Georgia County Government - September 2008 - (Page 47)

CountyParade DECATUR County Launches Web site The Decatur County Board of Commissioners in recent weeks announced that the county’s Web site is now online for public viewing at www.decaturcountyga.org. While the site was still in the process of uploading data at presstime, government meeting minutes and documents including the new budget are being placed on the commission’s home page as they become available. Soliciting input, commissioners asked the public to view the site and make recommendations for any additional information, links or changes. Chief Judge Jeffrey Bagley DeKALB Senior Center Garners NACo Achievement Award The Lou Walker Senior Center has been awarded the 2008 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for its programs and projects. NACo hosted its 12th Annual Awards Ceremony on July 13, during the 2008 Annual NACo Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The Achievement Award winners were formally recognized during the conference. “The Lou Walker Senior Center is one of the crown jewels in DeKalb County for our senior population,” said Dale Phillips, director of Human Services. “We are truly excited that NACo has recognized one of our senior centers for its creativity and innovation. We hope the Lou Walker Center will continue to serve as an example for others to follow.” Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit Commemorates 10th Anniversary J uly 1 marked the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit. A special event was held in front of the Forsyth County Courthouse to commemorate this milestone. The event featured speakers from all over North Georgia, who spoke of honoring those responsible for the creation and success of the circuit. Since its inception in 1832, Forsyth County had been attached to two judicial circuits, with a third created for the county 10 years ago. In 1998, the General Assembly passed S.B. 77, creating the BellForsyth Judicial Circuit. who dissented, asked that pickup trucks with dual wheels be exempted, being quite common in the county, and Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse amended the wording of the ordinance to specify more than six wheels. One county citizen, not named, was credited with bringing the issue to the Board out of concern over safety, and prompting the ordinance. FORSYTH Large Trucks Banned from Local Roads In recent weeks, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an ordinance prohibiting trucks with more than six wheels from traveling on public roads. Alluding to the county as rural, Commissioner Linda Ledbetter, JACKSON Officials Approve TAD, $45 Million in EC Bonds Following a vote of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners in June, Braselton can move forward with a tax allocation district. The Tax Allocation District (TAD) will allow county taxes collected in a historic district designated in the town’s old downtown area to be frozen to pay for city revitalization and development. Braselton Mayor Pat Graham said the funds will be used to improve the appearance of the downtown area, on account of which she claims the town has lost some prospective industrial developments. An initial priority of the TAD-derived funds will be to realign Highway 53 to develop a green area, as well as commercial, retail and office development. The district covers 285 acres, with a tax value of $6.2 million. The county is also planning to tap a $45 million economic development bond fund to pay for a study to result in the selection of a reservoir site. The bonds, approved in early 2008, were dedicated mostly to road projects that could spur economic development, but the Board of Commissioners and Jackson County PARADE continued on page 48 SEPTEMBER 2008 www.accg.org 47 http://www.decaturcountyga.org http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - September 2008

Georgia County Government - September 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Cobb County: Quality of Life is Job No. 1 Innovative Transportation Financing in Georgia Drive Your Fleet into the Next Generation of Efficiency, Profits Spotlight: Georgia Technology Authority Media Productions GEMA News: Hurricane Season Could Cause Natural Gas Spike GDEcD News: Communities Receive Funds to Develop Tourism Assets Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Upson County Extension News: Radon: Georgia’s Silent Danger Research Corner: Conserving Fuel Costs in Your County Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - September 2008

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