The meeting is at 6:00 p.m. in Citizens Hall at the Douglas County Courthouse. If you are against the 156 lot subdivision going up at Bomar Road, PLEASE come voice your opinions. Remember, these are single family homes. If each home had two kids, that would be 312 more children helping to overcrowd our county's schools even more. Schools have just had to order 90 more trailers because of the new Georgia law regarding class size. You know there must have been 30-35 kids in each class. That's how many there were when I was in high school seven years ago.
PLANNING & ZONING BOARD AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AGENDA April 4, 2006
APPROVAL of MINUTES
March 7, 2006 AGENDA
Z2006-21 IDI – Request for a rezoning from R-A to L-A for an industrial/warehouse at the intersection of Summer Lake Road and Riverside Parkway : Land Lot(s) 173/174/175, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 2, 3, 4 & 5/1/17 , 18 & 20. Lot size: 174.9028 Acres. [TAB 1]
Z2006-22 Simon Road Development, Inc. – Request for a rezoning from R-LD to R-MD for a 156 lot single family residential subdivision at Bomar Road & Simon Road: Land Lot(s) 86, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) portion of 2. Lot size: 64.894 Acres. [TAB 2]
OTHER BUSINESS:
Update to Article 1, Section 106 (e) of the Unified Development Code.
ADJOURN
Thursday, March 30, 2006
April 3 BOC Work Session Agenda
This meeting will be held on April 4 at 10:00 a.m. at Citizens Hall at the Douglas County Courthouse. I encourage everyone to show up. If you are against the subdivisions being voted on, please show up and voice your opinions.
WORK SESSION AGENDA
APRIL 3, 2006
10:00 A.M. – BOARD ROOM
CITIZENS BUSINESS
• Mr. Rhett Williamson regarding cemeteries.
• The Hope Project Presentation - Mr. Steve Schiffman
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Regular Commission Meeting of March 21, 2006 (TAB 1)
PLAT APPROVALS – PRELIMINARY (Cynde)
• Legion Park (TAB 2)
PLAT ACCEPTANCE – FINAL
• Biltmore Plantation, Phase III (TAB 3)
• Joe Jordan Subdivision, Lot 3 – Revised Final Plat Acceptance (TAB 4)
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
• Beer & Wine License (New) (Elise) (TAB 5)
Maravilla Super Market
3500 Highway 5, Douglasville, GA 30135
(Applicant: Blanca R. Posada)
BUSINESS
• Massage Therapist (Elise)
Valerie Singleton d/b/a Val’s
Twin Oaks Bed & Breakfast
9565 E. Liberty Road, Villa Rica, GA 30180 (TAB 6)
The Fire Department has received $4,600 from GEMA to purchase
two portable repeaters. Amend the budget by increasing State-Other
Grants line item by $4,600 and by increasing Minor Equipment line item
by $4,600. (TAB 7)
The Aquatic Center has begun to offer many new programs and will be
paying instructors a percentage of the fees collected. Amend the budget
by increasing Aquatic Center Fees by $24,000 and increasing Other
Professional Services by $24,000. (TAB 8)
The Wal-Mart Foundation has donated $1,000 to the Fire Department
to be used for public education and handouts. Amend the budget by
increasing Donations by $1,000 and increasing Supplies by $1,000. (TAB 9)
Authorization to apply for 2006 Fire Act Grant (FEMA). (Scott) (TAB 10)
Request authorization to enter into agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the 2006 LARP Road Resurfacing Program and authorize the Chairman to sign all contract documents. LAR06-S008-00 (918) & LAR06-S008-00 (922) (Randy) (TAB 11)
Authorization for Chairman to sign a one-year contract with GovDeals to
assist with selling the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fueling equipment.
(Gary) (TAB 12)
Approval of employment contract for Parks and Recreation Director. (TAB 13)
Proposed Sign Permit Fee Schedule. (Eric) (TAB 14)
DISCUSSION ITEMS – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION –Personnel, litigation, land acquisition.
WORK SESSION AGENDA
APRIL 3, 2006
10:00 A.M. – BOARD ROOM
CITIZENS BUSINESS
• Mr. Rhett Williamson regarding cemeteries.
• The Hope Project Presentation - Mr. Steve Schiffman
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Regular Commission Meeting of March 21, 2006 (TAB 1)
PLAT APPROVALS – PRELIMINARY (Cynde)
• Legion Park (TAB 2)
PLAT ACCEPTANCE – FINAL
• Biltmore Plantation, Phase III (TAB 3)
• Joe Jordan Subdivision, Lot 3 – Revised Final Plat Acceptance (TAB 4)
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
• Beer & Wine License (New) (Elise) (TAB 5)
Maravilla Super Market
3500 Highway 5, Douglasville, GA 30135
(Applicant: Blanca R. Posada)
BUSINESS
• Massage Therapist (Elise)
Valerie Singleton d/b/a Val’s
Twin Oaks Bed & Breakfast
9565 E. Liberty Road, Villa Rica, GA 30180 (TAB 6)
The Fire Department has received $4,600 from GEMA to purchase
two portable repeaters. Amend the budget by increasing State-Other
Grants line item by $4,600 and by increasing Minor Equipment line item
by $4,600. (TAB 7)
The Aquatic Center has begun to offer many new programs and will be
paying instructors a percentage of the fees collected. Amend the budget
by increasing Aquatic Center Fees by $24,000 and increasing Other
Professional Services by $24,000. (TAB 8)
The Wal-Mart Foundation has donated $1,000 to the Fire Department
to be used for public education and handouts. Amend the budget by
increasing Donations by $1,000 and increasing Supplies by $1,000. (TAB 9)
Authorization to apply for 2006 Fire Act Grant (FEMA). (Scott) (TAB 10)
Request authorization to enter into agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the 2006 LARP Road Resurfacing Program and authorize the Chairman to sign all contract documents. LAR06-S008-00 (918) & LAR06-S008-00 (922) (Randy) (TAB 11)
Authorization for Chairman to sign a one-year contract with GovDeals to
assist with selling the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fueling equipment.
(Gary) (TAB 12)
Approval of employment contract for Parks and Recreation Director. (TAB 13)
Proposed Sign Permit Fee Schedule. (Eric) (TAB 14)
DISCUSSION ITEMS – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION –Personnel, litigation, land acquisition.
In Today's Sentinel
Group against new jail plans strategy
By Winston Jones
The group has yet to choose a name, but all members agree on its purpose — to prevent a new multistory county jail from being built in downtown Douglasville.
An informal gathering of 16 people met Tuesday afternoon to plan strategies.
Members included downtown business owners and residents who live in nearby neighborhoods.
The group wants to stop a new jail from being built at the Church Street location of the current jail and explore alternative jail sites.
Many in the group were among a contingent of about 30 citizens who met March 21 with Sheriff Phil Miller and Commission Chairman Tom Worthan to voice concerns about the planned jail.
Miller recently proposed building a new jail at the current location, using two `pods` or towers that would house about 600 inmates each. Room would be provided for a third pod, which would increase the jail population to 1,800.
At that earlier meeting, Worthan suggested the formation of a citizen advisory committee to help choose an alternative jail location.
`We’ve not heard any more about the formation of this advisory committee,` said Cindy Lyle, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting.
`Rather than let it happen, we decided to bring a core group together ourselves. We all understand the need for a new jail, but we want to explore alternatives.`
By Winston Jones
The group has yet to choose a name, but all members agree on its purpose — to prevent a new multistory county jail from being built in downtown Douglasville.
An informal gathering of 16 people met Tuesday afternoon to plan strategies.
Members included downtown business owners and residents who live in nearby neighborhoods.
The group wants to stop a new jail from being built at the Church Street location of the current jail and explore alternative jail sites.
Many in the group were among a contingent of about 30 citizens who met March 21 with Sheriff Phil Miller and Commission Chairman Tom Worthan to voice concerns about the planned jail.
Miller recently proposed building a new jail at the current location, using two `pods` or towers that would house about 600 inmates each. Room would be provided for a third pod, which would increase the jail population to 1,800.
At that earlier meeting, Worthan suggested the formation of a citizen advisory committee to help choose an alternative jail location.
`We’ve not heard any more about the formation of this advisory committee,` said Cindy Lyle, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting.
`Rather than let it happen, we decided to bring a core group together ourselves. We all understand the need for a new jail, but we want to explore alternatives.`
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Intersection to get roundabout
Intersection to get roundabout
By Winston Jones
The intersection of State Routes 166 and 5 will soon become a roundabout rather than a four-way stop, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT).
The $1,048,887 conversion project is being done by L.C. Whitford Company Inc. of Alpharetta. Completion is estimated by Sept. 30.
The first step in the project will be a preconstruction meeting of contractors, engineers and other highway and utility representatives,
according to Mark McKinnon, DOT district communications specialist of metro Atlanta.
Construction will begin with the moving of utilities from the construction area.
McKinnon said the new intersection will be a circular intersection with a raised median.
`All traffic coming into the intersection will yield to traffic already in the circle,` he said. `Traffic will move in a counterclockwise direction.`
McKinnon said evaluation indicated that the intersection would be a good candidate for a roundabout.
`The roundabout keeps traffic from backing up and tends to be safer than the four-way stop,` he said.
The SR 166-SR 5 roundabout was among a list of 20 statewide road projects announced last Friday by Georgia DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl.
By Winston Jones
The intersection of State Routes 166 and 5 will soon become a roundabout rather than a four-way stop, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT).
The $1,048,887 conversion project is being done by L.C. Whitford Company Inc. of Alpharetta. Completion is estimated by Sept. 30.
The first step in the project will be a preconstruction meeting of contractors, engineers and other highway and utility representatives,
according to Mark McKinnon, DOT district communications specialist of metro Atlanta.
Construction will begin with the moving of utilities from the construction area.
McKinnon said the new intersection will be a circular intersection with a raised median.
`All traffic coming into the intersection will yield to traffic already in the circle,` he said. `Traffic will move in a counterclockwise direction.`
McKinnon said evaluation indicated that the intersection would be a good candidate for a roundabout.
`The roundabout keeps traffic from backing up and tends to be safer than the four-way stop,` he said.
The SR 166-SR 5 roundabout was among a list of 20 statewide road projects announced last Friday by Georgia DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl.
Police Blotter
Should the Douglas County Sentinel have a police blotter? Many other newspapers have them. After all, the Sentinel doesn't report every crime that happens in Douglas County. Citizens should know if crime is happening in their neighborhood. I searched Google News for "police blotter" and it came up with 477 articles. Here's a police blotter from Wilkes-Barre, PA:
HAZLETON – - HAZLETON – City police reported the following incidents:
• Maegan Zarkoskie, 20, of Shamokin, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and charged with other summary offenses after her 2005 Chevrolet Aveo crashed into a telephone pole on Cedar Street near Harman Geist Stadium at about 1 a.m. Saturday. Zarkoskie suffered minor injuries, police said.
• John Murphy, 34, of Pittston, was charged with harassment after he allegedly struck and slapped an unnamed female at 982 E. Chestnut St. at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday. Murphy will have 10 days to respond to charges before District Judge Joseph Zola in Hazleton.
• Several patrons of Club 570 on Club 40 Road reported at about 12:30 a.m. Friday that their tires were slashed while they were inside the club. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 459-4950.
• Branan Mitchell, 24, of Hazleton, was cited with public drunkenness after police responded to an incident at Diamond Avenue and Laurel Street at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday.
• Carlos A. Lapaz, of South Laurel Street, Hazleton, was charged with disorderly conduct after police responded to numerous complaints of loud music at 591 W. Maple St. between 11:20 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday.
HAZLETON – City police are investigating the assault of two men at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of Juniper and Cedar streets. The victims, whom police did not identify, suffered minor injuries, police said. The assailants were described as young Hispanic males who traveled in a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Cavalier, police said.
NANTICOKE – Two juvenile males were cited for disorderly conduct around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday when Joanne Bohinski complained that the boys were making faces and profane gestures at her through a window at the Honey Pot Club, police said. When she was leaving, she saw the boys near her vehicle. She called to them and they ran off. When she went to her vehicle, she found that the boys had spit on it, according to police reports.
NANTICOKE – Police reported to the 200 block of East Grand Street around 8:30 p.m. Saturday to investigate a suspicious male knocking on residence doors. He was driving a dark blue van with a New York license plate, but police were unable to find him.
NANTICOKE – Mark Fullerton of Brown Row in Wanamie reported around 8:45 p.m. Saturday that while he was in Bonk’s Bar on West Church Street, someone smashed the passenger-side front window of his Ford truck, police said.
NANTICOKE – Darlene Murtha of Enterprise Street reported around 12:30 p.m. Sunday that someone cracked the windshield on the passenger-side of her Pontiac car, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Jack Evans, 36, of Thornhurst Road in Bear Creek Township was arrested around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Evans was stopped after officers observed his Mercury van jumping a curb at East Northampton and South Hancock streets, police said. He showed signs of alcohol intoxication and failed a series of field sobriety tests, police said. Charges are pending.
WILKES-BARRE – Phil Sekunda, 45, was cited on Sunday for public drunkenness, police said. He was arguing with his girlfriend in the parking lot at 464 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., police said. Officers reported he was visibly intoxicated.
WILKES-BARRE – Paul Dunn, 32, of Hanover Township, was arrested and cited with public drunkenness around 11 p.m. on Saturday at 187 Old River Road, police said. Subject was under the influence of alcohol to a degree that he was a danger to himself and others, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Jessica Popick reported on Sunday that someone stole a car stereo from her Lincoln Town Car at 67 Butler St. overnight, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Dorothy Molian reported on Sunday that someone stole a car stereo from her Plymouth vehicle at 67 Butler St. overnight, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Eric Montijo of North Hancock Street reported that, after loaning Linda Kastner his car and cell phone on Saturday, she never returned with them, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Michael Marchese reported that someone threw a rock through the driver-side window of his GMC truck on Sunday at 121 West River St., police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Derrick Leonards was arrested on Sunday after he was spotted driving a Chevrolet Cavalier that had been stolen from Annette Billings in Kingston Township. He tried to walk away after he was stopped, but officers arrested him at South Main and East Northampton streets, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – A 16-year-old male reported that a man assaulted him around 10 p.m. on Saturday, police said. The suspect, described as white, 22 years old with tattoos on both arms and wearing a red T-shirt and brown sweat pants, allegedly slammed the boy into a wall at South Main and Wood streets, causing a shoulder injury. The boy was treated at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
SHICKSHINNY – State police and the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Department is looking for Jeremy Chapin, 27, of Stillwater, Pa. He is wanted for alleged forgery, theft and receiving stolen property and failing to appear for a hearing on a possession of a controlled substance charge. He is thought to be residing in the Hunlock Creek area, police said.
HAZLETON – Casgrove Omarde, 31, of Plainsboro, N.J., died after losing control of his Chrysler Cirrus around 5:15 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 80 just past mile marker 267. The westbound vehicle went over the left berm, down an embankment and hit a tree. He was not wearing a seatbelt, police said.
HAZLETON – - HAZLETON – City police reported the following incidents:
• Maegan Zarkoskie, 20, of Shamokin, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and charged with other summary offenses after her 2005 Chevrolet Aveo crashed into a telephone pole on Cedar Street near Harman Geist Stadium at about 1 a.m. Saturday. Zarkoskie suffered minor injuries, police said.
• John Murphy, 34, of Pittston, was charged with harassment after he allegedly struck and slapped an unnamed female at 982 E. Chestnut St. at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday. Murphy will have 10 days to respond to charges before District Judge Joseph Zola in Hazleton.
• Several patrons of Club 570 on Club 40 Road reported at about 12:30 a.m. Friday that their tires were slashed while they were inside the club. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 459-4950.
• Branan Mitchell, 24, of Hazleton, was cited with public drunkenness after police responded to an incident at Diamond Avenue and Laurel Street at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday.
• Carlos A. Lapaz, of South Laurel Street, Hazleton, was charged with disorderly conduct after police responded to numerous complaints of loud music at 591 W. Maple St. between 11:20 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday.
HAZLETON – City police are investigating the assault of two men at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of Juniper and Cedar streets. The victims, whom police did not identify, suffered minor injuries, police said. The assailants were described as young Hispanic males who traveled in a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Cavalier, police said.
NANTICOKE – Two juvenile males were cited for disorderly conduct around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday when Joanne Bohinski complained that the boys were making faces and profane gestures at her through a window at the Honey Pot Club, police said. When she was leaving, she saw the boys near her vehicle. She called to them and they ran off. When she went to her vehicle, she found that the boys had spit on it, according to police reports.
NANTICOKE – Police reported to the 200 block of East Grand Street around 8:30 p.m. Saturday to investigate a suspicious male knocking on residence doors. He was driving a dark blue van with a New York license plate, but police were unable to find him.
NANTICOKE – Mark Fullerton of Brown Row in Wanamie reported around 8:45 p.m. Saturday that while he was in Bonk’s Bar on West Church Street, someone smashed the passenger-side front window of his Ford truck, police said.
NANTICOKE – Darlene Murtha of Enterprise Street reported around 12:30 p.m. Sunday that someone cracked the windshield on the passenger-side of her Pontiac car, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Jack Evans, 36, of Thornhurst Road in Bear Creek Township was arrested around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Evans was stopped after officers observed his Mercury van jumping a curb at East Northampton and South Hancock streets, police said. He showed signs of alcohol intoxication and failed a series of field sobriety tests, police said. Charges are pending.
WILKES-BARRE – Phil Sekunda, 45, was cited on Sunday for public drunkenness, police said. He was arguing with his girlfriend in the parking lot at 464 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., police said. Officers reported he was visibly intoxicated.
WILKES-BARRE – Paul Dunn, 32, of Hanover Township, was arrested and cited with public drunkenness around 11 p.m. on Saturday at 187 Old River Road, police said. Subject was under the influence of alcohol to a degree that he was a danger to himself and others, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Jessica Popick reported on Sunday that someone stole a car stereo from her Lincoln Town Car at 67 Butler St. overnight, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Dorothy Molian reported on Sunday that someone stole a car stereo from her Plymouth vehicle at 67 Butler St. overnight, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Eric Montijo of North Hancock Street reported that, after loaning Linda Kastner his car and cell phone on Saturday, she never returned with them, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Michael Marchese reported that someone threw a rock through the driver-side window of his GMC truck on Sunday at 121 West River St., police said.
WILKES-BARRE – Derrick Leonards was arrested on Sunday after he was spotted driving a Chevrolet Cavalier that had been stolen from Annette Billings in Kingston Township. He tried to walk away after he was stopped, but officers arrested him at South Main and East Northampton streets, police said.
WILKES-BARRE – A 16-year-old male reported that a man assaulted him around 10 p.m. on Saturday, police said. The suspect, described as white, 22 years old with tattoos on both arms and wearing a red T-shirt and brown sweat pants, allegedly slammed the boy into a wall at South Main and Wood streets, causing a shoulder injury. The boy was treated at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
SHICKSHINNY – State police and the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Department is looking for Jeremy Chapin, 27, of Stillwater, Pa. He is wanted for alleged forgery, theft and receiving stolen property and failing to appear for a hearing on a possession of a controlled substance charge. He is thought to be residing in the Hunlock Creek area, police said.
HAZLETON – Casgrove Omarde, 31, of Plainsboro, N.J., died after losing control of his Chrysler Cirrus around 5:15 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 80 just past mile marker 267. The westbound vehicle went over the left berm, down an embankment and hit a tree. He was not wearing a seatbelt, police said.
Commission Meeting
I encourage EVERYONE to be at the 10:00 a.m. Board of Commissioners meeting on April 4. Please note there is also one on April 18 at the same time. The county has not released the work session agenda as of 2:00p.m. today, but most likely it will be released later this week. I encourage you to go to the Planning and Zoning meeting on April 4 if there is a subdivision being built near you or a new business being built near you and address your concerns during Citizen Business. I realize not everyone has cable so I will be writing summaries of the meetings and posting them here. At February's meeting, there were four shopping centers that wanted amendments added to the Future Land Use Map. The county should not allow amendments. The map they made should be adhered to, not changed. When you add amendments you're essentially changing the map. It took the county years to make this map. Shouldn't it be followed?
Today's Douglas County Sentinel
The Sentinel never says outright that the county is overcrowded, but their articles tell the truth.
Mobile classrooms help schools meet class size rule
By Winston Jones/File photo by Nathan Todd
County schools have ordered 90 new mobile classrooms to help meet new state class size rules. The Douglas County School System is bringing in mobile classrooms to meet the maximum class size limits that were enacted by the General Assembly last week.
The Georgia Senate last Friday gave a 50-0 vote to reduce the number of students in elementary and middle school classrooms. House Bill 1358, known as `Truth in Class Size` legislation, had already passed the House of Representatives on March 2 by a 160-4 vote. Gov. Perdue is expected to sign the measure into law.
With completion of the new Factory Shoals Middle and Chapel Hill Elementary schools still more than a year away, Douglas County recently purchased 90 more mobile classrooms to provide the extra space to meet the state mandates and also keep up with county population growth.
`From an instructional standpoint, we’re delighted (with the law),` said School Superintendent Don Remillard, `but it’s not like we have a bunch of empty classrooms.
Overnight, we had to order the equivalent of two new elementary schools (in mobile classrooms).`
Spectrum Building Systems was the low bidder, at $43,678 each, for supplying the 45 modular, doublewide mobile units to provide the needed classrooms (each unit has two classrooms). This is $21,839 per classroom, for a total cost of $1.96 million. This price doesn’t include furnishings such as desks and computers.
The state bill limits class sizes in core courses -- math, science, social studies and language arts -- from kindergarten through the eighth grade.
Hearing today on power lineBy Winston Jones
Rapid population growth in western Douglas County has created the need for an additional electric transmission line to serve the area. Georgia Transmission Corporation plans to build an approximate 3.5-mile, 500-kilovolt (kv) line from Conners Road near Villa Rica to an existing 500kv line near Johnston Road in the Fairplay area.
The company has scheduled two public hearings on the project today at the Ephesus Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 8437 Ephesus Church Road, Winston. One meeting will be from 2-4 p.m. and the second from 6-8 p.m.
`This will be an open house, so people can come any time,` said Jeannine Rispin, senior public relations representative for Georgia Transmission Corporation, the company which constructs power lines for Georgia electric membership corporations (EMCs), including GreyStone Power.
`We’ll have people there to answer questions and take comments. A court reporter will be on hand so people can register their comments for record.`
Rispin said the company notified all people directly affected by the line by letter about 30 days ago. People who cannot attend the meetings and would like to know more about the project can call 770-270-7741 to receive information by e-mail or postal mail.
`This line is needed because the electric transmission system is becoming overloaded,` Rispin said.
Mobile classrooms help schools meet class size rule
By Winston Jones/File photo by Nathan Todd
County schools have ordered 90 new mobile classrooms to help meet new state class size rules. The Douglas County School System is bringing in mobile classrooms to meet the maximum class size limits that were enacted by the General Assembly last week.
The Georgia Senate last Friday gave a 50-0 vote to reduce the number of students in elementary and middle school classrooms. House Bill 1358, known as `Truth in Class Size` legislation, had already passed the House of Representatives on March 2 by a 160-4 vote. Gov. Perdue is expected to sign the measure into law.
With completion of the new Factory Shoals Middle and Chapel Hill Elementary schools still more than a year away, Douglas County recently purchased 90 more mobile classrooms to provide the extra space to meet the state mandates and also keep up with county population growth.
`From an instructional standpoint, we’re delighted (with the law),` said School Superintendent Don Remillard, `but it’s not like we have a bunch of empty classrooms.
Overnight, we had to order the equivalent of two new elementary schools (in mobile classrooms).`
Spectrum Building Systems was the low bidder, at $43,678 each, for supplying the 45 modular, doublewide mobile units to provide the needed classrooms (each unit has two classrooms). This is $21,839 per classroom, for a total cost of $1.96 million. This price doesn’t include furnishings such as desks and computers.
The state bill limits class sizes in core courses -- math, science, social studies and language arts -- from kindergarten through the eighth grade.
Hearing today on power lineBy Winston Jones
Rapid population growth in western Douglas County has created the need for an additional electric transmission line to serve the area. Georgia Transmission Corporation plans to build an approximate 3.5-mile, 500-kilovolt (kv) line from Conners Road near Villa Rica to an existing 500kv line near Johnston Road in the Fairplay area.
The company has scheduled two public hearings on the project today at the Ephesus Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 8437 Ephesus Church Road, Winston. One meeting will be from 2-4 p.m. and the second from 6-8 p.m.
`This will be an open house, so people can come any time,` said Jeannine Rispin, senior public relations representative for Georgia Transmission Corporation, the company which constructs power lines for Georgia electric membership corporations (EMCs), including GreyStone Power.
`We’ll have people there to answer questions and take comments. A court reporter will be on hand so people can register their comments for record.`
Rispin said the company notified all people directly affected by the line by letter about 30 days ago. People who cannot attend the meetings and would like to know more about the project can call 770-270-7741 to receive information by e-mail or postal mail.
`This line is needed because the electric transmission system is becoming overloaded,` Rispin said.
Monday, March 13, 2006
In Tomorrow's Douglas County Sentinel
Sheriff wants sales tax to pay for new jail
By Winston Jones
Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said Monday that he favors special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funding to build a new county jail.
`Every community group I’ve discussed it with favors SPLOST,` Miller said.
`Thirty-eight percent of SPLOST money is paid for by visitors who spend money here. That’s tax money that the Douglas County citizens don’t have to shoulder.`
Miller noted the current SPLOST will end in 2007. He said it will be up to the citizens to decide if they want to continue it and how they want to use it.
Commission Chairman Tom Worthan agrees with Miller on this point.
He said there’s other needs, such as recreation, roads and fire department, that will be competing for any new SPLOST funds.
`We want the public to tell us what they want to do,` Worthan said. `Should we put SPLOST out for just the jail or other needs?`
Worthan last Friday sent a letter to the local state legislative delegation asking that legislation for a county jail authority be withdrawn from this General Assembly session.
The commission had earlier this year requested the proposal.
Worthan said he drafted the letter after discussing it with Miller.
By Winston Jones
Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said Monday that he favors special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funding to build a new county jail.
`Every community group I’ve discussed it with favors SPLOST,` Miller said.
`Thirty-eight percent of SPLOST money is paid for by visitors who spend money here. That’s tax money that the Douglas County citizens don’t have to shoulder.`
Miller noted the current SPLOST will end in 2007. He said it will be up to the citizens to decide if they want to continue it and how they want to use it.
Commission Chairman Tom Worthan agrees with Miller on this point.
He said there’s other needs, such as recreation, roads and fire department, that will be competing for any new SPLOST funds.
`We want the public to tell us what they want to do,` Worthan said. `Should we put SPLOST out for just the jail or other needs?`
Worthan last Friday sent a letter to the local state legislative delegation asking that legislation for a county jail authority be withdrawn from this General Assembly session.
The commission had earlier this year requested the proposal.
Worthan said he drafted the letter after discussing it with Miller.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
WSA to level huge fine at Tributary
WSA to level huge fine at Tributary
By Stephanie Siegel
Douglas Neighbor Staff Writer
The stop-work order issued Feb. 3 was neither the first nor the last for erosion problems at Tributary at New Manchester.
Later in February, the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) issued a stop-work order to a fiber optic cable installer on the undeveloped northeastern portion of Tributary.
"He has crossed streams in multiple locations and built roads without any permits," said Pete Frost, WSA executive director.
"The violations were serious enough that we asked EPD [the state Environmental Protection Division] to help us review the site," Frost said.
The state Environmental Protection Division also had been involved at Tributary in early 2005 and in January 2006 on home building in Phase R.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the fiber optic site the week before last but took no action because wetlands had not been compromised, said Corps spokeswoman Jeanne Hodge.
The bulldozer that drove into four streams' buffer zones left mud in the creeks, said WSA engineer Johnny Barron.
Tributary will have to clean out the creeks "by hand," Barron said, and stop erosion by gravelling the road created during telephone pole installation.
"We're looking at fining for their latest violation $33,000, which is huge," Barron said. "It's the biggest thing we've ever done." The state could fine 10 times that, he said.
But the biggest deterrent is lawsuits, such as one neighbors filed against Tributary in February, he said.
"Erosion control is money, and that's why contractors don't like to do it," Barron said. "There are some we really have to ride, and this contractor has been one of them. We've butted heads with them over a number of areas."
One was the planting of trees over a water main in October 2004. A year later, an inspector wrote of trees being planted in a sewer easement.
"They'll probably be building another six years or more," Barron said. "That's why we did the huge fine. We think it's really time to get their attention. After two years of development, they shouldn't be trying to sneak stuff past us."
Barron added, "They said they'd talked with city officials and believed they were exempt from erosion control. It might have been an innocent misunderstanding."
By Stephanie Siegel
Douglas Neighbor Staff Writer
The stop-work order issued Feb. 3 was neither the first nor the last for erosion problems at Tributary at New Manchester.
Later in February, the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) issued a stop-work order to a fiber optic cable installer on the undeveloped northeastern portion of Tributary.
"He has crossed streams in multiple locations and built roads without any permits," said Pete Frost, WSA executive director.
"The violations were serious enough that we asked EPD [the state Environmental Protection Division] to help us review the site," Frost said.
The state Environmental Protection Division also had been involved at Tributary in early 2005 and in January 2006 on home building in Phase R.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the fiber optic site the week before last but took no action because wetlands had not been compromised, said Corps spokeswoman Jeanne Hodge.
The bulldozer that drove into four streams' buffer zones left mud in the creeks, said WSA engineer Johnny Barron.
Tributary will have to clean out the creeks "by hand," Barron said, and stop erosion by gravelling the road created during telephone pole installation.
"We're looking at fining for their latest violation $33,000, which is huge," Barron said. "It's the biggest thing we've ever done." The state could fine 10 times that, he said.
But the biggest deterrent is lawsuits, such as one neighbors filed against Tributary in February, he said.
"Erosion control is money, and that's why contractors don't like to do it," Barron said. "There are some we really have to ride, and this contractor has been one of them. We've butted heads with them over a number of areas."
One was the planting of trees over a water main in October 2004. A year later, an inspector wrote of trees being planted in a sewer easement.
"They'll probably be building another six years or more," Barron said. "That's why we did the huge fine. We think it's really time to get their attention. After two years of development, they shouldn't be trying to sneak stuff past us."
Barron added, "They said they'd talked with city officials and believed they were exempt from erosion control. It might have been an innocent misunderstanding."
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