About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 2017)
PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017 Baldwin approves backflow BY SHARON HOGAN The Baldwin City Council took the first step Monday to approve an amended backflow prevention and cross-connection control ordinance by approving the first reading of the pro posed ordinance. The ordinance, a requirement by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD), provides the regulations for backflow preventers and cross-connec tion controls. The ordinance outlines: definitions, the purpose and control, responsibili ties, implementation and enforcement, inspection of facilities, water from other sources, selection of devices, location and installation of devices, test, maintenance and repairs, fire pro tection, test and maintenance report, cross-connection survey and construc tion diagrams. The backflow preventer is the responsibility of the commercial water customer to purchase and install in accordance with the city’s ordinance. “The backflow preventers have to be tested annually by a state certi fied tester and the results of the test must be provided to the city,” public works director Scott Barnhart said. “The city will have a file with all of the results and if the EPD should ask to check one we can pull it out and show it to them.” Failure to comply with the city’s backflow ordinance can result in a fine to be imposed by the city’s municipal court judge. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at Monday’s monthly meeting: • the council discussed a proposed Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) Loan Resolution to modify the terms of the $905,000 loan for the city’s new water tank. •the council unanimously approved minutes from the following meetings: June 8, work session; June 12, council meeting; June 26, council meeting; July 6, work session; and July 10, council meeting. •the council met in closed ses sion for approximately 15 minutes to discuss real estate acquisition. No action was taken when the meet ing was re-opened. “We are working to keep moving the city forward,” Mayor Jerry Neace said, following the closed session. • Neace reminded everyone about the Farmers’ Market held from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays in the downtown area. Homer Planning Commission to meet Thursday The Town of Homer Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at town hall on Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m. to receive public comments on the application of Banks County Golf, LLC for a pro posed amendment to the zoning ordinance to zone property located at 491 Scales Creek Road from R-l Single-Family Residential District to R-2 Multi-family Residential District. A copy of the application is available for public inspection at the Homer Town Hall. The public hearing of Homer Town Council will be on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m. The town council will consider adoption of the zoning request at the regular meeting immediately following the public hearing. BOE approves personnel Banks BOE approves $40 million budget The Banks Coun ty Board of Education approved a $41.2 million budget at its July meet ing. The budget, which is for fiscal year July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, is up 18 percent over the FY2017 budget. Revenue includes $7.5 million in ad valorem taxes, $2.6 million in ELOST, $17.9 million in state sources and $2.7 million in federal sourc es. As for expenditures, the largest line item is $19.9 million for instruction. The Banks County Board of Education approved sev eral personnel matters at its July 17 meeting, includ ing the following: •hiring Carmen Daniel, Michelle Madden and Peyton Hart, all teachers. • accepting the res ignations of Jacqueline Kelley and Tom Kelley, both teachers. Historical society to present mock trial The Banks County His torical Society will pres ent a mock trial, “Death at Damascus,” on Satur day, September 2, during the 45th annual Holiday Festival. The presentation will be featured at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The mock trial will be performed in the upstairs courtroom of the historic courthouse. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for chil dren under age 13 who are accompanied by an adult. Tickets will be free for children age 5 and under. For more information, check out the website, wwwBanksCountyHistor- icalSociety.org. BOC to meet Aug. 10 The Banks County Com missioners will hold a called meeting on Thurs day, August 10, at 2:30 p.m. in the board room of the Banks County Courthouse Annex. The purpose of the meeting is to open submitted bids for the con struction/renovation of the Banks County Senior Cen ter. Baldwin Farmers Market open The Baldwin City Farmers’ Market is now open on Air port Road, across from the site of the old city hall. Hours for the farmers’ mar ket will be 4-8 p.m. on Tues days and Fridays through October. There will not be a charge for vendors to participate in 2017, but the fee will be $10 monthly or $50 for the sea son, beginning in 2018. Vendor applications and operating policies are avail able at city hall during nor mal business hours. Items that are not char acteristic of a wholesome family environment are not allowed. Items must be home grown or handmade. The sale of firearms, ammunition and pornography are strictly prohibited. Vendors using box trucks or trailers must be approved in advance. Set up for the event must be prior to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. Meetings coming up in Maysville The Maysville City Council will meet the following dates in August: •Thursday August 3, workshop meeting, 6 p.m. •Monday August 7, public hearing, 6:30 p.m. • Monday, August 7, regular council meeting, 7 p.m. •Monday, August 14, public hearing, 6:30 p.m. •Thursday, August 31, workshop meeting, 6 p.m. 9th annual 5K Run/ Walk fundraiser planned at Tanger Tanger Outlet Center in Commerce has announced that this year’s benefi ciary of the funds raised from the 9th Annual Fit For a Cure Run/Walk will be “Monies for Mammos: Northridge Medical Center Breast Imaging Fund,” providing mammography screenings for qualified individuals. This year’s event is scheduled for Sat urday morning, October 14, starting at 8:30 a.m. The Tanger 5K event is part of a month-long effort to raise funds and awareness in the fight against breast cancer in our community. “Monies for Mammos is designed as an organized effort to help support qualified individuals in our community receive a free mammography screen ing at Northridge Medical Center,” said Judy Warmer, Chief Operating Officer for Northridge Medical Center. “All qual ified individuals who register will receive a mammography screening and a read ing by a radiologist at no cost. We are excited to partner with the folks at Tanger Outlets on the 5K event in the hopes of delivering this service to more people in the community. We are thankful for the support that Tanger Outlets has shown to help with the health of our community.” Under Armour will once again be the Presenting Sponsor for the 5K and will donate the race shirts that will be given away to the first 550 registered partici pants. The family event is open to runners and walkers of all ages. Prizes will be awarded to divisional age bracket win ners as well as the top male and top female winners. The first 550 pre-reg- istered participants will receive a race pack which includes a commemora tive Under Armour race t-shirt, medal, Tanger shopping discounts and other goodies. To register, visit Tanger Shopper Ser vices on site in suite 201 or register con veniently online at www.tangeroutlet. com/race. The early registration period ends at 11 p.m. on October 12. After that, the fee will increase from $25 per person to $30. The 3.1 mile course will begin and end at the Tanger Outlet Center in Commerce. Groups of 10 or more participants are eligible for a pre-registration discount of $10 per person (off of the adult fee). The team pre-registration fee is only $15 per person, a savings of $100 or more. Team prizes will be presented for largest team, best team T-shirt design, best average team time and best overall team spirit. For more information on team reg istrations contact the Tanger Shopper Services office at (706) 335-3354. “We are very excited about this year’s event and we are hopeful and confident that we will pass last years fundraising mark of $12,000,” remarked Mark Val entine, General Manager of the Tanger Outlet Center. “Currently, the team is working on signing up sponsors for this years 5K, as we are looking for business es in the community to partner with us on this very worthwhile event.” This year’s event once again is a reg istered race of the ‘Run & See Georgia Grand Prix Series,’ and the ‘Black Bag Race Series.’ Since 1994, Tanger Outlets across the country have raised more than $20 mil lion dollars to help find a cure, help those in need, and to raise awareness of proper screenings and care. BANKS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Projects Year Approved Cost Expended Banks 2012 Splost Project Report FY13-Year 1 FY14 - Year 2 FY15 - Year 3 FY16-Year 4 FY17 - Year 5 General Obligation Dept. 2012 450,000.00 450,000.00 249,040.00 200,960.00 Sewage/Water 2012 4,470,000.00 1,646,358.00 88,016.00 365,609.00 517,648.00 675,085.00 Safety & Fire 2012 1,900,000.00 1,729,348.00 154,355.00 1,416,944.00 158,049.00 Recreation 2012 1,000,000.00 2,087,787.00 2,500.00 657.00 1,432,451.00 652,179.00 Roads & Bridges 2012 4,825,500.00 4,730,254.00 30,256.00 1,073,648.00 2,332,906.00 1,293,444.00 Plotter Equipment 2012 7,500.00 6,606.00 6,606.00 Vehicles 2012 192,000.00 220,875.00 43,596.00 74,311.00 76,301.00 26,667.00 Senior Center 2012 30,000.00 36,642.00 1,000.00 35,642.00
