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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.