Newspaper Page Text
LP.. • Cont. from 1A
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. TANUARY 11. 2012 - PAGE 3A
that a company would buy
the LP facility because a
wood fuel manufacturer
would use huge amounts of
natural gas purchased from
Commerce.
The current city budget —
written when the purchase
of the LP facility seemed
imminent — projected about
$150,000 in profits from the
sale of gas to the company.
Unless the new purchaser
gets up and running very
quickly the city will have to
amend its budget to cover
the loss of that revenue,
according to accounting
manager James Wascher.
LP was by far the city’s
largest gas customer before
it shut down, helping the
city’s Gas Department gen
erate revenue that enabled
it to transfer hundreds of
thousands of dollars annu
ally into the General Fund,
subsidizing other city opera
tions. The current budget
calls for $362,000 to be
transferred out of the Gas
Fund to the General Fund;
two years ago that figure
was $700,000.
Plans... Cont. from 1A
While the group dealt
with staff transitions and
recreation matters, it also
tackled the process by
which elected officials will
deal with each other.
“Sometimes when we
have heated discussions,
we have a potential to not
be nice to one another,’’
Hill observed. “Sometimes
we’ve got to be able to
agree to disagree.’’
The council appeared to
be in concert with Hill’s
suggestion that the agenda
for the council’s regular
meetings be finalized at its
work session to avoid sur
prises and to give all mem
bers time to think about
the issues before having to
vote.
“That gives us the oppor
tunity (at work sessions)
to talk candidly among
ourselves and hopefully to
come to a consensus,’’ Hill
said.
Agreement On
City Manager Search
Bryant proposed that the
council consider hiring an
interim city manager, who,
he said, could not only
operate the city during a
transition, but also assist
the council with the hiring
of a permanent manager.
He said the move would
cost Commerce $5,000 a
month.
The council authorized
Bryant to arrange a meet
ing with Tom Berry, who
just completed a stint as
Camilla’s interim manager.
Finances To Be
A Major Obstacle
But before the new gov
ernment can accomplish
too much, it faces some
severe budgetary restraints,
which Wascher outlined on
Friday before Hill began
working through the plan
ning agenda.
Wascher told the coun
cil that the city stands to
lose up to $260,000 in local
option sales tax revenue
following the renegotiation
of the formula for alloca
tion of the LOST revenue,
which has been based on
population. With the west
side of the county grow
ing faster, Commerce’s per
centage of the total county
population — and its share
of LOST — stands to drop.
Wascher also reported
that he’s going to have to
budget for a 10-percent
increase in health insur
ance costs, advised that
City Hall needs some tech
nological upgrades, spoke
of the need to replenish
reserves in the utility funds
and outlined other chal
lenges — including lacklus
ter revenue this fiscal year
from the Gas Department.
“He’s outlined a quarter
million less money you’re
going to have and $350,000
in expenditures you need
to make,’’ observed Bryant.
“That’s about a $500,000
(revenue) gap coming out
of his mouth.’’
The council never dis
cussed property taxes
directly, although there were
several comments indicat
ing members see the cur
rent rates as insufficient.
Hill raised the possibility of
levying a tax specifically
for recreation — pending
the feedback from a pro
posed town hall meeting on
recreation.
Also as part of the pro
cess, Bryant updated the
council on the progress of
capital projects in the cur
rent budget, and Wascher
provided Nov. 30 numbers
of the city’s various fund
balances.
Council... Cont. from 1A
eliminating the fee, argu
ing that it is unnecessary
and burdensome to resi
dents and roofing con
tractors.
Ward 5 councilman
Johnny Eubanks disagrees,
and he made the motion
Monday night to table the
matter.
“I don’t think we had
enough time to research
this and talk among our
selves,’’ Eubanks said. “...If
the process is not working,
we need to find out why it is
not working.’’ Eubanks also
said that a vote Monday
night to rescind the fee/
inspections amounted to
“turning our back on our
citizens in favor of contrac
tors.’’
Burchett, while voting for
the motion to table, did not
back down.
“If tabling is what we
need to do, fine, but I don’t
think it’s going to change
anything,’’ he said. “I’m not
going to change my mind.
I think in the past citizens
have been paying money
and not getting anything
for it.’’
Other Business
In other business Monday
night, the council:
• accepted autographed
game balls, trophies and a
banner from the Commerce
Recreation Department’s
13-14 girls’ fast-pitch soft-
ball team, which had an
undefeated season, won
the district tournament and
won the state tournament.
Coach Mike Vickery made
the presentations, which
included giving police
chief John Gaissert an auto
graphed game ball.
• approved the annexa
tion requests from Jeffrey
Ashley, 22 Bradberry Court,
and Shawn-Marie Budde,
50 Bradberry Court, whose
property was zoned R-l.
•adopted a required set
of “credit card security
policies,’’ an intergovern
mental agreement with the
Downtown Development
Authority regarding a loan
on its Pine Street build
ing, and passed a resolu
tion authorizing Hill and
city manager Clarence
Bryant to sign documents
on behalf of the city for
its Municipal Electric
Authority of Georgia trust
fund through which it helps
pay for the expansion of
Plant Vogtle.
•heard a financial report
from accounting manager
James Wascher noting that
as of Dec. 31 the city had
taken in $504,000 more
than it had spent for the
fiscal year.
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, January 12
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, a "stitch
'n share" event.
Tuesday, January 17
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-
in is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Thursday, January 19
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Booster club meets: 6:30 p.m.,
Commerce High School media
center. The Commerce Athletic
Booster Club supports athletic
activities of the Commerce City
School System.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce.
Monday, January 23
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce Plan
ning Commission makes recom
mendations to the Commerce City
Council on zoning and land use
matters.
Tuesday, January 24
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Lions Club Meets: 7 p.m., Ryan's
Steakhouse, Banks Crossing. The
service club meets the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month.
Thursday, January 26
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Caregiver Support Group meets:
4:00, 12 Pine Street, Commerce.
There will be a guest speaker, and
the public is invited.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, which is
a "stitch 'n share" event.
Wednesday, February 1
Chamber breakfast: 7:30 a.m.,
Jackson EMC, Jefferson. Members,
$5, nonmembers, $10.
Thursday, February 2
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, a "stitch
'n share" event.
Monday, February 6
Commerce Council meets: 6:00
p.m., Commerce City Hall. The
"work session" prepares the city
council for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Maysville Council meets: 7:00
p.m., Maysville Public Library.
Nicholson Council meets: 7:00
p.m., Nicholson City Hall.
Tuesday, February 7
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
JCCO meets: 6:30 p.m.,
Northridge Medical Center confer
ence room. Jackson County Com
munity Outreach is a grass roots
civic organization.
Thursday, February 9
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, a "stitch
'n share" event.
Monday, February 13
Commerce Council meets: 6:30
p.m., Commerce Room, Com
merce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Commerce High School media
center. The Commerce Board of
Education operates the city's inde
pendent school system.
Tuesday, February 14
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Thursday, February 16
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Booster dub meets: 6:30 p.m.,
Commerce High School media
center. The Commerce Athletic
Booster Club supports athletic
activities of the Commerce City
School System.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce.
Monday, February 20
Mended Hearts meets:
7:00 p.m., conference room,
Northridge Medical Center.
Mended Hearts is a support group
for heart patients and their families
or caregivers.
Tuesday, February 21
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center.
Weigh-in is from 5:00 to 5:55
p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Thursday, February 23
Kiwanis CIud meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Caregiver Support Group meets:
4:00, 12 Pine Street, Commerce.
There will be a guest speaker, and
the public is invited.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, which is
a "stitch 'n share" event.
Monday, February 27
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce Plan
ning Commission makes recom
mendations to the Commerce City
Council on zoning and land use
matters.
Tuesday, February 28
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Lions Club Meets: 7 p.m., Ryan's
Steakhouse, Banks Crossing. The
service club meets the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month.
Thursday, March 1
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, a "stitch
'n share" event.
Monday, March 5
Commerce Council meets: 6:00
p.m., Commerce City Hall. The
"work session" prepares the city
council for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Maysville Council meets: 7:00
p.m., Maysville Public Library.
Nicholson Council meets: 7:00
p.m., Nicholson City Hall.
Tuesday, March 6
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
JCCO meets: 6:30 p.m.,
Northridge Medical Center confer
ence room. Jackson County Com
munity Outreach is a grass roots
civic organization.
Wednesday, March 7
Chamber breakfast: 7:30 a.m.,
Jackson EMC, Jefferson. Members,
$5, nonmembers, $10.
Thursday, March 8
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, a "stitch
'n share" event.
Monday, March 12
Commerce Council meets: 6:30
p.m., Commerce Room, Com
merce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Commerce High School media
center. The Commerce Board of
Education operates the city's inde
pendent school system.
Tuesday, March 13
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Thursday, March 15
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Booster club meets: 6:30 p.m.,
Commerce High School media
center. The Commerce Athletic
Booster Club supports athletic
activities of the Commerce City
School System.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce.
Monday, March 19
Mended Hearts meets:
7:00 p.m., conference room,
Northridge Medical Center.
Mended Hearts is a support group
for heart patients and their families
or caregivers.
Tuesday, March 20
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-
in is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Thursday, March 22
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Caregiver Support Group meets:
4:00, 12 Pine Street, Commerce.
There will be a guest speaker, and
the public is invited.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00 p.m.,
Commerce Public Library, which is
a "stitch 'n share" event.
Monday, March 26
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce Civ
ic Center. The Commerce Planninq
Commission makes recommenda
tions to the Commerce City Council
on zoning and land use matters.
Tuesday, March 27
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
Northridae Medical Center caf
eteria. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is
a weiqht loss qroup. Weiqh-in is
5:00 to 5:50.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., Nich
olson Community Center. Weigh-in
is from 5:00 to 5:55 p.m.
Needles & Hooks: 6-8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Lions Club Meets: 7 p.m., Ryan's
Steakhouse, Banks Crossing. The
service club meets the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month.
Thursday, March 29
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Monday, April 2
Commerce Council meets: 6:00
p.m., Commerce City Hall. The
"work session" prepares the city
council for its regular meeting the
following Monday.