About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2025)
Banks County News www.BanksNewsTODAY.com Banks County’s Legal Organ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025 $1.00 • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements • Vol. 50 No. 35 Gardiner, Gailey resign By ANGELA GARY Commissioner Keith Gar diner and county clerk Jenni Gailey have resigned from their positions, effective June 30. The BOC accepted both resignations when it met Tuesday night. Heather Cotton, daughter of Keith Gardiner, read a letter on his behalf, stating that he is resigning from the BOC. In the letter, Gardiner wrote “This decision has not come easily but after prayer and consultation with fami ly and doctor, I have decid ed to step aside due to my health.” COUNTY CLERK The BOC also accepted the resignation of county clerk Jenni Gailey, who has served the county for 37 years. BOC chairman Griffith stated, “We would like to thank her for her dedication. She will be missed. Happy retirement.” Commissioner Danny Maxwell stated that the resignation is accepted “with a heavy heart.” The BOC promoted assis tant clerk Erin Decker to the county clerk position, effec tive July 1. Georgia Power plans a concern to citizens By ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Commissioners heard from several citizens at the meeting Tuesday night about their concerns with Georgia Power’s reported plans to locate a transformer in the county. BOC chairman Taylor Griffith stated the commis sioners have no information about this but had invited a representative of Georgia Power to attend the meet ing to answer questions. A representative did not attend the meeting. One citizen spoke and stated that she and her neighbors had received let ters from Georgia Power stating that 200 properties are being researched to find suitable routes for the trans mission lines. Griffith stated, “We will get all the information we can. Right now, we have nothing. Y’all probably know more than we do.” MAILING LABEL BOC votes 4-1 for survey of county property To begin with sheriffs property that has been disputed By ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 in a called meeting last week to ask the county sur veyor to survey the county lines. BOC chairman Taylor Griffith made the motion, with commissioners Bo Garrison, Danny Maxwell and Chris Ausburn voting in favor of the action. Com missioner Keith Gardiner voted against the motion. BOC denies request for medial clinic to locate in Banks County By ANGELA GARY The Banks County Board of Commissioners said no Tuesday night to a request for a medical clinic offering experimental services to lo cate in the county. Danny Adams of Ket amine & Wellness Center of NGA asked for a condition al use on property located at 142 Hampton to operate a medical clinic in an ex isting medical office suite. The Banks County Plan ning Commission had also recommended denial of this request. Adams presented the re quest and said the medical clinic would specialize in offering infusions for treat ing anxiety and depression, as well as medical weight loss. He said all services would be offered by li censed staff. He addressed a question on whether the drugs are FDA approved. He stat ed that the drugs are FDA approved but not FDA ap proved for the purpose the clinic will use them for. “It is not oral medica tion,” Adams said. It would be strictly supervised infu sions designed to help peo ple with chronic pain when other things have failed.” He said the clinic would be offering options instead of opioids to “try and avoid some of the pitfalls with that.” Commissioner Bo Gar- Ausburn said “this issue has plagued us for years. Griffith added, “a survey is the only way to do it.” The action comes after Griffith called for an inves tigation into whether Sheriff Carlton Speed’s property is in Banks County or Franklin County. This issue has been discussed over many years with three court rulings supporting that the sheriff’s property is in the county. The vote approved a res olution read by Griffith which states, in part, that the survey will cover all of the county but will begin on Kesler Ridge, which would include the sheriff’s prop erty. Prior to the vote on the survey, Griffith read several Photo by Angela Gary The Banks County Board of Commissioners is shown at Tues day night’s meeting. rison stated, “My only problem is that it is exper imental. What if something happens? We don’t have hospitals like Gainesville and Athens do. That is my concern for our citizens.” CODE AMENDMENTS The BOC approved sever al code amendment chang es, including allowing one principle building per lot on residential property; chang ing words in the hotel motel section to allow seven days for daily occupancy and 21 days for extended stays; adding in the minimum construction requirements for extended stay hotels including some density ad justments; and removing Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) from the zoning code. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at the meeting on Tuesday night, the BOC: •approved a request from statements, including that the legal boundary of the county has not been amend ed in over 165 years. During the public com ment, a citizen asked why the county is seeking the survey. Griffith responded, “Differing versions of coun ty maps and to make sure we are using the correct ver sion, the survey is the only way to do this.... There are two different versions of the county line out there and we want to make sure we are using the correct one.” In the only other action at this meeting, a 20-min- uted closed session was held to discuss “potential litigation.” No action was taken when the meeting was opened to the public. === Mat - . in- 1 Trees covered a car traveling through Banks County on Satur day during a major storm. Fatality reported in Banks due to storm A fatality has been reported in Banks County due to the heavy storm that passed through the area Saturday. Jason Keith Payne, 56, Carnesville, was driving on State Route 51 when a tree fell on his vehicle. Gov. Brian Kemp commented on Payne’s death. “Join us in praying for the loved ones of a Georgian trag ically lost due to the severe storms,” the governor stated. “As we keep them in our thoughts, we’re also praying for the first responders rushing to help those affected by this strong weather system and the safety of those in its path.” The storm also led to 2,000 being out of power and trees falling across several county roads. fire chief director/EMS di rector Steve Nichols for a contract with Dr. Johnson to serve as medical director. •heard from the recreation department and the main tenance department about their staffing needs. BOC chairman Taylor Griffith said these requests will be handled during the budget work session, set for June 17, and the budget voting session, set for June 30. •heard from Alice Venter, mayor pro tem for the City of Baldwin, about water and waste water needs. Griffith said a work session should be set up between the city and Banks County leaders to discuss this further. •agreed to file a lawsuit against the CVB board and individual members to “get the hotel-motel taxes back.” •appointed Carol Wil liams to serve on the Geor gia Mountains Community Services board for a three- year term. Early voting underway for PSC election Early voting is underway for the Georgia Public Service Commission. Despite each commissioner hailing from a specific geographic district in Georgia, voters across the state are eligible to vote for each member. This year, Dis trict 2 and 3 seats are on the ballot. The primary election will take place on June 17. Early voting will end June 13. If a candidate does not receive at least 50 percent of the vote in the primary, a runoff elec tion will be held on July 15. All early voting will be held at the Banks County Board of Elections and Registration office, located at 226 Can dler Street, Homer. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Candidates on the Democrat ballot include: •District 2: Alicia M. Johnson. •District 3: Daniel Blackman, Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and Keisha Sean Waites. Candidates on the Republican ballot include: •District 2: incumbent Tim Echols and Lee Muns. •District 3: incumbent Fitz Johnson. After June’s primary election, winners will advance to the general election in November that will coincide with municipal elections across the state. The PSC is a five-member commission that is tasked with regulating electric, telecommunication and natural gas services. The commissioners’ decisions and outcomes directly affect how much people in Georgia pay for neces sary utility services. Vendors sought for annual Labor Day Festival Organizers are seeking vendors and sponsors for the an nual Labor Day Festival in Homer August 29, 30 and 31. Food and craft vendors, children’s activities, and non profit groups are invited participate in the festival. There are also many sponsorship levels. “Sponsoring is a great way to advertise your business,” Kellie Jones states. Contact ddahomerga@gmail.com or Kellie Jones 678- 614-8109 for information. It’s Vacation Bible School time! 4879 14143 7 4- |i Katelynn Tench, Gracelin Freeman and Paislee Meeler are shown at the Homer Baptist Church Vacation Bible School held last week. See more photos on Page 8. Email us your VBS photos to angela@mainstreetnews.com.
