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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 3, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PACE 3A Baldwin looks at millage rate increase DISCUSSES MILLAGE RATE Andrea Harper addressed the Baldwin City Council about the .25 mils increase to the millage rate during the council meeting Monday. Photos by Justin Poole BY JUSTIN POOLE The City of Baldwin held the first reading on the millage rate during Monday's council meeting. The council proposes increas ing the millage rate by .25 mils and to use the increase in rev enue to pay off city debt and to set aside a cushion fund for emergencies. Baldwin resident Andrea Harper expressed to the coun cil that raising taxes was not a good way to reduce debt. The proposed increase would raise the millage rate for city residents on the Banks County side to 3.83 mills and for residents on the Habersham County side to 8.25 mills. Banks County residents will also receive the homestead exemption unless the county stops providing that exemp tion. The council accepted the first reading of the millage rate. The Baldwin council will hold a public hearing during the second reading on the mill- age rate. OTHER BUSINESS Also during Monday's coun cil meeting the council: •approved an Eagle Scout Project for Zach Slaton to replace the fence at the Roadside Park. The city will handle tearing down the old fence and boring new post- holes with Slaton replacing the posts and building back a fence in time for Christmas decora tions. •approved $354.64 from SPLOST funds for the street department to purchase a cut ting edge for the flat bucket. •approved changing the December work session date to Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. •approved the Christmas tree lighting at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 29, at Roadside Park. A rain date was scheduled for Dec. 6. •tabled discussion about the purchase of materials for Phase 2 of the water meter replace ment since it was not discussed during a work session. Items that were discussed at Thursday's work session but were not placed on Monday’s agenda include the city’s web site, discussion of business licenses and multi-businesses, and abandonment of White EAGLE SCOUT Zach Slaton presents to the Baldwin council his plan to earn Eagle Scout. BOC approves $39,950 for courthouse projects BY SHARON HOGAN The Banks County Board of Commissioners agreed in a called meeting on Nov. 5 to spend an additional $39,950 on the renovation at the coun ty courthouse and at the new Banks County Courthouse Annex. Allison Reynolds and Keith Grier, Turner Construction, presented the additional costs to the commissioners at last week's meeting. The money will fund addi tional electrical outlets at the tag clerk area at the annex building; changing the con ference room door and mail- room door at the annex build ing; a change in some of the cabinetry at the courthouse; the addition of an elevator exhaust fan and floor drain in the new elevator from the sally port to the courtroom at the courthouse; making some change to the district attorney suites and reception area at the courthouse; add ing a security lock bench in the prisoner holding area at the courthouse; and adding power outlets for the vending machine to be used by the general public at the court house. County administrator Angela Sheppard said the funds to cover the change orders would come out of the contingency fund. CHANGE ORDERS APPROVED Banks County Administrative Officer Angela Shep pard (L) explains change orders for renovation work at the courthouse. Also shown (L to R) are: Allison Reynolds and Keith Grier, Turner Construction; Gene Hart, board of commissioners chairman, Joe Bare foot and Rickey Cain, commissioners; and Stoney Harness, building inspector. Photo by Sharon Hogan Courthouse annex open house planned for Nov. 23 BOC reverses action Agrees to pay for extra power outlets at annex Banks County is having an open house for the new Banks County Courthouse Annex on Sunday, November 23, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. The public is welcome to drop-in during these hours and take a tour of the new building. The entire Annex facility will be open for the tour. A recognition and dedica tion ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The Banks County Courthouse Annex opened for business on August 26. It was constructed using proceeds from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The following offices are located in the building: Board of Commissioners, Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessors, Public Utilities, Planning and Development, Voter Registration, Technology and a satellite office for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Banks County Courthouse Annex is located at 150 Hudson Ridge. From Thompson Street, turn onto Hudson Valley Drive (former ly Eagles Nest) and then turn right onto Hudson Ridge. The County proudly invites all Banks County citizens to tour this new facility. BY ANGELA GARY In the past week, the Banks County Board of Commissioners first voted not to pay $3,134 for extra power outlets at the new annex building, and then reversed the action and voted in favor of the action. At a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, the commissioners did not approve the recommended additional charge for six electri cal circuit lines in the coffee sta tions at the courthouse to accom modate mini-refrigerators. Both Joe Barefoot and Rickey Cain said at this meeting that they did not feel this is necessary. At a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11, the matter was again on the agenda. It was reported that the building inspector looked at the matter and determined that the extra outlets are needed to meet the county code. Gene Hart and Cain then voted in favor of the action. Barefoot again voted against the matter. “I will not support that,” Barefoot said. ‘‘I consider this charge to be unnecessary and exorbitant. I believe some of those coffee stations would save the taxpayers money if they were operated without refrig erators.” Tax bills won't be sent in time for payments this year BY ANGELA GARY Tax commissioner Margaret Ausburn reported to the board of commissioners Monday night that tax bills won't be sent out in time for prop erty taxes to be collected this year. Instead, she is asking the department of revenue to allow property owners to make “voluntary” payments based on the same taxes as last year. The property own ers would then be billed for any additional taxes when bills are sent in early 2009. If bills are sent out in January, they will be due 60 days later which could make it as late as March before the taxes are due. On a related matter, Ausburn is petitioning the court for a temporary collection order to collect tag fees in January. The fees would be based on last year’s rate. Firefighters honored by commissioners BY ANGELA GARY Firefighter Appreciation Month was recognized by the Banks County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night. The month is observed during the month of November. Commissioner Joe Barefoot read a proclamation honoring the county's firefighters and it was passed unanimously by the BOC. He said the vol unteers show “extraordinary caliber of character and cour age in the face of danger.” “These brave men and women routinely risk their lives in unpredictable and volatile situations to ensure the safety of their communi ties and fellow citizens,” the proclamation reads. The proclamation also recognized the support fire fighters give to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, including Banks County firefighters who have raised $30,000 for the organiza tion. “Firefighters in Banks County donate their time and energy to the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” Barefoot said. BOC again deadlocked on Ward's planning post BY ANGELA GARY Appointments to county boards are usually routine matters with those willing to serve again often being reappointed. This is not the case with one seat on the B anks County Planning Commission with action being postponed two times by the board of com missioners. At the October meeting, BOC chairman Gene Hart and Joe Barefoot didn’t agree on how the seat now held by Albert Ward is to be filled. Ward has reportedly said that he would like to be reappointed. At last month's meeting, Hart recommended that Linda Cochran fill the seat on the planning commis sion. Barefoot did not sec ond this and he then made a motion that Ward be reap pointed. When this motion didn’t receive a second, the matter was postponed. Rickey Cain was absent from that meeting in October and action was postponed until the full board was present. At the November monthly meeting on Tuesday, all three BOC members were present but there still was not a consen sus on filling the seat. Hart again made a motion that Cochran be appointed. No one seconded the motion and Cain made a motion that the issue remain on the agenda until a later date. Filling Sammy Reese's seat on the planning com mission has also been on the agenda at the October and November BOC meet ings. No action has been taken on this matter either. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the meeting Tuesday night, the BOC: •voted against abandoning Robin’s Nest Road after two people asked that the road be a county road. Among the concerns aired about abandoning the road were that it would landlock prop erty, property values would decrease and safety issues. •approved a request from Charles Hooper for a condi tional use permit to operate an automobile repair shop on 23.6 acres on Hwy. 51 South. Homer meeting re-scheduled The Homer City Council meeting set for Tuesday night was not held because of a lack of a quorum. Those present at the meeting were: Mayor Doug Cheek and council members Chris Tucker and Sandra Garrison. Council members Jerry Payne, Betty Borders and Kevin Cape were not present. Mayor Cheek recessed Tuesday's council meeting due to the lack of a quorum and announced that it will re-convene at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at city hall. Early deadline set for holiday Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the deadline for submitting church, social and school news to The Banks County News has been moved to Friday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. Any items received after the deadline may not be published. The Banks County News office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Items may be e-mailed to angela@mainstreet- news.com or faxed to 706-367-9355. On a typical produc tion week, the deadline to submit church, school and social items is noon on Mondays. THANK YOU BANKS COUNTY Tkanl? you for all your support and overwkelming encouragement in tkis election. You will never know kow muck it kas meant to me. Tkrougkout tkis campaign many of you kave keen praying and I myself kave also prayed for God’s will. We k ave kad a clean and positive race and I kave kad complete peace concerning tke outcome. I kelieve God is still in control an d His will kas keen done. We worked kard and I koped to win tkis election, kut I know He kas some otker plan for me at tkis time. I congratulate Margaret for ker victory and wisk ker great success in tkis upcoming term as Banks County Tax Commissioner. Tkanl? you again, Banks County, for your confidence in me. Sincerely, Becky Tayl or THANK YOU! I would like to express my sincere appreciation to each one who voted for me in the primary and general elections, your kindness and words of encouragement during the campaign. Over the past 20 years, serving as your Tax Commissioner, I have seen our county make tremendous progress and together let's continue to work for a better Banks County. May God Bless You! MARGARET AUSBURN BANKS COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER