Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PACE 3A Lula takes step forward on wastewater plant No action taken on BCES assistant principal BY SHARON HOGAN The City of Lula’s proposed wastewater treatment plant moved one step closer to reality at Monday’s council meeting. The city council members unan imously approved a loan pack age totaling $4.1 million from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA). The schedule calls for the city to pay the loan over the next 20 years at a rate of 4.4 percent. City attor ney Brad Patten will review the loan package before Mayor Milton Turner signs off on it. Turner said at Monday’s meet ing, “We will be $4 million in debt when I sign this.” Turner said he is expecting the plant to go out for bid in mid- August. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at Monday’s meeting: •the council unanimously approved the spending of $38,212 from the previous years funding as a deposit for the fountain element of phase 1 of the Veterans Park project. •the council accepted a low bid of $6,975 from Concrete Techniques, Lula, for sidewalk work to be done at the city cemetery. A bid of $7,368 from Worley & Son Construction, Inc., Lula, was also received on the project. •Turner said City Manager Dennis Bergin will be meet ing with Georgia Department of Transportation representatives on July 28 concerning a transporta tion enhancement grant the city is slated to receive. The grant is for $200,000, but the city will have to fund 20 percent of the sum, which is $40,000. The city’s funding can either be through in-kind payments or explicit funding. The funds will be used on the city’s downtown streetscape project. •the council established two dates for workshop meetings on the city’s ordinance codes. The meetings will be held at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, and 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at city hall. •the council unanimously approved the first reading of the city’s right of way performance and privileged use ordinance. The ordinance deals with the limita tions of use, request of use for curb cut/driveway entrance/mail box placement, approval/denial, required up-keep/maintenance of right of way, violations, enforce ment and penalties, notice of vio lation, penalties and repeal. •July Yard of the Month winners were recognized by the council. The winners are: Ricky Lew alien, McLeod Street, district 1; Connie Propes, Morgan Manor, district 2; Thelma Worley, Carter Street, district 3; Caroline McCravy, Brookside Place, district 4; and Teresa Johnston, County Line Road, district 5. •the council discussed estab lishing a city-wide speed limit. Council member Larry Shuler said, “We should adopt all of them at 25 MPH.” Turner said traffic studies and engineering work would need to be done. “We’ll get some engi neering and some sheriff’s infor mation before the next council meeting on this,” Turner said. •Turner said the city is arguing its point with North Metro Water concerning allocations set up for the city through 2035 on discharge from Lula’s sewer plant. Turner said, “We are arguing it should be much larger than two million gallons per day (gpd) based on the number of acres being served and the drainage basin.” The city is seeking to have the total raised up to five million gpd, Turner said. Turner said even if no change is made now it will come up for review in five years and the city may have to make their argument again. •Turner said the new retaining wall is up in front of city hall and the new sign should be in some time next week. Turner thanked Lula Landscaping for their help with the wall at no cost to the city. •Turner announced the Joint Local Government meeting set for 6:15 p.m. on Monday, July 28, at the depot in Lula. There will be an update given on the SPLOST, Turner said. •Turner said a hearing for appeal on the proposed Highland Lakes Subdivision is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, August 4, at city hall. The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, at city hall. The work session meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, at city hall. Upcoming open houses planned at county schools Open house will be held at Banks County schools on Thursday, Aug. 7. The schedule at each school is as follows: •Banks County Primary School, 3-6 p.m. •Banks County Elementary School, 3-6 p.m. •Banks County Middle School, 3-6 p.m. •Banks County High School, ninth graders, 2:30-4 p.m. •Banks County High School, 10th- 12th graders, 4-7 p.m. BY CHRIS BRIDGES Those expecting a decision on Banks County Elementary School principal Lori Rylee this month will have to continue to wait. Banks County School System superintendent Chris Erwin said Monday that he does not expect a decision on the long-term status of Rylee to be reached this month. Rylee was placed on two-week leave with pay in May following an inci dent at the school in which she alleg edly forced male fifth grade students to drink from a water fountain which had an unknown substance poured into it. There have been rumors and spec ulation the substance may have been •Time for action for BCES situation — Page 4A urine. Tests Editorial: on the water foun tain showed there was no bacteria present. A group of parents of students who were allegedly forced to drink from the water after the substance was poured into it have asked Rylee be removed from her position within the school system. Rylee has been back on the job following the two-week paid sus pension. Erwin said earlier this week with a number of lawyers involved, the school board was waiting for its attorney to “work through the issues and get back with us.” Legal representatives for Rylee have said the lab tests on the water fountain clear the assistant princi pal and it is time to move forward. Numerous teachers have publicly shown their support since May for Rylee, who has been in the Banks County School System for 13 years. The incident has garnered public ity on Atlanta television and several other media outlets. Chan Caudell, who is represent ing the group of parents during the ongoing situation, said Monday afternoon he does not have a com ment at this time about the delay in a final action being taken. Vision for Homer discussed Council meets on comprehensive plan update BY JUSTIN POOLE The City of Homer is pushing ahead with a comprehensive plan that, in part, will guide the city’s growth for the next 30 years. As part of this plan, the city council named stakeholders in the community. These stakeholders are the ones who discuss the priori ties and vision for the city as the plan is being realized. Stakeholders include: Mary Hill, Sandra Garrison, Tim Harper, Michael Brown, Danny Mason, Steve Lewallen, William Turk, Herbert Bo Garrison, Jack Blackwell, Mack Garrison and Ofe Bridgeford. During the July 15 advisory meet ing, the stakeholders discussed the purpose for the group and reviewed the community assessment with Adam Hazell, Planning Director, of the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center. Mayor Doug Cheek also attended. Hazell said that the purpose of the advisory group is to prioritize the objectives of the city. “You [stakeholders] have been nominated or capped by the elect ed officials because they feel that you have keen insight or valuable knowledge,” said Hazell. The first issue that was addressed was land use. Hazell said that Northeast Georgia is growing and that the real issue is how much Homer wants growth wise. To address this issue, Hazell said that Homer has opportunities with potential downtown development and that pedestrian accessibility is conducive to the current scale of the city. Hazell then opened the discussion to the committee of stakeholders to discuss ideas and thoughts on the matter. Some of the points brought up included the desire for a grocery store closer to the city, a sewer sys tem and the city boundaries and its relation to business along Highway 441. Cheek said that most people in the area want a rural setting. The types of business that were discussed being sought for the city include small shops and local-run business. The prevailing thought of the discussion is how to make the city stand out from other towns with similar features. The city of Clarkesville was used as an exam ple. Hazell said that by taking that train of thought the stakeholders would need to define what Homer wants to be capable of and how the city is to stand out. Before ending the meeting, Hazell asked the committee to think about what they wanted for the city, the potential cost of making it happen and if they still wanted it, how to get it because the community agen da is about forward thinking. The prevailing attitude appeared to be that the small town charm is the key to the city and the focus that will be retained throughout the process. According to Hazell, the committee will use the next month, perhaps longer, to revise and discuss the community assess ment plan. Public input will also be welcomed and surveys will be conducted as future public hearings are scheduled. Tolberts Bradford ATTORNEYS AT LAW STOP Foreclosures STOP Repossessions STOP Garnishments STOP Tax Levies STOP Creditor Harassment Chapter 13 Repayment (Pay only Filing Fees to Start) Chapter 7 Get a Fresh Start Free Initial Consultation Athens • 706-549-8545 • 320 E. Clayton Street, Suite 514 • Athens, GA 30601 Jefferson • 706-367-5290 • 62 Washington Street • Jefferson, Georgia 30549 Athens Regional Physician Services proudly welcomes Brian A. Casazza, M.D. Athens Regional Medical Center welcomes Brian A. Casazza, M.D., a nationally recognized Physical Medicine M.D., to Athens as the Medical Director of Athens Regional’s Spine Institute. Under Dr. Casazza's leadership the Spine Institute will provide you easy access to our multidisciplinary team for the diagnosis and treatment of your back or neck problem. Our Institute is committed to provide you excellent care with a non-surgical focus based on strong research evidence and years of expertise. To schedule your appointment, please call 706-475-5892. Please call (706) 475-5892 for more information or to schedule an appointment for your back or neck needs. Athens Regional SPINE INSTITUTE THANK YOU I want to thank you, the people of Banks County for your vote and support in the July 15, General Primary and electing me your Republican Candidate for the Office of Chairman of Commissioners for Banks County. Again let me say Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Milton Dalton Cell Phone: 706-499-9783 Paid for by the candidate.