Long-time personnel officer Judy Greer was fired last week by the Banks County Board of Commissioners after a 30-minute closed session.
The BOC met in closed session to discuss personnel after Greer read over 12 issues she has had, including concerns over the selection of a health insurance provider for the county. The county recently changed from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to United Healthcare.
Greer had asked at the meeting to be transferred to an open clerical position at the sheriff’s office. Instead, the commissioners unanimously voted after the closed session to “dismiss’ Greer, who had served as the county’s personnel officer for seven years.
Sheriff Charles Chapman, who handles personnel decisions for his department, later hired Greer to fill the clerical position.
At last week’s BOC meeting, commissioner Charles Turk said that he had asked Greer for bids for health insurance coverage and he did not receive them.
“We asked for three independent brokers,” Turk said. “We didn’t want three insurance plans from one broker. We asked for different brokers. We are talking about $1 million from our budget. I think the citizens deserve independent bids from more than one broker.”
Greer responded, “Never once did you ask me.”
Commissioners Ernest Rogers and Sammy Reece said they had also asked that bids be taken on the insurance coverage.
Greer also outlined her concerns with the representative of the new insurance company.
“I’ve never experienced a situation like I did with Mr. Christopher,” she said.
Entries by Staff Writer
‘Fiddler on the Roof’ to be presented July 19-24
“Fiddler on the Roof” will be presented at the Fox Theatre July 19-24.
Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or www.theaterofthestars.com.
Theater of the Stars is presenting, “Fiddler on the Roof,” the Tony Award® winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. Theater of the Stars is not only presenting the musical but is also producing the show with professional actors as well as 16 local youth performers.
“Fiddler on the Roof” is a tale of love and laughter, devotion and defiance...and changing traditions. Tevye, a humble milkman from the Russian village of Anatevka, is wrestling with the new customs of a younger generation. His struggle is punctuated by an unforgettable score that weaves the haunting strains of “Sunrise, Sunset” and the rousing “If I Were A Rich Man” with the exuberant “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and triumphant “Tradition.” When his daughters choose suitors who defy his idea of a proper match, Tevye comes to realize, through a series of incidents that are at once comic and bittersweet, that his children will begin traditions of their own.
Tom Alan Robbins portrays Tevye. Mr. Robbins’ many credits include creating the role of Pumbaa in “The Lion King” on Broadway and playing Thenarier in the First National Tour of “Les Miserables.” Susan Cella returns to the role of Golde after appearing opposite Theodore Bikel, Topol, and Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway production. Ms. Cella and Mr. Robbins create one of the most poignant moments in the show as their characters struggle through the question “Do You Love Me” as the world around them changes.
This Atlanta engagement of “Fiddler on the Roof” is being produced by Christopher Manos and directed and choreographed by Norb Joerder. Joey Chancey is the musical director and conductor.
Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or www.theaterofthestars.com.
Theater of the Stars is presenting, “Fiddler on the Roof,” the Tony Award® winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. Theater of the Stars is not only presenting the musical but is also producing the show with professional actors as well as 16 local youth performers.
“Fiddler on the Roof” is a tale of love and laughter, devotion and defiance...and changing traditions. Tevye, a humble milkman from the Russian village of Anatevka, is wrestling with the new customs of a younger generation. His struggle is punctuated by an unforgettable score that weaves the haunting strains of “Sunrise, Sunset” and the rousing “If I Were A Rich Man” with the exuberant “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and triumphant “Tradition.” When his daughters choose suitors who defy his idea of a proper match, Tevye comes to realize, through a series of incidents that are at once comic and bittersweet, that his children will begin traditions of their own.
Tom Alan Robbins portrays Tevye. Mr. Robbins’ many credits include creating the role of Pumbaa in “The Lion King” on Broadway and playing Thenarier in the First National Tour of “Les Miserables.” Susan Cella returns to the role of Golde after appearing opposite Theodore Bikel, Topol, and Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway production. Ms. Cella and Mr. Robbins create one of the most poignant moments in the show as their characters struggle through the question “Do You Love Me” as the world around them changes.
This Atlanta engagement of “Fiddler on the Roof” is being produced by Christopher Manos and directed and choreographed by Norb Joerder. Joey Chancey is the musical director and conductor.
Degges named city administrator for Baldwin
In a 3-2 vote, the Baldwin City Council agreed Monday night to include $60,000 in the new budget for a city administrator position to be held by Karen Degges, beginning Aug. 1.
Council member Robert Bohannon made the motion to approve this action. Council members Jeff Parrish and Sandi Rudeseal voted in favor of the motion. Beverly Holcomb and Rodney King voted against Bohannon’s motion.
Council member King suggested funding the city administrator’s position for six-months, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, instead of filling the position in July.
Bohannon had asked Degges to submit two scenarios to the council at its next meeting, one showing the city administrator’s position funded for only six months and another for a full year.
The council also approved, in a 3-2 vote, a motion made by Bohannon to include the following in the 2011-12 proposed budget: hire a part-time revenue officer with an annual salary of $22,620 effective 9-1-11; keep current full-time city clerk at an annual salary of $30,160; make part-time finance analyst full-time at an annual salary of $36,000; keep part-time accounts payable clerk at an annual salary of $19,305; and add in-house animal control expenses of $2,650.
At Monday’s council meeting, the council also unanimously approved including a two percent pay raise for all city employees in the proposed 2011-12 budget.
BUDGET HEARING COMING UP
A budget hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 18, to present the 2011-12 budgets to the public for review. The hearing will be held in the courtroom at the Baldwin Police Department. The proposed general fund budget totals $1.51 million in revenues and $1.48 million in expenditures.
The mayor, council members and department heads will be on hand at the budget hearing to hear comments and answer questions from the public about the proposed budgets.
The proposed enterprise fund budget totals $3.07 million in revenues and $3.11 million in expenditures.
Degges said a member of the city’s 2010 auditing firm, Rushton and Company, would also be on hand to go over the city’s recently-completed audit.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at Monday’s meeting:
•the council unanimously approved the 2012 Banks County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) intergovernmental agreement for the use and distribution of proceeds from the 20012 SPLOST for capital outlay projects. Baldwin’s projects include sewage system, water system and road improvements.
•the council approved using Habersham County SPLOST IV funds to replace the city’s SPLOST V account for the following projects in 2010-2011: chipper truck, $6,000; Engineering Management Inc., Park Avenue paving services, $4,600; water treatment plant pump building, $28,500; J. Warren Road pump replacement, $7,400; and one two-barrel fire hydrant replacement, $1,721.The council was just made aware in the past couple of months of the funds left in the Habersham County SPLOST IV account.
•the council unanimously approved council meeting minutes for January through May meetings – minus the Jan. 17 meeting which were already approved. King abstained from the vote. “King said, “I abstain since I didn’t have a chance to go over all the minutes. I have been taking care of my Mom.”
•city clerk Mirinda Dispain advised the council that the June meetings minutes, plus the minutes from Thursday’s and Monday’s meetings, would be presented at the July 25 council meeting for adoption. Dispain said she is attempting to get the minutes caught up so that the minutes from one meeting will be approved at the next meeting.
Council member Robert Bohannon made the motion to approve this action. Council members Jeff Parrish and Sandi Rudeseal voted in favor of the motion. Beverly Holcomb and Rodney King voted against Bohannon’s motion.
Council member King suggested funding the city administrator’s position for six-months, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, instead of filling the position in July.
Bohannon had asked Degges to submit two scenarios to the council at its next meeting, one showing the city administrator’s position funded for only six months and another for a full year.
The council also approved, in a 3-2 vote, a motion made by Bohannon to include the following in the 2011-12 proposed budget: hire a part-time revenue officer with an annual salary of $22,620 effective 9-1-11; keep current full-time city clerk at an annual salary of $30,160; make part-time finance analyst full-time at an annual salary of $36,000; keep part-time accounts payable clerk at an annual salary of $19,305; and add in-house animal control expenses of $2,650.
At Monday’s council meeting, the council also unanimously approved including a two percent pay raise for all city employees in the proposed 2011-12 budget.
BUDGET HEARING COMING UP
A budget hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 18, to present the 2011-12 budgets to the public for review. The hearing will be held in the courtroom at the Baldwin Police Department. The proposed general fund budget totals $1.51 million in revenues and $1.48 million in expenditures.
The mayor, council members and department heads will be on hand at the budget hearing to hear comments and answer questions from the public about the proposed budgets.
The proposed enterprise fund budget totals $3.07 million in revenues and $3.11 million in expenditures.
Degges said a member of the city’s 2010 auditing firm, Rushton and Company, would also be on hand to go over the city’s recently-completed audit.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at Monday’s meeting:
•the council unanimously approved the 2012 Banks County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) intergovernmental agreement for the use and distribution of proceeds from the 20012 SPLOST for capital outlay projects. Baldwin’s projects include sewage system, water system and road improvements.
•the council approved using Habersham County SPLOST IV funds to replace the city’s SPLOST V account for the following projects in 2010-2011: chipper truck, $6,000; Engineering Management Inc., Park Avenue paving services, $4,600; water treatment plant pump building, $28,500; J. Warren Road pump replacement, $7,400; and one two-barrel fire hydrant replacement, $1,721.The council was just made aware in the past couple of months of the funds left in the Habersham County SPLOST IV account.
•the council unanimously approved council meeting minutes for January through May meetings – minus the Jan. 17 meeting which were already approved. King abstained from the vote. “King said, “I abstain since I didn’t have a chance to go over all the minutes. I have been taking care of my Mom.”
•city clerk Mirinda Dispain advised the council that the June meetings minutes, plus the minutes from Thursday’s and Monday’s meetings, would be presented at the July 25 council meeting for adoption. Dispain said she is attempting to get the minutes caught up so that the minutes from one meeting will be approved at the next meeting.
Lula man injured in Hall County wreck
The Georgia State Patrol reports Stephen Forrester, 49, Lula, was life-flighted to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Thursday, for injuries sustained in a one-vehicle accident in Hall County.
The state patrol says Forrester’s car was headed north on Interstate 985 in the Rabbittown community when it went into the median, traveled 500 feet, and went down a concrete median, landing on its top in the eastbound lanes of Highway 369 – Jesse Jewell Parkway/Old Cornelia Highway – below.
No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
The state patrol says Forrester’s car was headed north on Interstate 985 in the Rabbittown community when it went into the median, traveled 500 feet, and went down a concrete median, landing on its top in the eastbound lanes of Highway 369 – Jesse Jewell Parkway/Old Cornelia Highway – below.
No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
Armed robbery reported at area business
A woman was parked at Wal-Mart just after midnight on July 4 when she was robbed by a man who said he had a gun.
The victim said she was in her car with her two children waiting for her husband, who was in the store, when a man tapped on her window, according to Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman. She said she opened the window and the man, descried as a slender white man with sandy blond hair, demanded her purse and said he had a gun. She gave him her purse and he left in a beige or gold colored four-door vehicle, driving toward Jackson County.
No one was injured.
The Banks County Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the armed robbery.
The victim said she was in her car with her two children waiting for her husband, who was in the store, when a man tapped on her window, according to Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman. She said she opened the window and the man, descried as a slender white man with sandy blond hair, demanded her purse and said he had a gun. She gave him her purse and he left in a beige or gold colored four-door vehicle, driving toward Jackson County.
No one was injured.
The Banks County Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the armed robbery.
Fatality in Banks County wreck
A Commerce man was killed Monday morning in a one-vehicle wreck on Hwy. 51 South.
Albert Lee Likens II, 56, Commerce, was driving a 2001 Mack truck, owned by Waste Management of Homer, when he left the roadway around 7:46 a.m. and his vehicle rolled several times.
There were no passengers in the truck.
Albert Lee Likens II, 56, Commerce, was driving a 2001 Mack truck, owned by Waste Management of Homer, when he left the roadway around 7:46 a.m. and his vehicle rolled several times.
There were no passengers in the truck.
Baldwin budget finance director seeks secrecy in budget process; tax hike possible
The Baldwin City Council will meet Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to again discuss the town’s 2012 budget, although officials had been pressured by town finance director Karen Degges to keep the budget process secret.
Under the current draft budget, the city is looking to increase spending by 8.3 percent, a move that would likely force a tax hike. Among the increased spending is more money for administrative positions, including a city administrator at $60,000 per year, a part-time administrative assistant and taking a part-time finance analyst to full-time.
But Baldwin’s budget process so far has been confused by Degges efforts to keep both the public and media at bay. The council held a highly unusual called meeting at 7 a.m. last Saturday morning to discuss the budget. The timing was apparently a move to keep the discussions secret.
A Banks County News reporter showed up and was met with a hostile reception by Degges. The finance director refused to give the reporter copies of the proposed budget, saying it was secret, a clear violation of state law. The reporter eventually got a copy of an overview sheet, but Degges waited until after the meeting to hand out details to council members to avoid giving the media a copy.
Monday, Degges sent an email to the council complaining about the media showing up Saturday.
"Saturday's meeting was more challenging than I had hoped it would be, with the unexpected attendance by the media (after they said they would not be there at last Thursday's work session,)” Degges wrote.
Degges also pushed the council to cancel Thursday’s meeting to allow her to meet in small groups with council members in an effort to avoid having to have a public budget meeting.
"It's going to be very difficult to have another public meeting…. and go into the level of detail that will be needed to examine potential budget cuts and or tax increases....,” Degges wrote in her Monday email. “It will be inflammatory enough in the paper to have her print (as I am expecting) that staff has asked for an additional $150,000 in funding, which will require a 2.5 tax mil increase." [Full Story »]
Under the current draft budget, the city is looking to increase spending by 8.3 percent, a move that would likely force a tax hike. Among the increased spending is more money for administrative positions, including a city administrator at $60,000 per year, a part-time administrative assistant and taking a part-time finance analyst to full-time.
But Baldwin’s budget process so far has been confused by Degges efforts to keep both the public and media at bay. The council held a highly unusual called meeting at 7 a.m. last Saturday morning to discuss the budget. The timing was apparently a move to keep the discussions secret.
A Banks County News reporter showed up and was met with a hostile reception by Degges. The finance director refused to give the reporter copies of the proposed budget, saying it was secret, a clear violation of state law. The reporter eventually got a copy of an overview sheet, but Degges waited until after the meeting to hand out details to council members to avoid giving the media a copy.
Monday, Degges sent an email to the council complaining about the media showing up Saturday.
"Saturday's meeting was more challenging than I had hoped it would be, with the unexpected attendance by the media (after they said they would not be there at last Thursday's work session,)” Degges wrote.
Degges also pushed the council to cancel Thursday’s meeting to allow her to meet in small groups with council members in an effort to avoid having to have a public budget meeting.
"It's going to be very difficult to have another public meeting…. and go into the level of detail that will be needed to examine potential budget cuts and or tax increases....,” Degges wrote in her Monday email. “It will be inflammatory enough in the paper to have her print (as I am expecting) that staff has asked for an additional $150,000 in funding, which will require a 2.5 tax mil increase." [Full Story »]
Maysville business owner asked to remove sign
Maysville business owner Debbie Akins appeared before the Maysville City Council Monday night to complain about being asked to take down the sign on her downtown restaurant.
Akins had months ago requested the city council allow the sale of beer in town. The council denied her request after several heated town hall meetings were held with large crowds of citizens speaking in opposition to the action.
Akins went on to open a restaurant in downtown that has a sign out front with “Maysville Saloon” on it.
At a an earlier planning and zoning meeting, chairman Guy Baker suggested that police chief Clarence Sullens go to the Maysville Saloon and ask the owner to take down the banner.
Akins said that this was done unprofessionally since Sullens came into her business during dinner time and embarrassed her in front of customers. [Full Story »]
Akins had months ago requested the city council allow the sale of beer in town. The council denied her request after several heated town hall meetings were held with large crowds of citizens speaking in opposition to the action.
Akins went on to open a restaurant in downtown that has a sign out front with “Maysville Saloon” on it.
At a an earlier planning and zoning meeting, chairman Guy Baker suggested that police chief Clarence Sullens go to the Maysville Saloon and ask the owner to take down the banner.
Akins said that this was done unprofessionally since Sullens came into her business during dinner time and embarrassed her in front of customers. [Full Story »]
Alto Spring Fling planned Saturday
The annual Town of Alto Spring Fling Parade and Festival is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at city hall.
The parade will be held at 11 a.m.
Entertainment will include Scott Thomas w/Five Wide and Billy Heimberger.
Food, children’s activities, tractor competitions, antique car competitions, crafts and much more will be offered at the festival, leaders state.
Vendor spaces are available at $20 each. To enter the parade, rent a vendor spot or be a sponsor, contact Alto City Hall at 706-778-8035.
The parade will be held at 11 a.m.
Entertainment will include Scott Thomas w/Five Wide and Billy Heimberger.
Food, children’s activities, tractor competitions, antique car competitions, crafts and much more will be offered at the festival, leaders state.
Vendor spaces are available at $20 each. To enter the parade, rent a vendor spot or be a sponsor, contact Alto City Hall at 706-778-8035.
BOE approves sale of bonds
In a called meeting on Tuesday, the Banks County Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution for the sale of $9.03 million in general obligation bonds.
Cory Kirby, attorney with Harben, Hartley & Hawkins, LLP, Gainesville, reported to the board that the bonds were obtained at a rate of 1.795 percent. “Just today, we were able to get this rate,” Kirby said.
The school system will use special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) revenue to repay the bonds.
The resolution calls for the proposed date of issuance of the bonds to be June 9, 2011, and the paying agent for the bonds is U.S. Bank National Association, Atlanta.
After the BOE meeting, Banks County Schools Superintendent Chris Erwin and Kirby attended the Banks County Board of Commissioners to recommend the BOC approve the levy of a tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds in the event the school system doesn’t collect enough SPLOST revenue to do so. The BOC unanimously approved the action.
Cory Kirby, attorney with Harben, Hartley & Hawkins, LLP, Gainesville, reported to the board that the bonds were obtained at a rate of 1.795 percent. “Just today, we were able to get this rate,” Kirby said.
The school system will use special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) revenue to repay the bonds.
The resolution calls for the proposed date of issuance of the bonds to be June 9, 2011, and the paying agent for the bonds is U.S. Bank National Association, Atlanta.
After the BOE meeting, Banks County Schools Superintendent Chris Erwin and Kirby attended the Banks County Board of Commissioners to recommend the BOC approve the levy of a tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds in the event the school system doesn’t collect enough SPLOST revenue to do so. The BOC unanimously approved the action.
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