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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 3A County budget stands at $14.5 million Only one citizen attends public hearings last week BY JUSTIN POOLE AND ANGELA GARY Two budget hearings were held on the $14.5 million county budget last week but there was little citizen input. The Banks County Board of Commissioners held public hearings at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday. No citizens attended the morning hear ing, and only one person attended the evening hearing. Several elected officials and county staff were at both meetings. The projected budget is up almost six percent over the current budget. Commissioners state “cost of liv ing” expenses and rising insurance costs are the main increases in the budget. BOC chairman Gene Hart added that there will be no millage rate increase. The BOC will adopt the bud get when it meets at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the Thursday morning meeting, the BOC dis cussed the lack of adequate wiring in the old elementary school. The elementary school is going to serve as the temporary courthouse while renovations are completed at the current facility. Ansley Communication Group prepared a bid to spend a maximum of $11,300 to update the neces sary wiring that would allow for phones, fax and other communica tion needed for the courts to operate. The bid was approved with Hart and commissioner Rickey Cain voting in favor of it. Joe Barefoot was not present for the meeting. The courthouse will be closed Friday, August 15, and Monday, Aug. 18, for the move. Sheriff encourages safety with start of school BY CHRIS BRIDGES Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman said with the new school year beginning Friday, county driv ers should use patience and caution while venturing to and from their usual destinations. "Beginning Friday, morning traf fic is going to be greater than usual,” Chapman said. “The buses will be back on the road and young people will be driving to school. I encourage everyone to leave their homes in plenty of time to get to their destinations on time.” Patience will be a key for all area drivers with school traffic once again being a factor during morn ing and afternoon drives, the sher iff said. “It will take several days to get adjusted to school being back in,” Chapman said. "Unless you live in Homer, it is hard to imagine the amount of traffic going to the schools. It will take the coopera tion of everyone to make things run smooth. The sheriff’s office will do everything it can to help with traffic.” Maysville council approves first phase of well project BY JUSTIN POOLE Maysville City Council is prepar ing to move ahead with a well water development project. At Monday’s meeting, the council approved Chip McGaughey from EMI to proceed with the first phase of a five-phase well development program. The total cost will be approximately $404,000. The proj ect is estimated to be completed in 18 months. The council wants to pay for the project as the funds are available and as the different phases of the project become ready. According to McGaughey, the first phase is for a hydro-geologist to locate potential well sites and to contact the property owners and have the city work on gaining access to the locations. Depending on the cooperation of property owners, the first phase could be complete in as little as two months. Council member Stephen Lewis asked McGaughey if the city could pay for the project as each phase came up. McGaughey said that that could be done so that the city can keep SPLOST money to use on a water treatment pond. In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council: •prior to the council meeting, council members Clay Dorsey, Lewis and Villyard and Mayor Jerry Baker met with Steve Nichols, direc tor of Jackson County Emergency Services, about using the rescue building for some water department storage. •changed next month’s meeting to September 8, due to Labor Day. •accepted a bid for the installation of roof-lights, strobes and decals onto the water department’s Ford Ranger. The bid was from LaPrade Government Sales for $1,125. An opposing bid from Force 911 was also looked at for $1,280. •approved an increase of mile age reimbursement for employees to 58.5 cents per mile. •approved increase in the budget for the fire department of $2,000 for fuel cost. •approved the mayor to sign a quick claim deed for the opening and exit for the Community Bank and Trust location. The council also learned that Community Bank should open the second or third week in September and that there will be an ATM on site. •approved the Banks County Hazard Mitigation Plan. •authorized the mayor and clerk to submit an application for a GEFA grant for a new water supply. •approved the removal of an inac tive member on the planning and zoning board. No replacement was named. •tabled discussion about the busi ness license for Debbie Akins, owner of Calidonna Salon & Spa, until the council has a chance to meet with the owner. •heard an update from Melody Stancil about the DDA. The town’s website should be up by September 1 and the URL will be cityofmaysvil- lega.org. •heard reports from each council member present. Meetings citizens can attend in Banks County Nearing completion WORK CONTINUES Workers are shown finishing up the main entrance to the new Banks County Annex Building. Work continues this week for the opening planned on August 22. Banks County Administrative Assistant Angela Sheppard said, “There is a lot going on out there this week.” Furniture was to be delivered on Monday, Aug. 4, and the landscaping crew started the landscaping on Monday, also, Sheppard said. Photo by Sharon Hogan Banks County courts are relocating BY SHARON HOGAN All Banks County court offices, including Superior Court, clerk of court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court and the District Attorney’s office, are relocating their offices to 335 Evans Street, Homer, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 19. All court offices will be closed on Friday, Aug. 15, and Monday, Aug. 18. The courts will resume normal operations on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the new location. The courts will be accepting critical court fil ings on Friday, Aug. 15, at the cur rent Banks County courthouse loca tion on Yonah-Homer Road and on Monday, Aug. 18, at the new loca tion on Evans Street. This is the first step in the move for the court offices. Once the cur rent courthouse location has been remodeled the offices will move back into the courthouse on Yonah- Homer Road. All the county offices will be relo cating to the new annex building one week later. This move is scheduled for August 22. More details will be released on this next week. Sloppy Joe's not using county vehicle BY CHRIS BRIDGES The emergency vehicle currently seen near Sloppy Joe’s mudbog is not one in use by Banks County, chairman Gene Hart said earlier this week. In fact, the vehicle had been sur- plused and was sold at auction to the operators of Sloppy Joe’s, the chairman said. “The Banks County emblem was supposed to be taken off the back of it,” Hart said Monday. “However, it was not before they took possession of it. However, it was legally sold and we have all the proper docu mentation. It is no longer a county vehicle.” One citizen contacted The Banks County News inquiring why a pri vate business was using an emer gency vehicle to advertise its opera tion on. “This vehicle is no longer respond ing to any calls,” Hart said. “We will get the Banks County emblem removed or have them remove it.” The following local government agencies hold regular meetings which are open to the public: •Maysville City Council, 7 p.m., first Monday of each month at the Maysville Public Library. •Banks County High School All-Sports Booster Club, 6:30 p.m., first Monday of each month, BCHS library. •Maysville Planning and Zoning Commission, 7 p.m., last Monday of each month, Maysville library. •Banks County Planning Commission, 7 p.m., first Tuesday of each month at the courthouse. •Gillsville City Council, 7 p.m., first Tuesday of each month at city hall. A work session is held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. •Banks County Board of Education, 7 p.m., third Monday of each month at the BOE office. The work session is held on the Thursday prior to the regular meeting. •Baldwin City Council, 7 p.m., second and fourth Monday of each month at city hall. A work session is held at 6:30 p.m. on the Thursday preceding each regular meeting. •Homer City Council, 6 p.m., second Tuesday of each month at city hall. •Banks County Board of Commissioners 6:30 p.m. second Tuesday of each month at the Let us know your story ideas Have an interesting story to share? Do you have a unique hobby? If so, we would like to know. Contact Angie Gary, editor of The Banks County News, at 706-367-2490 or e-mail information to her at AngieEditor@aol.com. Howell Orthodontia (706) 387-0606 Dr. Emily F. Howell Providing Braces for Children and Adults! FREE Initial Exam (call and mention this ad) "Flexible Interest-Free Payment Plans Available "Convenient Hours (before AND after school hours available) "Most orthodontic insurance plans accepted For more information, visit our website: www.howellortho.com Conveniently located at: 2614 Highway 129 North in Jefferson, GA (next to Jefferson Pediatrics) Banks County annual Holiday Festival planned courthouse. A work session is held at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the courthouse. •Alto City Council, 7 p.m., sec ond Tuesday of each month at city hall. •LulaCity Council, 7 p.m., third Monday of each month at city hall. A work session is held at 11 a.m. on the Thursday preceding the regular meeting. •BJC Medical Center board of directors, 1:30p.m., thirdMonday The 36th annual Banks County Holiday Festival will be held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 29-31, in downtown Homer. The theme of the festival will be “Celebrating Banks County’s 150 years.” Booths will open at various times on Friday, Aug. 29. The Holman Autry Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, booths will be open all day. A parade will be held at 10 a.m. Former board of commission chairman Milton Patterson, who served from 1986-1997, will be the chairman. Entertainment on Saturday after noon will be provided by the Banks County Band and Majorettes, 11 a.m.; the Banks County Twirlers, noon; doggers, 1 p.m.; square dancers, 1:30 p.m., Redemption Outreach Dance Team, 2 p.m.; karaoke, hula hoop, limbo and other activities, 3 p.m.; cakewalk, 4 p.m.; Marcus Dobbs, 5 p.m. and Peggie Hoskins and Vertigo, 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Aug. 31, gospel music will be provided by The Browns, Georgia and The Reggie Saddler Family. of each month in the conference room of the hospital. •Banks County Middle School Booster Club, 6:30 p.m., third Monday of each month at the Banks County Middle School lunchroom. Keep Banks beautiful! Heritage Heights Apartments 101 Heritage Avenue • Jefferson, Georgia 30549 706-367-9891 44 MODERN 1 AND 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS 'Heritage Heights Apartments is financed through USDA/Rural Development. Certain income restrictions apply. • Quiet residential neighborhood • Special features for mobility impaired individuals • Wall to wall carpeting • Laundry hook-ups in the units • Cable TV hook-ups • Generous closet space • Fully-applianced electric kitchens • Trash removal • Attractive grounds • Tenant-controlled Heat/AC • Good Cents Energy Efficient Lease, security deposit, and references required. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY For more information & an application contact 706-367-9891 1-800-255-0056 (Georgia TDD Only) Heritage Heights Apartments is managed by W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street Wrens, Georgia 30833 • (706) 547-0028 W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs. In accordance with Federal law and U. S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH, YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS! Let your members know when your group is meeting! Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in... • The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News • The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal JEFFERSON IIP AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 3io White Plains Baptist Church Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers become friends and friends become family. 706-367-5650 White Plains Baptist Church 3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549 The Jackson Co. Republican Party Would like you to meet us for breakfast the second Sat. of each month, 8:00 at The Jefferson House. For more information, call 706-652-2967 or email fishyglass@yahoo.com Pd.n/os BANKS COUNTY ®|I AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.06/09 rpfe VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr. Each 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m. Mike Buffington, Commander Phone 706-335-6532 263 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. *(706) 387-1156 Mack Cates, President 542 UNITY LODGE F& A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Dwight Wier • 706-367-5882 Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260 JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m. • (706) 367-7696 Gina Mitsdarffer, President 547 A COMMERCE W AMERICAN LEGION Commerce Rec. Dept. Post 93 Carson Street - 1st Mon. night Each Month, 7:30 p.m. 335-6400 Citizens Organized for Pipeline Safety investigating the health risks to citizens from underground pipelines and booster stations in Madison Co. Meetings 6:30 p.m. at the Colbert Grove Baptist Church the 2nd Thurs. of each month. 706-783-4702. Pd.04/09