Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 3A Homer officials approve paving bid BY BRANDON REED The Homer City Council has moved closer to completing the Ray Street paving project. The council voted unanimously at its recent meeting to approve a $184,000 bid on the project that reflects a paving job that includes an eight-inch base and two inches of asphalt. CharlieArmentrout, ofArmentrout, Roebuck, and Matheny explained to the council that the approved bid would provide for a more durable roadway than had originally been planned. The original plan called for the city’s part to be $159,000 on the project. The vote approved the bid and authorized Mayor Doug Cheek to execute a change order on the project. Funds for the city’s part project comes from the city’s special pur pose local option sales tax funds, with other funding coming from the state department of transportation. The council also discussed issues with city computers working togeth er, as well as a new copy machine lease. The council agreed to discuss the items in a Jan. 29 work session, as well as a personnel manual for the city. The council also discussed the use of the fuel tanks at the city shop, and the possibility of selling fuel to the county from the tanks. One of the 10,000-gallon tanks could be used for diesel, while the other could be used for gas. The council agreed to investigate the possibility. Alto council discusses garbage collection BY SHARON HOGAN Ten residents who live outside the city limits of Alto have requested garbage service from the town. Alto Mayor Audrey Turner gave a report on this at the city council members meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8. She said the residents are on the city’s water service and they live just outside the city limits. Turner said the customers outside the city limits would be required to pay a higher rate for garbage service just like they do for water service. This discussion by the council was met with opposition from several garbage collection companies that were represented at the meeting. Anthony Burdge, Sanitation Management, Alto, asked the coun cil if the current garbage service provider was hired based on his experience. He asked: “What made you hire him that night and why did you sign a three-year contract with someone you don’t even know?” Burdge said the bid he submitted was printed in a newspaper from an adjoining county and, therefore, the current garbage service provider, Michael Harden, Waste Authority, Carnesville, was able to cut his bid price to get into the city. The city accepted sealed bids on the garbage rates and they were opened at a council meeting last year. Burdge also asked Turner if the city has a copy of the insurance cov erage that is required to be able to provide garbage service in the city. Turner told Burdge the city has a copy of the insurance coverage and a copy can be made available for him to see. Harden told those in attendance that he has not been knocking on the city’s door asking for these addi tional customers. Reggie Hix, Hix Sanitation, Alto, also spoke in opposition to the requests from the citizens. Hix said, “We are here to stop you from doing this. You are taking our customers.” Turner said, “We are not trying to take your customers. We are only trying to accommodate our custom ers that are requesting garbage ser vice.” The outside garbage service pro viders are concerned with the city accepting one new customer, then their neighbor wants the city to pro vide them with garbage service and then their neighbor and so on. Alto resident Roselynn Mason told the council that she did not think the city should take the action. “We need to be diplomatic about offering the services,” Mason said. When asked when the council would vote on this Turner said, “It doesn’t sound like we will.” In other business at the council meeting on Tuesday council member Margaret Beaupre told the council that the Habersham County Animal Control representative called her to see if the city needs their services. This comes after much hard work on the part of both parties to get animal control to provide services to the city. Alto city council holds swearing-in ceremony BY SHARON HOGAN Alto City Council members held a swearing-in ceremony at its meet ing on Tuesday, Jan. 8, for two new council members and a new mayor pro-tem. Alto Mayor Audrey Turner was sworn in for another term in office. Turner conducted the swearing in of new council members, Jacki Bosco and Kathy Clark. Clark replaces council member Phil Lomax on the council. Lomax did not seek re election in November. Bosco fills a vacant seat on the council. After the new members were sworn in, the council voted to elect council member Margaret Beaupre as mayor pro-tem. Lomax was presented with a plaque by the council in recognition of his service to the council. OTHER BUSINESS In other business the council: •scheduled a public hearing and a called meeting for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at city hall. The public hear ing will be held on an annexation request from Augustin Paramo for 8.32 acres located on Nix Road. The called meeting will be held to discuss the budget. •received a report from Police Chief Robin Krockum, who said the police department received an $11,794 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through their Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). The grant will be used to purchase a ther mal imaging camera. •heard from Krockum that the police department has received an $11,377 grant from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) through their 2008 Local Law Enforcement and Fire Services Grant (LLEFS). Baldwin council agrees to lift burn ban BY SHARON HOGAN Baldwin City Council members agreed unanimously at Monday’s council meeting to lift the city wide burn ban. Fire Chief Joe Roy appeared before the council at the Thursday night work session to let the coun cil know that he had some city residents requesting the burn ban be lifted. “I think it is O.K. to do this at this time,” he said. At Monday’s meeting Reed said, “We have had quite a bit of rain. It should be fine to lift this ban at this time.” Roy said the state only allows residents to burn limbs, leaves and brush. Residents are also required to call the Georgia Forestry Commission to receive a burn per mit before any burning is done. There is no cost for this permit, Roy said. Roy also said the Baldwin city residents are also asked to con tact the fire department to make them aware of the burning. Roy emphasized this is only for City of Baldwin residents. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at Monday’s council meeting: •at the recommendation of Reed, the council unanimously approved the re-appointment of: city attorney David Syfan, with the firm Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, Gainesville; city auditors, Rushton and Company; and city engineer, Jerry Hood, Engineering Management, Inc., Lawrenceville. •the council unanimously approved council member Ray Holcomb to serve another term as Mayor Pro-Tem. R. Holcomb abstained from voting on this issue. •the council approved the re appointments of the following department heads: Daren “Bear” Osborn, police chief; Joe Roy, fire chief; Tim Hall, public works direc tor; Betty Harper, administration supervisor and human resources manager and Robert Sneed, city court judge. •Roy introduced Dustin Henson, 21, Cornelia, as the fire depart ments newest full-time firefighter. Henson has been a volunteer with the Baldwin Fire Department for four years. Roy also reported to the council that he is currently advertising for a person to fill another vacant position. •the council approved the renewal of beer and wine pouring licenses for Taqueria El Mexicano, Willingham St. and Hwy. 441, and El Maguey Mexican Restaurant, Hwy. 441. The council also approved package beer and wine license renewals for Baldwin Package Store, Hasty Mart, Inc., Hwy. 441 at Industrial Boulevard, Hasty Mart #14, Hwy. 441 and Willingham Street, Kangaroo #3313, Hwy. 365, and Mac’s Chevron, Hwy. 365. •the council held the first read ing of an ordinance to establish a franchise fee applicable to holders of cable or video franchises issued by the State of Georgia; to desig nate an agent; to repeal conflicting ordinances; to provide an adoption date; to provide for an effective date; and for other purposes. •the council heard a rezoning request from Wade Rhoades, rep resenting property owner Jerry Tanksley, to have 8.34 acres locat ed on Hwy. 441 Bypass rezoned from multi-family to light indus trial. Tanksley wants to build a 20,000 square foot warehouse on this site. A local tire distributor is looking to occupy the warehouse when it is completed. Rhoades told the council the warehouse would mean an increase in tax revenue for the city and the warehouse would be using the city’s water and sewer services. The council held the first read ing of this request and Reed told Rhoades and Tanksley that the rezoning would be advertised and a second reading would have to be held. Reed said the coun cil probably would not be able to vote on this until the council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11. The first read ing of the request was approved unanimously. •the council met in closed ses sion for one hour to discuss per sonnel issues. No action was taken when the meeting was re-opened to the public. •the council heard a request from Mike Murray, of New Vision Worship Center, to have some work done on the road leading to the church. The church is located off Hwy. 365 on L.C. Turner Road. The road is both a city and county road. Reed told Murray that the engineering work has been done to pave and widen the road. Reed said, “Thank you for coming and we will see what we can do.” Public Works Director Tim Hall was asked to look at this issue. Murray said the ditches along the side of the road need to be cleaned out. Reed also said he and Hall have looking into the issue of limited sight distance at Baldwin Road and Airport Road. Reed said maybe a mirror needed to be installed at this site. Several local residents have had near misses at this location, Reed said. Got a local news tip? Let us know at 706-367-2490 THURSDAYTHRU SATURDAY JANUARY 17 th THRU 19 iTH Have Underbrush & Hedge Taken Over? ENVIRO-GRIND Can Make Your Property Have A More Park-Like Appearance. 706-680-0346 www.enviro-grind.com • Mitchell Owensby extra! 5% OFF REGULAR AND SALE PRICES ON ALL APPLIANCES WITH YOUR SEARS CARDv Excludes Kenmore PRO', compact refrigeration, air conditioners, dehumiditiers, water heaters. Great Price items and other Special Purchases. Otter valid thru 1/19/08. Arman a nAid Weekly Health Tip From Kim Bost Pharmacist - Owner Cold vs. Flu Cold weather brings the “cold and flu” season. Many times these two terms are used interchangeably, but there are differences. The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. In general, the flu is more severe than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough ' are more intense. The symptoms of the flu usually come on suddenly. Cold symptoms are usually milder than the flu and include a runny , or stuffy nose. Also, colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as ' pneumonia. Because the cold and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. For complete handouts on the cold and the flu and what you can do to protect yourself from both, come into Homer Drug Co. or Tiger Town Pharmacy. 706-677-3223 • 1228 Historic Homer Hwy. • Homer, Ga. Monday-Friday 9 - 6; Saturday 9 - 12 Noon; Sunday Closed AND FREE STANDARD DELIVERY AFTER ONLINE OR MAIL-IN REBATE ON ANY APPLIANCE OVER $399 WITH YOUR SEARS CARD Free standard local delivery on any applionce over $399 after discounts and coupons when you use a qualifying Sears card. Standard delivery Includes delivery within the local delivery area Mon. thru Frt. and delivery not requiring additional services or time. Outside local delivery area, customer pays an additional charge. Rebate values, local areas and additional charges vary. Maximum rebate value $75. See store for details. Excludes KitchenAid* built-in refrigeration and Outlet Stores. Offer good thru January 19, 2008. See sears.com for online rebate details. If WANT MORE OPTIONS? SHOPONLINE PICK-UP IN YOUR LOCAL SEARS STORE / Sale prices in effect Thursday, January 17 thru Saturday, January 19. Availability of items shown in this advertisement may vary by store. COMMERCE SEARS OWNED & OPERATED BY ALLEN & JILL COOPER 2189 N. Elm St. • Commerce, GA • (706) 335-3879 Open Mon.-Sat. 9-6; Sunday 12-5 COMMERCE Important Deferred Interest Promotional Offer Details: FINANCE CHARGES accrue on a promotional purchase from the date of purchase and all accrued FINANCE CHARGES for the entire promotional period will be added to your account if the purchase is not paid in full by the end of the promotional period or if you default under your card agreement. Making the minimum monthly payment will not pay oft your promotional purchase in time to avoid FINANCE CHARGES. With credit approval, for qualifying purchases made on a Sears card (Sears Commercial One" and Sears Home Improvement Account* accounts excluded unless otherwise indicated) Offer is only valid for consumer accounts in good standing and is subject to change without notice. May not be combined with any other credit promotional offer. Promotional offers of 14 months or more require minimum monthly payments as disclosed in the offer. Sears cards: APRs up to 26.49%. but if your account has a variable APR, the APR is up to 31.49% as of 12/3/07 and may vary. Minimum Monthly FINANCE CHARGE: up to $1. See card agreement for details, including when the default rate applies. Sears cards are issued by Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK*": Exclusions apply. See Sears Return Policy for more details. Appliance prices shown are for white unless otherwise indicated. Colors, connectors, ice maker hook-up and installation extra. No extra charge for dishwasher colors. Excludes stainless steel finishes.*PuR is a registered trademark of Procter and Gamble Company Cincinnati, Ohio, used under license by Sears. tTotal capacity. Some items may require assembly. See store for details. SEARS DEALER R0P JAW801C003