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Sports: IB
BCHS wrestlers shine
at recent tournament
Community: 7B
Volunteer group
donates wellness
center equipment
January 9,2008
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The Banks County News
504^ Homer, Banks County, Georgia 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • mainstreetnews.com • 16 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 39 No. 22
Poultry operation request withdrawn
BY ANGELA GARY
A large crowd attended a hearing
Thursday night about a proposed poultry
plant locating in Banks County only to
learn that the application had been with
drawn.
The Banks County Planning
Commission was to hear a request from
McEver Family Heirs Partnership LP to
rezone 199.5 acres on Duncan Road from
Country
Charms Egg
Company,
Gainesville,
has withdrawn
a request to
locate an egg
laying plant in
Banks County.
ARR, (Agricultural, Rural-Residential)
to CAD (Consolidated Agricultural
District, Intensive). Country Charms Egg
Company, Gainesville, had planned to
locate a large-scale egg laying plant on
the property.
Representatives of the poultry com
pany appeared before the Banks County
Planning Commission in early December
requesting approval for a new operation
in the area of Brown Bridge Road and
Duncan Road. After listening to an hour
of discussion from company officials and
concerned citizens at that meeting last
month, the planning commission tabled
the request until its next meeting to have
time to go over additional submitted
information.
When it was announced at last week’s
meeting that the request had been with-
drawn, the more than 50 people in the
audience cheered and applauded.
In the only other business at the
brief meeting Thursday night, the plan
ning commission tabled a request from
Bradford and Karen Leary for a condi
tional use permit for a home occupa
tion (home inspection) business. This
property is zoned R-1, Single-Family
Residential District at 132 Manor Place.
Commissioners hear concerns
from county's volunteer firemen
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County Board of Commissioners
heard a plea from local volunteer firemen Dec. 28
requesting something be done about recent demo
tions handed down by fire chief Gary Pollard.
John Creasy, a deputy chief for Banks County
fire/EMS services, served as spokesman for a
large group of volunteers during the called meet
ing. Creasy, who said his position was being elim
inated, said restructuring within the department
resulted in several demotions for volunteers.
“We feel this is a danger to the department,”
Creasy said. “At one point we all felt like we
simply should resign rather than work under these
conditions. We would like to ask the commission
ers to stop the current changes to investigate what
is going on.”
Creasy also said it was too “deep of an issue to
resolve today” but he hopes the commissioners
could look into the concerns of the volunteers,
who help make the backbone of the department.
“We want the volunteers to continue to be part
of the department,” commission chairman Gene
Banks County commis
sioner Rickey Cain said
he “supports the fire
department 110 percent”
after volunteer firefight
ers questioned recent
department restructur
ing and demotions.
Hart said. “We will take this into consideration.”
Commissioner Rickey Cain said he “sup
ports the fire department 110 percent.”
“Anything that I can do I always do,” Cain said. “I
don’t want our morale to go away. I hope and pray
we can keep everyone.”
Commissioner Joe Barefoot said he believed
Creasy had made a reasonable request and that
the commissioners should put a freeze on any
demotions until the situation was investigated
completely.
“We need to get all the necessary information
before any changes are made,” Barefoot said.
BOC sets 'guaranteed price' for projects
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County Board of Commissioners
approved a new price of $7,766,382 for the
construction of the county’s new administrative
building and renovation of the current courthouse
during a meeting on Dec. 28.
Commissioners approved the change after hear
ing from Scott Edwards of Turner Construction
who said the price would be $99,842 lower than
originally anticipated.
Grading work has begun at the site of the new
administration building, which has a target com
pletion date of this summer.
The commissioners also agreed to allow Turner
Construction to handle materials testing at the site
since the company had already been undertaking
that duty.
In other action, the BOC:
•voted to have a maximum removal cost of
$8,525 for an underground storage tank at the
old Candler Street jail. The cost would be more if
there is contaminated soil.
•heard a request from Cynthia Stephens for the
county to help Red Hawk Farms of Maysville
obtain a Georgia Land Conservation Plan Grant.
No action was taken.
•continued discussion about how to word the
referendum concerning a change in the form of
county government from a three-person commis
sion to a five-person commission. The discus
sion centered on whether to have commissioners
elected from districts or at large. Commissioner
Joe Barefoot requested giving voters the option
to decide.
News - 2-3A
•Maysville holds swear
ing-in — page 3A
Absentee voting under way
Advance voting:
Jan. 28-Feb. 1
I
Absentee ballots for the Feb. 5 presidential preference pri
mary are currently available from the
Banks County Registrars Office.
Rules regulating absentee ballots
have changed as registered voters no longer have to give a
reason for requesting an absentee ballot by mail. Those request
ing an absentee ballot must ask for a Democrat or Republican
ballot, however.
Absentee ballots must be received by the Registrar’s Office
a
continued on page 2A
jumping back into basketball
Chase Armour and the Banks County High School varsity boys’ basketball team
have gone through a layoff lasting several days, but will return to action Friday
at Rabun County High School for a subregion contest. The Leopards have not
competed since a tournament at Commerce High School in late December.
Photo by Randy Crump
• ‘Looking at the bright
er side of winter months’
— page 4A
Other news
•School News — pages 4B
•Social News — pages 6-8b
•Public Safety — page 6A
•Legals — pages 8-10A
•Church — page 5B
• Obituaries — page 7A
Baldwin council approves permit for church in industrial area
BY SHARON HOGAN
Baldwin City Council members approved a special
use permit for Fellowship Church to locate in the
city’s industrial park at a Dec. 27 meeting.
The council held a public hearing on this request
at the start of the meeting. Several residents spoke in
opposition to this request.
Baldwin resident Elsie Sumner asked the council,
“Why are you considering this?”
The application was received from Craig Lee, pas
tor of Fellowship Church, to lease a 10,000 square
foot area from Eddie Russell located on 5.77 acres
in the industrial park. The church was previously
located in the old Baldwin Church of God building
and after moving from this location they have been
holding their service in a temporary location that they
have outgrown.
The building being pursued is zoned light indus-
trial and Mayor Mark Reed told those in attendance
that a church is not included in the business by
right list for this area. The list of businesses by right
included adult entertainment, salvage yard and saw
mill, as well as others. Reed said a special use permit
is allowable for airport, churches and other uses the
council deems allowable.
continued on page 2A
— Local Candidates —
Chapman to
seek another
term as sheriff
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Banks County sheriff Charles
Chapman announced this week he will
seek another term in office.
Chapman, who was first elected
sheriff in 1996, said
he has received
a strong level of
encouragement to
run again. The veter
an law enforcement
official will run as a
Republican in 2008
after previously run
ning as a Democrat.
“During my ten
ure in office, there has been a lot of
change come to our country,” he said.
“With this change, the demands on
this office have become greater, but we
have risen to meet those demands.”
The sheriff said during his time in
elected office the BCSO has developed
a spirit of cooperation among other
continued on page 2A
Ausburn to
run for sixth
term of office
Margaret Ausburn will seek re
election as Banks County Tax
Commissioner. She took office
January 1, 1989, and is currently
serving in her 20th
year in office.
Prior to being
elected in 1988,
she worked in the
office with former
tax commissioner,
Joleen Ferguson,
whom did not seek
re-election.
She is a 1977
honor graduate of Banks County High
School. Also, she graduated from
North Georgia Tech, now known as
North Georgia Technical College,
with honors where she studied busi
ness, specializing in business admin
istration.
She is a member of the Georgia
Association of Tax Officials,
Constitutional Officers Association
of Georgia, Homer Fire Department
Ladies Auxiliary and participates in
many community activities.
“I appreciate all the support I have
received over the past 29 years and, if
re-elected, pledge to serve my county
to the best of my ability,” Ausburn
said. “Your continued support will be
greatly appreciated.”
AUSBURN
CHAPMAN
