About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2013)
O O 50<t • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 45 No. 10 Social Genealogy Day at the library INDUSTRY Fabricators to expand in industrial park BY SHARON HOGAN Metrosite Fabricators will be expanding its operation in the Banks County Industrial Park following action taken at the development authority meet ing last week. During the monthly meeting on April 16, the Banks County Development Authority unani mously approved a lease for three DA-owned lots in the Banks County Industrial Park, after meeting in closed ses sion for approximately 10 min utes. The authority approved a lease with Metrosite Frabricators, LLC to pay $2,000 per month from April 1, 2013, through March 31, 2016, and then, if not purchased by Metrosite, $8,000 per month from April 1, 2016, through November 30, 2017. DA chairman Scott Ledford recused himself from the closed session and the vote on the lease because he is the owner of Metrosite. Metrosite currently rents one of the sites from the authority for storage use. Metrosite plans to use the building on one of the lots for additional office space. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the monthly meeting, the author ity: • heard from community planner Brad Day on a list of proposed incentives for eco nomic development in Banks County. Day said the incen tives are not location specific, but are based on the impact on the community. The list included: waiver of hook-up and impact fees, waiver of permit and sign fees, work with Georgia Department of Transportation for removal of trees, build roads into and around development, ad valorem tax abatement, con struct a conference center to induce 200-room hotel or other businesses and others continued on page 6A Inside •Legion Memorial Cross Project is under way — page 3A •Eight BCHS athletes have qualifed for the state track meet — page 1B • Banks County tennis teams headed to state — page 3 B Other news Social — 9A Church — 6B Obituaries - 11A Public Safety - 5-6A Legals -7-9B Sports - 1-4B Classifieds - 10-12B School - 10A FESTIVAL Festival of Arts coming up Saturday in Homer BY ANGELA GARY Artwork from throughout North Georgia will be featured at the Festival of Arts coming up Saturday in Banks County. The Holiday Festival Committee is planning the event, which will become an annual festival, to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Homer on the historic courthouse square. “I am so excited about this new art event here in Homer,” committee member Tracey King said. “Our com munity has so many artists and I hope they will come out and participate in this event.” Artists to be featured in the show will include: Alex and Anelia Chambers, Commerce; William Presley, Maysville; Joyce Sullivan, Marietta; Carson Croker, Alto; Ferguson Family Gillsville; Peggy Cain, Commerce; Dale Hinsley, Maysville; C. Larry Wilson, Jasper; Marvin Bailey, Lancaster, S.C.; Mike Ledford, Shelby, N.C., Kip Raimey, Clayton; and Debbie Jenkins, Cornelia. Although art will be the main focus of the festival, the Festival of Arts will also feature music and concessions. The festival will feature live perfor mances by the Back in Time Band, as well as the BlueBilly Grit bluegrass band. Back in Time is a nine-piece band based in Gainesville. The band is known for its classic rock, soul and East Coast beach music. And for all of those bluegrass fans, the BlueBilly Grit band, winner of the 2012 Telluride continued on page 6A POTTERY TO BE FEATURED This pottery piece by Steve Turpin of Banks County will be among the items featured at the Festival of Arts Saturday in Homer. BUDGET WORK UNDER WAY The Banks County Board of Commissioners held a work session on Monday to go over the pro posed fiscal year 2014 budget. Shown (L-R) are: finance director Randy Failyer, assistant city clerk Erin Decker, city clerk Jenni Gailey, BOC chairman Jimmy Hooper, commissioners Danny Maxwell, Sammy Reece and Charles Turk. Photo by Sharon Hogan BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Budget cuts begin Banks BOC starts first round of cuts to 2014 budget BY SHARON HOGAN The Banks County Board of Commissioners began work sessions on Monday to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget. The proposed FY2014 budget totals $12.7 million - up $1 million over the FY2013 budget. The commissioners are meeting with the department heads and cuts The Banks County Relay for Life com mittee invites all cancer survivors and their caregivers to attend the ceremonies of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life that is being held Saturday, May 18, in downtown Homer on the square in front of the historic courthouse. As a cancer survivor, you are invited to join the other survivors at the hospitality area at 7 p.m. prior to the inspirational Survivors’ Lap. The celebration stand area, which is located next to the historic Homer courthouse, is reserved for survi vors and their families. As participants in the ceremony sur vivors will receive a special memento. Survivor T-shirts are given to each partici pant to wear during the Relay ceremony at no cost and to take home as a gift. Survivors are asked to contact Charlotte Maxwell at 706-335-6948 in order to receive their correct shirt size. The highlight of the Relay for Life event is the Survivor Lap when only survivors and their families walk together during this special time. “It’s a celebration of the victories that are being made in every department. RECREATION Recreation director Joe Gailey asked the BOC to include funds to move a part-time person to full-time at a pay rate of $10 per hour, plus benefits. Gailey also requested funds to add a part-time program assistant’s posi tion - 30 hours per week - at $8 per •Ceremonies of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life are being held Saturday, May 18, in downtown Homer. the survivors have achieved over can cer,” Maxwell said. “It’s an emotional example of how Relay participants are creating a world with more birthdays like those of each individual who is walking the survivor lap on the track. Spectators and relay teams are asked to line the pathway and cheer and clap as the sur vivors and their families complete this victory lap.” The Banks County Relay for Life this year is a one-day event being held on Saturday, May 18, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 11 p.m. on the square in Homer in front of the historic courthouse. “The relay committee hopes that hold ing the event on one day rather than the usual day and overnight fundraiser that the community participation and crowd attendance will be greatly increased and supportive,” Maxwell said. “Each relay team will be selling an hour with no benefits. Gailey said one reason the extra help is needed was to help monitor the fields during peak times. Also included in the proposed recreation department budget is an increase in funds for education and training and dues and fees. assortment of food menus so come hun gry and eat lunch and supper. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the variety of enter tainment that will go on for 13 hours.” A live auction will take place from the stage area with a multitude of items to bid on. The time for this will be announced at the relay. Children will be able to enjoy many activities such as inflatables. A toilet tissue throw into an authentic out house built by one of the teams will test your throwing skill to win prizes. “The event is free to the public to come and enjoy but you will want to bring money to help support the find to fight a cure for cancer,” Maxwell said. Teams from the schools, churches, businesses and individuals will be par ticipating. “It’s not too late for anyone to form a team and begin to fundraise for this worthy cause,” Maxwell said. “The com mittee encourages you, your family and friends to participate in the 2013 Relay for Life.” For information, see Tim Harper, Charlotte Maxwell or Joan Cochran. DFCS Banks County DFCS has new director BY SHARON HOGAN The Banks County Department of Family and Children Services has a new director. Director Mark Akridge conducted his first board meeting in Banks County on April 17. Akridge, who has been with DFCS for 22 years, previously served as direc tor in Franklin and Hart counties for 11 years. He took over as director for Banks and Stephens counties effective April 1. Akridge advised the board that he signed the state’s space utilization form for another building. “I know there has been some con cern with cubicles as opposed to offic es, but I have seen cubicles work and we need something here,” Akridge said. Akridge reported he had rented a storage building to help alleviate clutter in the DFCS office. Akridge also advised the board that he had requested $32,000 in funds from the Banks County Board of Commissioners for 2014. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the monthly meeting: •Akridge presented the monthly county expense reports for March and April. The total for February was $1,948 and the total for March was $1,833. Akridge said 75 percent of the current budget year had lapsed and 70 percent of the county funds had been spent. •Akridge reported 11 child pro tective services (CPS) referrals for February and five for March and $1,709 spent for CPS in February and $285 for March. •Akridge reported 16 kids in Foster care for both months, five children free for adoption; and $239 spent for placement services in Feb. and $290 in March. The next regularly scheduled Banks County DFCS board meeting is set for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, in the meeting room at the DFCS office, Evans Street, Homer. Budget hearings conning up for Banks BOC The Banks County Board of Commissioners has set the budget work sessions. The schedule is as follows: • 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1. • 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 2. • 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 3. The budget was also discussed at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Banks County BOC on Tuesday, April 23. continued on page 6A RELAY FOR LIFE Cancer survivors invited to participate in Relay
