About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2013)
504 • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 30 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 45 No. 13 Relay for Life coming up Saturday The Banks County Relay for Life will be held Saturday, May 18, at 10 a.m. The event will end at 11 p.m. on the square in Homer in front of the courthouse. Everyone is invited to come, leaders state. Teams from schools, churches, businesses and individuals will be participating. Each relay team will be selling an assortment of food and entertainment will be provided. Attendees are allowed to bring lawn chairs. “It’s never too late for anyone to come, especially the survivors and be a part of this effort to raise money to help find a cure for cancer,” said Charlotte Maxwell, one of the organizers. “The committee wants the community participation and a large crowd in attendance to support this fundraiser. Everyone has been touched in some way by cancer.” All parade participants should meet at Banks County Elementary School at 9 a.m. There will be a float at the elementary school for survivors to ride on. Committee members will be on hand to direct the parade. All children who plan to be in the parade should meet in the parking lot at Tiny Town. Children under 18 must have a parent sign a release form to participate. These forms will be available. Forms are also available at the chamber of commerce between 8 a.m. and noon at the historic courthouse to fill out a form prior the parade. Adults who plan to participate in the parade must also fill out a form. RELAY FOR LIFE SCHEDULE: 10:00 AM - Parade 11:00 AM - Opening ceremony 12:00 PM - Twirlers 12:30 PM - Demonstration by Banks County Canine Unit 1:00 PM - Music by Tracy Maxwell 2:00 PM - Variety of entertainment 3:00 PM - Ronnie Carroll Band 4:00 PM - Variety of activities 5:00 PM - Live auction 6:00 PM - Mike Wood Band - Street dance 9:00 PM - Luminaria ceremony 10:00 PM - Mike Wood Band 11:00 PM - Closing Ceremony PRESCHOOL GRADUATES The Homer Baptist Preschool class members are shown. The students will be in the graduating glass of 2026. Lula looks at update of zoning ordinance BY CINDY R. EDGE Lula officials discussed an update to the town’s zoning ordinance at a work session meeting Monday night. Adoption of the discussed changes will take place at the regular voting meeting, set for 7 p.m. Monday. At this week’s meeting, Lula city coun cil held a public hearing to receive com ments regarding changes to the current zoning ordinances. Lula’s first zoning regulations were approved in 1974 and minor changes were made to the ordi nances in 1994. The council is consider ing changes to the current regulations to bring them up to date. One noticeable change would see the cost to citizens for new development reduced with the cost being shifted to the developers. Changes to the ordinances have been in the works for four years. In other business at the work session Monday night, the council: •discussed the 2013/2014 budget. Budget development public hearings are proposed for Monday, June 3, at 5 p.m. and Monday, June 10, at 5 p.m. •discussed the water and sewer sys tem. Current plant improvements to assist with operations should be completed next week. •the council discussed the WWTP Flow/Infiltration and possibly replacing sewer lines along Hood Street at an estimated cost of $95,000. The terracotta pipes have been in the ground since 1974. Engineering fees for the project are esti mated at 12,400. At the regular meeting scheduled for Monday night, the council will consider approval of engineering for the sewer line replacement project. • the council discussed problems with continued on page 3A Inside •Career Day at BCMS — page 7A Other news • Social — 8A • Church — 5B • Public Safety - 5A-6A • Legals -9B-11B • Sports - 1B-3B • School - 7A, 9A • Obituaries - 11A • Classifieds - 6B-8B Scrimmage game May 17 The Banks County football team scrimmage games will be held on Friday, May 17, at Leopard Stadium. Kick off for the middle school game will be at 4:30 p.m. Kick off for the high school team will be at 6 p.m. No passes will be accepted to the Spring football game. Admission is either laundry detergent, a towel, or $5. Concessions will be offered. Recreation department meeting planned The Banks County Recreation Department will be holding a public meet ing on Tuesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. It will be an informational meeting for the booster club. Homer council begins budget talks BY SHARON HOGAN During a called meeting on May 6, the Homer City Council began work on the proposed fiscal year 2014 budgets. The proposed 2014 general fund budget totals $379,700 - down $8,900 from the FY2013 total of $388,600. This reflects a decrease of a little more than two percent. The proposed fire department budget for 2014 reflects an increase of $7,000 over 2013 bringing the total to $47,050. The increases included $500 more in office supplies, $3,000 in communica tions, $2,000 in equipment, $1,000 in repairs and maintenance and $500 in gas and fuel. Homer Fire Chief and Homer City Council Member Cliff Hill advised the council that the fire department had applied for a fire aid grant that could pay for the hoses and radio equipment needed for the fire department that were included in the budget proposal. Hill said the fire department had received a list from ISO for things the fire department needs. Hill also told the council that the fire department had applied for a Forestry Grant for a pumper and a brush truck. “We would like to get both, but if we can get one of these,” Hill said. Council member Betty Borders ques tions Hill about the $3,000 in the budget for fireworks. “Is $3,000 enough?” Borders asked. Hill said the fire department raises funds to go along with the $3,000 pro vided by the city. “I’m pretty sure the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) wants to con tribute some for the fireworks show,” Mayor Doug Cheek added. There were no changes in the FY2014 budget for the sanitation department from the 2013 total of $44,000. The proposed 2014 budget of $95,380 for the street department reflects a decrease of $320 from $95,700 in 2013. The proposal for gas and fuel decreased by $500 and the tree city fee per capital increased by $180. The administrative budget proposed for 2014 - $191,650 is down by $4,200 from $195,850 in 2013. Changes included $1,000 decrease in extra labor; $1,000 decrease in office expenses; $1,000 decrease in telephones; $800 increase for workers’ comp insurance fee; $1,000 decrease in liability insurance cost; and $1,000 decrease in supplies. City Clerk Carol Ayers advised the council that the budget reflected decreases in revenues for sales tax, per mits and franchise fees. WATER FUND The proposed FY2014 water fund budget is $151,000 down $5,000 from the $156,000 2013 budget. The changes include a $1,000 decrease in utilities; $2,000 decrease in water purchasing costs; $1,000 decrease in fuel and gas; and $1,000 decrease in equipment. DDA Cheek presented the council with cop ies of the proposed DDA budget for 2013. The expenses totaled $15,100 - $1,000 for garden club plans and refreshments Jan.-Dee.; $1,000 for farmer’s market advertising, signage and reservation fees to the city June-Aug.; $4,000 for city/park enhancements Sept.-Dee. including more banners to go on light poles for Christmas and Easter; $2,000 Christmas enhancements; $2,000 Easter egg hunt; $1,000 for July 4 th event; $1,000 for Harvest Fest in Oct.; $1,000 for car show in Oct. or Nov.; $100 to feed the hungry at Thanksgiving; and $2,000 for Christmas in the Park. The budget also included $10,000 for proposed walking trails and $10,000 to add an interactive play fountain or origi nal fountain to the Veterans Park. Council members Jerry Payne, Chris Tucker and Tony Sullivan were absent from the meeting. “At the next meeting, we need to final ize the budget and prioritize SPLOST projects,” Cheek said. Ayers advised the City of Homer is receiving around $13,000 per month in SPLOST revenue. The total in the SPLOST fund at the end of April was $66,878. The city’s proposed SPLOST projects include: $216,000 for water system improvements; $248,000 for fire station construction and equipment; $216,000 for road improve ments; $80,000 for town hall construc tion and equipment; and $40,000 for real estate acquisition.
