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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. W & W METAL ROOFING “We Got You Covered” Residential • Commercial • Agricultural • Ship Anywhere In The USA • We Stock Your Metal Needs • Visit Our Showroom www.wwmetalroofmg.com 706-654-5836 EEZO 30 Year Paint ^ Hwy. 60 / Candler Hwy. • Pendergrass, Ga. Warranty Sales Service Installation Need A Mortgage? qz\\ \ We Specialize In to daV\ Making The Loan Work i" 0000 ^ S Purchases, FHA, Conventional Refinance Your Old Mortgage before it adjusts or get Cash Back y Down Payment Assistance Program y Mobile Homes with Land y Prequalification By Phone y Bankruptcy Before OK y Slow Credit OK y Too many programs to mention! Call For Details! JASON BROWN • (706) 498-2719 Your Local Lending Experts! WPlJTNAM MORTGAGE & FINANCE, LLC. 2507 Wade Hampton Blvd. • Greenville, SC 29615 E-Fax: (866) 384-2126 • Email: jbrown@putnamfinance.com GA Residential Mortgage Licensee • South Carolina Mortgage Broker Licensee North Carolina Mortgage Lender Licensee 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. y Fareha Rahim, MD Internal Medicine We are now located at our new office at 613 Hospital Road Commerce, Georgia 30529 Commerce Medical Center 1 706-335-9411 \^CR^CDy3C/BS^IGN^HMO/PPO^MERIGROURAAR^UH^J $ 5 00 OFF Ticket Of s 2(r° Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only. La Hacienda Commerce La Hacienda Jefferson 173 Steven B. Tanger Blvd. 605 Athens Street 706-335-7458 706-367-5095 ^Tfie Original Mexican Restaurant! Not affiliated with any other restaurant. j The only local GM dealer offering Saturday Service Hot Weather Is Coming! Don't get caught sweating in traffic: A/C Service Check belt, Hoses and up to 11b. Freon for $79.95 Home of the $14.95 Oil Change Wednesday Only Senior Citizen $12.95 Oil Change 10 % Off All Other Repairs Hwy. 441 in Commerce 706-335-3196 800-798-7435 www.wayneneal.com SERVICE HOURS: M-F 7:30-6:00 • Sat. 8:00-4:00 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. RECYCLE THIS PAPER IN KEEP JACKSON COUNTY BEAUTIFUL'S RECYCLING BINS AT LANIER TECH