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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 - PAGE 7 A
In Meters We Trust: Water & Sewer
Authority Denies Refund Requests
By Mark Beardsley
The Jackson County Water
and Sewerage Authority has
absolute faith in the accu
racy of its water meters.
Relying on its meters,
the authority declined two
appeals for refunds for
inexplicably high water bills
last Thursday night.
Scott and Barbara Desing,
Reece Drive, Hoschton,
tried to convince the author
ity that a June bill for 11,900
gallons — $92.62 — had to
be an error because no one
was living in the rental house
during the billing period.
They argued their case for
more than 30 minutes, to no
avail; in the end, chairman
Randall Pugh explained that
the authority had no other
option.
When the Desings chal
lenged the bill, the author
ity removed and tested
the meter, finding it more
than 99 percent accurate.
In fact, staff says water
meters are never inac
curate on the fast side;
if there’s a problem with
accuracy, it invariably
favors the customer.
“That water went through
the meter," declared mem
ber Andy Goodman.
“When the meter is test
ed accurate, we have no
justification to adjust the
bill," advised Randall Pugh,
chairman.
Mrs. Desing, in particu
lar, was not happy with the
decision.
“I hate to pursue it for
$92, but I’m inclined to," she
advised.
Having witnessed the long
discussion with the Desings,
Stasy Kligys, Blue Grass
Drive, Jefferson, was more
philosophical.
“I get the feeling I should
have left with them," she
joked after the Desings
left.
She questioned a July bill
for 32,700 gallons ($256.62),
but authority members
noted that her next bill, for
August, was also high.
“It looks like a leak to me,"
Pugh said.
The authority agreed to
read her meter the next day
and advised her to use food
coloring to check for inter
mittent commode leaks
and, if she does not find
one, to consult a plumber.
Her meter was also checked
for accuracy.
Should she find a leak,
Mrs. Kligys could qualify for
a one-time bill adjustment,
according to the authority’s
policy.
No Tap Fee Refund
Mike Safari, managing
partner of Pendergrass
Development LLC, didn’t
show up to get the official
word on his request for a
refund of $500,000 paid in
2007 for 100 water taps at
his Pendergrass II develop
ment.
It’s just as well. Acting on
the advice of staff and legal
counsel, the authority voted
to deny the request.
Not only does the sewer
tap contract specifical
ly note that tap fees are
nonrefundable, but the
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corp. (FDIC), which took
over the now-defunct bank
that financed the equally
defunct development, told
the authority that it has a
security interest in the tap
fees and does not want
them refunded.
The authority passed a res
olution stating its decision
to abide by the contract.
The contract also requires
the property owner to buy
another 300 taps ($1.5 mil
lion) in May.
Meanwhile, the develop
ment stalled and the prop
erty has been advertised for
a tax sale.
Other Business
In other matters, the
authority switched its work
ers compensation insurance
policy from Association
County Commissioners of
Georgia to BB&T Insurance
Services Inc. and voted to
refinance $3.5 million in
bonds issued in 1999 for
water line construction. The
net savings to the authority
is expected to be around
$160,000.
The authority tabled dis
cussion on a proposed
repair project on part of its
roof pending the receipt of
bids.
Input Urged On Comprehensive Plan
Members of the Jackson
County Area Chamber of
Commerce can’t say they
didn’t have a chance to be
heard as the county’s com
prehensive plan is updated.
Those who attended the
chamber’s Sept. 2 breakfast
found county officials all
but begging for input on the
montbs-long process. The
end result will be a road map
for development of Jackson
County.
Toni Smith of the county’s
planning department called
the breakfast a “town hall
meeting" for the business
community.
It was an abbreviated
version of four “town hall
meetings" open to the pub
lic during September. The
others were scheduled Sept.
8 at Braselton Municipal
Building, Sept. 15 at the
Jefferson Civic Center,
Sept. 28 at the Nicholson
Community Center and
Sept. 29 at the Commerce
Civic Center.
All meetings begin at 7 p.m.
The plan is a document
m
jinmifeai
EKBOHiS
Gina Mitsdarffer
speaks about the impor
tance of citizen input as
the county’s compre
hensive plan undergoes
revision.
that covers issues related to
population, housing, eco
nomic development, natural
and cultural resources, land
use, community facilities
and service and intergovern
mental coordination over
the next 20 years.
The county has until Oct.
31, 2010, to finish the plan.
All of its municipalities must
do the same by the same
deadline.
Smith said the goal is to
“vigorously embrace" the
county’s future “while not
losing sight of its past."
Maps of the county were
placed around the Jackson
EMC auditorium and col
ored pencils were provided
in the hope that participants
might color in suggestions
for land uses in various
areas. Officials placed ques
tionnaires at each seat and
encouraged chamber mem
bers to complete them.
Jerry Weitz of Jerry Weitz
and Associates, the county’s
(and Commerce’s) consul
tant on the plan, solicited
comments from the audi
ence. Six people offered
suggestions. Weitz suggested
others.
Gina Mitsdarffer, who is
the county’s planning direc
tor and the chamber chair
man, encouraged partici
pants to attend the town hall
meetings and said she hoped
chamber members would
provide a “fresh unadulter
ated view from the business
community" as to the direc
tion of development.
Correction On Huber Permit Story
Astory published last week
about Huber Engineered
Woods’ plans to seek a new
air emissions permit from
the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division con
tained an error.
Among the changes Huber
seeks is to increase its emis
sions of carbon monoxide
from 237 tons per year to
333 tons per year. That’s a
40 percent increase.
II
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Lions Club district governor Grace Clower,
right, challenged the Commerce Kiwanis Club
to get its message out. She’s pictured with local
president Bill Ives.
District Governor
Challenges Local lions
Lion District Governor
Grace Clower challenged
the Commerce Lions Club
to get its message out to
the community.
“We’ve got to share our
story with the community,
do something to gain new
members and new clubs,
(and) we have got to grow
if we are going to exist."
Speaking to the
Commerce Lions Club,
Clower reminded the
small number of Lions that
“goals without a plan is just
a wish."
The occasion celebrat
ed the official visit of the
Snellville Lions Club vet
eran and reminded the
Commerce club that “a
new member will be two
new hands" to secure the
goals and objectives of the
Commerce club, which was
organized in June 1940.
Lollowing her address,
Clower, a Lion for 23
years, awarded “governor’s
pins" to Lion president Bill
Ives and secretary Richard
Chambers.
The Commerce Lions
Club meets at 7 p.m.
the second and fourth
Tuesdays of each month at
Ryan’s Steakhouse.
Free Movie In Park Friday
The Commerce Downt
own Development Author
ity will present a free
screening of “Race to
Witch Mountain" Lriday
night, Sept. 18, in Spencer
Park.
The movie will begin at
8:00, according to Hasco
Craver, executive director
of the DDA.
Concessions will be avail
able.
In the event of rain —
and the National Weather
Service says the chance
of rain Lriday is 60 per
cent — the movie will be
postponed until Lriday,
Oct. 16.
Gus & Pat Johnson
Celebrate Their
50th Wedding Anniversary
September 13, 2009
They have one son, Jody Johnson and one grandson Joseph
Johnson. They were married in Jackson County. They
reside in Jefferson.
Founder’s
Corner
by
Buhl Cummings
FALL SPORTS...The Fall sports
program at ACS is going strong:
Varsity, Middle School and Youth
(ages 5-12) football; Varsity and
Middle School cross-country
(boys and girls); Varsity and
Middle School fast pitch softball
(girls); Varsity and Middle School
girls volleyball; Varsity, Middle
School and Youth cheerleading.
Wow, quite a program. And
we thank the Lord for supplying
good coaches for all of these
activities that help develop
children and young people
physically, mentally, and
spiritually.
You have a special invitation
to come by and see ACS in
action or check us out on the
web.
ATHENS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
www.athenschristian.com
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