About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2013)
PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 HOMER Homer City Council appoints three city officials BY CAMERON WHITLOCK The Homer City Council made appointments to three city positions at its regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday. The council reappointed Judy Harper as the Banks County Library Board repre sentative and Maxcine Clark as the Housing Authority Resident Commissioner. The council also appointed David Dunson to take over the term of Danny Lord, who resigned from the planning and zoning committee. Dunson was also appointed to another term, which begins in July. In other business, the coun cil: •approved the first reading of its building code ordinance. The ordinance would enter Homer into an intergovern mental agreement with Banks County to enforce its building code. The ordinance was writ ten to include a $315 permit fee, $300 of which will go to the county, while the Homer will keep $15 to pay for admin istrative costs. •was updated on the family housing project (apartments) by housing authority vice-chair Robin Trotter. The housing authority also requested that the council provide them with a letter stating that water would be supplied by the county and that the zoning is R2 (multi family/residential). The proj ect is projected to begin in July PRESENTS REQUEST James Shi presented a request to the Banks County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night for a conditional use permit for 44 acres on Line Church Road to locate a shooting range. Photo by Angela Gary VISITS BANKS Stan Wise, Georgia Public Service Commission, recently spoke at the Banks County Rotary Club. He is shown with Jimmy Hooper, chairman of the Banks County Board of Commission, and Charles Turk, BOC vice chairman Natural gas lines conning to county Last week, Stan Wise of Georgia’s Public Service Commission visited the Banks County Rotary Club and reported that 51,000 feet and more than $6 million dollars of natural gas line is coming to Banks County. The new lines will primarily serve the State Highway 105 area. This project is funded by a univer sal service fund from the Georgia Public Service Commission. This first step in getting natu ral gas throughout Banks County will address the needs of agri business. “Cutting the cost of farming operations will help the econo my here,” said Brad Day Banks County economic developer. Jimmy Hooper, chairman of the Banks County Board of Commission, said, “Our eco nomic developer is focusing on the basics of developing roads, water line, wastewater, and, in this case, much needed natural gas. These efforts will help exist ing agribusinesses and make us more competitive with other communities in attracting new business.” LULA Lula City Council work session items announced Shooting range from ia “I have 34 years in the Marine Corps and it taught me about firearm safety,” Shi said. Before the vote was taken, commissioner Turk said that he wants the hours of shoot ing each day be limited to no more than two hours. “I empathize some with the neighbors,” Turk said. “There are a lot of neighbors who have been there longer than I have been breathing air and they have a right to enjoy their life. I’m glad you are doing it but about two hours is enough. The only way I will approve it is two hours maximum. I understand these neighbors. I have shooting around my house. I have to look out for the neighbors too. They’ve got a right to their property too.” Shi said that he already has authority through state law to operate a recreational sports shooting range with unlimited shooting each day. He has been shooting recreationally on the property for 13 years and says he has never had a complaint. “I don’t know how I can limit it to a set number of min utes,” Shi said. “Sometimes a student takes longer than another student.” BOC chairman Jimmy Hooper said: “I think two hours may be too narrow of a frame. I wouldn’t want to see it go more than four hours.” Mr. Shi replied, “I would be willing to go to four hours a day and not shoot on Sunday. I want to be a good neighbor.” Commissioner Reece made the motion to approve the request with a maximum of three hours of shooting per day and no Sunday opera tion. Maxwell seconded the motion. CITIZENS SPEAK Three people spoke in favor of the request, while two spoke in opposition. Among those speaking in favor of the request was for mer county extension agent, John Mitchell, who said: “I’ve seen him run a range that is positively safe. I can’t give even more higher of a recom mendation for his skills and safety.” David Tolar also spoke in support of the project. “There is no other place around here like this. I think it would be an asset in the county to have this.” A neighbor of the property supported the request, stat ing, “I think it will be a valu- ate asset to our community. I think everyone should be taught how to use firearms.” Among those speaking in opposition to the request was Scott Watkins, who said, “This seems very admirable. A lot of people do need train ing. The problem is when some activities negatively impact others. In this case, it is a noise issue.” Janice Galloway also spoke against the request, citing her concerns about the noise and related businesses locating in the area. “It will wind up being com mercial,” she said of the area. “I would like you to think about that.” In his rebuttal comment, Shi said that shooting would not be constant or excessive. “I will be running a very tight range for instructing stu dents,” he said. OTHER BUSINESS In other business Tuesday Property line from ia Commission. • approved an agreement with APCO International Inc. for the emergency medical dis patch program. • agreed to provide $8,450 in local share to Legacy Link to provide services to the senior citizen’s center and the Meals on Wheels program. • approved a youth worker agreement with the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. • awarded the LP gas bid to A Better Gas Company. •agreed to purchase two county vehicles this year with special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) revenue. • declared storage buildings that are not being used as sur plus. •agreed to lift the hiring freeze due to the need to hire a full time maintenance person. Chambers Road shooting from IA MESSAGE FROM DR. RONDINA to locate the source of the shot and several neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the area of Barnes Road. However, accord ing to the report after going to numerous Barnes Road resi dences officers were unable to make contact with anyone who admitted to shooting a gun. BCSO Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson said on April 8 it was a high caliber bullet that struck Zohoranacky. “We may never know where the bullet came from. A bullet of that caliber could travel approxi mately two miles,” Wilson said. It is with great regret that my surgical office will be closing on April 30, 2013. If needed, you may obtain your office chart by contacting Northridge Medical Center at 706-335-1000 following that date. Dr. Rondina night, the BOC approved the following: •a request from David Hicks and Windsel Martin for a conditional use permit for a grinding, storage and sales business on 12.95 acres on Lafew Road, Homer. •a request from Joseph and David Goodroe to rezone property at the Oaks at Banks Crossing from ARR to R-l for a 12-lot subdivi sion. •an amendment to the alcohol ordinance to change the square footage for busi nesses serving alcohol from 2,000 feet to 1,200 feet. This amendment was approved in a 4-1 vote, with Turk cast ing the vote in opposition. “I think this will be the first step back to bars,” Turk said. “I can’t see passing it to 1,200 square feet. Your area will be a lot smaller. You will end up with a small amount that is actually the restaurant. I don’t see a pur pose in changing it down to 1,200 square feet.” The following is a prelimi nary list of items considered by the Lula City Council at its monthly work session on Monday. Some items are strictly for discussion only and keeping the council informed of cur rent conditions and will not be placed on the regular council meeting agenda for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 18. Work session items included: •March 2013 meeting min utes • March “Yard of the Month” recipients •current finance conditions and sealed bids to be opened at April 15 meeting for replace ment of the city’s 2002 GMC truck •water and sewer systems operations, issues and over view • Hall County Animal Control/Municipal Court with attorney approval pending •water and wastewater rates and charges amendment sec ond reading •approval of paving bids and consideration of funding source • sewer #365 contract amendments •4-way stop at Carter and Toombs streets •cost approval for existing landscape and border upgrade • liability insurance renewal •five percent storm water contract reduction Tea Party to meet April 23 The Tea Party of Northeast Georgia will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express at Banks Crossing. Local state representatives and senators will be present to talk about Georgia legislation that was passed and not passed during 2013 General Assembly. There will be time of a questions and answers. All voters and concerned citizens are invited to attend. For more information, call 706-654-8292 (call instead of text). The Clock is Ticking! Important changes to GED Testing Two big changes are underway in earning a GED - the current paper and pencil version of the GED test is ending, and a new computer-based GED test is now available. At the end of this year, there will be a brand new GED test. Anyone who has not passed all 5 sections of the current GED test will have to start over on the new test in January 2014 to earn a GED. GED classes are free and convenient. Practice tests are available as well as knowledgeable instructors. Lanier Technical College Adult Education Centers are encouraging those who have not finished to come in, study, and take their last tests. To register, test candidates go to www.gedcomputer.com Student candidates can choose a testing time and place that is convenient for them and make an appointment for their tests. Same day registration and testing is available. Testing students pay by debit or credit card and receive their test scores immediately upon completing their tests. Get Started Today! Banks County Adult Learning Center 127 Hudson Valley Dr. Homer, GA 30547 706-677-4302
