The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current, April 13, 2016, Image 2

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The Commerce news., April 13, 2016, Image 2

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 Signs of the times The Jackson County Republican Party recent- lined their signs up outside the Jefferson Club ly hosted a forum for Jackson County Board House before the event. of Commissioners candidates. Local candidates Photo by Alex Pace Republican BOC candidates present platforms,vision for county's future BY ALEX PACE Local candidates recently got a chance to discuss their plans for the county. Candi dates for the Jackson Coun ty Board of Commissioners spoke at the Jackson County Republican Party’s April 9 breakfast. Both the BOC chairman incumbent and District 1 commissioner have Repub lican opponents for the May 24 election. BOC CHAIRMAN TOM CROW BOC chairman incumbent Tom Crow said he has a simple platform: reduce the county’s debt; not start any new buildings that require a lot of maintenance; and improve the county’s infra structure. He spoke about roadwork and updated the group on the Old Pender grass Road rehabilitation, which he said is almost fin ished. Crow stressed that the BOC doesn’t plan any big spending or big projects, except for the Plainview EMS station. The BOC signed a lease agreement last week on the property for the build ing. The project will be fund ed through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Crow said the BOC plans several road and water line projects, along with the ani mal shelter project in 2017. Crow spoke about the cooperation between the BOC and the cities during SPLOST negotiations. Crow also spoke about the coun ty’s work with local cities to help with road clean up. “We’re going to continue to do those things to help the benefit of all of Jackson County,” he said. BEN STEPHENS Crow’s opponent, Ben Ste phens, began volunteering at local fire departments after moving to Jackson County in 2002. He began working at West Jackson Fire Depart ment in 2005, where he is currently fire chief. Stephens said after mov ing to Jackson County he spoke with people on the west side, along with Nich olson and Commerce, who said they felt like they were left out. “I decided to run because I’m a firm believer that if you don’t like something that you see, or you’d like to see something a little different, if you don’t do something about it, you’re not helping the situation at all,” he said. “So I determined that since no one else was going to run, that 1 would run.” Stephens also spoke about the need for cooperation within the county. “I would like to see Jack- son County working togeth er...all of Jackson County” he said. Stephens spoke about public safety, and said he’d like to see the fire recruit class return to the county. He said getting the departments to work together would improve public safety. “I know if you can get peo ple to work together, that you can get better results,” he said. DISTRICT 1 JIM HIX District 1 incumbent Jim Hix has lived in Jackson County for 50 years and has worked in education and as a real estate broker. He was later elected to the BOC, where he has served for 3.5 years. Hix said during that time, he’s learned the BOC has limitations. “I’ve found out some things that you’re limited on what you can do,” said Hix. Hix spoke about the importance of managing the county’s debt and continu ing improvements in edu cation and economic devel opment. “I think we need to con tinue to try to improve our selves and economic devel opment,” he said. Hix said that as commis sioner, he has tried to look to “provide more opportunities for citizens.” Hix also spoke about the BOC’s coopera tion with cities and boards of education and about recent growth in the county. “It’s imperative on us to be able to maintain the integrity of this community as a com mission,” he said. JANET HUNT One of Hix’s opponents, Janet Hunt, moved to Talmo after she and her husband retired from the Army in 2013. She spoke about the need for responsible growth in the county. “We do want growth, but we want responsible growth that maintains the quality of life for our generational fam ilies but allows opportunities for our young kids,” she said. Hunt said she wants to work with local cities and school systems to bring educational programs on sustainable living and sus taining quality of life during recessions. Hunt spoke about the need for farmers markets in the county. “I’d like to bring back more local farmers and have more opportunities to grow your own,” she said. Hunt also spoke about the need to educate Jackson County citizens on the BOC’s decisions. “The only way we can do that is to go out and talk to people,” she said. DAN TORBETT Hix’s other opponent Dan Torbett, moved to Jackson County in 2001. He said the biggest challenge the county is facing is its debt. “We owe over $100 million in debt,” he said. “That’s a lot of money. That debt service alone is really crippling on what we can do as a county.” Torbett said the county needs to balance the bud get and stressed the county needs to “get a handle on it now. “It’s not rocket science,” he said. But Torbett said he doesn’t think the answer is to raise taxes. “We don’t need to raise taxes anymore,” he said. “We can do it without that. We really can. We raise the tax digest by inviting more busi nesses here, good business es, and then it’s a win-win.” Torbett said the coun ty is also challenged by its growth. “It’s coming,” he said. “We can’t put up at a wall. We just need to be smart about it.” Torbett said he thinks the county needs to update on its future land use map. He also spoke about the coun ty’s distribution centers and said they’ve done “really well.” Torbett said he thinks the county needs other busi nesses, including retail and entertainment. Torbett said he’d also like to see a county fair. QUESTIONS DEBT REDUCTION PLAN Jackson County Board of Education member Celinda Wilson questioned Crow on the county’s debt reduction plan and future work on the county’s infrastructure “so new businesses can come in.” Crow stressed the county has water and sewer capac ity but said the BOC cannot control whether a business comes into the county. “One of the misconcep tions that a lot of people have is that we can tell a business, ‘Hey, we want you here,’ and they’re gonna come,” he said. Crow said the county pre viously had discussions with a manufacturing company about moving to Jackson County, but the company decided to move to South Carolina. “They went to South Car olina because South Caro lina gave them tax-free for 50 years and 1,000 acres,” he said. “Now, if we pro posed something like that so we could compete, we wouldn’t be voted out... we’d be shot.” Wilson asked Crow when the BOC will get to the point that it has a manageable bud get and can start looking to the future. “We’ve got the same thing the school system’s got,” Crow replied. “You know, you’ve got a lot of debt that you’ve got to pay down. But on this last SPLOST that we did, 55 percent of the money that’s coming is going towards debt reduction.” SHERIFF JANIS MANGUM Jackson County sheriff Janis Mangum, who will face a Democrat opponent, also spoke at the breakfast. Mang um will face Randy Moore in the November election. Mangum said she has worked to enforce the laws and serve and protect the community. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has offered several gun safety and self-defense classes. Mangum also spoke about the JCSO’s work with stu dents in the county’s three school systems. The JCSO offers a Choosing Health Activities and Methods Pro moting Safety (CHAMPS) program and had 690 stu dents complete the program in the county last year. ROGER FITZPATRICK Roger Fitzpatrick, can didate for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 9th District, was the guest speaker at the event. Fitzpatrick is a retired Marine and has been a teacher and school administrator for 32 years. He has been on the White County Board of Edu cation since 2014. Fitzpatrick said the feder al government has grown out of its bounds and spoke of the “war to preserve the nation.” He said the current pres idential election has been considered a tipping point. “Are we going to contin ue down that road towards socialism or communism,” he said. “Or are we going to go in the direction of free dom?” He said that, if elected, one of his first priorities would be to build a coalition of like-minded individuals. “If we can form a coali tion that’s strong enough to be able to effect change in Washington, then we could make serious changes for the better.” Fitzpatrick said he sup ports developing a fair tax, and spoke about the need to reduce the country’s debt. “One thing we can do to become a greater influence in the world is to get our house in order economical ly” he said. “Economically, politically morally...in every way, we need to get our house in order.” Hundreds of vehicles expected at April 23 Cruisin' Hundreds of classic cars are expected in downtown Commerce on Saturday, April 23, when the Com merce Downtown Devel opment Authority holds its fourth annual Cruisin’ Commerce car show. The event will be held in con junction with the Gear Jam Vintage Drags and swap- meet at the Atlanta Drag way. It will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Classic vehicles will line the streets, and the top 20 vehicles will be awarded custom trophies. Tangent Band, from Ath ens, will provide music adjacent to the beer garden in Spencer Park. For more information on the Northeast Georgia Swap Meet, contact Brad Ocock at 706424-5035. For information on the Cruisin’ or to volunteer or for spon sorship opportunities, call the Main Street office at 706- 335-2954. Little, Oak and Pine streets will close at 3 p.m. for vendor setup, and Syc amore Street will be closed at 3 p.m. for car parking. Classic vehicles will also be parked in areas marked and reserved on Elm and Broad streets. Civil Air Patrol seeks new youth, adult members The Barrow Jackson Civil Air Patrol Squadron #156 of the U. S. Air Force Auxiliary has open slots for a variety of adult mem ber positions. Examples of positions within a squad ron include aerospace education, communica tions, logistics, emergency services, administration, scanners and information technologies, among oth ers. Cadet openings for teens ages 12-17 are also available. Cadets get to fly O-Flights (Cessnas) and in gliders as part of their CAP experi ence and scholarships are available through CAP. In addition, CAP cadets who achieve the rank of 2nd Lt. or higher are eligible to join the military at a higher pay grade and rank. It is all vol unteers, however, Captain Tim Ledford, Southeast Region director of recruit ing and Retention states. “Adult membership in CAP looks great on a resume and the training received in CAP as part of your duty status could make a great impression on a future employer and give you an edge if some one otherwise your equal is interviewing for the same job” Ledford said. No military experience is required. The CAP is an avenue where an adult of any age can serve their country and community. In addition, CAP has recently received recognition as the fourth member of the Air Force Total Force team and can now call themselves Airman while supporting the Air Force mission. The group meets each Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at 841 Ronald Wood Road (National Guard Armory at the Barrow County Air port) in Winder. For more information, contact Maj. Jeff Garrett at 678-361-1451 or jgarrll7@gmail.com. Maysville to host music festival June 4 The Maysville Commu nity Improvement Club is hosting a music festival on Saturday, June 4, in down town Maysville. Numerous bands will play throughout the day. There will be art/ craft vendors, along with a children’s area. Conces sions will be available. Applicants for art/craft vendors are being sought for the music festival. To participate, contact Katrina 706-983-1565 or Cyndi 706-708-6409. There is no requirement that items be homemade, but space will be limited. Fol low the Facebook Page: Maysville Community Improvement Club. PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER DAVID DUCKETT District 2 Commissioner It is an honor to serve as the District 2 Banks County Commissioner and I’m asking for your vote as we work to improve and expand ser vices. I’m a life-long resident, graduate of Banks County High and 50 years in agribusiness. Commissioner 2013-Present, 1976-1980 State County Commissioner’s Training/Specialty Certification • Ethics • Revenue and Finance • Economic Development • County Operations/management • Leadership Working with GDOT and state to fund road projects • $100,000 Wynn Lake Rd. Culvert • $100,000 Bennett Road • $150,000 Rock VOTE FOR DAVID DUCKETT