Georgia County Government - December 2008 - (Page 36)

CountyParade BRYAN Massive Development Given ‘Green Light’ After the Bryan County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved necessary rezoning to allow the development, preparations for the 3,467-acre development, Terra Pointe, are under way at Highway 144. The development will be headed by Terra Pointe LLC, which over 30 years plans to build 854 single-family homes and improve nearby roads to accommodate higher traffic demands. Road improvements will include widening Hwy. 144 and two other local roads, and Terra Pointe also plans to donate 98 acres to the county for a proposed new high school and middle school, in Richmond Hill. Schools would serve the county’s growing population and about 1,500 anticipated students. CLINCH Officials look at Utilizing Former Homerville State Prison Clinch County officials are examining the possibility of utilizing the former Homerville State Prison site as a regional jail. After learning the state Department of Corrections (DOC) would close the prison, county Chairman John “Wink” Strickland said regional county officials and county sheriffs would be gathered for talks with the DOC to explore the matter. Homerville is reportedly one of seven state correctional facilities scheduled to close due to state budget cuts. FANNIN County Approves Funds Continuing Water System Plans T he Fa n n i n C ou nt y Boa rd of C om m issioners approved a budget amendment in early fall to supply $40,134 for contracted services that will continue the process of implementing a countywide water system, according to Development Authority Executive Director Kristin Gunia. The authority is working with Hayes, James & Associates to develop a countywide plan, which proceeds based on the contracts fund36 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT ed. Three existing water systems – Blue Ridge, McCaysville and Morganton – are considered good systems for the interim, they are viewed as inadequate to support the county’s needs for the future, noted Commissioner Steve Morris, and a countywide system is needed. ban took effect immediately following the vote in September. GORDON Plans Proceed at Resaca Historic Site, Despite Cuts Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony at the historic Resaca Civil War Battlefield, where plans to build a 15,000 square-foot visitors’ center and interpretive history museum will not be impeded due to proposed Georgia State Park budget cuts. Local officials secured the $5 million needed to develop the site by bonds. Gordon County is also putting money into enhancing the Resaca Battlefield, working with the “Friends of Resaca” civic organization, which helped the county purchase the Fort Wayne site near downtown Resaca. The State Department of Natural Resources has reported that the agency may hand over state-owned golf courses to private owners and close as many as seven historic sites to meet budget cuts targeted by Governor Sonny Perdue. However, the Resaca site, near Calhoun off Interstate 75, is the only major Civil War battlefield on an interstate highway and is expected to draw approximately 1 million visitors in 2011, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War being declared and as such, the development is considered a priority for Georgia, being a prospective “gateway” for Civil War historic sites in the state. HARRIS Smoking Banned in County Recreation Facilities T he Ha r r i s C ou nt y B o a rd of Commissioners voted to prohibit smoking and the use of tobacco products in county public parks and recreation areas. The measure prompted a divided three-to-two vote, but passed without the withdrawal of a motion by one official to designate smoking locations away from playing fields and spectator areas in the county recreation facilities. The MERIWETHER Policy to Promote Better Public Consensus Between Local Officials Meriwether County commissioners unanimously passed a policy in recent months prohibiting local elected officials from publicly addressing issues involving other municipalities or the county without the matter being discussed between the jurisdictions in question first. Saying he doesn’t want “municipalities or the county bringing up issues in public about neighboring cities (or the county) unless all parties come together to discuss the matter,” Commission Chairman Charles Neely explained that all officials need to be on the same page on sensitive public matters before any single jurisdiction comments on an issue involving a neighboring city, or the county. The question arose after a city official made derogatory comments about the county’s Comprehensive Plan at a commission meeting in late August, which county officials deemed inappropriate. WARE Company Welcomes High Tech Industry Race Proven Industries has opened operations in a former manufactured housing facility in the Waycross-Ware County Industrial Park. The industry performs research, engineering and procedures for the manufacture of racing parts for vehicles within the NASCAR, Indy and off-road racing sports. In a presentation to commissioners, the company unveiled plans to convert existing automotive starters and alternators running at hundreds of RPMs and boost their capacity to thousands of RPMs as well as engineer prototype parts for the auto racing industry and improved machinery such as pine straw bailers that will sift out debris and create cleaner end products. “With the bailer under development a truck can be loaded within four hours, instead of two days, and take the trash and dirt out of pine needles, yielding a better bail of pine straw,” Alex Calvo, business owner. ■

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

Georgia County Government - December 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters 2009 Legislative Forecast: ACCG's Platform for the Coming Legislative Session ACCG Policy Staff 2008 Legislative Awards Honor Georgia Lawmakers Cell Towers and Local Governments Oglethorpe Power Plans Biomass Electric Facilities Georgia's Grand Old Courthouses: Dawson County Extension News: Biofuels Development Research Corner: Implementing a Record Retention Policy County Parade Index of Advertisers/Advertiser.com

Georgia County Government - December 2008

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