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About The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2016)
PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016 Swapping plants Gardeners descended upon the Commerce Public Library’s Memorial Garden last week for the annual Spring Plant Swap. They found a wide variety of plants or seeds available to beautify their yards, patios or garden spots during 2016. Council... tax assessment. • approved a statewide mutual aid agreement that will allow the city to receive aid from FEMA and GEMA in the event of a natural disaster. It is also designed to streamline aid among cities and counties in such instances. •voted to rezone and then annex a 1.4-acre lot on Hwy. 334 across from Ingles for Charles Mathis. The property was rezoned general commercial. • heard Wascher report that as of Feb. 29, the city’s General Fund was $497,106 in the black, the Water/Sewer fund was $35,554 to the good, the Electric Fund had revenues over expenditures of $532,261, and the Gas Fund had a deficit of $114,010. “Looking at the numbers, I really don’t think it (the Gas Fund) will have sufficient revenue from the heating season to keep this number positive through the year,” Wascher said. “That goes back to the need to have adequate reserves.” •recognized the Commerce High School wrestling and competitive cheerleading squads by resolutions for their respective Class A state championships. • heard Tim Redmon request that the city change the dates its utility bills are due to help persons on fixed incomes avoid the late penalties; and heard him request that the council not approve participation in the pictometry project, saying he saw no need for it. Tiger Direct to pay $1.9 million in back taxes State of the City address State of the city is 'strong' Mayor Clark Hill declares “The state of the city is strong,” Commerce Mayor Clark Hill concluded follow ing his 2016 State of the City address Monday night. It’s the same conclusion he reached a year earlier in deliv ering the 2015 address. That upbeat assessment is based on Hill’s assertion that the city’s financial condition con tinues to improve (its reserves are growing and its tax digest went up) and development is making a comeback (housing permits are up). “In spite of challenges, we are poised for a great future,” the mayor insisted. The presentation included 32 slides designed to cover both highlights of 2015 and expectations for 2016. 2015 Accomplishments •Finances — a $250,000 upgrade in software and serv er used for managing its enter prise funds, the first employee cost-of-living pay raises in six years, a flat tax rate, continued growth in reserves, seven-per- cent growth in the tax digest, 4.7 percent growth in local option sales tax funds and a clean audit for 2015. •Utilities — completion of the Spring Street sewer over haul, strong natural gas sales, resolution of the South Broad Street sewer issues, launching of its fiber optics network and the receipt of safety grants. • Public safety — the hiring of Brandon Sellers as police chief, receipt of grants for equipment, a focus on com munity policing, declared among the top-20 safest cit ies in Georgia and approv al of a new animal control ordinance. Also, completion of Fire Station 2 and an ISO audit. • Civic center—a new lease for Baker & Taylor, a 71-percent reduction in the operational deficit, a 16-percent increase in facility use, and consolidat ing management of all venues under Justin Strickland. • City schools — a reduced tax rate, the elimination of furlough days, growth of the fund balance, state cham pionships in wrestling and cheerleading, winner of the Athletic Director’s Cup and the naming of Kendall Love as the wrestling coach of the year statewide. • Recreation — the commu nity beach party “great” enroll ment and the dedication of the Arthur Lee Pattman Walking Trail. • Community development — opening of several new businesses, construction of the Boys and Girls Club club house, replacement of the rail road retaining wall, erection of a gateway sign on U.S. 441 at Homer Road, creation of a “super board” to oversee the Commerce Civic Center and the Downtown Development Authority. • Code enforcement—dem olition of five houses ordered, removal of the pole barn on Central Avenue, demolition of the Waters building on North Elm Street and removal of 12 dilapidated mobile homes on Smallwood Avenue. For The Future The mayor also spoke of plans for 2016. They include: • Code enforcement — the creation of an environmen tal court under Judge Billy Chandler, a “more organized approach to inspection, and other improved entryways. • Finances — continued growth of the tax digest, growth in utilities, manage ment of the Vogtle expan sion, passage March 1 of the SPLOST extension and the “ultimate goal” of reducing the tax rate. •Utilities — growth of the city’s new fiber optics net work, partnering with Banks County for utility expansion, and the south-side water pres sure project. • Recreation — a pos sible partnership with the Northridge Wellness Center, hiring a new recreation direc tor, conducting a facilities study and figuring out what to do with the old Boys & Girls Club building on Ridgeway Street. Also, development of the Smallwood Drive park for multiple passive uses, includ ing BMX Bike events and CHS cross country races. • Community development — protecting historic proper ties, new signage, a new side walk from Hospital Road to Homer Road, completion of the Jefferson Road sidewalk from Commerce Middle School to Lakeview Drive, and marketing the vacant former Bi-Lo and Walmart shopping centers to new businesses. Also, redeveloping the former Oxford building for a hotel, developing a parking lot and outside dining area behind South Broad Street (now under construction), possible acquisition by the city of the Gov. Hardman House, private redevelopment of downtown buildings, continued new home constmction, a new business in the former QRM building and the completion of the Mason Manor senior living apartments on State Street. After nearly two years of litigation, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, City of Jefferson and the Jefferson City School System will get over $1.9 million in back taxes from the now-defunct Tiger Direct operation. The BOC approved the lawsuit settlement at its meeting Monday night. Tiger Direct had failed to file for its Freeport Exemption for two years. The firm had put $2 million into escrow, but litigated the amount it owed. The $1.9 million represents $1.6 million in taxes and $300,000 in penalties and interest. Commissioner Ralph Richardson voted against the set tlement. Beautification day set April 2 The Commerce Downtown Development Authority will hold its annual beautification day Saturday, April 2, from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will replant the downtown flower beds, power wash sidewalks, remove litter from streets and alleys, replant roses along the railroad tracks, add mulch to the playground in Spencer Park and weed flower beds and planted areas in the park. The project covers Broad, Elm, State, Little and Sycamore streets. “We are probably reaching about 70 volunteers,” said DDA manager Natalie Thomas, “but more are welcome.” The annual effort is sponsored by Southeast Toyota, which provides the money to buy plants and other materials and sends a large contingent of associates to assist with the work. In addition, SET associates will cook hot dogs for the volunteers. Elite Accounting & Tax Service NEW LOCATION Effective April 1 st 1191 S. Elm St. • Commerce, GA (beside Wilbanks Law Firm) MARK BANDY FOR BANKS COUNTY SHERIFF “THE PEOPLES CHOICE” Mark David Bandy, 58 years old, has made it a must to helping the citizens in his jurisdiction for the past 32 years of his dedicated Law Enforcement Ser vice. He became a trainer right after graduating from the Police Academy, at the age of 19, and went on to becom ing a certified Firearms, Taser, Domes tic Violence, Field Training and Crisis Intervention Trainer. He rose up in the ranks as a Manager and for the last five years of his LE career was a Jail Commander, at Hall & Banks Coun ty along with Support Services Com mander and Training Director at Banks County. His wife Kay T. Bandy has worked as an IT Help Desk Analyst at North East Georgia Medical Center for the past 17 years. She is proud to be a part of Mark’s Campaign and is excited to say that they will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this coming December. “The Campaign is going very well and with all of your support, we will work together to help make the Quality of Life better for the Banks County Community’. Rosco the 10 year old Saint Bernard tries his best to guard the Happy Horse Ranch, located at their residence on Silver Shoals Road. “Thanks for all of your support!” MARK & KAY BANDY / ROSCO TOO! Kay Bandy, Mark Bandy, and their Saint Bernard Rosco. Please Recycle This Newspaper Commerce Primary School Kindergarten Registration Beginning April 11 th , you may call Com merce Primary School (706-335-5587) any day between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to set up an appointment to bring your child in for a Kindergarten Readi ness Screening. Registration Day will be Wednesday, April 27 th , 2016. You will need to call to make an appointment BEFORE this day to bring vour child. At the time of regis tration, you will need: 1) Birth Certificate 2) SS Card 3) Immunization Certificate CHILDREN MUST BE 5 YEARS OLD ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR KIN DERGARTEN.
