Newspaper Page Text
fm!r Region Roundup
Jackson To
Move On With
Water Lawsuit
Rebuffing lawsuit threats
made in October by
Barrow County Board of
Commissioners Chairman
Doug Garrison, Jackson
County said last week it
intends to pursue its liti
gation against the Upper
Oconee Basin Authority.
Jackson County filed
suit in October against the
regional water authority
saying it had miscalculated
the actual amount of water
in the Bear Creek Reservoir,
a situation that was allowing
Athens-Clarke County to
draw more than its fair share
from the facility. Jackson,
Barrow, Athens-Clarke and
Oconee counties make up
the authority and co-own
the reservoir and related
facilities.
Speaking on behalf of
Barrow County, Garrison
sent a letter in October to
Jackson County BOC chair
woman Pat Bell threatening
to sue if Jackson County
was successful in its liti
gation. Garrison said that
Barrow County had made
certain plans and obliga
tions based on the earlier
water yield number and that
if Jackson County won its
lawsuit, those obligations
would be in danger.
Last week, attorney
Mike Bowers, who repre
sents Jackson County in
the litigation, responded
to Garrison’s letter, saying
Jackson intends to proceed
with its suit. Bowers also
said that if Jackson County
won, Barrow would not
have legal standing to coun
ter sue.
“I am not aware of any
cause of action that would
allow you to sue Jackson
County,” Bowers wrote.
“I am not aware of how
Jackson County would
be liable if a court ruled,
based on Georgia law
and the provisions of
the Intergovernmental
Agreement, that UOBWA is
required to re-calculate the
Established Yield ...”
Bowers said that Barrow
and Jackson counties both
have a common interest in
seeing that the reservoir’s
water capacity is calculated
correctly.
“Both Jackson and Barrow
counties face similar future
problems that require action
now or the residents and
businesses in our counties
are certain to face hard
ships that are avoidable if
we act responsibility now,”
Bowers said in his response
to Garrison’s letter.
Jackson County’s litiga
tion argues that the author
ity miscalculated the real
amount of water available
in the reservoir and that
the mistake allows Athens-
Clarke to withdraw much
more water than its fair
share. Barrow and Oconee
counties voted to stand
Essay Winners Honored
The winners of the “What Boys & Girls Club Means to Me” essay contest
were recognized at the 4th Annual Steak & Steak Dinner benefiting the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Jackson County Thursday night. Each winner received a $50
gift certificate from Funopolis, Commerce, presented by owners Brent and
Mary Greenwood. An essay winner was chosen from the Jefferson club and
the Commerce club. Pictured (L to R) are Brent Greenwood, Funopolis; Mary
Greenwood, Funopolis; Zaria Gholston, 11, Commerce club winner; Raisa
Swift, 14, Jefferson club winner; and Michael Williams, Executive Director,
Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County.
with Athens-Clarke
dispute.
Jefferson May
Nail Speeders
With Cameras
Speeders in Jefferson may
soon be caught by cameras
located at red lights.
The Jefferson City Council
will decide at its Dec. 22
meeting whether or not to
approve a proposal from
police chief Joe Wirthman
to locate cameras at traffic
lights on Hwy. 129 at 1-85.
The cameras would not be
placed at the traffic light in
downtown Jefferson.
A study was conducted
of the traffic volume, acci
dent rates and violations
at all of the traffic lights in
town. The traffic lights at
1-85 had the most accidents
and speeders.
At a meeting Monday
night, Wirthman said the
cameras would reduce the
number of accidents.
“This is mainly a public
safety issue,” he said.
But one councilman
wasn’t so sure.
“Many studies have shown
those cause accidents
instead of prevent them,”
said councilman Roy Plott.
An official with Lasercraft,
a company that offers the
cameras, said they have
seen a 50 percent reduction
in crashes after the system
is installed.
If the cameras are
approved, there would be
a 30-day warning period.
During that time, viola
tors would receive warning
notices in the mail. After
that, tickets would be mailed
to speeders.
Lasercraft presented a
$4,695 per month fee for
installing, maintaining and
operating the program.
The company would mail
citations and collect the
in the fineslnormation was also
provided on how much
money this brings in for
other towns in Georgia. In
Alpharetta, $1.1 million in
fines was paid in 2005 for
tickets issued by the com
pany.
Braselton In
Black, But Water
Fund In Red
The Town of Braselton’s
general fund finished in the
black in fiscal year 2008
with a net of $818,300 on
the year, according to a
recently released audit.
The town took in $4.4 mil
lion in FY08, which ended
June 30. For general govern
ment expenses, Braselton
spent $3.6 million.
But the town’s water and
sewer operations were
in the red for the year by
$734,800.
Need Holiday Cash?
We Have Plenty!
ai'| BRASELTON FINANCE COMPANY
&
81B Lagree Duck Road • Braselton, GA
706-658-5300 .
www.braseltonfinance.com I
'•••
Medicine Wheel Clinic
85 Auburn Park Drive
Auburn, GA 30011
770-277-7958
“Methadone as Medicine” medicinewheel@bellsouth.net
GRAND OPENING SPECIAL
4 Each Take homes or more,
$9 a Day Dosing
Local Teen
Pregnancy Rate
To Be Topic
Public health officials are
interested in hearing from
parents and others about
Jackson County’s high rate
of teen pregnancy.
The Jackson County Teen
Pregnancy Coalition will
hold a discussion about
the issue Thursday, Dec. 11,
from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at
the First Baptist Church of
Commerce.
RSVP with Maria Jackson
at 770-532-6334, extension
3557.
The meeting is an infor
mal follow-up to the previ
ous “teen pregnancy sum
mit,” explains Beth Heath,
Jackson County nurse man
ager.
“At the last meeting, we
had some people say we
needed more parental
input,” she said. “We want
to know what their thoughts
are and what they would
like us to try to do.”
Heath stressed that
the meeting will be infor
mal, discussion-oriented.
Participants may also be
asked to fill out a survey.
The most recent statis
tics indicate that Jackson
County has the highest rate
of births to teenagers in the
10-county health district
— higher than the Georgia
average, which is among the
highest in America.
Plan Now To
Recycle Those
Christmas Trees
It’s not too early to be
thinking about what to do
it
ROOF DOCTOR
Roofing & Repair
99
- Metal
- Shingles
- Flat Roofs
- Flashing
- Maintenance
- Inspections
HOMER CARVER
OFFICE 706-677-1986
CELL 678-617-4503
FAX 706-677-1369
Personal Loans • Title Pawns • Affordable Payments |
Come in or apply by internet. :
JSS*s
C N S on d ^iday,D eC - 19 '
for the U ^ eUtS
:The Corner
167 2 S. Broad St -- 30529
(706)
Commerce
335-2927
or
(706)
367-5233
Take Part In Program
Several members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Jackson County took a part in the program on
Thursday night at the annual Steak & Steak Dinner.
Pictured here (L to R) are Tyree Swift, who led the
Pledge of Allegiance; Samone King, who recited
the Boys & Girls Club code; and Keyvonne Jones,
who gave the invocation. A large crowd attended
the annual fund-raiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs
of Jackson County. Photos by Sharon Hogan
with your Christmas tree
when the holidays are over.
Keep Jackson County
Beautiful will offer Bring
One for the Chipper
Christmas tree recycling at
the following locations from
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Dec.
26 through Jan. 3. Those
who drop a tree off can pick
up a seedling for their yard
from volunteers.
The locations are:
•Arcade - City Hall
• Commerce - Lanier
Tech/Badcock Center
•Braselton/Hoschton -
Towne Center
• J ackson County Transfer
Station on County Farm
Road
•Jefferson - Civic Center
•Nicholson - City Hall
•Talmo - Fire Station
Dressbarn
Collecting
Toys For Tots
Dressbarn, located in
the Tanger Town Centre at
Banks Crossing, will collect
Christmas gifts in a Toys for
Tots Drive through Dec. 12.
The store seeks new,
unwrapped toys and will
offer a 15 percent discount
coupon off a regular-priced
item, in exchange.
Firemen Seek
Toys For
Local Children
The Commerce Fire
Department is participat
ing in the Jackson County
Creative Toy Drive.
“Please bring toys for both
boys and girls ages 0-18 to the
Commerce Fire Department
Monday through Saturday
from 9:00 to 5:00,” urges Fire
Chief Keith Whitfield.
Friday, Dec. 12, will be the
last day the department can
accept the toys.
“We appreciate the support
of the community in helping
area children have a happy
Christmas,” said Whitfield.
CLASSIFIED ADS
36,000 READERS
sio
PER WEEK
706-335-2927
706-367-5233
MasterCard • VISA
Save $3
by placing ads online at
classified@mainstreetnews.com
“We Got You Covered”
Residential * Commercial * Agricultural
• Ship Anywhere In The USA
• We Stock Your Metal Needs
• Visit Our Showroom
laUlIa
Sales • Service • Installation
Hwy. 60 / Candler Hwy.
Pendergrass, Ga.
www.metalroofmg.com
706-654-5836
CASH
CALL AND COMPARE
PER GRAM
706-369-0000
GREG REEVES
Fine Jewelry
613 Hawthorne Ave. • Athens
We offer personal loans
from $150.00 to $500.00/
Telephone Applications Welcome.
Call or Come Visit Us Today!
rg| 1816 N. Broad Street
SECURITY Commerce, GA 30529
W& (706)335-3551
More if you qualify. All loans are subject to our
beral credit policy and credit limitations, if any.