The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current, March 16, 2016, Image 2

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The Commerce news., March 16, 2016, Image 2

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 Challengers turn up in local political contests School board mulls plans for HVACs, and two new roofs Randy Moore to run against Janis Mangum for sheriff Jefferson resident Randy Moore has announced his candidacy for sheriff of Jackson County. “After careful consideration, and many people asking that I run for sheriff, due to the fact that they don't like the direc tion the Sheriff’s Department is headed, I announce my can didacy for Sheriff of Jackson County,” Moore wrote in an announcement. “I know first hand the problems with the department having worked there for two years with the current administration. Prior to that, I worked for the former Honorable Sheriff Stan Evans Randy Moore for six years. Prior to Jackson County, I worked for Clarke County Police for five years. Should I be elected, I will meet those problems head on in a professional and expeditious manner. I will return the Sheriff’s Office to one where the Sheriff is personable and shows interest in all the people of Jackson County, and not just those who can do things for you.” He goes on: “I’m one who believes that a person’s character is measured by how they treat people that can’t do anything for them, versus how they treat the ones that can. I will be Sheriff for everyone. I am experienced in working with people and have managed several businesses, along with running my own corporation, meeting and making payrolls as well as managing budgets. I promise to make the Sheriff’s Department one that you, the people of Jackson County will be proud of for a long time to come. I ask you for your support in this endeavor to help make the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department a department you can be proud of once again.” Moore ran against incumbent sheriff Janis Mangum in 2012. Wes Lewis to run for House District 31 seat Commerce insurance agent Wes Lewis has qualified to run against incumbent Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson) for the Georgia House of Representatives seat from District 31, which covers most of Jackson County. Lewis qualified to seek office as a Republican in the May 24 general primary election. Qual ifying ended at noon on Friday. Benton raised eyebrows this legislative session when com ments he made to an Atlan ta Constitution reporter that seemed to defend the creation of the Ku Klux Klan went viral. As a result, Benton withdrew two bills and a proposed res olution seeking to preserve what Benton saw as the state’s Confederate heritage. He also reportedly received threats against himself and his family. House speaker David Ralston issued a statement rebuking Benton for his comments. Lewis, born in Maysville, is the son of Dean Lewis and Lesa Whitlock Hayes, is a 2008 graduate of Commerce High School, and is an insurance agent at North Georgia Insurance. He is a former elections coordinator for Jackson County. Lewis said he supports term limits (he says he would serve no more than eight years), legislation to protect against voter fraud, opposed the new fuel tax approved last year, supported a bill that would have given health insurance coverage to children with autism, and supported 2015 legislation that would have expanded the homestead exemption. He promises not to “waste time on things that don’t matter to the 31st” district. Lewis referenced Benton’s comments about the Klan. “I also believe in humble, modern, conservatism; a brand of conservatism that represents freedom and families, and one where a rising tide lifts all boats. Too many people are left behind and feel left out by the current system. The unfortunate comments that Rep. Benton made somewhat justifying the existence of (the) Klan are an example of this. Not everyone is going to agree with you 100 percent of the time, but saying something so outlandish and anachronistic does nothing to help the 31st District. Fighting about street names in Atlanta is not what the people of the 31st sent Mr. Benton to the Gold Dome to do.” Paul Broun qualifies to run for House from 9th District Former 10th District representative and onetime candidate for Senate Paul Broun is trying to get back in the U.S. House as an “outsider.” “I’m fed up with what is going on in Washington, D.C. I feel like we’ve been betrayed by establishment Republicans, and Doug Collins is part of the problem. So, yes, I am officially a candidate for 9th District Congress,” Broun said Wednesday. “I’ll be the people’s Congressman. He’s the establishment’s Congressman,” Broun said of his opponent. But Broun is not the only challenger to Collins. Also quali fied are Bernie Fountain, Suches; Mike Scupin, Cumming; and Roger Fitzpatrick, Cleveland. Wilkinson to seek re-election to Georgia State Senate Georgia State Senator John Wilkinson has qualified for re-election in District 50. The district includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns counties, along with portions of Jackson and Hall. Sen. Wilkinson was first elected in a special election in 2011. Sen. Wilkinson currently chairs the Agriculture and Natural Resources Commit tee and serves as vice chair man of the Education and Youth Committee. He also is a member of the Appropria tions Committee, the Natural Resources and Environment Committee and the Commit tee on Assignments. He is an Ex-Officio member of the Rules Committee. In 2014 he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Caucus secretary and is continuing to serve in that capacity. In 2012 the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education recognized Sen. Wilkinson as their “Policymaker of the Year.” He was recognized in 2013 by the Georgia School Counselors Association for his service and dedication to stu dents and school counselors in the state. In 2015 the Associa tion of County Commissioners of Georgia presented Wilkinson with their legislative service award. Sen. Wilkinson is a graduate of the University of Georgia and began his career as an agriculture teacher/FFA Advisor, later serving 26 years on the State Agriculture Education staff. He served as executive secretary to the State FFA Organization for 22 years and four years as program manager for agriculture education in the state while serving as state advisor for the FFA and Young Farmer organizations. Sen. Wilkinson has been married to his wife Debbie for 41 years. They have two adult children, five grandchildren and attend Tates Creek Baptist Church. “As a lifelong resident of Northeast Georgia, it is an honor to represent the citizens I have grown up and lived with all of my life,” Wilkinson said when asked about beginning a new cam paign. “I am looking forward to getting out on the campaign trail and visiting with my constituents.” The Republican primary will be held May 24 and early voting begins May 2. Wes Lewis John Wilkinson BY MARK BEARDSLEY Members of the Com merce Board of Education received three options for funding new H\AC systems, roofs and other improve ments Monday night, pri marily from money saved through reduced energy usage. The board expects to choose one of the options, presented by representa tives of ABM, at its April meeting, entering into a 15-year contract with the company. ABM has worked since June to devise a plan to create enough savings through water conservation and energy conservation to finance new HVAC systems and replace the roofs at its 40-year-old primary and ele mentary schools. Jason Anderson outlined three ABM options, rang ing from a plan that would finance new HVAC systems for the elementary and primary schools with sav ings from reduced energy consumption made possi ble by those new systems, new lighting throughout the system, water conser vation, new controls and switching to Internet-based VOIP phones, to a couple of plans that would require the school system to pony up additional funds to meet all of its infrastmcture needs. “My personal preference is option two,” noted super intendent Joy Tolbert after the presentation. In that option, the board would enter a 15-year contract with ABM under which it would spend approximate ly $100,000 a year through 2028, at which point the cost would go to $240,000 a year. With that outlay and the energy savings, the sys tem could finance the new HVAC systems and new roofs — both of which are pressing concerns. She suggested that the board look over that option to see if it wants to add any thing to it. Finance director Ann Stokey agreed. “From a budgeting per spective, it is something you could live with,” she com mented. “You could cher ry-pick a few things from number three if things work out.” Under the contract, ABM, which provided referenc es from school systems all across Georgia, will guaran tee energy savings, Ander son said. In addition, he said the company will not issue any change orders in a construction project. “We will take the HVAC off, make sure the roof is restored and look for issues,” Anderson said. The company uses a 20-year coating that “has been a great roof for us.” In addi tion, he said, the company will install “the most efficient HVAC system out there.” The program appeals to the BOE in large part because roofs at the two schools are leaking and the HVAC systems are over 40 years old — and the system had no means of funding their replacements with its SPLOST revenue tied up through 2028 for retiring debt on the high school. The age of the HVAC sys tems are reflected in their operating costs. “The (energy) consump tion at those two schools is the highest I’ve ever seen during my time at ABM,” Anderson told the board. “One is at $3 per foot and the other at about $2.80. ABM proposes to replace the rooftop units on the two schools with individual pad-mounted units for each class, eliminating the need for ductwork. Should the board decide to proceed at its April meeting, construc tion would start in June, starting with new LED light systems throughout all of the buildings to produce immediate energy savings. Anderson said the compa ny would do as much of the work as it can during the summer, but assured the board that disruption from construction during the next school year will be kept to a minimum. “We understand school systems,” he said. He added that a lot of the work will take place evenings and nights and reiterated that the board will not be confronted with costly change orders from unexpected complications The constmction would be completed in June 2017. “You don’t have to worry about the quality of work and up-front costs and you don’t have to worry about a partner that will leave you,” he said. $1 million in infrastructure projects on city council agenda The Commerce City Coun cil will likely approve over $1 million in infrastmcture proj ects Monday night. The council meets at 6 p.m. in the Commerce Room of the Commerce Civic Center. The two most costly items are accepting a bid of $719,841 to build a sidewalk along Jefferson Road from Commerce Middle School to Lakeview Drive, and a bid of $332,412 to repair sedimenta tion removal systems in the raw water basins at its water plant. The sidewalk project will be partially funded by a $250,000 transportation enhancement grant. Local funding for both projects will come from the special purpose local option sales tax. In addition, the council appears ready to approve the expenditure of $17,356 to par ticipate with Jackson County the Jackson County Indus trial Development Authority and Braselton and Jefferson to finance a new round of enhanced aerial photos that will provide threedimensional views of every building in the county. The total cost is $108,119. The council is also expect ed to approve a $115,000 engi neering contract with Carter & Sloop, Inc., for the south- side water pressure improve ment project. That includes a $90,000 estimated project cost and $25,000 to cover the concept design and the application for a Georgia Envi ronmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) loan. The council previously approved a $1.4 million bud get for the project. The actu- n c iaysville Sar Wash Is a JKKIHMS Mon. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. al costs will not be known until the project is designed and bids are taken. Howev er, before the council does any of those things, Mayor Clark Hill will present his 2016 “State of the City” address. The PowerPoint presentation typically lists what the mayor considers to be the major accomplishments of the past year and spells out opportu nities and challenges for the new year. r T ELECT Shannon Gowder Probate Judge Banks County Paid for by the candidate.