Entries by Susan Norman

Updated: Further cuts to be discussed by BOC

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Susan Norman

in News, Top Stories

Thursday, September 2. 2010

Updated: 14 hours ago

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After a three-hour meeting Tuesday night, most of which was behind closed doors, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners came to the conclusion that more work is needed to salvage the county budget for FY2011.

County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood told the Barrow Journal after the meeting that the board recognizes the magnitude of the county’s financial challenge for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, and new spending cuts may be announced at its next meeting this month.

The county’s financial stress is being caused by the prolonged recession and its impact on revenues and back-up reserves. [Full Story »]

Stormwater committee meeting tomorrow

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Susan Norman

in News

Wednesday, September 1. 2010

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A committee of the Winder City Council is meeting at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, to begin work on a proposed ordinance to set a new storm water tax on city properties. [Full Story »]

Auburn officials form new rates for storm tax

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Susan Norman

in News, Top Stories

Monday, August 30. 2010

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In response to business owners’ concerns, Auburn officials have developed an alternative rate structure for a proposed storm water tax that could go into effect in November.

Instead of paying up to $10,000 a year on a single parcel, owners of non-residential properties would pay a maximum of $600. Owners of single-family homes would pay $30 annually.

If adopted by the Auburn City Council next week, the new rate structure would generate $116,000, which is 75 percent of the $153,800 previously forecast. [Full Story »]

Updated: Storm water tax back on the table

Posted by

Susan Norman

in News, Top Stories

Saturday, August 28. 2010

Updated: 3 days ago

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Last weekend’s torrential downpours not only flooded city streets and backed up sewage, but they also brought back the tabled proposal for a new storm water tax in Winder.

City sources said this week that the council’s water committee would meet as early as next week to begin work on an ordinance establishing a storm water utility and tax.

In tabling the initial proposal Aug. 3, the council directed the committee to study it with the intention that any new tax would not go into effect until this time next year. However, the flooding of yards, streets — and the entire football field of Winder-Barrow High School — has moved the issue back to the front burner. [Full Story »]

Auburn Public Works employee earns state recognition

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Susan Norman

in News

Saturday, August 28. 2010

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A Statham resident who works for Auburn’s city government has been named the Georgia Public Works Association’s state public works employee of the year. Ben Mooney, a maintenance specialist II, received his award in July at the association’s state conference, where he received a large framed certificate, a cash award and an all-expenses paid trip to the St. Simon’s Island meeting. [Full Story »]

Auburn Public Works employee earns state recognition

Posted by

Susan Norman

in News

Saturday, August 28. 2010

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Updated: County CFO: Finances faltering

Posted by

Susan Norman

in News, Top Stories

Friday, August 27. 2010

Updated: 2 days ago

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Even with a planned 1-mill increase in the property tax rate this fall, Barrow County’s government is on perilous financial footing for the upcoming fiscal year, according to the county’s chief financial officer.

In a presentation Tuesday night, CFO Rose Kisaalita sounded an alarm about the county’s faltering finances and called for more controls over spending and greater efforts to locate additional revenue.

The FY2011 budget, which is being placed in the libraries for public review this week, shows a paper-thin margin of only $40,000 more revenues than expenses. [Full Story »]

Updated: Council rejects Granite Hotel funds

Posted by

Susan Norman

in News

Friday, August 27. 2010

Updated: 7 days ago

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Not swayed by the arguments or the passion of local preservationists, the Winder City Council on Aug. 19 voted unanimously to reject $500,000 in federal funding for the restoration of the century-old Granite Hotel. [Full Story »]

Auburn called meeting Wednesday night

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Susan Norman

in News

Tuesday, August 24. 2010

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The Auburn City Council has scheduled a called meeting Wednesday, Aug. 25, to discuss a new storm water tax. [Full Story »]

Keeping tabs on Winder officials

Posted by

Susan Norman

in News, Top Stories

Saturday, August 21. 2010

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While Winder’s mayor and council continue to debate the price and the politics of having the city’s TV crew tape council meetings for rebroadcast on WCTV, an amateur videographer has stepped in to do the job himself.

Spurred to political action by ongoing controversies as well as a negative encounter with a Winder police officer in late July, Jim Cooley has notified city officials that he wants to be informed of all upcoming council meetings so that he can videotape them.

Earlier this month, Cooley posted on www.youtube.com a 9-minute segment of the council’s Aug. 3 meeting in which Mayor Chip Thompson breaks a tie vote to set a salary range of $87,187-$132,666 for the next city administrator. [Full Story »]

Entries by Susan Norman

Barrow Journal