About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 2012)
Wrestling: IB Leopard Matmen win at Lumpkin School: 6A Drive that lawnmower! — www.BanksNewsTODAY.com — 50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 44 No. 5 Board of Commissioners Contract set for historic courthouse repairs BY ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday night to spend $10,633 for repairs to the historic courthouse in Homer. The BOC approved the contract with Jeffrey Alan Construction Co., Gillsville, to do the work. The repairs will include the columns on the front of the courthouse and the roof edge above the gutter on the main roof of the building. In other business, the commissioners: •heard from Lisa Phillips about a reported water leak at her residence at 5231 Yonah- Homer Road. Phillips had a videotape she made, as well as other information that she said showed that there is not a water leak at the property. There was a lengthy discussion about the issue and the BOC unanimously voted for Phillips to pay the bill over a 12-month period with the penalty being waived, •approved an agreement with Jackson County on the Piedmont Circuit Juvenile Court program. Jackson County is the host county for the program, which also provides services to Banks and Barrow counties. Banks County’s monthly payment is $2,632. •approved a contract with Wanda Eubanks to provide probation services for the probate and magistrate courts. •approved a maintenance contract with Traylor Business Services for the tax assessor’s office, •appointed Charles Turk as vice chairman. •set the qualifying fees for the 2012 election (see ad on page 3A). •approved insurance providers for employee ben efits offered by the county, including the following: Lincoln National — life, accidental death and short term disability (a savings of $16,068 annually to the county): United Healthcare — dental (four percent savings to employees on their premium); and Reliance Standard — vision ($6.60 savings to employees). *met in closed session for 35 minutes to discuss “potential litigation and personnel.” No action was taken when the meeting was opened to the public. LADY LEOPARDS IN ACTION — Shown (clockwise from left) Lady Leopard Haley Warner works for a basket in the lane at a recent basketball game; Madison Franklin looks for a opening to pass the ball; and cheerleader Courtney Gailey works the crowd. Photos by Randy Crump Baldwin Feb. 15 deadline set for prison's sewer bill Sewer service will be shut off if $130,000 overdue is not paid BY SHARON HOGAN Baldwin leaders agreed Monday night to give the Georgia Department of Corrections a deadline to clear up its non payment of over $130,000 in sewer bill fees. The council set the deadline for Wednesday, Feb. 15. Mayor Jerry Neace said after that time the city will shut off sewer service to the Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute. The city increased its sewer fees and the prison has not been paying the new fee. The $130,000 owed is for the past five months. Neace said he received a call around 6:20 p.m. on Monday from State Representative Terry Rogers concerning the prison sewer bill issue. Rogers said he was surprised that someone from the Department of Corrections had not contacted the city about this issue. Rogers said he had talked with them last week about the issue. Neace reported prison officials cancelled the Jan. 6 meet- ins to tour the city’s sewer plant. . continued on page 3A NEACE •Maysville officials sworn in — page 2A • ‘Critics should take cue from hobbits’ — page 4A Harrop begins first term on Lula City Council Shuler to serve another term On Monday, the Lula City Council held its first meeting of 2012 and welcomed Norman Harrop to his first term as city council member. Harrop takes over the seat previously held by Judah Echols. Echols did not seek re-election. Council member Larry Shuler was sworn in to serve another term on the council. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at Monday’s work session meeting, the council discussed the following items that will be on the agenda Tuesday night: •yard of the month recipients and the promotion of, market ing and signage for a new pro gram planned for April and May called “Blooming In Lula.” •the election of a mayor pro- tem. •council committees and appointments due to the change in council members. •several financial issues including: the city’s Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) loan interest and payments; the cost adjust ment on the Georgia Power pole agreement; signatures required for the city’s finan cial funds; and the fact that the city’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) collections were up $1,127 for December. •several issues concerning the city’s water and sewer system, including: a sewer backup in the main line at the pond; SCADA/ well tank/meter approval; a scheduled rate adjustment; oper ations and issues; and monthly water and sewer report. •garbage collection require ments and rate adjustment. •annexation implications and schedule. •a park business partner pro gram. •the Morgan Manor street light program. •items to be surplused and auctioned. •the Downtown Development Authority Community Business Meeting planned for Thursday, Jan. 19. •the annual council compen sation comparison. •the Banks County Hazard Mitigation Plan being consid ered. •Memorial Day. a date for Railroad Day and a date for the Jenrette 5K Run. •the Cochran sewer agree ment and expiration. Other news •Social -7&12A •Church —6B •Obituaries — 8-9A • Public Safety — 5A • Legal s — 7-11B • School — 6A Relay for Life kickoff planned for Thursday The kickoff for the Banks County Relay for Life will be held Thursday, Jan. 12, at the senior citizens center. Food will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. “Everyone is invited to help honor survi vors, say thank you to caregivers and recog nize the hard work of teams,” leaders state. This year’s theme will be television shows. The relay will be held June 8-9 in down town Homer on the square. Team meetings will be held at 7:30 pm. at the senior citizens center on Jan. 13, Feb. 9, March 8, April 12 and June 5. Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at an athletic track, park or other gathering area, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the evening. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during the relay. Relay For Life began in May 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, took the first step of his 24-hour walk in Tacoma, Wash., and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. For more details, visit www.relayforlife. org/banksga. To form a team, volunteer or be a sponsor, contact Ken Mize, 706-870- 4650: Charlotte Maxwell, 706-658-6665: or Victoria Patrick, 770-307-7956 or Victoria. patrick@cancer.org. Gillsville Qualifying is under way Qualifying is under way to fill a vacant seat on the Gillsville City Council. The city will be holding a special election on Tuesday. March 6, to fill the coun cil seat previously held by Richard Ferguson. Ferguson’s term expired on Dec. 31, 2011. Qualifying for the city council seat will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Jan. 13, at the Hall County Election’s Office. Bridge closed for repairwork The Georgia Department of Transportation has report ed that the State Route 59 bridge over Grove Creek southeast of Homer will remain closed for repairs until further notice. Detour routes are posted.
