Newspaper Page Text
50<t •
Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 24 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 49 No. 37
Index
•Crime
— 9A
•Obrtuaries
— IIA
•Classifieds
— 9B
•Legals
— MB
•Sports —
B-2B.4B-6B, I0B, I2B
Banks BOC
rolls back
millage rate
BY ANGELA GARY
The Banks County Board
of Commissioners approved
a 9.299 millage rate for the
next fiscal year when it met
Thursday afternoon. This is
down from the current mill-
age rate of 9.566.
The BOC also unanimous
ly approved a $15.9 million
budget for 2018, which is a
$1.5 million increase from
last year.
“Most all departments had
a modest increase but the
change is mainly due to the
operations of emergency
services and water utilities,”
finance director Randy Faily-
er stated. “This would include
sheriff, jail, fire, E-9-1-1 and all
water utility, administration,
pumping, distribution and
sewage.”
Lula council
considers
options
for depot
BY CINDY R. EDGE
After taking ownership
of the train depot last week,
the Lula City Council is mov
ing forward with planning
improvements to the build
ing.
According to Mayor Milton
Turner, City Manager Dennis
Bergin will be meeting with
an architect next week to dis
cuss renovation options. Any
improvements will be set to
begin early next year. As
part of the purchase agree
ment, the council has agreed
to honor depot rentals previ
ously scheduled by the Lula
Area Betterment Association.
“With the rental schedule, I
don’t think we will be able
to start anything until after
the first of the year,” stated
Turner.
Although the council has
agreed to accept a quit claim
deed from the LABA, some
prior owners of the depot
still remain a mystery and
the city may never see a
clear deed to the building.
At a meeting held August 14,
when asked by Turner if the
council would like to pur
sue obtaining resolution
continued on page 2A
We Remember 50 Years Ago:
8 f If i The Floyd Hoard Assassination
li I it I ill Jr I
Part 3:
Hoard killed: ‘Who would
have done this?’
Starts on Page 4A
PLANNING STAGES
HAZELL GUIDES WORK ON COMP PLAN
Adam Hazell, Georgia Mountain Regional Commission, gives guidance to
the 2018 Banks County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Advisory Group at
Monday’s meeting. The year-long process to update the county’s comp plan
is now under way. Photo by Sharon Hogan
County officials begin
comprehensive plan work
BY SHARON HOGAN
The year-long process to set in motion
how Banks County will look over moving
forward got underway Monday night.
The 2018 Banks County Comprehensive
Land Use Plan Advisory Group, with Todd
Hubbard and Scott Ledford serving as
cochairmen, held a public hearing to hear
from residents before meeting to discuss the
vision for the county.
Members of the advisory committee
include, in addition to Hubbard and Ledford,
Vicki Boling, CJ Farmer, Jody Goodroe, Bill
Griffin, Julie Jackson, Judge (ret.) Cliff Jolliff,
Brad McCook, Carissa M. McFaddin, Bobby
Miller, Krysta Morrison, Ben Ramsey A.D.
Smith, Jud Trapnell, Carol Williams and Rus
sell G. Williams. Brad Day Director of Major
Projects for the Banks County Government,
Paul Ruark, Banks County Code Enforce
ment Officer, and Adam Hazell, Georgia
Mountains Regional Commissioner, were
also present.
Several Banks County citizens turned out
for the hearing, with only one speaking out
about his vision for the county.
Larry Hess, Soapstone Mountain Lane,
Baldwin, told the group it was most important
that they look objectively at what is Banks
County now.
“This place is our resource and we would
best be served to consider that which we like
about our home, Banks County, and how we
can ensure that the qualities that we aspire
to live on sustainably for our children and
beyond,” Hess said. “Once damaged, then
lost, they cannot be resurrected.”
Banks County is primarily rural, agricul
tural; and relatively lightly populated, Hess
added.
He said the county has relatively low taxes
and little traffic.
“We know our neighbors and what’s
going on in our neighborhood,” Hess added.
“Schools are good. County roads and bridg
es need some work. Banks Crossing is the
exception.”
He said most crime and domestic prob
lems were in the Banks Crossing area, which
has become densely developed. He also
brought up the landfill that is currently accept
ing toxic waste, principally coal ash, from
outside the state.
“This threatens our groundwater, and thus
the health and well-being of our community,”
Hess said.
Hess said he would like to see the county
catch up with its obligations to maintain the
existing infrastructure and maintain funding
into the future.
“I would like to see us maintain a rural, agri
culturally-based economy promoting conser
vative economic practices and low taxes,”
Hess said. “Agriculture has the lowest infra
structure and maintenance requirement.”
He said limiting infrastructure limits costs
and therefore taxes.
“It also limits the speed of growth,” Hess
said.
“A low tax rate supports our agricultural
economy as well as all residents,” he added.
“This means development and business
must shoulder its costs from the beginning
- not with promises in the future - as much
as possible.”
Hess said he would like to see the county
conservatively manage the natural resources
for the benefit of all in perpetuity and he
would like to see high speed internet provid
ed throughout the county.
“I would rather see new development
receive no taxpayer incentives and charge
impact fees rather than burden the taxpayers
with the added cost of development,” Hess
said.
“Let the low taxes, conservative fiscal man
agement, and quality of life be the incentive
that draws business to Banks County” he
added.
Following the public hearing, Hazell
explained to the group the purpose of the
comp plan and what will be included in the
final product that will go before the Banks
County Board of Commissioners for approv
al before being submitted to the state.
“The comp plan is a living document,”
Hazell said. “And it is required by the state.”
The comp plan impacts the county’s eli
gibility for state/federal funding - Qualified
Local Government (QLG) status, provides
a legal foundation for land use policies and
aids with grant applications.
The comprehensive plan helps communi
ties grow better by: wisely managing resourc
es, making smart investments in utilities and
facilities, strategizing for managing land use
and supporting economic development.
The finished document will include an
introduction, community assessment, com
munity vision, community development strat
egy implementation programs and appendi
ces.
Hazell said the needs and opportunities in
the plan would be specified by identifying the
continued on page 2A
Banks schools
to close Monday
It looks like
next Mon
day’s solar
eclipse won’t
be a teaching
moment after
all.
In a memo
posted Tues
day, Banks County school
system leaders said school
will be closed Monday due
to safety concerns.
“After careful re-evaluation
regarding the solar eclipse,
Banks County Schools will
be closed Mon
day, August
21st. The deci
sion to dose
school was
made based
on new infor
mation and
logistical con
siderations such as the antic
ipated volume of traffic rela
tive to our area, speculation
about unsafe eye wear, and
the number of parents who
have indicated they intend to
check out students.”
No
School
Homer council
tables golf course
apartments rezoning
BY RON BRIDGEMAN
The Homer City Council
last week tabled a request
from Banks County Golf for
a rezoning on Scales Creek
Road that would clear the
way for up to 56 apartments
to be built at the entrance to
the Chimney Oaks Golf Club.
Council members said
the company did not pro
vide adequate information to
make a decision.
Representatives of the
company attended a July 27
meeting of the Homer Plan
ning Commission, which rec
ommended the rezoning, but
also said the council should
see drawings for the develop
ment before final approval.
No one from the company
attended last week’s meeting.
Council member Jim
McClendon wondered a cou
ple of times why the compa
ny was “not represented” at
the meeting and available to
answer questions.
“It’s really unfortunate that
they’re not here tonight,” he
said.
Council member David
Dunson made the motion to
table the request “based on
the lack of information.”
“We can’t make a deci
sion if we’ve got no informa
tion on it.”
He added he wanted to
see something “in black and
white.”
Council members said the
company has made other
requests and failed to provide
similar details.
“I want to see some hous
es before I approve anything
else,” Dunson said.
Dunson and Mayor Doug
Cheek wondered about the
company’s efforts to develop
the club. That said the coun
cil has approved two other
changes in the development
plans, but they said no results
have been seen.
Two opponents of the
rezoning Jessica and Kevin
Thomas objected to the idea
of building apartments. They
asked how the rent prices
would be set and whether
those would be lowered if the
apartments are not rented.
They also asked about the
adequacy of the sewer septic
system to handle the addi
tional waste from the apart
ments.
Cheek said that is up to
the state’s Environmental
Protection Division. Dunson
said the EPD would be strict
about meeting the state’s
guidelines.
At the planning commis
sion, Sarah Pritchard, chief
operating officer for the golf
club project, said the proper
ty for the sewer septic system
is adjacent to the planned
apartment development. She
said the system will not have
an odor because of the meth
od used.
The Thomases ques
tioned the progression of
rezonings for the property to
allow higher density. They,
and council members, won
dered about the effort to sell
lots at the golf course.
Cheek raised the issue of
the city installing a “vault” for
water service to the develop
ment. “Once they put in one
house out there,” the city has
to install it, he said.
City Attorney David Syfan
said communities often
require developers to pay for
infrastructure improvements
related to their projects.
“As a requirement to get
ting city water, you all ought
to pass that vault cost along
to them,” he said.
Cheek said the cost is esti
mated to be $30,000. The
mayor also said the city has
paid for “other vaults we’ve
put in before.”
Council member Jerry
Payne said the development
company should be asked
to share the costs of the vault
installation.
The council also approved
a contract for $2,000 to
Patrick Adamson to do the
appraisal on the property
the city plans to buy for a
well on Evans Street.
In other business, coun
cil:
•heard the fire depart
ment has had two AED
units, automated external
defibrillators, have been
obtained and classes on
their operation will be avail
able.
• the city’s annual festival is
planned for Sept. 1-2.
• Payne said the workforce
development mobile unit will
be in Homer Aug. 17 to help
people with resumes and
other items needed for work.