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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 3A City of Baldwin facing financial crunch BY SHARON HOGAN he City of Baldwin should freeze its spending for the rest of the fiscal year, said the town’s financial consultant at a meeting held on Feb. 25. Beth Grimes discussed a draft copy of the city’s 2006-07 audit with the council and that as of June 30, 2007, the city only had a balance of $7,800 in cash funds under its gen eral fund budget. Grimes said this figure should be an amount equal to three months of operating costs. “This is something you really need to work on,” she said. Baldwin’s general fund ended 2007 fiscal year $34,500 in the red. Grimes told the council the city needs to pay down its $393,000 loan on two public safety buildings as much as possible and look at some sort of lease to pay the loan off. The total price of the two buildings was $600,000. Grimes also told the council that she frowns on borrow ing against SPLOST revenue and she doesn’t like using lease pro grams for vehicles. She said the city needs to let SPLOST revenue build up before it is used. Grimes also said the police depart ment was over budget by $127,000 and the fire department was over by $56,000. Some $48,000 of that was a grant the city did not receive. “I know you don’t want to raise the millage rate, but can we continue to provide the same level of service without a raise in the millage rate?” she asked. Grimes said Baldwin should work with the City of Cornelia and Habersham County to not duplicate services. “Is the millage rate where it needs to be?” Grimes asked. Mayor Mark Reed said, “We’ve tried to keep our millage rate as low as possible. We’ve never really bud geted a chunk for reserves.” But Grimes said building reserves is important. “Getting your reserves up is impor- tant because right now your hands are tied,” she said. “There is no control over spending. No following purchase orders. I feel like we are at a point where we need to set up a game plan to get it fixed. You abso lutely cannot afford to over-spend at any level.” Grimes told the council the city needs to set a budget and stick to it. There was also some discussion about the cost of Grimes’ services to the city. The council verbally agreed in a closed meeting to pay her $30,000 per year for her services for 2006-2007, Grimes said. “My bottom line price is $30,000 a year,” she said. “It’s based on what I actually do.” The city incurs an additional cost to Rushton & Company of $6,000-$9,000 for the audit on top of Grimes’ fee. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the council meeting: •the council approved payment of $30,000 to Angela Steedley, Steedley-Hosey, grant planning and management firm, for work on the Park Avenue project. This comes out of a $500,000 FY07 CDBG grant the city received. •the council approved a payment of $2,400 to Engineering Management, Inc., Lawrenceville, for engineer ing fees on street work. The funds come from Banks County SPLOST revenues. Reed reported to the coun cil that the preliminary engineering work is 100 percent complete on this project. •the council approved a SPLOST resolution to satisfy the lease com pany that the city is using to pur chase police vehicles. •the council met in closed ses sion for approximately one hour to discuss personnel. No action was taken. •The Baldwin City Council will hold its monthly work session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, in the courtroom at the police depart- Banks County Relay for Life seeking volunteers BY PHYLLIS MCCONNELL Special to the BCN The Banks County Relay for Life leaders asked me to write about my experience with cancer. So, I write to you about “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” What started out to be an ordinary Saturday quickly turned into a day that would change my life forever! I had slept late and turning over to get out of bed I discovered this huge knot, the size of an egg! Why hadn’t I seen or felt it before? I panicked! Was it cancer? My trip to the doc tor eased my mind a little. He felt it was fibrocystic cysts and nothing to worry about, but to be on the safe side he recommended I have a biopsy. It was November and I told him I would do it after Christmas. My best friend, Joyce Dyer, was with me and absolutely insisted I do it right away! She would not take no for an answer. I was still drowsy after the biopsy but will never forget the sur geon’s mouthful of words. “Phyllis I would have bet my life it wasn’t can cer. You will have a mastectomy and take six months of chemotherapy. You will lose your hair and be sick but you will be fine.” Joyce truly became my hero. The cancer had already escaped and affected one lymph node. If I had waited until the first of the year, it would probably have spread all over my body. That was the bad. Now came the ugly. Chemotheraphy! That was the worst time in my life and the sick est I’d ever been. Another angel, Lynn Ledford, carried me to every treatment — twice a month for six months. My daughter, Kelly, was 12 and my son was 10 at that time. I sent them away during my treatment the first time or so because I was so sick, but Kelly insisted on being there with me. She stuck right with me through those long dark hours being the best little nurse. She grew up and became a nurse. She works at the pediatrics group at Long Street Clinic. Now... I’ll tell you about the good. My ordeal was 20 years ago. My treatments were over in May and in, June 1989, we moved into our new house. I remembered sitting out on the porch crying my heart out wondering if I was going to live or die. That very day, I made a choice. I could drown in self-pity or I could pull myself up by the bootstraps and carry on. I chose the latter. Everyday, I jump out of bed with a zest for life I can’t describe. Since that awful disease touched my life, everyday is more precious, the sun rises and sunsets are more beautiful, the air seems fresher, and the grass is greener. I could go on and on. This week happens to be my birth day. I turn 55. I was only 36-years- old when my ordeal began. I urge everyone to never put off mammo- grams, second opinions, a biopsy, or even questions you may have. Time is crucial. I work at Banks County Middle School in the lunchroom. I love my job and am fortunate to be around so many positive people. I have never met a more positive per son than our principal, Mr. Cooper, along with the teachers and my co workers. My husband, Ralph, has been my biggest cheerleader, my support, and my rock. In a way, he is a survivor. Cancer touched both our lives 20 years ago. If you are going through this and have a question or just want to talk you can email me at pawmccon- nell@aol.com. Thank you for allow ing me to share my story with you. Let’s all enjoy this beautiful world God created for us and may we not take anything for granted. If you would like to be a part of the Banks County Relay for Life, call Charoltte Maxwell 706-335-6948 or Joan Cochran 706-335-6250. Non-profit groups in county may apply for funds Ninth District Opportunity, Inc. has been awarded federal funds under The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Banks County has been chosen to receive $7,186 to supplement emer gency food and shelter programs in the county. A local board made up of vari ous local agencies and churches will determine how the funds awarded to Banks County are to be distrib uted among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program. Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shel ter programs, and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies (not individuals) are urged to apply. The deadline to submit a request is March 21. Banks County has distributed emer gency food and shelter funds previ ously with Ninth District Opportunity Health Board to meet March 11 The Banks County Board of Health will hold their regular quarterly meet ing on Tuesday March 11, at 9 a.m. in the conference room of the Health Department. The public is welcome to attend. Only $29 to anyone who has never been to a chiropractor before (or hasn't been in a long time). Dear Friend, My name is Dr. Kevin L. Strohman. We are celebrating our 2 year anniversary in Commerce, Georgia. To show my appreciation, I have agreed to “give away” (to anyone who asks for it) $225 worth of my services for only $29. That's right $29. We have had an overwhelming response to our new office and have already helped a lot of people feel better and live healthier, more productive lives through Chiropractic Care. And now, I'd like to introduce even more people to the many benefits our profession has to offer. For instance, chiropractic care may be able to help you if you are suffering from any of the following conditions: • Migraine headaches • Numbness in arms and legs • Lower back pain • Muscle Spasms ...And a host of other problems ranging from dizziness to ringing in the ears. These symptoms can be caused whenever the vertebrae in your spine are out of alignment, because these “misalignments” directly affect your nervous system. Fortunately, many of these and other similar afflictions may be relieved or eliminated by proper chiropractic treatments. So if you have always wanted to “check out” chiropractic and see what it can do for you, now is the best time to do so because only $29 will get you all of the services I normally charge new patients $225 for. • In-depth consultation about your health and well-being • Complete chiropractic spinal exam • Full set of specialized x-rays to determine if a misalignment in your spine is causing your problem. (Note: Nobody gives these kinds of x-rays free. They would cost you at least $100.) • Analysis of your x-rays and spinal exam to evaluate what needs to be done to correct your problem. • Answers to all your questions concerning chiropractic care and what it can do for you. What are you waiting for? Call us for an appointment Today! 706-335-2225. Tell the receptionist you'd like to come in for the special New Patient Introductory Examination. Don't delay - relief is only minutes away. Sincerely, Dr. Kevin L. Strohman V Dr. Kevin Strohman 30346 Hwy 441 S. Commerce, Georgia 30530 Due to insurance regulations, Medicare and some other insurances may be excluded from this offer. / and other local agencies participat ing. These agencies were responsible for providing food and shelter for local individuals and families. The local board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high- need areas around the country. Public or private voluntary agencies (not individuals) interested in apply ing for emergency food and shelter program funds must submit a request to Brenda Dalin, Ninth District Opportunity, Inc, P.O. Drawer L, Gainesville, GA, 30501. /Gttifue* Step Mon. - Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. March Special 1/2 sandwich, soup, chips, drink, dessert Just $6.00 + tax y 193 Pottery Factory Drive • Exit 149 at Banks Crossing 706-335-0717 FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH, YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS! Let your members know when your group is meeting! Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in... • The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News • The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal JEFFERSON ^'AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 310 .... . 4 _. . _ 4 . 4 . Pd.02/09 White Plains Baptist Church Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers become friends and friends become family. 706-367-5650 White Plains Baptist Church 3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549 The Jackson Co. Republican Party Would like you to meet us for breakfast the second Sat. of each month, 8:00 at The Jefferson House. For more information, call 706-652-2967 or email fishyglass@yahoo.com Pd.05/08 iCfc BANKS COUNTY AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.06/08 rtSHfe, VETERANS OF W ! FOREIGN WARS Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr. Each 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m. Mike Buffington, Commander Phone 706-335-6532 263 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. • (706) 367-1400 Mark Bradley, President 260 ft UNITY LODGE F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. A. Ben Wurtz • 706-367-1400 Borders St. behind Tabo's 260 JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m. • (706) 654-2237 Clay Eubanks, President 260 .&%. COMMERCE ^'AMERICAN LEGION Commerce Rec. Dept. Post 93 Carson Street - 1st Mon. night Each Month, 7:30 p.m. 335-6400 BANKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441 North in Homer Pd.-2/2008 Andrews re-elected planning chair BY CHRIS BRIDGES During a brief meeting Tuesday night, the Banks County Planning Commission re-elected Alicia Andrews as chairperson for another year. Andrews recently completed her first year as chairperson of the commis sion which acts as a recommending body on zoning issues for the Banks County Board of Commissioners. Andrews was re-elected unanimously by fellow Planning Commission members. The only other item of business during the seven-minute meeting Tuesday night was a variance request from Four Square Diversied Investments which wanted to re-establish the property line for La Fiesta Grille on Hwy. 441. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the request for a reduc tion in the property line. Let us know your story ideas Have an interesting story to share? Do you have a unique hobby? If so, we would like to know. Contact Angie Gary, editor of The Banks County News, at 706-367-2490 or e-mail information to her at AngieEditor@aol.com. Right Choice % spokesman and HG TV star Pat Simpson Energy Efficient, Guaranteed Call now for a Right Choice Home Performance With ENERGY STAR" Audit Using state-of-the-art energy audit tools, we can help you determine how to reduce energy costs, increase the comfort of your home and improve the air quality. Call 1-800-462-3691 or visit jacksonpmc.com/rightchoice LEARN MORE AT energystar.gov