Newspaper Page Text
PACE 2A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2008
Assistant principal case could be nearing end
BCES administrator on suspension pending ongoing investigation
HOME DAMAGED IN FIRE
This Maysville home (first home on the left) was heavily damaged in a fire July 4. The home is
located just outside of the city limits of Maysville (see city limit sign on the right). The Banks
County Fire Department was called first to the scene, instead of the Maysville Fire Department,
since the home is located outside the city limits. Photo by Sharon Hogan
Maysville home heavily damaged in fire
Department response policy currently being reviewed
BY ANGELA GARY
A Maysville home burned July
4 and a faulty hot water heater is
believed to have been the problem.
The fire occurred on Hwy. 98 just
outside the city limits of Maysville
and the Banks County Fire
Department was the first department
called to the scene.
“It was about a 2,000 square foot
structure about 50 to 70 percent
involved when we got there,” Banks
County fire chief Gary Pollard said.
“We called Maysville to respond for
personnel due to it being so hot. We
had three engines and a med unit to
respond with about 17 people.”
The rental home located on Hwy.
98 was occupied at the time of the
fire. No one was injured.
This is the second home located
on the Maysville-Banks County line
that has been destroyed this year in
a fire.
Pollard said the procedure has
been for the Banks County Fire
Department to be called first to the
scene if the home is outside the city
limits.
However, both the July 4 fire and
an earlier residential fire on Mitchell
Street were actually closer to the
Maysville Fire Department than to a
county fire department.
Pollard said he has met with
Maysville fire chief James Lyle
two times and this issue is being
addressed.
“We are working on training on
this and teaching everyone to go
ahead and call them (Maysville),”
Pollard said.
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
he investigation into action
allegedly taken by Banks
County assistant principal
Lori Rylee against male fifth grade
students at the conclusion of the
2007-08 school year could be near
ing an end.
Rylee has been placed on sus
pension for allegedly forcing the
students to drink from a water foun
tain from which a substance was
poured into. There was a question
as to whether the substance may
have been urine although recent test
results showed there was no bacteria
in the samples tested, an attorney for
the school system said.
Superintendent Chris Erwin said
Monday he did not foresee action
being taken before the July BOE
meetings. The board is scheduled to
hold a work session July 17 and a
regular meeting July 21.
“Although I am not a chemist, it
is my understanding that the district
has been informed that these results
establish that there is no evidence
of any contaminants and that the
water in all samples tested from all
fountains tested is perfectly safe to
BY SHARON HOGAN
The Banks County Board of
Commissioners approved bids at a
June 24 meeting for the purchase of
one tractor and five generators.
The BOC approved a bid in the
amount of $14,884 from Green
South Equipment, Carnesville, for
a tractor for the recreation depart
ment.
The low bid also includes a
four-year maintenance plan. A
bid was also received from James
Short Equipment, Carnesville, for
$15,310 for the tractor.
The BOC also approved the
low bid of $129,097 from S-D
Solutions for five new generators
and the re-location of five existing
generators for the fire department.
drink,” said school board attorney
Phil Hartley recently.
Chan Caudell, who is representing
several parents of fifth grade stu
dents who were allegedly involved
in the incident, said the parents still
have questions.
“The parents and I would certainly
hope that a school administrator
would not knowingly force a child
to drink from a contaminated water
fountain,” Caudell said. “My clients
have not alleged that their children
actually drank from a contaminated
water fountain. We are concerned
about the contamination, but will
let the test results, if scientifically
viable, speak for themselves.”
Caudell also expressed concern
that it took so long to get the test
results back. He filed an open record
request with the school system on
June 19 for any test results but
was told there were none. When
the results were released they were
dated June 5.
Erwin said PathCon Laboratories
failed to send the test results to the
school system after they were com
pleted in early June and that he has
all “documentation to substantiate
Bids were also received from C &
C Electrical, $142,000 and Gen-
Tech, $173,941.
•approved a sealed bid waiver on
a bus for the extension service.
OTHER ACTION
In other business the BOC:
•unanimously approved the annu
al fire contract with the City of
Baldwin in the amount of $22,103
for the period of July 1, 2008,
through June 30, 2009. This con
tract covers Baldwin residents out
side the city limits in Banks County
at a cost of $67.39 per structure.
This cost is an increase of 93 cents
per month per structure over the
previous year’s cost.
•approved the renewal of the
county’s liability insurance with
this.”
The parents also allege that their
children were told not to talk of the
incident by Rylee or law enforce
ment and the Department of Family
and Children Services would be
contacted.
“An equally disturbing issue con
cerns the obvious mind game that
was played by a school administra
tor on a group of elementary school
children,” Caudell said. “We know
for a fact that at least some of these
boys knew the vice principal was
concerned about urine in the water
fountain before she forced them to
drink from it. These same children
had no idea the fountain had been
cleaned, if in fact it was. We believe
the Banks County superintendent
and the Board of Education are
aware of the children’s knowledge
due to statements that were given by
the children.”
The parents have requested Rylee
be relieved of her duties within the
school system.
Rylee has been an assistant prin
cipal for the past two years and an
educator within the system for the
last 13 years.
ACCG in the amount of $109,916
for the period of July 1, 2008,
through June 30, 2009.
•approved several change orders
on the annex building under con
struction.
•approved a list of new environ
mental health fees recommended
by the health department.
•agreed to cut the road banks
along West Ridgeway Road for the
City of Maysville.
The commissioners asked coun
ty attorney Randall Frost to draw
up a contract to cover this in the
future under the inter-governmental
agreement.
•met in closed session for 15 min
utes to discuss possible litigation.
No action was taken.
Officials approve new environmental health fees
After recent approval by the Banks County Health
Board and the Banks County Board of Commissioners,
customers will see an increase in environmental health
fees. The news fees will become effective on Monday,
August 18.
The new fees are as follows:
•Land Use Fees - Septic tank permit residential, $275;
Septic tank permit commercial, $350; Permit requiring
legal action, $600; Septic tanks partial inspection, $75;
Land application annual inspection, $200; Septic tank
re-inspection, $75; Septic tank re-evaluation, $100;
Subdivision review per lot, $100; Pre-purchase site
evaluation, $75; Repairs (system failures), $75; Add
ons and modifications, $75; and Pumper trucks annual
inspection, $100.
•Food Service Fees - Plan review, $200; Food ser
vice permit, 0-50 seats, $250; Food service permit,
51-100 seats, $350; Food service permit, over 100
seats, $500; Non-public water (initial/annual), $100;
Re-inspection, $150; Requested inspection/site prior,
$100; and Temporary food service permits, $50.
•Tourist Accommodations - Plan review fee, $200;
Tourist accommodation permit, 0-10 units, $150; Tourist
accommodation permit, 11-50 units, $250; and Tourist
accommodation permit, over 50 units, $350.
•Swimming Pool Fees - Plan review, pool or spa,
$200; and Swimming pool and spa permit, $200.
•Water Testing Fees - Water sample, $50.
•Others - Rabies specimen, $50; Rabies clinic (per
animal), $2; and Environmental record search, $15.
For additional information or questions, contact Dale
Carter at (706) 677-5009.
Commissioners approve bid for tractor, generators
On July 15, 2008,
Vote for Experience and
Dedication!
RE-ELECT
CHARLES
CHAPMAN
SHERIFF
Your support is appreciated!
EXPERIENCE
• 19 years in law enforcement - Over the past 11 years I have served
as Sheriff. As sheriff I have prepared annual operating budgets to
be approved and operated within those budgets.
Working with fiscal restraints I have sought and obtained many
grants from both Federal and State levels to assist in our
operations of the Sheriffs office.
In 2008 I have purchased three new vehicles and other equipment
with seized drug money.
I have operated and maintained a clean and safe jail.
COMMITTED
• I am committed to the office of Sheriff and to the citizens whom I
serve. Within this commitment, I have worked daily to bring the
Sheriffs office to the highest level both in effectiveness and
professionalism Over the past 11 years, the Sheriffs office has
grown and today the Sheriffs office is a proactive law enforcement
agency working with our schools and our communities.
OPEN DOOR
• My policy has always been an open door to anyone and will always
remain so.
In the upcoming election on July 15, you have the important decision
of electing one to the office of Sheriff. Since I took office January 1,
1997, it has been my goal as Sheriff to provide law enforcement
services effectively and in the highest professional manner and to
that end I have worked daily. Criminal activity often times crosses
jurisdictional boundaries and I have worked to foster a spirit of
cooperation between our office and other local and state law
enforcement agencies to make our office more effective. As I look
back over the past 11 years I am proud of my record and
accomplishments. Today the Sheriff’s office is a progressive,
innovative and professional law enforcement agency. It is my desire to
continue to serve as your Sheriff and if you re-elect me as Sheriff, I
promise the same commitment and dedication to this office with
honest, fair and impartial law enforcement with respect to the
constitutional rights of all.
Paid for by the candidate.