PACE 4A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 201 3
THE BEST STORIES:
Newsmakers of 2012
Crime
■ POLITICAL STORY OF THE YEAR
BUSH OPENS MEETING
Maysville council member Kathleen Bush (standing at
right), who pushed for another local option sales tax
(LOST) negotiation meeting of the Banks County Board
of Commissioners and representatives of the cities of
Alto, Baldwin, Gillsville, Lula and Maysville, opened
the meeting. Bush, who proposed a meeting without
the attorneys present, asked everyone to keep an
open mind and work toward an agreement that every
one could live with. Seated at the table are (from left)
Gillsville Mayor Larry Poole, Alto Mayor Audrey Turner,
Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace, Lula Mayor Milton Turner
and Maysville Mayor Richard Presley.
Photos by Sharon Hogan
County, cities
clash over sales
tax distribution
BY ANGELA GARY
Banks County and city lead
ers clashed throughout 2012 on
how the local option sales tax
would be distributed for the
next 10 years. Several meetings
were held with the two groups
going back and forth on the
percentage breakdown with it
appearing as if the issue would
have to go to court to be settled.
Later in the year, after another
three hours of negotiations,
the two groups finally agreed
on how the money would be
divided up without having to
go to court. This group with
pitted city and county officials
against each other has been
named the “Political Story of
the Year.”
It was Lula Mayor Milton
Turner who first attempted to
organize various city leaders
in Banks County to discuss
the county’s proposal for Local
Option Sales Tax (LOST) dis
bursals. He said the county’s
proposed breakdown would
result in a loss of projected
revenue to the cities and a sig
nificant increase to the county
amounting to nearly $2 mil
lion. Additionally, the move
could force cities to collect
more property taxes in order
to maintain current revenue
amounts, he said.
Next, Baldwin, Lula,
Gillsville, Maysville and Alto
leaders asked for a joint meet
ing with the Banks County
Board of Commissioners to
discuss renegotiating the allo
cation of sale tax to the cities.
County leaders have asked for
additional information from
the cities and agreed to hold a
joint meeting, while maintain
ing that the proposal is fair to
all.
“The county thinks the pro
posals offered the cities were
fair and equitable and in the
best interest of all citizens of
Banks County,” BOC chairman
Milton Dalton wrote in a letter
to Baldwin Mayor Jerry Neace
and Lula Mayor Milton Turner.
In May, all of the groups
finally got together for a joint
meeting. In the proposal that
was sent to the cities from
Banks County, the county used
“modified population” figures
and the commercial digest to
determine the allocation of the
revenue collected from the tax
over a 10-year period. In the
proposal submitted by Banks
County, the cities in the county
would collectively loose $1.2
million over the 10-year period.
Lula City manager Dennis
Bergin made the presentation
to the BOC on behalf of the
cities. Bergin discussed legisla
tion that was passed in 1994
which requires cities and coun
ties to periodically renegoti
ate their revenue distribution
arrangements.
“There have been some
changes in the components
determining LOST,” Bergin
said. “Collectively, this group
wants to work with Banks
County and they want to see
Banks County prosper.”
Ten years ago, the LOST was
negotiated solely based on
population by 90 percent of
cities and counties and the cit
ies want the same for the 2012
revenue. LOST was originally
approved in order for cities
and counties to be able to roll
back millage rates.
“In the past, population has
been used for distribution,”
Bergin said. “But now there is
eight criteria than can be used.
You are not to be criticized for
what you did.”
The biggest problem the cit
ies have with the allocation is
the fact that it was not based on
population, since the cities saw
an increase in their population
in the 2010 census numbers.
The allocation presented by
Banks County proposed the
county getting 86 percent of
the revenue. If the allocation
was based solely on popula
tion, Banks County would get
around 81 percent.
The cities held an earlier
meeting and came up with a
counter-proposal for the coun
ty that included a 50-percent
option that would reduce each
city’s loss by approximately
half. The commissioners didn’t
show any interest in the coun
ter-proposal.
It was in September
when the matter was finally
resolved. After negotiat
ing for approximately three
hours on a Thursday evening,
the Banks County Board of
Commissioners and the
mayors of the cities of Alto,
Baldwin, Gillsville, Lula and
Maysville came to an agree
ment on how the local option
sales tax (LOST) revenue
would be distributed.
The meeting, held at the
request of Maysville City
Council member Kathleen
Bush, opened with the BOC
proposing to receive 85 per
cent of the revenues and the
cities splitting the remaining
15 percent. The cities opened
with an offer of 80.5 percent for
the county.
By the time the meeting was
finished, the county agreed
to 83.25 percent with the cit
ies, including Homer, splitting
16.75 percent.
At that meeting, the group
didn’t discuss dollar figures,
just percentages.
Bush said at the start of the
meeting that by everyone gath
ering that it showed that they
all wanted to work together
and settle this issue before it
went before a judge for him to
settle it.
Deputies respond to 13 accidents
The Banks County Sheriff’s
Office responded to the report
of 13 accidents in the county
during the period of Saturday,
Dec. 22, through Friday, Dec.
28.
The accidents included:
• two-vehicle accident on
Highway 15/441 north bound
at Highway 51 North, where
the driver of a 2001 Ford F-650
reportedly eased off the road
way and struck the driver of a
2010 Chevrolet Silverado wait
ing to enter Highway 15/441.
The driver of the Ford also
struck two Georgia Department
of Transportation signs before
coming to a stop.
•one-vehicle accident on
Hembree Road, where the
driver of a 1990 Toyota Tacoma
reported he swerved to miss
some deer and his truck went
off a bank and overturned.
• two-vehicle accident at 145
Hamby Mountain Drive, where
the driver of a 2007 Toyota
4-Runner reported her vehicle
was struck by another vehicle
that left the scene.
•two-vehicle accident
on Highway 15/441 at the
entrance ramp to Interstate 85
north bound, where the driver
of a 2002 Ford Ranger report
edly turned into the path of
the driver of a 1999 Honda
Odyssey.
•three-vehicle accident on
Interstate 85 south bound,
where the driver of a 2000
Oldsmobile Silhouette report
edly rear-ended the driver of a
2004 Chevrolet Colorado caus
ing that driver to rear-end the
driver of a 2003 Subaru Legacy.
• three-vehicle accident
on Highway 15/441, where
the driver of a 2005 Mercury
Mariner reportedly rear-ended
the driver of a 2007 Suzuki
Forenza knocking that car into
the driver of a 2009 Honda
Accord.
•vehicle accident on
Highway 63, Homer.
• vehicle related accident on
Steven B. Tanger Boulevard,
Commerce.
•vehicle accident on
Highway 63 at Highway 184.
• vehicle related accident on
Highway 441, Commerce.
•vehicle accident on
Highway 323 at Hickory Flat
Road, Gillsville.
•vehicle-related accient on
Highway 63 at Highway 198.
•vehicle accident at
Krystal’s, Highway 441,
Commerce.
Burglaries
and thefts
reported
Baldwin PD makes 6 arrests
During the period of Dec. 17 through Dec.
23, the Baldwin Police Department made
six arrests and responded to a number of
incidents. Those arrested and their charges
include:
•Saturnino Rivera Rivera, 53, no driver’s
license.
• Steven James Johnson, 26, driving with
a suspended or revoked driver’s license,
no motor vehicle insurance and operation
of unregistered vehicle or vehicle without a
current license plate, revalidation decal or
county decal.
•Marvin Dennis King, 31, aggravated
assault on a peace officer and obstruction/
hindering a law enforcement officer.
• Bill Ronald Blackmon Jr., 51, tire require
ments and driving with a suspended or
revoked driver’s license.
•Karesa Louise Carter, 33, speeding, tire
requirements and possession of marijuana.
•William Kyle David, 25, bench warrant.
INCIDENTS
The following incidents were reported:
•no driver’s license on Airport Road at
Dilmus Court, Baldwin, during a safety check.
• runaway/missing person at a Willow
Tree Avenue, Baldwin, residence. The father
and older brother of a juvenile missing out
of Loganville advised that the juveniles and
the owner of the Baldwin residence had
met at an Auto Zone, at which the owner of
the residence worked, and the juveniles had
often visited him at his home in Baldwin,
as he supposedly ran a youth outreach
program. The responding officer reported
he knocked on the door of the residence,
but no one answered. The officer reported
911 dispatch pinged the cell phone number
provided by the older brother of the missing
juveniles and found their last location to be
in Atlanta. The officer reported he spoke
with several neighbors of the Baldwin resi
dence and they stated they had seen three
juveniles matching the description given
earlier that day.
•driving with a suspended or revoked
driver’s license, no motor vehicle insurance
and operation of unregistered vehicle or
vehicle without a current license plate, revali
dation decal or county decal at the BP Gas
Station on State Route 365, Baldwin, during
a traffic stop.
•domestic dispute at a Sappling Place,
Baldwin, residence, where a verbal argument
between a mother and her son was reported.
The responding officer reported there was
no physical altercation and the situation was
handled through mediation.
• harassment at a King Street, Baldwin, res
idence. The complainant reported that her
18-year-old daughter was being harassed on
the school bus by a 13-year-old juvenile. The
complainant stated the juvenile was poking
her daughter and calling her racial slurs. The
complainant stated she was afraid her daugh
ter would end up in a fight with the juvenile
and get herself in trouble. The complainant
stated she had made contact with the bus
driver, but had not received any relief. The
responding officer reported he advised the
complainant and her daughter to contact the
school in reference to the matter.
•theft at a City Park Drive, Baldwin, resi
dence. The complainant reported he was
watching the residence for his friend, who
was incarcerated, and someone had taken
$3,100 in tools.
•agency assist, aggravated assault on a
peace officer and obstruction/hindering a
law enforcement officer on Smokey Road at
the Mt. Zion Connector, Alto, during a felony
traffic stop and vehicle chase.
• tire requirements and driving with a sus
pended or revoked driver’s license at Apple
Tree Farms, State Route 365, Baldwin, during
a traffic stop.
•speeding, tire requirements and posses
sion of marijuana on State Route 365 at
Duncan Bridge Road, Baldwin, during a traf
fics top.
• bench warrant on Willingham Avenue at
Little Poplar Drive, Baldwin, during a traffic
stop.
•harassment at a Perry Manor, Baldwin,
residence.
Maysville man
dies in accident
Banks County Sheriff's Office
reports 6 arrests in past week
A Maysville man died in
a Dec. 22 accident when he
stopped to work on his truck
that had broken down.
Barry Lane Forrester, 53,
was was working underneath
his vehicle that was partially in
the travel lane of Georgia 323
at mile marker 4.
The truck had broken down
and he was under the vehicle
performing repairs when a
Chevrolet Silverado driven by
Jerry Truman Blackwell, 64, of
Ellijay, hit the disabled truck,
pinning Forrester underneath.
During the period of
Dec. 22 through Dec. 28,
the Banks County Sheriff’s
Office reports the arrest of
six people.
Those arrested and their
charges include:
• Jessie Wade Allen, 29,
1175 Hale Crossing Road,
Royston, probation viola
tion.
• Shaynitra Lashun
Browner, 29,150 Hickman,
Apt. 5, Athens, probation
violation.
•Adam Scott Highfield,
23, 168 Crestwood Circle,
Commerce, public drunk
enness.
•William Ronald
Humphries, 38, 1009
Mount Sinai Road, Lula,
failure to appear and
bondsman off bond.
•Timeca Lananetta
Toney, 21, 434 Sweet Gum
Drive, Monroe, probation
violation.
•Amanda Lynn
Whitlock, 41, 782 Queen
Road, Gillsville, probation
violation.
The following burglaries and
thefts were reported to the
Banks County Sheriff’s Office
during the period of Saturday,
Dec. 22, through Friday, Dec.
28.
•burglar alarm at a Cargill
Road, Gillsville, location. The
responding deputy reported he
checked the perimeter of the
building and found no signs of
suspicious activity.
•alarm call at Grove Level
Baptist Church, Grove Level
Road, Maysville. The respond
ing officer reported he checked
the outside of the building and
found an unsecure door. The
officer reported he then cleared
the building and re-secured the
door and all appeared O.K.
• burglar alarm at a Highway
51, Homer, residence.
•theft by shoplifting at
Walmart, Highway 441 South,
Commerce.
• burglar alarm at a Damascus
Road, Baldwin, residence. The
responding deputy reported
he spoke with the homeowner
who advised it was accidentally
set off and all was O.K.
•burglary at a Ridgeland
Court, Maysville, residence,
where the complainant report
ed the residence was unlawfully
entered and items were stolen.
• alarm at Chick-fil-A,
Highway 441, Commerce.
•alarm at Dollar General,
Evans Street, Homer. The
responding officer reported he
checked all the doors and all
was secure.
•burglar alarm at Wendy’s,
Highway 441, Commerce. The
responding deputy reported he
checked the perimeter of the
building, but didn’t find any
unsecured doors.
•burglar alarm at Shooter’s,
Banks Crossing Drive,
Commerce. The responding
officer reported he met the
owner who stated he set the
alarm off accidentally.
• burglar alarm at The
Home Depot, Steven B. Tanger
Boulevard, Commerce. The
responding deputy reported he
checked the perimeter of the
building, but didn’t find any
unsecured point of entry.
•theft by taking at a Ward
Road, Commerce, residence.
■ CRIME STORY OF THE YEAR
Armed robbery suspect nabbed
BY ANGELA GARY
Thefts and burglaries fill the crime
page each week but it was the armed
robbery of a Banks County business and
the quick apprehension of the suspect
that has been named the “Crime Story
of the Year.”
An armed robber held up the clerk at
the Express Mart Valero Convenience
Store at Banks Crossing in May. Sheriff
Charles Chapman said a call came in to
the Banks County E-911 dispatch at 10:05
p.m. of an armed robbery at the Express
Mart Valero Convenience Store, 30581
Highway 441 South.
“The clerk on duty stated that a black
male wearing a ski mask, a dark colored
or black shirt, and blue jeans entered
the store, came behind the counter and
robbed her at gun point,” Chapman said.
A search was made of the area for the
person whom the clerk stated left the
store on foot, Chapman added.
“The clerk at the Best Western told offi
cers that a white SUV had pulled into the
parking lot at the motel, but no one came
in and, in about 10 minutes, the vehicle
left,” Chapman said.
Believing this could be the vehicle
used by the robber, a lookout was given
out on the vehicle with a description of
the robber.
“Several minutes later, a Braselton
police officer stopped a vehicle on
Interstate 85 fitting the description of the
vehicle and the person,” Chapman said.
A Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputy
responded to the 126-mile marker on 1-85
and met with Braselton police officers and
took Jumarkes Lee Miller, 30,2843 McDuffie
Street, Anderson, S.C., into custody.
“Items in the vehicle were recovered,
along with the ski mask, that Miller wore
during the armed robbery,” Chapman
said.
Miller was transported to the Banks
County Jail where he was on charged
with armed robbery.
