Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 3A
Firefighters... cont’d from 1A
Gillsville City Council reviews subdivision regulations
Creasy said Hart has not
addressed concerns from the fire
men about chief Gary Pollard.
“Gene Hart won’t listen to the
issues,” Creasy said. “He’s ada
mant that we have to work with
Gary Pollard. Gene Hart is adamant
that Gary Pollard be in charge. It
leaves us at an impasse.”
Creasy said the volunteers felt
they had no other option except
resigning.
“If we don’t bring attention to
this issue, it is not going to get
resolved,” Creasy said. “There is
nothing else we can do at this
point.”
Creasy also said he has been
“shocked and disappointed” on
the personal attack that Hart has
made against him. Hart has blamed
Creasy for the controversy sur
rounding the fire department.
Creasy also said Banks County
reportedly failed a Jan. 3 audit
conducted by the Georgia
Firefighter Standards and Training
Council. Executive director Lyn
Pardue would not confirm that
the department failed but he did
confirm that an audit was done on
Jan. 3 and a follow-up would be
necessary. Follow-ups are usually
conducted to determine whether
failures of the department noted
in the previous audit have been
corrected.
Pardue refused to elaborate on
the problems Banks County had
in the the Jan. 3 audit. However,
sources say that Pollard hired a
convicted felon, which is a viola
tion of the state code.
Other concerns which some fire
fighters say may lead to a state
investigation of the Banks County
Fire Department include training
conducted by people who are not
certified and a training burn that
did not meet state requirements.
Pollard said on Tuesday that the
fire department did not fail the
audit.
“It was not an audit,” he said.
“We called the state up here to
answer some questions and show
us some direction on some things
because we had a new training
officer. While they were here, they
did some practicals at the station
like they do at all fire departments
in the state. They are returning
this month to do practicals with
all three shifts. They are hitting
departments all over the state with
this. They did have some ques
tions about some things they were
told that were not true.”
CONCERNS AIRED
IN DECEMBER
The issue was first made public
through a Dec. 11, 2007, letter
sent to the three commissioners.
It was signed by 34 of the 44 vol
unteer firemen.
“Chief Pollard’s policies of
favoritism, secrecy and deception
are tearing at the very fabric of
our beloved department,” the let
ter read. “Chief Pollard has now
chosen to dissolve the volunteer
leadership by demoting all volun
teer officers.. .To ignore the wealth
of knowledge and experience our
current volunteer officers have is
potentially life threatening.”
The volunteers emphasized in
the letter that the issue is not
one of paid firemen verses volun
teer firemen. Instead, one of the
main concerns has been over the
volunteer battalion chiefs being
demoted to lieutenants.
The volunteers asked the com
missioners to immediately stop
Pollard from making any person
nel changes and to immediately
replace him. At the time the let
ter was written, the volunteers
threatened to resign as of Jan. 1
if the issues were not addressed.
They held off on resigning after
the BOC agreed to look into their
concerns. However, a March 6,
2008, letter sent to the firemen
strongly supported Pollard and
indicated that no changes would
be made.
“As the chief, Gary has the
full support and backing of the
board of commissioners,” the let
ter states. “Decisions made by
Chief Pollard regarding the train
ing and activities of the Banks
County Fire Department will be
supported by the board of com-
missioner.If anyone has any rea
son to think they can not work
under the leadership and guidance
of Chief Pollard in his efforts
of resolving all issues and lead
ing the fire department to the
next step, they certainly have the
right to resign their position with
Banks County, whether it be paid
staff or volunteer staff.”
In this letter, signed by county
personnel officer, Judy Greer, it
states that the benefits for the fire
fighters would remain the same
and they would continue to be
paid per call.
Planning public
hearing for April 1
BY SHARON HOGAN
The Gillsville City Council has devel
oped subdivision regulations for the city
and planned a public hearing for 7 p.m.
on Tuesday, April 1, to hear public com
ment on the proposal. The council voted
unanimously at the meeting on Tuesday,
March 4, to approve the hearing.
The hearing will be held before the
regular monthly meeting. The first read
ing of the ordinance on the subdivision
regulations will be held during the meet
ing.
The ordinance is for the purpose of
controlling the subdivision of land and
subsequent development; establishing
definitions of terms used in the ordi
nance; setting forth uniform procedures
and requirements for reviewing and
approving exemption plats, prelimi
nary plats, and final plats; requiring the
recording of all land subdivision plats
and minimum specifications for all plats
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Nancy Schaefer, who has repre
sented Banks County in the state
senate for the past four years, will
run for U.S. Congress in 2008.
Senator Schaefer made the
announcement earlier this month
that she will challenge first-term
congressman Paul Broun Jr. for his
10th Congressional seat. Broun is
in his first term as a congressman.
The 10th Congressional District
Republican Michael Harden has
announced his candidacy for State
House District 28, which includes
all of Stephens and Banks counties,
and a portion of Franklin County.
Born and raised in Stephens
County, Harden is a graduate of
Stephens County High School and
Emmanuel College.
“My wife Janelle and I have been
praying about this race for a long
while,” Harden said. “I would like
to thank all of our friends from
around the District who have called
and encouraged us to enter this
race.”
Harden continued, “As I speak
with the people of the House
recorded, ensuring the proper naming of
streets and assignment of street addresses
and other issues related to the develop
ment of new subdivisions.
A complete copy of the subdivision
regulations can be viewed at city hall
during normal business hours.
City attorney David Syfan asked Mayor
Larry Poole who would be paying for an
engineer to oversee the technical issues
associated with this and Poole said the
council would set a fee to be paid by the
developer to cover the engineering fees.
Poole also said they have an individual
who has agreed to work with the city on
an as needed basis on this.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at the meeting:
•the council unanimously approved a
list of bidders to draft letters to seeking
bids on the septic system for the down
town buildings. The council recently
received approval for the septic sys
tem from the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division. The city has not
received any word on possible grants for
this project at this time.
runs from the eastside of Georgia
from Richmond County on the
South to Rabun and Town counties
on the north. The district includes
a total of 21 counties. Eight of the
counties in the district, including
Banks, make up the 50th Senatorial
District which Schaefer has repre
sented in the state senate the past
four years.
Schaefer is a previous Republican
nominee for Lieutenant Governor
District 28, they all tell me they’re
fed up with their tax burden, they
want us to fix the water rights
problem, and they want a conserva
tive voice representing their values
at the Capitol. I share their values,
and I am going to campaign hard
to earn the right to represent them
in the General Assembly, where I’ll
work to find common sense, and
effective solutions to their prob
lems.”
Harden is the owner of Waste
•the council agreed to re-bid the new
roof for the picnic shelter and come up
with a list of bid specifications for each
bidder to use.
•Poole told the council that he had a
meeting scheduled with the gas com
pany on the realignment of Hwy. 52
project.
•Poole told the council that the tree
planting project for the city is 95 percent
complete. Poole thanked Wick St. John,
Stan Clark and all the other volunteers
who helped with this project.
•Poole informed the council that the
City of Maysville had declined the
request to provide police protection for
the City of Gillsville by way of the article
in The Banks County News. Poole said
the city never received a letter back from
Maysville on this matter.
•Poole reported that the city received
approval for some resurfacing on Hooper
Road through the Local Assistance Road
Program (LARP). Poole said this project
would probably cost between $10,000
and $12,000.
•the council declined a request from the
in 1994 and ran in the Republican
primary for Governor in 1998. She
is also a former candidate for mayor
of Atlanta. She is involved in many
religious organizations.
Schaefer joins state representative
Barry Fleming in the Republication
primary to challenge Broun. More
are expected to enter the race.
Democrats Terry Holley and
Bobby Saxon have also announced
they are seeking the office.
Authority, which provides residen
tial and municipal garbage service
to over 1,000 customers throughout
Northeast Georgia. He’s the son
of the late Walter “Doc” Harden
and Carolyn Holland, owner of
Carolyn’s Kitchen of Toccoa.
Harden’s brother, Eric, currently
serves as Stephens County Deputy
Sheriff.
Harden and his wife Janelle reside
in Eastanollee with their two horses
and their dog “Chief.”
Friends of Gillsville group to spend $100
to sponsor a hole at the groups annual
golf tournament. Council member Todd
Dale made the request to the council and
Syfan explained that the city could not
make a gratuity to any charity organiza
tion due to a state law against this.
•the council unanimously approved the
first reading of a franchise fee ordinance
that is applicable to holders of cable or
video franchises issued by the state of
Georgia. The ordinance allows the city to
charge a five percent franchise fee.
•the council approved a total of
$472,000 for requested projects to be
funded with money from the Hall County
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
(SPLOST) 6 revenues. Items included
road improvements of $85,000; water
system expansion of $75,000; commu
nity park upgrades totaling $167,000 and
downtown improvements in the amount
of $145,000.
The next regularly scheduled coun
cil meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on
Tuesday, April 1, at the city park building
on County Line Road.
BOC takes no
action after
closed session
The Banks County Board of
Commissioners held a special called
meeting March 5 for litigation and
personnel.
The BOC met for approximately an
hour in a closed session but took no
action upon return to the open meeting.
Baldwin Fire Dept.
gets FEMA grant
The Baldwin Fire Department
recently received a $46,550 grant from
the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security’s Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
The money was provided by the
Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The
grant allows local fire departments
and emergency medical services orga
nizations to fund or receive training,
conduct first responder health and
safety programs, and buy equipment
and response vehicles.
N. Neelagaru, MD, FACC
Dr. Neel
is offering the
$1,300 Commerce Cardiology
Health Education Scholarship
for a year to an eligible high school graduate from Banks or Jackson counties
Applications may be submitted directly to:
Commerce Cardiology Clinic
P. O. Box 359 • Commerce, Georgia 30529
or to your school counselor.
Applications are available through your school counselor
or at our office (706) 335-2000.
Deadline for Applications is March 31, 2008.
Nancy Schaefer to seek 10th Congressional seat
To run against Paul Broun in Republican primary
Michael Harden to run for State House District 28
. W |ght ot Hope For ChlW^
10th Annual Live & Silent
Auction & Dinner
benefiting
The Tree House
March 14, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
Winder Community Center • $35.00
Get your $10 ticket for a chance to win a 2008 Harley Davidson Fat Boy
or purchase your ticket for the event by contacting Investigator Janis
Mangum at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office 706*367*6028 or call
The Tree House 770*868*1900.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN!
FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTO CONTEST
Enter for your chance to “win”
The winning entry will receive a free family portrait session at a
location of their choosing within Banks or Jackson counties. Also
included will be a 16x20 canvas Gallery Wrap portrait, one 8x10 and
two 5x7’s. Entry is free and there’s nothing to buy. Entry deadline is
3/26/08 and the winner will be selected on 3/28/08.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Just fill out and mail this entry form to:
Harry Farrell Photography • 448 Daily Road • Alto, GA 30510
or enter by email, just send an email with Name, address, phone #, and
email address to info@hfarrellphotography.com