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THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2008
Maysville looking to grab share of $40 million
DISCUSSES GRANT PROGRAM
Chip McGaughey, from Engineering Management, Inc., spoke to
the Maysville City Council about a new grant program the state
is implementing that would reimburse new well development.
BY JUSTIN POOLE
Maysville is looking to grab its
share of a $40 million grant the state
is providing for developing water
supplies.
Chip McGaughey of Engineering
Management, Inc. spoke to the city
council during Monday’s meeting.
The state announced the grant would
reimburse local governments that are
developing water supply projects.
The grant is highly competitive and
is decided on a point scale. Points are
awarded based on a number of crite
ria. A full list of the criteria can be
found on the Georgia Environmental
Facilities Authority website at www.
gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=416.
McGaughey told the council that
the deadline for application is August
29. Due to the time constraints, the
city would not be able to achieve
the maximum number of points, but
could apply for the grant based on
current well projects.
The council voted to allow EMI
to start the application process using
SPLOST funds and not to exceed
$5,000.
ACTION ITEMS
The city council took the following
action during its meeting Monday
night:
•met in closed session for 30 min
utes discussing litigation. No action
was taken when the meeting was
opened to the public.
•approved the terms and the
slate of officers for the Downtown
Development Authority. The DDA
met before the council meeting and
appointed the slate of officers includ
ing: secretary - Marilyn Sherry,
treasure - Mary Hart, vice chair
man - Chuck Floyd, and chairman
- Melody Stancil. The DDA mem-
bers’ terms are staggered so that:
Kay Daniel, Hart, Stancil and Sherry
end their terms in 2011; Catherine
Daniels and Floyd end their terms in
2009; Lyn Villyard will end her term
the same time as her council term in
2012.
•approved the purchase of a 2006
Ford Ranger from James Short Ford
for $9,200 out of the water depart-
ment budget. The truck will replace
the older truck and provide increased
gas mileage.
•approved the revised fire hydrant
meter rental agreement.
•approved Police Chief Clarence
Sullens to contact DOT about change
in speed limits from 45 mph to 35
mph around the intersection of Hwy.
98 and 82 Spur, and Hwy. 98 going
through town.
•approved the hazard mitigation
resolution from the county
•approved the bids for emergency
repair maintenance
•approved copier renewal lease.
•approved the guideline of one and
a half hour limit to computer use at
the library.
•approved the bid of $9,300 to
repair roofs on storage buildings
damaged by trees since insurance
would cover the cost.
•approved opening of bids for pot
hole repair.
•discussed viability of a mini-truck
for the water department to help con
serve fuel.
•placed the following items on hold
until the next work session and council
meeting: Maysville Family Practice,
repairs to rescue building, sewer use
manual, fire department lease, bids
on magnetic locator, grease trap pol
icy, solid waste franchise agreement,
and street light analysis.
Banks County Health Board approves fee increases
BY SHARON HOGAN
The Banks County Health Board
unanimously approved a new proposed
environmental health fee schedule at
its quarterly meeting on Tuesday.
Dale Carter, Environmental Health
Officer, presented the proposed fee
schedule to the health board members
for their approval.
The proposed fee schedule will now
be presented to the Banks County
Board of Commissioners for final
approval at their next meeting.
The proposed increases in environ
mental health fees are needed in order
for environmental health to reach a
break-even point.
often diseases occur in differ
ent groups of people and why.
There are 40 people at the state
level who work on epidemiol
ogy. Campbell said public health
gets its information from any
place they can. They get informa
tion from citizens calling, doctors
offices, hospitals, poison control
center and public health centers.
•JoAnn Dodd, District II Public
Health Nurse, reported that the
Banks County Health Department
is still sharing nurses.
•Dr. David N. Westfall, MD,
District II Public Health Director,
PRESENTS PROGRAM
Donna Sue Campbell, presented a report to the board on
Approval was also given by the District II Public Health, the budget projections as of April
board for a late fee of 50 percent to presented a program on 30, 2008. Westfall said, as of
be added to the annual inspection fee the public health's role April 30, the amount of revenue
for restaurants and tourist attractions in epidemiology to the received is 74.47 percent of the
operations who do not pay within the Banks County Health annual budget, which is 8.86 per-
45 days allotted. Bn a rd mem b ers cent below projections. Expenses
OTHER BUSINESS Board members. for this same period are 77.07
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting: percent of the annual budget, which is 6.26 percent
•Donna Sue Campbell, District II Public Health, below projections.
explained public health’s role in epidemiology. “We are currently $58,324 expenses over rev-
Campbell said epidemiology is the study of how enues,” Westfall said.
Westfall said if the health department remains on
its current course, he anticipates finishing the year
on June 30 with expenses exceeding revenues by
$58,456.
This will require that amount to be withdrawn
from the fund balance and this will leave $142,296
in the fund balance, he added.
If the costs continue to rise, without offsetting
revenue, there may be a need to decrease staffing
and services in order to balance the budget, he
said.
•Westfall said the health department might need
to look at getting donations to help provide fund
ing for the dental program due to a decrease in
Medicaid funding and state funding. Board mem
ber Chris Erwin said some county school system
employees have contributed money personally to
help pay for children to get dental work done.
•Gregg Sheffield presented the proposed budget
for 2009 to the board. The total proposed for 2009
is $574,891, this is down $29,805 from the 2008
budget total. The board unanimously approved the
proposed budget.
•Westfall said they would look at fees that are
being paid to rent a nurse three days a week and add
a little to the cost and Banks County might be able
to hire a nurse to work in Banks County full-time
with JoAnn Dodd.
Baldwin considers $1.7 million general fund budget
BY SHARON HOGAN
The Baldwin City Council is consid
ering a $1.7 million proposed budget.
A work session was held Thursday and
the proposed general fund budget was
discussed.
Baldwin financial officer Betty
Harper said, “We have worked with
the department heads and the budget
committee on this. At this bare bones
budget, we are at a $64,846 deficit.”
The city is carrying over a $56,000
deficit over from this year making the
total deficit over $110,000.
The proposed budget includes
$215,506 for the administration depart
ment; $575,276 for the police depart
ment; $156,160 for the GCIC depart
ment of the police department; $28,491
for code enforcement; $449,154 for
the fire department; and $315,070 for
the street department. This is a total
budget of $1,739,657.
This option takes out any raise for
employees and any bonuses.
Another option, which has a total of
$1, 767,863, calls for the following:
$216,406 for administration; $590,326
for police; $156,160 for GCIC; $29,409
for code enforcement; $455,541 for
fire; and $320,021 for street. Without
any raise for city employees, the deficit
would only be $41,000.
A one mill raise on taxes would pro
duce approximately $63,407.
Baldwin resident Linda Caudell
asked the council, “What is the total
amount this town owes?” Harper said,
“Maybe $4 million.”
Acting Mayor Ray Holcomb said
part of that is 50 year bonds that were
taken out in 1972 for the wastewater
plant, and some in 1987 for upgrades.
Caudell said, “What is the plan to
pay this $4 million off. I hope its not
to keep raising taxes and water rates.
Have you sought a financial advisor
to see what we need to be doing?”
Holcomb said, “We are working with
a financial advisor and we are looking
at refinancing some things.”
Baldwin resident Victoria Kelley
said, “I want to know what we are
paying on these bonds? If we are pay
ing sky-high rates, we need to look
at using the call provisions on these
bonds.”
Kelley said, “Where would we get
that information? I am an independent
advisor and I would be willing to take
a second look at this or take it to my
experts on this.”
Harper said, “Come by city hall and
I will be glad to get this for you.”
Caudell said, “I feel that we should
freeze spending. Each employee
should be thankful to have a job. I
think you need to show the citizens
that you do care. I feel like the employ
ees will understand because they are
good employees.”
“Tough times call for tough mea
sures,” Holcomb said. “Employees are
a big asset and we would like to keep
all of our employees. We would rather
not cut employees.”
Caudell said, “I would not want to
cut services. I would want that to be
the last thing we do.”
Council member Jeff Murray said
a starting firefighter makes $21,000
a year.
“We did a pay scale study recently
to compare with the county and other
counties around us and we are at the
bottom of the pay scale,” Murray said.
Fire Chief Joe Roy addressed the
council concerning the fire department
budget.
“I thought it was my duty as the
chief to address the budget,” Roy said.
“The proposed budget looks good on
paper, but it will not work. There
comes a time when money becomes
a factor. This department was asked
to cut $34,000 from the budget. One
hour before the meeting tonight we
are told that there is Option #2 that
will jeopardize the safety of the public.
We cut $35,000 to get our firemen a
raise and to raise the starting pay to
$25,000 from $21,000, this has not
been changed in seven years. This is
needed to get qualified people. We are
asking for a 77-cent raise for starting
firefighters and a three percent raise for
other officers.”
Roy said Habersham County pays
over $25,000 per year for starting
firefighters.
“I have people working with me
for four years that make less than
Habersham County’s starting pay for
a firefighter,” Roy said. “I feel that
if I did not point out these items to
you I would not be doing my job as
fire chief. We can’t meet the state
guidelines for what is required for a
full-time fire department. We strive to
get the training and be able to deal with
any issue that might arise.”
Roy said he has been with Baldwin
for 21 years and he is just asking for a
“fair cut across the board.”
“I feel the fire department is taking
the burden of the cut,” he said. “I just
want a fair cut across the board.”
Holcomb said, “Let me first say
these are proposals. Nothing has been
adopted. I was asked by some citizens
about the cost of take-home cars for
the police department. Take-home cars
were a part of the package when the
policemen were hired and if we take
them away we will need to compen
sate them in some other way. We came
up with some figures with fuel cost
based at $3.80 per gallon.”
The weekly cost for gas for take-
home police cars would be $350 or a
monthly cost of $1,400. The yearly
cost would be $18,768 for all take-
home vehicles.
Holcomb said, “I want everybody to
know what we are going through. We
wish we didn’t have to cut anything
but we are going to have to make some
cuts and come up with some ways to
raise revenue. I hate cutting anything
especially salaries and benefits. You
need to keep morale up.”
At Thursday’s work session, the
council also looked at water rates. The
council has received a recommenda
tion from the engineering firm to do a
tiered water increase. This would not
affect the people using less than 6,000
gallons per month.
For the first 2,000 gallons, the cost
would be $10. After the first 2,000
gallons, the rate is $5.30 per 1,000
gallons. From 6,001 to 9,000 gallons,
the rate goes to $7.95 per 1,000 gal
lons. Anything over 9,000 gallons per
month is priced at $10.60 per month.
These fees are for residents inside the
city limits.
The cost for residential outside the
city is $19 for the first 2,000 gallons
and $6.24 per 1,000 gallons up to
6,000 gallons. Over 6,000 gallons goes
to $9.38 per 1,000 gallons and over
9,000 gallons goes to $12.50 per 1,000
gallons.
This tiered rate structure would bring
in approximately $33,044 per month
as opposed to $22,191 at the old rate
for customers inside the city. The city
currently has 475 customers outside
the city that generates $18,989 per
month in revenue. With the new rate,
revenue would be $24,912 per month.
At the old rate, the annual revenue is
$663,145 compared to the new rate,
which would be $1,023,235. The city
has a total of 1,224 active residential
accounts inside and outside the city.
Holcomb said the council will con
tinue work on the proposed general
fund budget as well as the water and
sewer budgets. A meeting will be
planned at a later date to discuss this.
DISCUSSING OPTIONS
Banks County attorney Randall Frost, right, tells chairman Gene
Hart, left, and commissioner Rickey Cain their options on the
request for a conditional use application from Michael Cline for
a recreational mud bogging facility on Brown Bridge Road.
Photo by Chris Bridges
Request for mud bogging
facility tabled once again
Chairman does not vote for 'personal reasons'
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Michael Cline will have to wait a lit
tle longer in his efforts to open a mud
bogging facility in Banks County.
The Banks County Board of
Commissioners once again tabled a
request to open the facility on Brown
Bridge Road. It marks the second time
the BOC has tabled the matter.
Commissioner chairman Gene Hart
and commissioner Rickey Cain voted
to table the request Tuesday night.
Commissioner Joe Barefoot was not
in attendance.
Hart said he had to recuse himself
from the vote because of “personal
reasons.” He did not elaborate further.
County attorney Randall Frost told
Hart and Cain since there would not
be a quorum to vote on the issue they
did have the option to table the motion
or to send it back through the entire
process. The motion was then made
to table it which then passed.
After the issue was tabled Cline
responded, “What just happened
here?”
Hart said the request had been tabled
until the June 24 meeting.
The mud bogging facility, which
Cline will call Sloppy Joe’s Mud Bog,
will be one of a family atmosphere,
organizers have said.
In other business at Tuesday’s
35-minute meeting, the BOC:
•heard from Gary Clark during the
public comment portion of the meet
ing concerning the Banks County Fire
Department and chief Gary Pollard.
Clark said he was speaking on behalf
of himself and other volunteers not
ing the department is at its lowest
mark since 1991 when he became
involved. Pollard demoted all vol
unteer firefighters, Clark said, and
has engaged in improper training and
given false information to officials.
Clark said he has never been written
up for anything during his time with
the department but noted Pollard has
destroyed what it took 40 years to
build. Clark requested a private meet
ing with Hart and the commissioners
to discuss other matters about the
ongoing issue.
•approved the purchase of a bus for
the Banks County Extension Service
for $43,275.
•appointed Alvin Thomas to another
five-year term on the Department of
Family and Children Services Board.
•appointed Leslie George to anoth
er one-year term on the Georgia
Mountains Regional Development
Board (private sector).
•appointed Angela Sheppard to
another one-year term on the Georgia
Mountains Regional Development
Board (public sector).
•entered into a lease agreement with
the Banks County School System to
use the old Evans Street School loca
tion during the time the courthouse is
being renovated.
•tabled an item to continue a fire
contract with the City of Baldwin.
Interim Baldwin mayor Ray Holcomb
spoke to the BOC and asked them to
consider the citizens of the city when
making their decision.
Letter to the Editor
Appreciates officers, neighbors
searching for missing child
Dear Editor:
It was so very hot yesterday, 98
degrees. My family who is visiting
from Michigan, and I were trying to
stay cool in the house. My sister had
brought my 3-year-old niece, Talia,
down with her to look at houses for
sale in the area.
Talia wanted to go outside into
the small pool we had put up for
the kids to swim in. But at 2 p.m.,
the sun was glaring and the heat
almost unbearable. We told Talia
she needed to wait awhile.
Talia thought differently. She
decided while my sister and I were
on the Internet at the kitchen table, to
quietly slip out the door and go out
side on her own. This is not some
thing she has ever done before.
It couldn’t have been more than
10 minutes when we realized we
had not heard her singing to herself,
or playing out loud with her dolls.
10 minutes, it doesn’t seem that
long, until you realize a child is
missing. We all searched the house,
every closet, under all the beds, even
the attic that has access by a door in
the bonus room.
10 more minutes went by after
searching the entire house, the yard
we couldn’t find her. What every
parent, relative, caretaker fears most
seemed to have happened. A 3-year-
old little girl was missing.
I called 911 and spoke to an
operator that was kind, caring and
compassionate. She assured me as
we spoke that several Banks County
officers were on their way. And they
were, in a matter of four minutes
patrol cars and officers were arriv
ing at our home.
They asked for a picture of Talia
which we had on the computer.
Within 10 minutes, the Banks coun
ty sheriff and 10-12 patrol cars with
officers and detectives were search
ing the Buckeye Trails Subdivision
in the 98 degree heat on foot, in cars
searching, calling out.
Every neighbor that was home at
that time was on their cell phones
calling other neighbors, the off duty
officers that live in our subdivision
were out searching for Talia. 30
minutes had gone by, looking in
pools, wells, overflows, the woods
and the lake. 30 minutes of imagin
ing every horror that could happen
to a child.
My sister, who had become hys
terical by this time, was comforted
by an officer that stayed in the
home with her the entire time. They
searched and re-searched the home
three times. Forty minutes and noth
ing.
It was to the point they called and
had the K-9 unit on the way. They
were preparing to put an Amber
alert out and bring in a search and
rescue crew.
One hour had passed, my daugh
ter and her friend, Brandon, were on
the next block searching, glanced up
and there on the porch of a home
next to the railing almost out of site
was Talia. Overheated, scratched up
from venturing through the woods,
and afraid.
We found her. We were the lucky
ones. So much could have gone
wrong. Our prayers were answered.
I would like to send a very special
thank you to each of the officers,
911 operator and all of our wonder
ful neighbors for all their efforts,
kindness and care.
Banks County is a “Great” place
to live and visit.
Sincerely,
Julia A. McGregor