The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current, October 05, 2016, Image 27

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Commerce news., October 05, 2016, Image 27

About The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2016)

Page of 28

Prev Issue Next Issue

Text PDF JP2 (2.6 MB) Clip/Print Image

Page of 28

Prev Issue Next Issue

Return to Top

Newspaper Page TextWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016 THE COMMERCE NEWS • THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 11B Deadline looms to register to vote on Nov. 8 Jackson County residents not yet registered to vote have less than a week to register if they want to participate in the Nov. 8 presidential and local elections. The deadline Ls Tuesday, Oct. 11. County residents can register to vote at the Jackson County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office, located at 44 Gordon Street in Jefferson. The only local races on the ballot will be the sheriff's race where incumbent Janis Mangum faces challenger Randy Moore, and several fire board seats. There will also be a spe cial election on changes to the freeport exemption for property taxes, and voters will also cast ballots in the hotly-contested presidential race and on other party, state and federal races and questions. Amendment One The most controversial matter on the ballot in Geoigia will be the proposed amendment to the Geoigia coastitution creating socalled “opportunity school districts," (OSD) that will allow the state to take over schools deemed to be underperforming. Currently, 127 schools in Georgia have achieved an “F’ rank on the state’s accountability system for three consecutive years, which makes them eligible for the state takeover. The amend ment would allow up to 20 schools a year to be included, with a limit of 100 schools under OSD governance at ary given time. If that happens, the governor will appoint a school “superin tendent” who will report to the governor. That individual will be able to close or merge schools, hire and fire staff and determine tax rates — which opponents of the measure say removes all local control over schools. Schools would remain under OSD control fora minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years. The Jackson County and Jefferson boards of education have passed resolutions opposing the amendment. Early Voting Voters wishing to avoid the Election Day voting rush will be able to cast their ballots early, starting on Monday, Oct. 17. Early voting will be held at the Jackson County Elections and Voter Registration Office on the following dates: •8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Oct. 17-Oct. 21 •8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Oct. 24-28 •9 am. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 •7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 4 Commerce Early voting will be held at the Commerce Parks and Recre ation Center, 204 Carson Street, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Fri day, Oct. 31-Nov. 4 Braselton Early voting will be held at the Braselton Police and Munic ipal Court Building, located at 5040 Hwy. 53. Braselton, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 4 “We have extended the voting hours for the last week of early voting in Jefferson, which will include Braselton and Commerce,” said elections supervisor Lori Wurtz. “The Board of Elections and Voter Registration approved the extended hours in an effort to reduce congestion at polling places on Election Day.” Reservoir group to eliminate advisory committee The four-county group that manages the Bear Creek Res ervoir plans to reduce the number of people on its governing authority. Last week, the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority (UOBWA) got a heads-up that its Executive Committee is pushing for the elimination of the Resource Management Commission (RMC), a 19-member group created by the 1994 legislation that created the authority itself. The RMC never lived up to its responsibilities. The 19-member panel, which is represented on the UOBWA by Elton Collins of Commerce, was meant to give input for the municipalities in Atheas-Claike, Barrow. Jackson and Oconee counties and to the water authorities in those counties. The chairmen of the county boards of commissioners, who serve on the UOWBA, are also members. “Quite a few members of the commission have become inactive over the years,” reported Pat Graham, chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners. “The only active members, really, are the ones around this table and Dr. (Cecil) Hammond, and Dr. Hammond is going off,” Collins told the board. Collins is the only charter member left on the authority and has represented the RMC since it was created. He plaas to resign at the end of the year, along with Hammond. Meanwhile, many of the mayors never filled the positions to which they were entitled on the RMC. “The RMC was envisioned for municipal water suppliers in the four counties to have a voice into the budget and policies, because the original membership (was limited to) only the four county governments and not the municipalities in those counties,” recalled Bobby Snipes, former deputy mayor of Athens-Clarke and a longtime UOBWA member. Snipes also pointed out that many of those municipalities now rely on the counties for water. The Executive Committee proposes eliminating the RMC. but allowing each county government to designate one per son to represent the municipal water suppliers as a nonvoting member of the UOBWA. Ary action would require the passage of local legislation by the General Assembly but attorney Chip Ferguson told the authority that individual boards of commissioners in the four counties will not vote on the matter. Graham said the Executive Committee will talk with each of the mayors “so they will understand what we are doing.” The UOBWA authority presumably will approve the change and authorize the submission of legislation to change its char ter at its Nov. 16 meeting. The change will also necessitate a change in the authority’s bylaws, since it will affect numbers needed for a quorum and the division of votes among board members from seven to six. Other Matters Other matters discussed at the Sept. 28 meeting include: •a report from Snipes that the Environmental Planning Division is satisfied with the authority’s drought management plan and its water supply model. • a report by Snipes that no need is indicated for water use restrictions through November, in spite of a state declaration that the area is in a Level 1 drought. • Snipes’ report that a contract has been let and a notice to prcx:eed Issued on the upgrade of a high-service pump that pumps treated water out to Jackson County. Snipes said Jacobs Engineering, which manages the reservoir and water treatment plant, will press the contractor to strive for a comple tion date in February iustead of May as proposed. •a report from Snipes that the EPD has accepted the authority’s plan to modify its lagoon system so 1 million gal lons of water flushed daily from the lagoons goes back into the reservoir rather than into Bear Creek below the dam. The result is expected to provide both energy savings and water conservation. Recycle This Newspaper Northeast Georgia’s Business Directory Gleaning Accounting B&B Bookkeeping & Tax Service Inc. Spedalizing in Small Business since 1972 SI Individual Taxes O Corporate Taxes ,0 Authorized E-Filer C Book Keeping C Payroll Services B Notary Joray Lockridge • 770-279-0488 115 Town Center Pkwy., Ste. 116 - Hoschton, GA Electrical Ricky Hicks • 38 yrs. exp.^jy hicks ELECTRICAL Services Specializing in Re-Wiring COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL 706-789-3525 • 404-625-1368 LICENSED INSURED www.hickselectrical.biz Farm & Garden . rAKI*! -PPLY % s TACK SEED FENCING Nutrena FERTILIZER 9766 Hwy. 98 West hardware Commerce, GA 30530 ANIMAL 706-335-7905 • FAX 706-335-5879 www.midwayfarmsupply.com ili HEALTH LAWN & GARDEN midwayfarmsupply@windstream.net Automotive Parts FIELDS AUTO PARTS Hydraulic Hoses • Welding Supplies Small Engine Parts Auto Plus 53 E. North Ave. Comer, GA 30629 706-783-5122 Locally Owned and Operated Since 1981 Services Include: • Move IrVMove Out • Carpet Care • Day Porter Sen/ice Licensed, Insured, and Bonded Residential and Commercial Cleaning "We Make it Clean, that's Maxy Clean' Telephone * *: 708-352-7570 lnfo@Maxyclean.com Equipment a Supplies Farm a Garden Donald Childs Clint Childs Cindy Childs Keith Humphries | Jerry Childs Shane Gee Childs Equipment and Farm Supply, Inc. 5057 I Iwy. 334 Commerce, Georgia 30530 PI 1:706-335-3508 • FAX: 706-335-4071 Vernier Matter* Dealer A WARD Of EXCELLENCE MOUNO BA 1.1.MX MOW I NS Minu.ll CONDI I IONI.MS IIAY HAKMA II DItl NX lAUVRAmM BAI.I MHOCIiSaoHS MAY ArCLMnlll S PA KIN* S I.R V ICti Shirley Feed & Seed 2439 North Elm Street • Commerce 706-335-2162 Feed & Seed • Plants • Farm & Garden Supplies JiMfrey' 5 www.Qodlrevrfeed.com Purina Mills Handmade Gift Items Hardwares Supplies ...Just 4 u Personalized Hand Made Gift Items HANDMADE: Throw blankets, pillows, ponchos, baby and kitchen items, T &T leather belts 678.622.3012 WE sell FABRIC! 116 South Main Street • lla, GA 30647 • Plumbing • Electrical » Lawn & Garden » LP Gas • Kerosene » Pet & Farm feed & supplies » Purina • Diamond Pet Food • Wholesomcs » Valspar & Porter Paint » We cut Chip keys ...all your hardware supplies 650 Hwy. 72 West • Comer, Ga. 30629 706-783-5016 I facebook www.goSouthernHardware.com Heating And Air Call us for a checkup on your heating & air system. Find trouble before it finds you. Call Walters Heating & Air 770-307-8026 „ r — — — — — — — — — — •— — — — — —• i Mention this ad and Receive 10% off Service Call! i i. — — — _ _ — _ j LOCALLY OWNED - EXPERIENCED AND AFFORDABLE Pest Control HOLDER'S PEST CONTROL AND WILDLIFE SERVICES COMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL - NO ANNUAL CONTRACT - FREE INSPECTION Mark Holder • 678-897-0651 mark@holders-pest.com • www.holders-pest.com • RATS • BATS • SQUIRRELS • SNAKES • RACCOONS FULL HOME EXCLUSIONS TRAPPING • LIFETIME WARRANTY Roofing Tree Service Professional Tree Service • Tree & Stump Removal • Trimming & Clean-Up • Landscaping & Drainage • Emergency Needs • Licensed & Insured • Residential & Commercial FAULKNER TREE SERVICE 770-867-0451 or 678-858-2530 Tree Service CAMPBELL’S TREE SERVICE Certified Arborist Kevin Campbell • Licensed & Insured 706-372-7993 www.campbellstreeservices.com Ins. Claims • Storm Damage • Dangerous and Dead Tree Removal • JUmb Ups A Commercial & Residential Veteran owned & operated • 22 years experience Be a part of Northeast GA’s Largest Business Directory. Call 706-621-7196 or more information!