Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2008
Naysville officials consider
new garbage collector
Washington leaders ... continued from page 1A
of the projects in the water bill to be prioritized.
He pledged his support to look into this further.
Congressman Broun said he wanted to help the
county with economic development but added
that he does not support “earmarked” funds.
“I’m very eager to be your partner in economic
development,” he said. “Infrastructure improve
ments is critical. We need a lot of economic
development throughout our district...If we just
write a check, it would be easy but we can’t just
write a check.I’ll do whatever I can to help
you find financing.There are a number of us
who are trying to stop spending in the federal
government.. .I am one of those.. .There are other
means of getting the funds instead of earmarks. I
can’t promise that we will get the money but I will
do everything I can through the normal budget
process.We will do everything we can to get
you the money. I just can’t do it through an ear
mark.. .We have to have some earmark reform.
so that we have money for good projects. I can’t
personally do it through an earmark because I’m
trying to cut spending.”
OTHER ISSUES
Other issues discussed by the Banks delegation
included the county’s lack of telecommunica
tions. Business owner Jerry Boling asked for
any assistance with programs, grants of business
incentives to improve this situation.
“We will look for opportunities on the broad
band,” Isakson said.
Chambliss pointed out that low interest loans
are available for cable companies to expand into
rural areas. He said rural development funds are
also available through the USDA for telecom
munications.
County extension agent Bob Waldorf spoke on
agriculture issues impacting the county, including
dead bird disposal and the need for a facility for
horse shows and other events.
“I’ve got a great suggestion for you on the dead
chickens,” Isakson said. He said a middle Georgia
poultry farmer opened an alligator farm to handle
his dead bird disposal.
“An alligator is a tremendous disposal unit,” he
said. “I’m serious.”
Waldorf also spoke on the need for a multi-use
center that could be used for horse events, area
and regional livestock shows and as an emergency
shelter.
Family Connections Robin Trotter thanked the
representatives for the funds that went to the com
munity health center in Homer.
FIFTH TRIP
This is the fifth year the Banks County Chamber
of Commerce has organized the trip to Washington,
D.C.
Those county leaders going on the trip were:
Gene Hart, board of commission chairman;
Robin Trotter, Family Connections director;
Angela Sheppard, county administrative officer;
Tara Fulcher, chamber of commerce director;
Bob Waldorf, county extension agent; Clyde
McArthur, Banks County Planning Commission
member; Helen Hewell, chamber president; and
Martha Threatt, chamber member.
Business leaders who went on the trip included:
Jerry Boling, Document Destruction Services
Inc.; Megan Martin, Document Destruction; Beau
Sheppard, Regions Bank; Todd Hubbard, Jackson
Electric Membership Corporation; and Angela
Gary, The Banks County News. Josh Smith, a
Toccoa Falls student, and Matt Stout, Rep. Paul
Broun’s Toccoa office staff member, also accom
panied the group.
Chamber comments ... continued from page 1A
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
embers of the Maysville
City Council heard
a pitch Monday night
from John Bellamy of Waste Pro of
Georgia about awarding his com
pany the city’s garbage collection
contract.
Bellamy said his privately-owned
company currently provides service
for the municipalities of Jefferson,
Arcade, Hoschton and Nicholson.
Based in Athens, Waste Pro is cur
rently constructing a new million
dollar facility headquarters.
Bellamy said his company would
charge the city $12 per month for
each of its 482 customers. Currently,
R&W Sanitation is charging the
city $13 per customer. Maysville
residents with garbage pickup are
in turn charged an increased amount
from the city.
The council took no action on
changing garbage collectors Monday
night wanting to work up a final list
of questions for Bellamy. In addi
tion, members wanted to make a
decision as a whole since council
member Clay Dorsey was not in
attendance.
If the city awards a contract to
Waste Pro, Bellamy said it would
give citizens quality collection ser
vice with a new truck and garbage
bins. An option for recycling would
also be available to the city although
all customers would be charged for
the program, likely in the neigh
borhood of $3 or $4 per month,
Bellamy said.
Council member Stephan Lewis
said he had a concern with requiring
citizens to pay an additional cost for
recycling pickup.
“I am in favor of recycling,” Lewis
said. “However, I know an extra
$3 or $4 a month is a significant
amount for some of our citizens. I
would hate to see that be manda
tory.”
Lewis inquired about the possibil
ity of a recycling station set up for
Maysville but Bellamy said many
times that becomes a problem with
people putting trash in the con
tainer.
“Then everything has to be thrown
away because I don’t want to be the
one to separate it,” Bellamy said.
Lewis said he agreed that an edu
cation program on recycling for
Maysville citizens would be ben
eficial and that down the road more
might be receptive to paying the
extra amount.
Waste Pro officials attempted to
gain Maysville’s garbage contract
three years ago but the city went
with R&W.
lot of positive feedback and direc
tion during or meetings, I feel that
the most important thing is what we
do with that feedback and direction.
The greatest benefit that we can take
away from this experience is know
ing where we stand in regards to our
county’s needs/requests and the pos
sible hurdles before us and moving
forward to accomplish our goals.”
Chamber member Martha Threatt
said: “I was especially impressed
with Congressman Broun in that
he doesn’t appear to have been
‘Washingtonized.’ He still acts and
interacts as a regular person instead
of being on an elected person’s ped
estal. I appreciate his efforts to
downsize the national government.
Also, I appreciate all of their posi
tion on not supporting earmarks on
frivolous spending - hopefully the
entire Georgia delegation is on the
same page on that one.”
Megan Martin, director of sales and
marketing at Document Destruction,
said: “I thought the trip was great.
It’s not every day you get to sit down
with your senators.”
Chamber director Tara Fulcher
said: “This is a perfect opportunity
for the business and civic leader
ship of Banks County to meet face
to face with key decision makers
in Washington, D.C. It’s our intent
to let them know our priorities and
to stay focused on solutions as we
move forward.”
County extension agent Bob
Waldorf said: “I thoroughly enjoyed
being on the Washington, D.C. trip
It was great to see this many people
from the many different walks of life
come together and be supportive of
the trip’s agenda and the fast-paced
itinerary. It was definitely an educa
tion for me especially since I have
never been to Washington D.C.”
Wells ... continued from page 1A
cost of $400,000. The project would take from 12-18 months to complete,
McGaughey said. Funds could be secured with a GEFA loan.
The issue of Maysville drilling additional wells came about in recent
months when Banks County cut off the city from purchasing any additional
water. Currently, Maysville purchases its water from Commerce although
there have been no indications Commerce is running short of water.
The council took no action on drilling additional wells as members wanted
to discuss the plan at a future work session.
In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the Maysville council
awarded a bid for pothole repair to Brown’s Paving for $2,200.
Prior to Monday’s council meeting, a second public hearing was held
concerning the city’s new comprehensive plan. Adam Hazell of Georgia
Mountain Rural Development Center in Gainesville gave three population
growth estimates for Maysville by the year 2030.
Hazell said he took into consideration that the area of Maysville would
remain the same. At the low end of the estimate, Maysville’s population
would increase from 1,267 to 2,331. The medium estimate was for 2,703
with the high population estimate at 3,089.
The next public hearing is scheduled for March 13 at 7 p.m. in the city
library.
PUBLIC MEETING
Banks County Board Of Commissioners
A Public Kickoff Meeting for the Banks County
Comprehensive Plan Update is scheduled for
from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at
the Banks County Senior Citizens Center located at 700
Thompson Street in Homer. The meeting is the first of
four scheduled public workshops that Banks County, in
association with the city of Baldwin, will hold in an
effort to update the Comprehensive Plan.
The purpose of the Kickoff Meeting is to:
• Announce the beginning of the planning process,
• Present on the project purpose and approach
• Provide an opportunity for participants to voice their
initial concerns for future development and help the
planning team define the key issues and
opportunities
Stakeholder opinion questionnaires will be available for
the public at the meeting and can be downloaded from
the Banks County website at
http://www.co.banks.ga.us.
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OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at the BOC meet
ing:
•a public hearing was held on the
comprehensive plan update. Marty
Sewell, a consultant with Mactec,
said the process is now under way
and input will be taken from the
steering committee and other inter
ested citizens. The first meeting will
be held at 6 p.m. on March 13 at the
senior citizen’s center. “Our role is
to listen and see what the commu
nity has to say and what will work
best for the entire county,” Sewell
said.
•Annette Raymond asked that the
five percent fine surcharge collected
by the county be divided among
Peace Place, 35 percent; Tree House,
35 percent; CASA, 12 percent; and
the Piedmont Rape Crisis Center,
15 percent. She said the percentage
requested was determined by the
case load of each agency. No action
was taken.
“Give us time to digest what you’ve
given to us,” Hart said.
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