BanksNewsTODAY

Banks County voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, March 6, to decide whether the county can use redevelopment powers to make improvements in economically troubled areas. Also on the ballot, voters will be asked to continue the one-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST).

The redevelopment powers would allow the county to take tax revenue from large business projects to be used to provide infrastructure. An example of where this could be used is The Pottery property at Banks Crossing. If a large company makes a commitment to locate on that property, the current property taxes would continue to go into the county’s general fund. However, any new property taxes that come from the development would go into a special fund. The board of commission would decide for how many years the extra taxes would go into the special fund. It could be 10 to 20 years.

This fund would be used to provide the infrastructure needed for the development to locate on the property, such as sewer service, sidewalks or other infrastructure for the company to locate on the site. [Full Story »] 

Cornelia Police Chief Rick Darby has announced his intentions to seek the office of sheriff in Banks County.

Darby has been the police chief in Cornelia for eight years and is a resident of Homer. He served as the assistant chief for the Commerce Police Department before accepting the chief’s position. He is no stranger to law enforcement or most law enforcement agencies in Northeast Georgia. Darby began his career in 1976 and has been an adjutant instructor for the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Athens Campus for 25 years. He says that he has had the privilege to teach thousands of law enforcement officers during that time.

By working through the ranks Darby has served in various capacities throughout law enforcement. Darby currently serves as the chaplain for the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the District 9 Representative for that organization. The district represents all police agencies in 23 Northeast Georgia Counties.

While serving as chief, the Cornelia Police Department has received local, state and national recognition. They have received awards from both the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the National Office of Highway Safety. The department has been mentioned in LAW and ORDER magazine on two occasions. The police department has also reached the status of being a State Certified Law Enforcement Agency.

Rick and his wife, Debbie, along with their 10-year-old son attend Lula Assembly of Praise. Their son, Christopher, attends Banks County Elementary School. They are no stranger to the Recreation Department attending both basketball and soccer games. Their family also includes four grown children and five grandchildren.

Darby said, “I am confident in my decision, it came with much prayer and soul searching. I want to make a difference in the community I live in. I have a vested interested here.”

The Campaign Kick Of will be on March 3 at the Veterans Park in Downtown Homer from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be live entertainment, food and children’s activities. Darby invites anyone who would like to come and meet and talk with him.