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PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008 Lula tables action on controversial zoning request BY SHARON HOGAN A large crowd turned out in Lula last week for a public hearing on the annexation and rezoning request for a planned unit development, Highland Lakes Subdivision, proposed for Railroad Avenue/West County Line Road, More than a dozen people spoke in opposition to the request submitted to the City of Lula by property owners Roger Murphy and Richard Butler, Butler-Murphy, LLC. Bill Gresham, Gresham Planning and Development, Inc., Clarkesville, represented the prop erty owners at the meeting. No action was taken on this request by the council. The matter was tabled until the March meeting. The council members unanimously agreed to ask the developers to present a traffic study to the council before any action is taken on this request. The proposed development will have 105 single-family detached craftsman- style homes located on 43.126 acres in Banks County. The homes being proposed would have rock and brick accents. The property is currently zoned agricultural. The developers have a divided entrance proposed for this development due to issues with the sight distance at the point of entry and exit. At last week’s meeting, Gresham said that the developers are proposing a walking trail and picnic area and, depending on the age of the residents, possibly some playground equipment. Gresham also said a homeowner’s association is mandatory by the devel opers for Highland Lakes. Gresham added that this development will add about 300 residents to Lula’s tax base. A PUD allows for reduced linear feet of streets and water lines and this reduces the cost of the develop ment and this savings can be passed on to the buyers, Gresham explained. He said the developers have tried to cre ate affordable housing for the citizens of Lula. Lula City Manager Dennis Bergin said that this PUD application is for residential use only and no commercial will be allowed without the developers coming back before the council to seek approval, Most of those who spoke in opposi tion to this development are concerned with the traffic on Railroad Avenue/ West County Line Road. Tim Haynes, Harris Circle, said the road is not safe and there is not enough property to widen the road because of the railroad and other landowners. Haynes also said he was concerned with how this would adversely affect his property. Laverne McClure, a resident of West County Line Road, whose property joins the proposed development, said she is concerned with the safety on the road also, David White, Lula Farm Road, said he is concerned with the water issue. “These developments could tax Lula’s water resources,” White said. White said there is no stop sign at the end of the road coming out of Waterford Glen Subdivision, another new development in the City of Lula, and this causes a hazard. White also said he is concerned with the impact these developments will have on the schools and EMS services. White told the council that he was sorely disappointed that two of the council members didn’t find the hear ing important enough to attend. Mayor Milton Turner told White that council member Mordecai Wilson recently had hip replacement surgery and would be absent from the council the entire month of February. Councilman Judah Echols came in to the public hearing later on, White said, “I am disappointed the room is not standing room only.” Several times during White’s com- ments he stated, “Lula council is elect ed to serve the citizens of Lula, not developers.” Kirk Adams, Homer Highway, said he is concerned with the sight distance when you enter Railroad Avenue/West County Line Road from this develop ment. The entrance to the development is located in a curve. Adams also said road maintenance is a concern to him. Adams said there is no road frontage on this property. Eddie Hickman, Griffin Lake Drive, told the developers and Gresham that he owns a 400+ acres working farm with cows, hogs, etc. “Last year we spread about 50 loads of chicken litter on this farm and every one knows how chicken litter smells,” he said. “I don’t want to hear any com plaints about odor.” June Griffin Hickman, Griffin Lake Drive, said the Waterford Glen devel opment and this proposed PUD devel opment would mean two new schools would be needed in Banks County. J. Hickman said, “I am a teacher and I know what I am talking about.” Others who spoke in opposition to this request were Adele Kushner, Terry Mize, Anita White, Teresa Johnston, Stacy McClure, Kay Jameson, Lane Griffin and Shawn Johnston. Baldwin council lifts city's total outdoor watering ban BY SHARON HOGAN The Baldwin City Council agreed Monday night to lift the city’s total outdoor watering ban. In a unanimous vote, the council approved the state’s latest watering guidelines. Mayor Mark Reed said the “river is up” and the city needs to look at the restrictions, “Under the new guidelines, we can’t wash cars, but we can plant flowers,” Reed said, Council member Ray Holcomb said, “I personally would like to see them (the restrictions) eased a little. I would like to do some pressure wash ing myself.” Reed said, “The customers conserv- ing has cost us money.” Council member Robert Bohannon said that the city still needs to meet the 10 percent reduction. “With the repairs that we’ve made, we should be O.K. on this,” he said. The state guidelines approved by the council will allow the citizens to hand water existing landscape between midnight and 10 a.m. for no more than 25 minutes on designated days based on odd-numbered and even-numbered addresses. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hand watering is defined as one person with one garden hose with a PUBLIC NOTICE The Town of Alto is accepting sealed bids for the purchase of a 2000 Crown Victoria on display at the Police Department through March 7, 2008. The bids will be opened at the March 11, 2008 Regular Council Meeting and the car will be awarded to the highest bidder. Statement of Nondiscrimination Jackson EMC is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI and Title VII, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Civil Rights Act of 1991, Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Labor, OFCCP, which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap shall he excluded from participa tion in, admission or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any of this organization’s programs or activities. Tlie person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrim ination compliance efforts is William P. Ormsby, Manager, Corporate Administration. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250; or the Administrator, Rural Electrification Administration, Washington, D.C. 20250, and the Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Washington, D.C. 20250. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible. spray nozzle that shuts off automati cally when it is released. Swimming pools can be filled as well under the latest guidelines. There are no clock or calendar restrictions on the filling of swimming pools. The swimming pool exemption was granted due to concerns that neglected and partially filled pools could pose risks to public health and safety, said Environmental Protection Division Director Carol A. Couch in a press release on the latest guidelines. Couch also stated that people who successfully complete an Outdoor Water Use Registration Program will be allowed to water newly-installed landscape up to three days a week following the odd-even schedule for a period of 10 weeks following plant ing. The Outdoor Water Use Registration Program will be available online at www.urbanagcouncil.com beginning on March 15, the press release states. Citizens can also contact their county extension agents for information about the registration. The council agreed to these guide lines, but also stated that this could change if the 10 percent reduction is not met, W & W METAL ROOFING 30 Year Paint ^ “We Got You Covered” Residential • Commercial • Agricultural • Ship Anywhere In The USA • We Stock Your Metal Needs • Visit Our Showroom www.wwmetalroofing.com IFA BR AB 706-654-5836 Hwy. 60 / Candler Hwy. • Pendergrass, Ga. Warranty Sales Service Installation I • # ^ Hours: Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. J § NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTS § Leslie M Pitts, D/MD Pediatric Dentistry 706-335-7793 215 Mercer Place, P. O. Box 1241 Commerce, GA 30529 Website: drlpitts.com Email: drlpitts@drlpitts.com Homer Baptist Preschool Fall Registration 2-Day - 2-year-olds ($80.00 Monthly) 2- Day - 3-year-olds ($80.00 Monthly) 3- Day - 3-year-olds ($100.00 Monthly) 4- Day - 4-year-olds ($115.00 Monthly) 5- Day - 4-year-olds ($125.00 Monthly) Homer Baptist Preschool is ranked in the over 95% percentile for kindergarten readiness. Our Pre-K program includes a library for beginning readers and computer lab. We are fortunate to have over half of our Pre-k children reading early readers before they enter kindergarten. Here, your child can receive the very best in spiritual knowledge, education and prayer. When children are introduced to learning with these key elements it is carried on for a lifetime. Registration begins on March 3, from 8:00 until 11:00, Monday through Friday. A $45 registration fee is due at the time of registration. For more information, contact (706) 677-1039. SPACE IS LIMITED SO DON’T DELAY! 5028 Hwy. 441 S. • P. O. Box 499 • Homer, GA 30547 Maysville seeks citizen input BY CHRIS BRIDGES City of Maysville officials are seeking input from the people they represent. The city is working on its new comprehensive plan and wants to hear from citizens about the direc tion they want the municipality to go in future years. The first of sev eral public hearings was held last Thursday on the matter as Adam Hazell of Georgia Mountain Rural Development Center spoke to the city council members, as well as two citizens who attended. Hazell, who is a planning direc tor for Georgia Mountain RDC, explained the process of updat ing the comprehensive plan say ing Thursday’s meeting officially started the process and was one of three required public hearings on the matter. Currently, Hazell is in the pro cess of conducting research and obtaining city-related documents. He said the first public meeting is held to explain the process. Hazell said a comprehensive plan is required by state law to have a qualified local government status. Without it, eligibility for outside assistance would be suspended. “This plan will help be a guide book for city leaders,” Hazell said. “We want to hear from the citizens on what they want from their city in the next 20 to 30 years.” Citizens can submit comments or ideas for the plan to Hazell at Town of Maysville Comprehensive Plan, P.O. Box 1720, Gainesville, Ga. 30503. He can also be con tacted at 770-538-2617 or by e-mail at ahazell@gmrdc.org. The next public hearing on the Maysville comprehensive plan is scheduled for March 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Lula meeting set March 4 on State Route 365 proposal Lula City Manager Dennis Bergin is urging Lula residents to attend the final public information open house on SR 365 improvement scenarios proposed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The meeting is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, at Lula Elementary School, 6130 Chattahoochee Street. Residents can drop any time during this two-hour period, The scenarios proposed by the DOT will address safety, congestion, mobil ity and economic development along SR365. Additional study information can be obtained from the DOT project man ager, Jason Crane at (404) 656-5360or jcrane@dot.state.ga.us. Lordy, Lordy Look Who’s 4011 Charles Rogers Please honor Charles with your presence at an Open House Birthday Celebration at Pendergrass Baptist Church on Saturday March 8, 2008 at 2 pm. Charles would love to see all classmates, friends and family. RSVP 706-654-6482 mainstreetnews.com