Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. MAY 21. 2008 - PAGE 5A
PEACE Considering Its Options
The group that has raised
issues about the plan for the new
Commerce High School plans “to
think about it for awhile" before
deciding what, if any, further
action to take.
Several members of PEACE
(People Excited About Commerce
Education) were visibly angry after
the Wednesday night presentation
by the school board because the
board refused to take questions.
'There is a sentiment for recall,"
said member Dr. Carlton Allen.
At one point, when PEACE
member Joe Leffew attempted
to ask a question of one of the
architects, the architect told him
he would take questions later,
at which time board chairman
Dr. Paul Sergent stood up and
announced that there would be no
questions.
Bill Sims, who chairs the CHS
Advisory Council and has found
himself spokesperson for PEACE,
made it clear that the group
was not at all satisfied by last
Wednesday’s presentation.
“I thought a lot of what went
on was uncalled for," said Sims.
He specifically referred to state
ments by Superintendent Mac
McCoy in response to member
Charlotte Massey’s criticisms
quoted in The Commerce News,
former school board chairman
Steve Perry’s comments in regard
to why Wayne Wilbanks is no lon
ger the construction manager for
the project and Perry’s comments
regarding athletic director Steve
Savage’s alleged contribution to
the increased size of the gym.
“They should never have been
brought up," he said.
As for the design of the school,
Sims said the presentation did not
change his mind.
“I don’t feel better about it," he
said of the design. He listed three
items — a preference for a two-
story facility, the loss of a third
or more of the practice field and
the loss of the old gym — as his
personal concerns.
At the same time, Sims gave
some grudging respect to the pre
sentation.
“If they’d done that same presen
tation on March 24, they would
have avoided a lot of this that
we’ve gone through since then,"
he stated.
Sims argues that the practice
field “is a community field, not
only used by the school, but also
by the recreation department
teams," and pointed out that just
last week, the primary school
used it for a field day.
“That space is gone (under the
construction plan)," he said.
He has similar feelings about the
current gym, slated for demolition
as soon as a “practice gym" is built
that would serve the school until
the project is completed.
“I hate to see the loss of the old
gym. You just don’t tear down an
existing building that is that solid
and that sound," he said. “I think
they should create a way to work
around it."
Sims also predicted that the
school board will never get around
to building the track.
“We’ll never have a track," he
said. “Never. I know it’s in the
plans, but I don’t think we’ll ever
have it."
Sims declined to say what
options PEACE is consider
ing. While it has not retained an
attorney, former attorney general
Michael Bowers, who Sims calls
“a close friend," has attended its
public meeting, as well as the two
school board meetings dedicated
to discussing the high school.
—School Board Votes To Resume Work On New CHS
Cont. from Page 1A
Dr. Paul Sergent and former chair
man Steve Perry all made presen
tations, as did Doug Breaux of the
architectural firm Robertson Loia
Roof, Jeff Couch, also of RLR,
McDonald, attorneys Phil Hartley
and Tread Syfan, and Commerce
chief of police John Gaissert (by
letter).
Breaux described the “"program"
by which the plan was developed,
starting with objectives and pri
orities, and Tolbert discussed staff
involvement in the planning.
“It wasn’t always pretty," she said.
“It was a challenge for the archi
tects, but they continued to work
with our people until our people
were satisfied, and we have some
strong personalities on our staff."
She, like Drew and Gaissert,
discussed the “compact design"
of the plan and its advantages for
managing students.
Dahlke, who read Blair’s letter of
support for the plan as related to
the business lab designs and staff
involvement in the process, said
he was “thrilled with our (staff)
role in the (planning) process."
Breaux went over the layout of
the building, explaining the rea
sons various aspects were placed
where they are, discussed the
elevations on the property, which
was one of the group’s issues.
“From the front, within 300 feet,
it is going to rise 14 feet," he said
of the site. “It will make for a very
stately, appropriate setting. It will
be very attractive."
Couch went over the “green" fea
tures, addressing another PEACE
issue, pointing out materials, fea
tures and products he said will
improve energy efficiency.
Breaux, Drew and McCoy also
addressed the decision to build
a one-floor building instead of
the two-story structure PEACE
advocates.
Drew said a single-floor struc
ture is easier to administer. McCoy
cited a state school safety expert
and read Gaissert’s letter point
ing out potential problems with
bullying or crime in stairwells,
the greater difficulty evacuating
a two-floor structure and the chal
lenges of “securing" it in a time of
emergency.
Breaux said that the necessity
of stairs and elevators would add
5,000 square feet to the building
and pointed out increased costs
for extra steel and labor he said
would result in a two-floor build
ing costing more than a single
floor facility.
“We do believe a one-story build
ing is more cost-effective than a
two-story building," he conclud
ed.
Sergent addressed the perform
ing arts center, another PEACE
issue, basically saying that with
the funds available, the 480-seat
auditorium is “the best we can
do."
Per ry defended the board’s hiring
of Robertson Loia Roof, indicated
some displeasure with PEACE’S
involvement and blamed the addi
tion of nearly 11,000 square feet
in athletic facilities at the gym for
adding $1.2 million to the cost of
the project. That extra space, he
said, led to the decision to build
the new gym simultaneous to the
rest of the school, which at the
time would have left the school
without a gymnasium for one to
two years. He called the decision
to build the “practice gym" the
board’s attempt “to compromise."
Airport To Re-Open Crosswinds Runway
The manager of the Jackson
County Airport announced last
week that the airport’s crosswinds
runway will be re-opened.
Bob Stapleton spoke to the
Commerce Area Business
Association Wednesday, May 14.
“We’re going to reopen that run
way and make it (the airport)
safe," he told the group. “That’s
for sure."
Former assistant county man
ager Andy Newton closed the
runway, a move that angered local
pilots.
“It was closed without reason, in
my opinion," Stapleton said.
The only other runway runs
north-south, and with prevailing
winds coming from the west,
Stapleton said the crosswinds
Cont. from Page 4A
Sgt. Whitehead for volunteering
their lives to do the dirty work
of war in this world for me and
others who cannot? Impossible.
runway is a safety issue.
“Landing in a strong crosswinds
creates a safety hazard," he said.
Stapleton updated the group on
the airport’s operations and its
expansion plans and predicted
that Jackson County will see a
surge in business related to the
airport.
“Businesses go where the air
ports are," he declared. “Ninety
percent of new businesses locate
in counties with airports with
5,000-foot or longer runways."
Jackson County’s runway is
4,100 feet. A project to extend the
runway by 900 feet is under way.
“Eighty percent of corporate
aircraft are not cleared (by their
insurance companies) to land on
a 4,100-foot runway," he noted.
However, on this Memorial Day,
and every day, we can remember
them, and ask God to bless them
and all who have served with
courage for us throughout our
According to Stapleton, the
county airport has been consid
ered a “recreational facility" for
local airplane owners.
“I’m here to change that," he
asserted. “My purpose is to build
an airport that will support com
merce and attract industry."
To achieve that, the airport has
a five-year $20 million develop
ment plan, if implemented, would
get 95 percent funding from the
Federal Aviation Administration,
leaving Jackson County to find
the other $1 million.
Part of the upgrade would
include a new terminal to replace
the double-wide trailer not in
place. At some point, he said, the
airport authority will require more
paid staff.
history.
Claire Gaus is a retired educator
and volunteers in the community
in a number of capacities. She
lives in Commerce.
“I’m the only airport employee,"
he pointed out. “We are going to
have to have people that can take
care of fuel, take care of admin
istrative duties, handle catering
from restaurants and handle rent
al cars."
DID YOU KNOW?
By Preacher Clint
DID YOU KNOW THAT
YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY
GOD’S WORD? (Jn. 12:48)
JESUS is the living word of GOD
who came into the world to delcare
the FATHER. On. 1:18) GOD speaks
to us today through HIS Son. (Heb.
1:2) GOD sent his SON in a body of
flesh like you and I have that HE
might live among us and be subject
to all things as we are yet without
sin. (Jn. 1:14) JESUS IS THE
SINLESS SON OF GOD, Who gave
HIS life for mine at Calvary. The
Bible tells us that all have sinned
(Rom. 3:23) and that the soul that
sins shall die. (Ezek. 18:4) We
deserved death because we are
sinners but JESUS, GOD’S SON,
took our place and paid our sin
debt. (2nd Cor. 5:21) HE IS MY
SAVIOUR, BUT IS HE YOURS?
Send comments to
Clinton Sexton
116 Ashland Drive
Commerce, GA 30529
— Remember Those Who Serve This Memorial Day
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8 ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS 8
Leslie M. Pitts, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry
706-335-7793
215 Mercer Place,
P. O. Box 1241
Commerce, GA 30529
Website: drlpitts.com
Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com
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706-367-5233
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SERVICE HOURS:
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Apple Valley Road-Hwy. 15 Project
To Be Subject Of Meeting Thurs.
The Jackson County Board of
Commissioners and the Georgia
Department of Transportation
will hold a public information
open house for an intersection
improvement project for State
Route 15 Alt. at South Apple
Valley Road Thursday, May 22,
from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the
Jackson County courthouse.
The meeting will be in the jury
assembly room on the first
floor.
The purpose of the open
house is to provide the public
with an opportunity to review
the proposed project and detour
routes.
Maysville To Celebrate Memorial Day
The City of Maysville will have a Memorial Day celebration at 11
a.m. Monday at Veteran’s City Park in the downtown area.
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