session" of the Commerce
Board of Education is used to
prepare for the regular meeting
the following Monday.
Monday, March 10
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's school system.
Tuesday, March 11
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Wednesday, March 12
CABA meeting: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center. All Com
merce Area Business Associa
tion members are invited.
Thursday, March 13
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, March 17
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, March 18
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, March 20
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Parham's Restaurant. The Pilot
Club of Commerce meets on
the third Thursday of each
month.
Monday, March 24
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Medical Center. The BJC
Medical Center Authority man
ages BJC Hospital and Nurs
ing Home. It normally meets
the third Monday of each
month but was moved back a
week.
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planninq Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, March 25
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, March 27
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library
Tuesday, April 1
JCCO Meets: 6:30 p.m.,
conference room, BJC Medical
Center. Jackson County Com
munity Outreach is a grassroots
organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, April 2
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., Jefferson Civic Center. All
chamber members and guests
are welcome.
Thursday, April 3
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, April 7
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, April 8
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, April 10
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, April 14
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's school system.
Tuesday, April 15
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, April 17
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Parham's Restaurant. The Pilot
Club of Commerce meets on the
third Thursday of each month.
Monday, April 21
Hospital authority meets: 1:30
p.m., conference room, BJC
Medical Center. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, April 22
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, April 24
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library
Monday, April 28
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planninq Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, April 29
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
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