Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016
THE COMMERCE NEWS • THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 3A
Coroner, probate
judge on ballot
in Banks County
A runoff election will be held in Banks County on Tuesday to
decide the coroner and probate judge races. Polls will be open
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In the coroner’s race, incumbent Bobby Eubanks and chal
lenger Mark Savage will be on the ballot.
In the Probate Court Judge race, Keith Gardiner and Helen
Hewell will be on the ballot. Incumbent Betty Thomas did not
seek re-election.
Early voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday
this week at the Elections and Registration Office, located at
226 Candler Street in Homer.
Jackson BOE may
roll back tax rate
The Jackson County Board of Education may look to roll back
its millage rate this year. Nothing will be set until later in the year,
but the BOE discussed a possible rollback at its July 18 meeting.
The district’s initial tax digest estimates predicted the district
would receive $27.2 million from property taxes with its current
19.131 millage rate.
But assistant superintendent Jamie Hitzges said the district
received preliminary numbers this week, and now expects it may
receive $28.4 million with an 18.95 millage rate.
This would not be a full rollback and public hearings would still
be required.
The BOE also discussed its Fiscal Year 2016 budget, which it has
completed. Revenues came in slightly above what was budgeted
and expenses were slightly below.
The district finished FY2016 with a $5.1 million fund balance, up
from $4.3 million last year.
DOT adds stop signs
to Jefferson detour
The Georgia Department of Transportation has added stop
signs on the detour in Jefferson to State Route 335. The detour
will now operate as a four way stop at the intersection of Kissam
Street/SR15 ALT and the newly-constructed connector bridge.
“We are responding to concerns from local citizens. These
added stop signs are the safest operation,” said Brent Cook,
district engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation.
“We will also add advance warning signage to alert drivers of the
new stop sign installation and emphasize the need to now stop at
that intersection.”
The detour is part of a project that will reconstruct SR15ALT/SR
82, Kissam Street, and Storey Street as a oneway pair. The new
four way stop signs will remain in place through late September
2016. Please continue to reduce your speed and use caution while
near the work zone.
DOT approves contracts
for roads in Jackson/Banks
Local roads will get some attention over the next year as a
result of the 55 contracts worth $171 million awarded July 1 by
the Georgia Department of Transportation.
They include:
•a $6.6 million contract for the replacement of various
bridges in Jackson, Greene, Morgan and Walton counties
• a $2.26 million contract for traffic signal upgrades at vari
ous locations in Jackson County
•a $551,127 contract to replace guardrails at various loca
tions in Banks County
• a $414,238 contract to replace guardrails at various loca
tions in Jackson County
• a $554,840 contract to replace guardrails at various loca
tions in Jackson County
Murals...
Cont. from Page 1A
Eventually, the DDA expects to have all of the boarded win
dows replaced with murals.
Building Under
Renovation
Meanwhile, Cantrell has started the renovation/restoration
of the Commerce Printing building at 1642 South Broad Street.
“She has started on the inside and has removed the drop
down ceilings, so you can see the exposed beams,” Thomas
said. “She has also replaced the back door and the window
transom.”
Eventually, Cantrell has indicated that she will have the
front fagade removed to take the building back to its original
appearance.
Northridge...
Cont. from Page 1A
buildings and would lease them back to Northridge Medical
Center, granting it a license to operate the hospital and nursing
home. The move would allow Northridge to access funds cur
rently available only to authority-owned hospitals.
Wascher said the city will have no liability related to the
operation of the hospital and nursing home, and the authority
will not have the ability to levy taxes against the citizens of
Commerce or to obligate the city to indebtedness.
Mayor Clark Hill — who also chairs the authority — called
the meeting to order at 6:28. City clerk Sandra Haggard — the
authority’s secretary — called the roll, after which Hill said city
attorney John Stell wanted to discuss the real estate acquisition
matter, saying the “attorneys continue to work through the
process and how we stmcture it to make sure we get it right.”
Commerce
Smallwood
Park
Trails
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GMA recognizes park project
Commerce councilmen Donald Wilson and Archie D. Chaney show off a banner about the city’s new
Smallwood Drive park that was in the main lobby at the Georgia Municipal Association’s annual meet
ing this month in Savannah. Each year GMA picks a theme. This year’s was “cities at play,” so city clerk
Sandra Haggard and Downtown Development Authority executive director Natalie Thomas submitted
a narrative, took photos and provided facts about the park. The “Smallwood Trails Project” was one of
about 10 selected for recognition at the convention.
Council... Cont. from Page 1A
doing, making it clear that the department head is the point
person for those purchases in the department and increases
to $2,500 what they can purchase.”
• amended its contract with ESG Operations, operators of
the water treatment plant. The new contract boosts the base
payment by 2.5 percent. It also turns over maintenance of the
city’s water tanks to the company.
•approved an ordinance mandated by the legislature’s
passage of House Bill 960 that changes how interest is
charged on unpaid taxes. Under the new law, delinquent
taxpayers can be charged interest in the annual amount of
the prime rate plus three percent, accruing monthly.
• approved a resolution nominating Wascher for a seat on
the board of directors of Georgia Public Web. “Now that the
city is doing a lot with fiber, we really benefitted from our rela
tionship with Georgia Public Web, and James is interested
in seeking that seat, which I am excited about.” Former city
manager Pete Pyrzenski had served on the board.
• approved a license to sell beer by the package to Laz-
in-R786, the BP convenience store on South Elm Street. The
license is the result of new ownership.
• heard police chief Brandon Sellers introduce three new
officers, including Charles Mahalick, Justin Askey and the
department’s new drug/tracking dog, Max, who is being
handled by officer Chris Holly.
Financial Update
Wascher briefed the city council on fiscal year end finan
cial matters. He pointed out that the General Fund was in the
black by $113,000, the Water and Sewer Fund by $332,0004;
the Electric Fund by $574,000; and the Gas Fund by $388,000.
He cautioned however, that the large surplus in the Electric
Fund was mostly related to a change in accounting practices
relating to how the money set aside to pay down the city’s
debt on Plant Vogtle is accounted for.
“Once you back that out, it is pretty much in line with last
year, about $188,000” he said.
Wascher added that the council will eventually be asked to
approve budget amendments reflecting, among other things,
the use of General Fund excess revenue from FY 2015 to pay
for items that are currently in the FY2017 budget.
Athens Regional Medical Center now offers the most advanced
minimally invasive robotic surgery system, the da Vinci Xi.
Smaller incision. Fewer stitches. Quicker recovery.