Missy Burrell, the new director of Barrow County Animal Control, has her hands full and plenty of challenges to face, but the nine-year local animal control veteran says, based on her experience, she’s ready for the rough road that lies ahead.
“There are so many unwanted animals,” she said. “If everyone was educated on spay, neuter and vaccinations — education is the key. I hope to get something going there, in spite of our budget constraints.”
And, budget constraints are at the heart of animal control’s challenge. In 2008, the animal control budget was $587,000; the projected budget for 2011 is $438,500. That is a 25 percent cut in four fiscal years. During that same time, salary expenditures have been cut by 24 percent, down to $248,000 as compared with $326,000 in 2008. Overtime has also been slashed, from $15,000 in 2009, to $2,000 in 2010. The county currently does not allow animal control officers to be paid overtime.
[Full Story »]
Committee votes to cut sizes of new homes in Barrow County
A citizens committee that was appointed a few months ago by the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to review the county’s zoning regulations voted July 7 to recommend that the minimum sizes of new houses be reduced by hundreds of square feet.
The Unified Development Code since 2005 has required that all new homes built in Barrow County have at least 1,600 square feet of heated floor space. The committee voted to recommend instead that the minimum size of single-story homes be 1,200 square feet, and the minimum size of two-story homes be 1,400 square feet.
The vote on single-story homes was 5-2, with Bill Healan and John Chaney voting no. The vote on two-story homes was 6-1, with Healan casting the only vote against the motion.
Healan, a former county attorney and member of the BOC, is the chairman of the committee. He warned the other members that the BOC likely would not agree to such significant reductions in home sizes. The BOC will make the final decision on whether to change the UDC.
But with two of the appointees of district commissioners absent – including the appointee of District 6 Commissioner Ben Hendrix, who suggested the creation of the committee – Healan was clearly outnumbered by members with ties to development. [Full Story »]
The Unified Development Code since 2005 has required that all new homes built in Barrow County have at least 1,600 square feet of heated floor space. The committee voted to recommend instead that the minimum size of single-story homes be 1,200 square feet, and the minimum size of two-story homes be 1,400 square feet.
The vote on single-story homes was 5-2, with Bill Healan and John Chaney voting no. The vote on two-story homes was 6-1, with Healan casting the only vote against the motion.
Healan, a former county attorney and member of the BOC, is the chairman of the committee. He warned the other members that the BOC likely would not agree to such significant reductions in home sizes. The BOC will make the final decision on whether to change the UDC.
But with two of the appointees of district commissioners absent – including the appointee of District 6 Commissioner Ben Hendrix, who suggested the creation of the committee – Healan was clearly outnumbered by members with ties to development. [Full Story »]
First American buys failed bank
For the 14th time this year, a Georgia bank has failed.
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance on Friday closed Mountain Heritage Bank in Clayton, which is the county seat of Rabun County.
First American Bank and Trust Co. of Athens which has a branch in Winder entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to take over all of the failed bank’s deposits and most of its assets.
According to an FDIC press release, Mountain Heritage Bank on March 31 had $103.7 million in total assets and $89.6 million in deposits. The loss-share agreement with First American will cover $69.2 million of the assets, which in banking terminology means outstanding loans. The cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be about $41.1 million.
Mountain Heritage Bank is the 48th FDIC-insured banking institution in the United States to fail in 2011.
Over the past three years, a total of 65 Georgia financial institutions have been closed by state regulators.
Mountain Heritage Bank had two branches in Clayton. Both will open Monday as new branches of First American Bank and Trust Co.
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance on Friday closed Mountain Heritage Bank in Clayton, which is the county seat of Rabun County.
First American Bank and Trust Co. of Athens which has a branch in Winder entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to take over all of the failed bank’s deposits and most of its assets.
According to an FDIC press release, Mountain Heritage Bank on March 31 had $103.7 million in total assets and $89.6 million in deposits. The loss-share agreement with First American will cover $69.2 million of the assets, which in banking terminology means outstanding loans. The cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be about $41.1 million.
Mountain Heritage Bank is the 48th FDIC-insured banking institution in the United States to fail in 2011.
Over the past three years, a total of 65 Georgia financial institutions have been closed by state regulators.
Mountain Heritage Bank had two branches in Clayton. Both will open Monday as new branches of First American Bank and Trust Co.
Citizens committee votes to strip BOC chairman's power, fundamentally change county's form of government
After weeks of public meetings, a citizens committee on Thursday night voted to strip the power of future chairmen of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
The Barrow County Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to recommend the following fundamental changes to Barrow County’s form of government:
• replace the county's “strong chairman” with a professional manager or administrator who would run the day-to-day operations of the county.
• change the position of chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to part time, with his primary duties being to run board meetings and to represent the county around the region and the state.
• reduce the chairman’s salary to reflect his reduced responsibilities.
• remove the chairman’s veto power but allow him to make motions and to vote on all issues like the six district commissioners.
• reduce to three the number of commissioners needed in addition to the chairman or chairman pro-tem in order to constitute the quorum legally required to conduct business at a meeting.
• allow that in the event of the absence of both the chairman and the chairman pro-tem, four commissioners be allowed to call a meeting but require that any approved action have four affirmative votes. [Full Story »]
The Barrow County Charter Review Committee voted unanimously to recommend the following fundamental changes to Barrow County’s form of government:
• replace the county's “strong chairman” with a professional manager or administrator who would run the day-to-day operations of the county.
• change the position of chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to part time, with his primary duties being to run board meetings and to represent the county around the region and the state.
• reduce the chairman’s salary to reflect his reduced responsibilities.
• remove the chairman’s veto power but allow him to make motions and to vote on all issues like the six district commissioners.
• reduce to three the number of commissioners needed in addition to the chairman or chairman pro-tem in order to constitute the quorum legally required to conduct business at a meeting.
• allow that in the event of the absence of both the chairman and the chairman pro-tem, four commissioners be allowed to call a meeting but require that any approved action have four affirmative votes. [Full Story »]
Train slams 18-wheeler in downtown Statham
At 11:15 a.m. Friday in downtown Statham, a CSX train slammed into a loaded 18-wheeler flat-bed truck carrying antique cars, according to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
No one was injured, but the incident occurred at the city's main intersection of Jefferson Road and Hwy. 8, creating a major traffic problem downtown.
"The train was heading eastbound toward Athens and hit the truck which was stuck on tracks," Smith said. "It dragged the truck several hundred feet."
CSX Railway has been notified, and deputies are assisting the Statham Police Department in diverting traffic.
Also at the scene is Barrow County Emergency Services, the sheriff said.
No one was injured, but the incident occurred at the city's main intersection of Jefferson Road and Hwy. 8, creating a major traffic problem downtown.
"The train was heading eastbound toward Athens and hit the truck which was stuck on tracks," Smith said. "It dragged the truck several hundred feet."
CSX Railway has been notified, and deputies are assisting the Statham Police Department in diverting traffic.
Also at the scene is Barrow County Emergency Services, the sheriff said.
Turmoil in Auburn a tale of sex, lies and rumors
The turmoil that has slammed the Auburn Police Department in the past two weeks is one part a question of leadership, and one part Peyton Place.
Four Auburn police officers have resigned or been fired in the two weeks, including the town’s police chief Fred Brown, and his second in command, Lt. Danny Kerns, both of whom resigned under what appeared to be pressure from city officials.
Sgt. Paul Nadeau was sworn in as interim chief Monday.
Brown and Kerns were reportedly pressured to resign after city officials concluded they had not dealt strongly enough with an officer who had misbehaved while on duty and an officer whose relationship with an 18-year-old girl had raised eyebrows and reports of political pressure.
One situation involved former Auburn police Sgt. Derek Ulrich, who more than a year ago confessed to having had sex while on duty with a local waitress. Brown and Kerns gave Ulrich a verbal warning, but never reported the incident to the mayor and city administrator as required by the city’s personnel policy. [Full Story »]
Four Auburn police officers have resigned or been fired in the two weeks, including the town’s police chief Fred Brown, and his second in command, Lt. Danny Kerns, both of whom resigned under what appeared to be pressure from city officials.
Sgt. Paul Nadeau was sworn in as interim chief Monday.
Brown and Kerns were reportedly pressured to resign after city officials concluded they had not dealt strongly enough with an officer who had misbehaved while on duty and an officer whose relationship with an 18-year-old girl had raised eyebrows and reports of political pressure.
One situation involved former Auburn police Sgt. Derek Ulrich, who more than a year ago confessed to having had sex while on duty with a local waitress. Brown and Kerns gave Ulrich a verbal warning, but never reported the incident to the mayor and city administrator as required by the city’s personnel policy. [Full Story »]
Marijuana plant found in Statham raid, 5 arrests made
Five drug-related arrests were made early this morning when approximately 40 police officers and Sheriff’s deputies raided three Statham homes, according to a Barrow County Sheriff’s Office release. Police reportedly confiscated quantities of marijuana, including a marijuana-plant, drug related objects and a firearm.
The residences included in the warrant search were 2353 Greeson Road, 537 Peters Street and 572 Peters Street. The Peters Street houses were raided simultaneously, the release states. [Full Story »]
The residences included in the warrant search were 2353 Greeson Road, 537 Peters Street and 572 Peters Street. The Peters Street houses were raided simultaneously, the release states. [Full Story »]
Legislators pull charter bill; BOC now in charge of process
Barrow County’s legislative delegation announced Tuesday night that it is withdrawing a bill to set up a Barrow County charter review commission.
That leaves the upcoming review of the county’s government structure in the hands of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners, which previously had voted to appoint its own citizens committee to review the charter.
But Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn said in a prepared statement that they expect the county’s process to be “citizen driven” with “numerous, substantive public meetings for input before making any decisions” and for the decisions to be “free of the political inefficiencies that have plagued Barrow County for so long.” [Full Story »]
That leaves the upcoming review of the county’s government structure in the hands of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners, which previously had voted to appoint its own citizens committee to review the charter.
But Rep. Terry England, Rep. Tommy Benton and Sen. Frank Ginn said in a prepared statement that they expect the county’s process to be “citizen driven” with “numerous, substantive public meetings for input before making any decisions” and for the decisions to be “free of the political inefficiencies that have plagued Barrow County for so long.” [Full Story »]
BOC to begin budget process Monday
A major political battle is looming over Barrow County’s 2012 budget process that begins at 4 p.m. today with a meeting of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
This is the first time at least in recent history that the budget process is being kicked off by the full board rather than by a budget committee. Previously, the full board hasn’t become involved until the end of the process in late August or September.
But District 3 Commissioner Steve Worley asked for the commissioners to meet first, because with a third straight year of a shrinking tax base, sliding revenues and the arrival of additional fixed expenses in FY2012, the budget process that worked in the past is not going to work now.
CFO Rose Kisaalita, who for the first time will direct the process from start to finish, has told the commissioners that she is looking for policy direction about the budget process – and potential spending cuts and whether raising the millage rate is an option. [Full Story »]
This is the first time at least in recent history that the budget process is being kicked off by the full board rather than by a budget committee. Previously, the full board hasn’t become involved until the end of the process in late August or September.
But District 3 Commissioner Steve Worley asked for the commissioners to meet first, because with a third straight year of a shrinking tax base, sliding revenues and the arrival of additional fixed expenses in FY2012, the budget process that worked in the past is not going to work now.
CFO Rose Kisaalita, who for the first time will direct the process from start to finish, has told the commissioners that she is looking for policy direction about the budget process – and potential spending cuts and whether raising the millage rate is an option. [Full Story »]
County finally has stormwater ordinance
More than $1.2 million after the fact – and with almost no public involvement – the Barrow County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night adopted a Stormwater Utility Ordinance that allows the county to charge a fee that it has began collecting since 2008.
Stormwater Department director Shannon Navarre told the Barrow Journal on Tuesday that the ordinance changes no current practices or procedures and was merely a “housekeeping” measure needed due to the previous board’s failure to adopt one.
Without an ordinance in place, the previous BOC imposed a storm water fee of $18 per “residential equivalent unit” of 3,478 square feet. [Full Story »]
Stormwater Department director Shannon Navarre told the Barrow Journal on Tuesday that the ordinance changes no current practices or procedures and was merely a “housekeeping” measure needed due to the previous board’s failure to adopt one.
Without an ordinance in place, the previous BOC imposed a storm water fee of $18 per “residential equivalent unit” of 3,478 square feet. [Full Story »]
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