Local Governments Band Together for 'Fuel In Bulk' Plan

A coalition of north Georgia cities and counties hopes to save money by buying fuel in bulk for its government cars.

It may be the first arrangement of its kind in the state. The 14 governments involved include several from metro Atlanta, and a handful in northeast Georgia, such as Jackson County.

The idea is to band together, and lock-in better prices on gas that will run the communities fleets of vehicles. Just last summer, the budgets of many local governments were stressed when fuel prices spiked to more than $4 a gallon.

Len Bernat is purchasing manager for Jackson County. He says his county benefits from the larger county government of Gwinnett leading this coalition:

"Our advantage is, we'll be able to piggy-back off that price. So I'm getting the advantage as if I had that same number of vehicles in my fleet and that same usage, without having to show that usage."

Individual local governments can opt-out of the arrangement if they find better deals on their own.

The co-op will consider bids from fuel distributors sometime next month. Projected fuel savings for the coalition as a whole could be nearly $1 million.

Two NE Ga Counties Cut Staff To Ease Shortfall

Two northeast Georgia counties facing budget shortfalls have trimmed some department staff. Jackson County officials say they’ll save $225,000 through the end of the year with the recent lay-offs of four building inspectors and two engineering department workers. Neighboring Barrow County is saving $70,000 with the lay-off of two staff members. This is on top of a cut of between three to ten percent of all county salaries.

Economy Won't Impede New Boat Ramp

Despite state budget cuts, the long-awaited Bear Creek Reservoir boat ramp will open this spring. The four counties that own the reservoir plan to pony up the money themselves. They are Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee. Gov. Sonny Perdue cut $125,000 for the project from the state Department of Natural Resources budget.

(Associated Press)

Jackson County files suit over water

A northeast Georgia county has filed a lawsuit claiming its neighbor uses too much water from a regional reservoir in times of drought. Jackson County wants a judge to agree that the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority allows Athens-Clarke County to exceed its rightful amount of water from the Bear Creek Reservoir. The suit says the four-county authority has not adjusted withdrawls to account for the drought. Other partners in the authority say Jackson County officials are misreading the agreement.

Massive industrial park for northeast Georgia

Residents in Jackson and Clarke counties are teaming up to oppose a 701-acre industrial park. It’s planned for U.S. Highway 129 just south of Arcade. The project would provide about 7.5 million square feet of space making it one of Georgia's 10 largest industrial zones. Developers say it would provide 4,000 new jobs and 5-million in tax revenue. The regional development center recommended that Jackson County commissioners reject the project, citing its size, the amount of traffic it would generate and its clash with adjoining land use.

Tornado damage in northeast Georgia

Apparent tornadoes caused damage in Hall and Jackson counties Tuesday afternoon. Officials in Hall say two elementary schools sustained roof damage, but no injuries were reported. In nearby Jackson County, high winds damaged about 40 mobile homes in the city of Commerce--two people were injured there.

Georgia's fastest-growing counties

Paulding County, near Atlanta, was the third fastest growing county in the nation in 2007. Census estimates rank 23 Georgia counties among the top 100 fastest growing. Paulding County had more than 50,000 housing units in July 2007, up 72 percent from April 2000. Henry County was the sixth fastest-growing county in the nation. Forsyth County was seventh. Also in the Top 25 were Newton, Fannin, Cherokee, Barrow and Jackson counties.

New taxiway for northeast GA airport

A northeast Georgia county is a step closer to expanding its airport. Jackson County commissioners have approved a plan to expand the county airport by 52 acres to add a second taxiway. Construction on the new taxiway will begin next year at the airport in Jefferson.

Jackson Co. OK'd for cheaper gas

An east Georgia county has the green-light to become the first in the state to sell gasoline to its cities at cheaper prices.

The state Department of Revenue says Jackson County can buy gasoline at a bulk-rate. State officials say the county can then sell the gas to its nine cities and towns.

The savings of about 20-cents a gallon will give local governments some breathing room in their budgets to help cover rising operating costs for police and other city vehicles.

John Ward is manager for the city of Jefferson, the county seat:

"It will definitely allow us to exercise expanded options. But at the same time anything we can do moving forward to make sure that we’re using tax dollars as efficiently as we possibly can we’ll be monitoring that and adjusting accordingly".

Ward says the cheaper gas should be flowing into their city cars and trucks in a few weeks.

Former police chief cleared of allegations

Former Arcade police chief Dennis Bell has been cleared of accusations he had fixed traffic tickets. Jackson County’s District Attorney told the Athens Banner-Herald a six-month probe by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence that Bell destroyed the original documents in a 2006 DUI case. Bell resigned from his position as chief in November and has taken a job with the Franklin Springs Police Department.

Bear Creek closed to public fishing access

Bear Creek Reservoir in Jackson County has been closed to public fishing access to prevent people from driving out onto the dry lake bed. An official with the county’s parks and recreation department says people driving on the exposed bed were trespassing into backyards of lakefront residents. Bear Creek provides drinking water to people in the counties of Jackson, Clarke, Barrow, and Oconee counties. The extreme drought has left the reservoir 13 feet below its normal level.

Northeast Georgia extends outdoor water ban

Officials in a northeast Georgia county have voted to extend the outdoor watering ban. Jackson County voted yesterday to ban concrete contractors, pavers, pressure washers and hydro-seeders from using county waters. Brick masons and car washes still will be able to use county water, but car washes will be asked to conserve and cut their consumption by 40 percent to 50 percent. Landscapers were already banned from using county water.

Jackson Co extends outdoor water ban

Jackson County officials have extended an outdoor watering ban that already affects landscapers. The county’s Water and Sewer Authority voted to ban concrete contractors, pavers, pressure washers and hydro-seeders from using county water. Brick mason and car washes are not under this new ban, however car washes are being asked to conserve and cut their water consumption by 40-50 percent. On October 11th, the authority rescinded all business exemptions to the county’s total outdoor watering ban, but did consider appeals from those businesses that must use water.

Special prosecutor vs. former Jefferson police chief

A special prosecutor plans to ask a Jackson County grand jury for an indictment against the former police chief of Jefferson. In September, the grand jury indicted Darren Glenn on charges that he used police department computers and equipment in 2005 to run background checks for his wife’s private investigation firm. However, a week and a half ago, a Superior Court judge dismissed the 30-count indictment, because Glenn was not allowed to testify. When the grand jury reconvenes later this year, the special prosecutor plans to recall the same witnesses. Glenn this time will be allowed to make a statement to grand jurors afterward.

Talmo plant ordered to stay closed

A Jackson County judge has extended an order to keep the doors to a waste recycling plant closed until the facility in Talmo can clean-up its act. The Agri-Cycle wastewater recyclying plant was ordered closed in September, two days after a treatment pond caught fire and burned. The judge in his order Tuesday wrote that the plant’s operation "constitutes a clear and present danger to the citizens of Jackson County and the state of Georgia". The plant in Talmo collects waste from chicken plants and restaurants, decomposes it using bacteria, then processes remaining wastewater by spreading it onto fields.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the Talmo plant.

Student faces 17 counts for bomb threat

Authorities in northeast Georgia have charged a student with 17 counts in connection with a bomb threat made earlier this month. On October 3rd, state schools superintendent Kathy Cox had just walked through the front doors of Jackson County Comprehensive High School in Jefferson, when the school was ordered evacuated by district officials. In all, 17 schools were cleared in Jackson, Jefferson, and Commerce school districts. Prosecutors have not decided whether they will try to prosecute the 15-year-old in Jackson’s Superior Court, or Juvenile Court.

School bomb threat disrupts state official visit

The visit of state schools Superintendent Kathy Cox to a northeast Georgia high school Wednesday was interrupted by a bomb threat. Cox had just arrived at the Jackson County Comprehensive High School in Jefferson, when the district ordered evacuation of all 13 of its schools. After the building was cleared, Cox returned to the school for her visit. Authorities say the threat was called in by a Jefferson City High School student, and they have a specific suspect in mind.

Waste-processing plant fighting closure order

The EPD and a Jackson County waste-processing company went head-to-head in court on Tuesday over whether their plant should be shut down.

The Environmental Protection Division ordered the waste-treatment plant in Talmo, north of Athens to stop taking in grease and poultry remains in late August, citing health ordinance violations going back to 2005.

The facility's owner appealed that decision. They charge that they should be allowed to remain open until a final ruling, expected in November.

On Tuesday, the EPD argued before a superior court judge that the Agri-Cycle facility should remain closed for the interim.

Local residents complain that contamination of nearby Allen Creek and smells from the three-year-old plant are making their lives unbearable.

The judge's decision is expected within a few weeks.

Click here for more GPB coverage of events surrounding the facility.

Total outdoor water ban in four NE Georgia counties

State officials have tightened water restrictions in four northeast Georgia counties, as the main reservoir for the area is running dry.

Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties draw their water from the Bear Creek Reservoir. It is running dry however, because of the ongoing drought.

The counties are all now under level-4 restrictions. That means a total ban for residences on all outdoor watering, 7 days a week—-24 hours a day.

Jeff Killip is Public Works Director for Jefferson in Jackson county.

"We’re going to have to ban substantially all outside use, even on the professional businesses. The water situation is worse than dire".

Killip says there is about a 14-day supply left in the reservoir.

In Jefferson as well as Athens, businesses must get a special permit and prove they are conserving water.

Former Jefferson police chief indicted

A former northeast Georgia police chief has been indicted on charges of theft and invasion of privacy. The indictment handed down by a Jackson County grand jury against Darren Glenn is the result of a two-year investigation into claims of corruption and using police resources for personal profit. Glenn was fired as police chief of Jefferson in June of 2006. Glenn faces 30 counts in all--charges including using professional access to illegally check information on people, and using a city vehicle while working for his wife's private detective company.