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PAGE10A 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