Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. MARCH 19, 2008 - PAGE 3A
Maysville Mulls Variance
Request For Dollar General
By Chris Bridges
Maysville officials continue to
see if details can be ironed out
concerning variances for a pos
sible Dollar General store in the
Jackson County side of the town.
The Tennessee-based retailer
wants to erect a store on a vacant
lot next to the Golden Pantry on
Hwy. 98 at Newton Drive.
The Maysville City Council was
going to vote on the matter at its
meeting earlier this month, but
city attorney Gary Freeman told
members the request first had
to be presented to them by the
city’s newly established planning
and zoning commission.
Freeman also advised city coun
cil members that it is best to abide
by the newly created planning
and zoning ordinance, as every
variance that is granted sets a
precedent.
The council agreed to send the
matter to the planning commis
sion, which met March 11 but
did not reach a decision on a rec
ommendation. It will meet again
Monday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in the
city library.
Among the issues to be re
solved regarding the Dollar Gen
eral request are setback require
ments.
If the planning board reaches
a consensus, the Maysville City
Council would act on its recom
mendation Monday, April 7, at
6:30 p.m.
—Maysville Budget, Tax Rates
Cont. from Page 1A
two counties, he said.
Maysville received $147,016 in
sales tax funds from Banks County
in 2007, compared to $127,875 in
sales tax revenue from Jackson
County, Freeman explained.
Banks County receives a
large portion of its sales tax
revenue from Banks Crossing
in Commerce. Stores on the
Banks County portion of the
area include the Home Depot
and Tanger Town Centre. Tanger
Outlet Center II is located in
Jackson County.
“Banks Crossing really does us a
lot of good," Freeman said of the
sales tax revenue.
Banks County residents in
Maysville also have to pay for
a fire tax, which is estimated at
$17,652 this year. Jackson County
residents pay their full bill with
their county taxes, Freeman said.
From both counties, Maysville
is anticipating to receive a total of
$289,590 from sales tax funds and
$78,786 in property taxes.
Overall, Maysville is planning
to raise property taxes for Banks
County residents by 14.08 per
cent, while decreasing property
taxes for Jackson County resi
dents by 14.59 percent.
Freeman said while those num
bers appear big, they may be
deceiving.
“For us, I don’t think that any
one’s taxes will up more than $10
(this year),’’ Freeman said.
The budget process in Maysville
begins when city leaders estab
lish a proposed budget, Freeman
said.
Maysville is proposing a 2008
budget of $1.2 million, compared
to $1.1 million last year.
City officials then review antici
pated revenue, including property
taxes, sales tax and other income
sources, Freeman said. The gross
millage rate for residents in both
counties of the city must be the
same.
Maysville does not plan to raise
its gross millage rate from 8.162
mills, but since sales tax revenue
from Banks and Jackson counties
differed and is credited against
respective property tax rates,
property taxes must be adjusted,
according to Freeman.
In other years, Jackson County
residents in Maysville paid more
in property taxes than their neigh
bors in Banks County, Freeman
said.
'This is the way the law says we
have to calculate it,’’ he said.
— Plan Could Save $1.5 Million
Cont. from Page 1A
the project appeared destined
to come in above the $20 mil
lion bond Commerce residents
approved for the new school.
If the board opts for the change,
the process of building the school
would begin with the demolition
of the gym. Ultimately, however,
the gym will end up in the same
place, with the same design.
The change may also require
two classes to be held in por
table classrooms for the duration
of the construction.
Being without a gym will affect
the basketball and wrestling pro
grams in particular. McCoy sug
gested that the middle school
gym can be made available and
hinted that CHS teams might
even play “home’’ games at other
schools.
“There are some things we’re
looking at and talking to some of
our neighbors about,’’ he said.
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Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, March 20
Kiwanis Cluo meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Saturday, March 22
Plant Swap and Sale:
10-noon, Commerce Public
Library. The public is invited to
bring bulbs, seeds or plants to
swap for others.
Garden seminar: Time TBA,
Commerce Public Library. Local
gardeners Ron and Jacque
Craven will present informa
tion on How To Garden in a
Drought. Free.
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
Planning Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, March 25
Gardening open house: 4-6
p.m., fellowship hall of the First
United Methodist Church of
Commerce. Sponsored by the
Commerce Garden Club Coun
cil. Free. Refreshments, advice,
brochures, silent auction. Call
Elizabeth Scalise at 706-335-
7435 for information.
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 CIud 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.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. 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 man
ages 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.
Thursday, May 1
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, May 5
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, May 6
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, May 7
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
a.m., location TBA. All mem
bers of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
are invited.
Thursday, May 8
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Elementary
School media center. This "work
session" of the Commerce
Board of Education is used to
prepare for the regular meeting
the following Monday.
Monday, May 12
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, May 13
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, May 15
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, May 19
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Medical Center. The BJC
Medical Center Authority man
ages 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, May 20
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00
p.m., First United Methodist
Church of Commerce. The
Pilot Club of Commerce meets
on the third Thursday of each
month.
Thursday, May 22
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, May 26
Memorial Day holiday: All
overnment offices and some
usinesses closed.
Tuesday, May 27
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, May 29
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
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First Annual
Taste of East - A Family Affair
Saturday, April 19, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
East Jackson Comprehensive High School
Band Practice Field
Sponsored by the EJCHS Band Boosters
Family Fun including moonwalk, slides, obstacle
course, carnival games for children, craft vendors,
silent auction (lots of great stuff from our local
businesses), local entertainment and best of all, great
food to be sampled from some of Jackson County’s
Best Restaurants: Shane’s Rib Shack, Papa John’s
Pizza, Redd’s BBQ and Stew, Johnny’s NY Style
Pizza, Supper’s Ready, Cabin Creek BBQ, My Friend’s
Place, Starbuck’s, Cracker Barrel, Sonic Drive-In...just
to name a few. Please join us in support of the EJCHS
Band for some great fun for the whole family and a
great cause!
Tickets are $10/5 tastes. Tickets are on sale now.
If interested, please call Karen Derochers at 404-983-
8189 or Vicki Whitmire at 770-654-0260. If interested in
participating as a food or craft vendor, please call
Karen Derochers or Janet McDonald at 706-658-6232.
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