Newspaper Page Text
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Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 20 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 49 No. 36
Index
•Crime —8A
•Obituaries — IIA
• Classifieds — 4B-5B
•Legals — 7B
•Sports — IB-2B, 8B
Mayor
reports on
TSPLOST
effort
BY CINDY R. EDGE
Mayor Larry Poole is not
in favor of any additional
taxes for Gillsville property
owners.
At a meeting held Tues
day August 1, Poole report
ed he was shocked to learn
at a recent meeting of Hall
County Mayors that the
county has proposed begin
ning dialogue with local cit
ies regarding the possibility
of a TSPLOST referendum.
A TSPLOST is a sales tax
where the capital outlays are
intended for transportation
purposes only.
Poole said he would only
support the new tax with
the addition of several stip
ulations.
“I see my role as repre
senting the taxpayers more
than anything else,” Poole
said. “That’s the highest
priority in decisions I make,
what’s best for the taxpay
ers whether it be Gillsville
residents or taxpayers in
general.”
According to Poole, a
meeting has been set for
later this month to begin
discussion regarding the
possibility of presenting a
referendum for a TSPLOST
to Hall County voters.
In other business:
• the council is continuing
to discuss repairs needed to
the city ballfield dugouts.
•the council discussed
repairs needed at the down
town building.
• an election will be held
in November to fill positions
currently held by Mayor
Larry Poole, Councilman
Roy Turpin and the council
seat vacated by the resigna
tion of Jim Butler.
•Poole reported the city
has received a letter from
Banks County regarding
permits for non-profit tem
porary food service during
city sponsored events. The
council agreed to address
this matter when the need
arises for a permit.
•the council held a
first reading of a request
to annex property located
at 5991 and 6001 Hwy. 52.
Final acceptance of the
request will be held at next
month’s meeting. The prop
erty is owned by Curtis and
Kadi Hodge.
We Remember 50 Year Ago:
The Floyd Hoard Assassination
Part 2:
Floyd Hoard comes
to a lawless county
Starts on Page 4A
FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
Landri Love is shown on her first day of school as a first grader at Banks County
Primary School.
BOE to lower
millage rate
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board of Education unani
mously agreed in a called meeting on Wednesday,
Aug. 2, to lower the millage rate for the next fiscal
year. The action was tentative with final approval
coming at the BOE meeting on Monday, Aug. 21,
at 7 p.m.
The tentative millage rate approved is 15.135, a
decrease from the current rate of 15.570.
The BOE is able to decrease the millage rate
because of the tax digest going up 5.8 percent. It had
gone down the past eight years.
“This is certainly good news for us,” finance
director Mike Beasley stated.
The increase in the digest is reportedly due to
the commercial property value update and poultry
house value update, as well as other factors.
In other business at the Aug. 2 meeting, the BOE
approved hiring the following:
• Tristan Adams, bookkeeper.
• Susan Black, paraprofessional.
• Cassie Pate, SFN assistant.
• Brittany Henderson, SFN assistant.
• Jennifer Hicks, paraprofessional.
The BOE approved the following resignations:
•Angela Daniel, SFN assistant.
• Neva Daniels-Trudel, paraprofessional.
• Matthew Yeoman, bus driver.
• Lindsay Shiretzki, paraprofessional.
• Emory Gale, paraprofessional.
County land use
plan meeting
ahead Aug. 14
Banks County citizens, the Banks County Board of
Commissioners and the 2018 Banks County Compre
hensive Land Use Plan Advisory Group will decide
over the next year how the community will look
moving forward.
In a series of public meetings, the advisory group
will address elements of community development.
This process is required by Georgia state law every
10 years.
The Comprehensive Land Use Plan addresses
issues such as public safety education, housing,
zoning and city-county cooperation. The advisory
group will be assisted by a technical group consisting
of subject matter experts from county staff. The advi
sory group will also be assisted by Adam Hazell from
the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. A blue
print for the future of Banks County is the goal.
There will be a public hearing on Monday August
14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Banks County Courthouse
Annex, located at 150 Hudson Ridge, Homer. Res
idents are invited to “come out and share what is
important to you for the future of our community.”
Recommendations will be accepted in writing as well.
The 2018 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Advisory
Group members include: Todd Hubbard - Co-Chair
man, Scott Ledford - CoChairman, Vicki Boling, CJ
Farmer, Jodie Goodroe, Bill Griffin, Julie Jackson,
Brad McCook, Carissa M. McFaddin, Bobby Miller,
Krysta Morrison, Jud Trapnell, Russell G. Williams,
Carol Williams, A.D. Smith and Ben Ramsey.
The schedule of meetings are as follows:
• Future Vision of the County Monday August 14, 7
to 9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex. A public
hearing at 6:30 p.m. will be conducted to allow the
public’s comments and introduce the process.
•Needs and Issues of the County Monday Sep
tember 18, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse
Annex.
• Meeting (meet only if needed) Monday October
16, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex.
• Priorities and Solutions, Monday, January 8,7 to 9
p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex.
• Development Strategy Monday February 12, 7 to
9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex.
•Implementation/Draft Review, Monday March
12, 7 to 9 p.m., Banks County Courthouse Annex. A
public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. to receive any
public comments on the draft plan.
Contact Code Enforcement Officer Paul Ruark at
7066774272 for additional information.
Casting planned for
October walking tour
The Banks County Historical Society will be
holding casting calls for the 2017 Historic Homer
Haunted Walking Tours.
They will be held on Saturday August 12, from
10 a.m. to noon and on Sunday, August 13, from 2
to 4 p.m. in the historic courthouse in downtown
Homer. The tours are tentatively planned for the
evenings of October 20-21 and October 27-28.
4 8 7 9 1 4 1 4 3
o
BOC OK's purchase of fire truck
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board
of Commissioners agreed in
a recent called meeting to
purchase a fire truck from a
California public safety agen
cy.
Fire chief Steve Nichols
presented the request to
purchase the $73,000 truck,
which includes all equipment
on it. He said the 2001 pump
er truck has 79,000 miles on
it and is in great shape.
The BOC unanimous
ly approved the purchase.
The total cost, which
includes shipping it, is
$80,152. The funds will
come from the 2012 special
purpose local option sales
tax.
Qualifying ahead for Homer election
Qualifying will be held
in August for the upcoming
town election in Homer.
The qualifying fee for the
position of mayor will be
$22.50 and for each council
member will be $12.60.
The qualifying for offices
will be held at Town Hall,
943 Historic Homer Highway,
Monday, August 21, from 8:30
a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday,
August 22, from 8:30 a.m.
until 4:30 p.m.; and Wednes
day August 23, from 8:30 a.m.
until 4 p.m.
The Town of Homer will
conduct the General Elec
tion on Tuesday, November
7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for
the purpose of electing the
mayor and five council mem
bers.
The last day to register to
vote in the municipal elec
tion is October 10.
WILEY FUNDRAISER
Kahmal Wiley, and his family, pose for a picture together during
Saturday’s “We Are Kahmal Wiley Fundraiser” event at Banks County
High School. The fundraiser raised over $35,000. All proceeds go to help
with Wiley’s ongoing medical expenses from an April car wreck, which
resulted in both legs being amputated. The fundraiser featured a 5k, car
show, raffle and “Camping For Kahmal” kids’ basketball camp. See more
photos on page 8B. Photo by Charles Phelps