Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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. Dodge Woodworks Cabinet Makers Est. 1997 Custom Cabinets For Home Or Office • Kitchen • Bath • Office • Entertainment Centers •Granite • Corian • Silestone BUILDER/CONTRACTORS WELCOME 706-652-2013 706-652-2082 - Fax • dodgewoodworks@yahoo.com BOC... continued from page 1A 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. KW IT LOCAL |Sav[e Your Gas, Stop & Shop Here! These Are New Vehicles, Not Program Or Pre-Leased! 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 12-162181 Regular Price $36,120 Commerce Hometown Price $ 2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Regular Price $30,510 Commerce Hometown Price $ 2008 CHRYSLER 300 1 1 .107001 Regular Price $25,400 Commerce Hometown Price $ 25,174 *No Charge Oil Changes Up To 90,000 Miles *Lifetime Warranty 2008 JEEP LIBERTY 12-153033 1 1 1 t Regular Price $22,810 Commerce Hometown Price $ 20,443 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING Regular Price $ 20,000 Commerce Hometown Price $ 18,559 2008 CHRYSLER PT CROISER 19-101719 Regular Price $ 20,270 Commerce Hometown Price $ 16,376 WE W 3 3 IT Nl MBiWESffl? 2009 DODGE JOURNEY Regular Price $ 25,325 Commerce Hometown Price $ 23,860 Dealer retains rebates. Artwork in this ad may not reflect actual item advertised. itcE R Y S L Je^p, WWWeO**TfrCfOM>CEGOti 2377 Homer Rd. Commerce, GA 706-335-2800 800-448-7454