The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current, June 22, 2016, Image 11

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The Commerce news., June 22, 2016, Image 11

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Newspaper Page TextWEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 THE COMMERCE NEWS • THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 11A Lula approves $983,455 budget BY SHARON HOGAN The Lula City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget at Mon day’s meeting. The council unani mously approved the FY2016-17 General Fund budget totaling $983,455, up approximately $40,000, or four percent, over the 2015-16 budget. Approval was also given to the FY2016-17 Enterprise Fund budget of $636,700. In other financial moves at the monthly meeting, the council approved 2015- 16 budget adjustments in the amount of $276,407 for the general fund and $17,331 for the enterprise fund. The city’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the meeting: •the council approved the FY2015-16 audit engagement letter with Walker and Associates in the amount of $16,000 plus out of pocket expens es that include postage, mileage, copies, report re-creation, etc. The city had budgeted $21,000 for the audit. •the council unani mously approved several end-of-the-year purchases totaling $23,235. The pur chases will include edg- ers, a diesel UTV, weed eaters, portable pump, four picnic tables and a bagger lawn mower. •the council recog nized the following Yard of the Month winners for June: Mark Young, Carter Street; Brandon Brooks, Morgan Manor Drive; James Winkler, Belton Bridge Place; James Grier, Main Street; and Pam Last, Crown Oaks Drive. •city manager Dennis Bergin reported the ease ment issue for the Pine Street sewer replacement project had been resolved. •the council discussed including the bids for pump maintenance at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) lift stations on the agenda for the July 18 council meeting. •Bergin advised there was a leak in the chemical feed tank at the WWTP and options for repairing or replacing were being looked at. • Bergin told the council a June 28 meeting was scheduled to discuss the Magnolia Station sewer billing issues. • the council gave a gen eral consensus to have city attorney Lucky Chandler proceed with putting beer, wine and liquor by the drink on the November ballot for voters to decide. No Sunday sales will be on the November ballot. •the council approved a request from Crown Castle to place small cell towers on public rights-of- way. Bergin said the equip ment would be installed on existing poles. •Bergin reported the bids for street cut and fill would also be included on the agenda for the July meeting. Bergin said there were some questions to get answered before the bid was approved and there could possible be a need for a called meeting. • Bergin told coun cil members planning to attend the upcoming Georgia Municipal Asso ciation (GMA) meeting needed to meet with him to go over several Legisla tive issues that would be discussed at the event. •Bergin said the Street Scape II project is two weeks behind on comple tion due to some paving that is still needed. •Bergin told the coun cil that Georgia Depart ment of Transportation officials had given notice to Norfolk Southern Rail road officials that begin ning in July they will start imposing a fine of $500 per day every day that the Cobb Street Bridge is not repaired. Bergin said the city and GDOT want the bridge repaired to accom modate vehicle traffic. • Bergin asked the council to consider host ing a community picnic later on this year. The city has held community pic nics in years past. • Ralph Cavedo told the council that his son Sam uel was willing to do a new website for the City of Lula at no charge. Turn er asked Cavedo to meet with Bergin after the meet ing to discuss this issue. •an announcement was made about the Lula- Belton Historical Society’s recent car and truck show that included 45 entries and raised. $1,300. BOC considering $1 million budget hike BY ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposed $14.4 million budget, which is up $1 million over the current budget of $13.3 million. The main increases come from personnel-related items, including health insurance going up, adjustments due to increasing various department sizes and facilities, additional personnel and a pay-scale adjustment (the first in 11 years). The board of commissioners recently met with department heads to go over line items from each department. The board of commissioners will hold a budget hearing to receive input at both 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, in the board room of the county annex. The budget is available for review in the commissioner’s office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. A copy of the budget is also in an ad in this week’s newspaper. BOE considering six percent budget increase BY ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Education reviewed the pro posed $34.7 million budget at a meeting last week. The tenta tive budget is up 5.9 percent over the current budget of $32.7 million. The biggest expense is salaries. Plans are to approve the budget at the July BOE meeting. Public hearings to receive input from citizens will be held on July 14 and July 18. Both meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at the BOE meeting room (in the former Certus Bank building). In other business, the BOE: • added Feb. 17 to the school calendar as an instructional day. • approved a spending resolution which is needed until the budget is approved in July. Banks BOE approves personnel Issues BY ANGELA GARY Banks County 4-H plans summer camps The Banks County Board of Education approved the ■2 T IT following personnel items when it met last week: The Banks County 4-H will offer summer camps for fourth through 12th grade students who are members of 4-H. The camps include the following: PARACORD • Paracord Fun with Emma: Friday, June 24, from 8 a.m. to noon for grades fourth and up. The cost is $5. Students will learn how to make survival crafts with paracords. Par ticipants will take home at least one paracord craft. STATE COUNCIL •State Council: Friday, June 24, through Sunday, June 26. Students will depart at 4 p.m. on June 24 and arrive at 1 p.m. on June 26. The cost is $50. The trip is for 9th-12th grade 4-H’ers. The camp will include vot ing for state board, semi- formal dance and the Iron Clover. POULTRY •Poultry 101: Wednes day, July 6, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for grades fourth and up. The cost is $5. Students will learn about poultry and then cook a chicken dip recipe. TUBING • Tubing in Helen: Thurs day, July 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for grades fourth and up. The cost is $20. Students are asked to bring swimsuit, towels, change of dry clothes, snacks, drinks and money for lunch. MOVIE DAYS •Summer Blockbusters: “Finding Dory” on July 8 and “Secret Life of Pets” on July 22. This is for grades fourth and up. The cost is $10 per movie. Students will be gone from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They are asked to bring money for lunch and movie snacks. CAKE CREATIONS • Chelsea’s Cake Cre ations: Monday, July 18, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for grades fourth and up. The cost is $5. Students will learn traditional cake deco rating techniques and how to work with fondant. KAYAKING • Junior/Senior Kayak ing Trip: Tuesday, July 19, from 9:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. for grades seventh and up. The cost is $25. Students will spend the day kayaking up the Broad River. Students are asked to bring swim suit, towels, change of dry clothes, snacks, drinks and a sack lunch. CLOVERLEAF TIPS • Keeley’s Cloverleaf Project Achievement Tips: Thursday, July 21, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for grades fourth through sixth. The cost is free. Students will get tips on preparing Proj ect Achievement presen- Farmers market to open in Gillsville July 9 The City of Gillsville’s Farmers’ Market is set to open July 9. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays each month, July through October. The event will be held on the vacant lot next to the Gillsville Post Office. Local farmers are invited to bring their home-grown produce to the farmers’ market to sell at no cost for the space. No other items will be permitted. At the June 7 council meeting, the council approved spending $100 for two banners to promote the farmers’ market, as well as placing ads in the local papers. Be the difference in a child’s life. Give us 6 weeks of your time and we will give you the training you need to become a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate for local children in foster care. Classes begin August 25th, 2016 and continue on Thursdays through September 29th. 6:00-9:00 p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 706-387-6375 or visit our website to download an application WWW.PIEDMONTCASA.ORG Lift up a child's voice. A child’s life. C^r X ASA PUDMOVT CASA URVtMC BANK S. BARROW. t JACKiON COUNT It S tations. They will learn how to choose a project, research, prepare a speech and put together visual aids. KRAZY KAMP • Kara’s Krazy Kamp: Wednesday, July 27, and Thursday, July 28, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for fourth through sixth grades. The cost is $20. WORKSHOP • Project Achievement Portfolio Workshops: Stu dents will begin work on Project Achievement. There is no cost to attend this camp. The schedule will be Aug. 1 for seventh grade, Aug. 2 for eighth grade and Aug. 3 for ninth through 12th grades. Hours will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch and drinks will be provided. Students are asked to bring their laptop/ tablet. Portfolios will be due Dec. 22. Please recycle this newspaper NEW HIRES • Carrie Clark, teacher. • Timmi Shawler, teacher. • Samantha Crocker, teacher. • Mary Bryan, teacher. • Tony Bedford, teacher. •Allison Cochran, teacher. • Emily Peek, teacher. • Taylor McGilvray, teacher. •Anna Jordan, counselor. • Taylor Gilleland, teacher. • Pam Adams, teacher (49 percent) • Kelly Peppers, teacher (49 percent) • Theo Caldwell, teacher (49 percent) •Linda Hawks, director of teaching and learning (49 percent) • Danny Hicks, special needs director (49 percent) • Pam Strickland, special needs director (49 percent) • Kip Burt, paraprofessional • Grant Newman, paraprofessional • Stacey David, paraprofessional • Donald Hubbard, custodian • Shaney Deloatch, custodian • Dedra Forrester, bus driver • Kindall Simmons, bus driver. • Becky Hudgins, bus driver. • Preston Krumnow, bus driver RESIGNATIONS • Clay Hobbs, transportation director • Vicki Veldhuis, teacher • Michele Cutrone, teacher OTHER BUSINESS In other business, the BOE approved fund-raiser requests from school groups for next year, as well as facility use requests. Among the facility use items approved was a request from the Town of Homer to use the high school grounds for the fireworks on July 4. REQUEST FOR BID The Banks County Board of Education is seeking bids for the purchase of building /land located at 335 Evans Street, Homer, GA 30547. Before sub mitting your bid, please contact Tom Nicholson at (706) 677-2224 to set up an appointment to view the property which is to be sold. Your company will be expected to submit a quote reflecting the total purchase price of entire property. The Banks County School System reserves the right to reject any or all bids for any reason. Parcel Information: Tocation Address: 335 Evans Street, Homer, GA 30547 Local Description: Old Elementary School Parcel Number: B40 088 Acres: 14.16 Proposals must be delivered to the Banks County Board of Education Central Office, 1989 Historic Homer Hwy, Commerce, GA 30529, on or before 2:00 pm Thursday, Tune 23, 2016.