Mayor plans parade
for 'children of Baldwin'
Still opposed to city children being bused to Banks
County
BY SHERRY LEWIS
Baldwin mayor Mark Reed is planning to lead a parade to "celebrate
the children of Baldwin" who he says have become victims
of the Banks County and Habersham County boards of education.
"It seems they (the BOEs) are not willing to try and find
a solution and even think we are unreasonable for asking,"
said Reed. "We need to show these children how much they
mean to us with a parade and cookout to hold our town together.
This school thing is going to tear our town apart if we let it.
"
Councilwoman Deloris Thomas asked Reed if it is going to be a
"parade of a protest."
Reed said: "I would like to make a sign that said 'thank
you, Banks County' but we may need to make signs that say 'shame
on both boards of education for not recognizing our needs.'"
Reed is also calling for a day of prayer on Sunday.
"I have made earthly appeals as high as I can go,"
he said. "On Sunday, I will ask ministers, lay people, adults
and children to pray about the safety, well-being and happiness
of our children and ask God to protect them."
For months, Reed, the city council and citizens have pleaded
with the BOEs to come to some agreement so that 25 children who
live in Baldwin on the Banks County side will not have to board
a bus and travel to Homer to school. This became an issue when
both boards voted to end an attendance contract that has allowed
students to cross county lines to attend either school for many
years.
On Monday, the parents of those children must pay the first installment
of an annual $1,300 tuition payment to the Habersham County school
system or be prepared to load them on a bus for Homer come Friday
morning, August 20.
Reed told the council and citizens that Walter Wade will be driving
the bus which will begin picking children up around 6:30 a.m.
on Davidson Drive. The bus route will go to Baldwin and proceed
to Alto and then to Homer on Apple Pie Ridge Road and Hwy. 441.
"That means the kids will need to be up around 5:30, which
is probably earlier than the teachers get up," said Reed.
Wade will begin a trial run on the bus next week, Reed continued.
He said it might comfort parents to have an opportunity to ride
the bus and meet the driver.
Thomas called for the Banks County BOE and superintendent Dock
Sisk to ride the route themselves.
"We need to get the Banks County school board to ride that
bus and let them see how long our children are going to be on
that bus," she said. "Let them get up, wait, and go
down that mountain."
Former councilman Lamar Wilbanks voiced his opinion about both
BOEs.
"They ought to resign if they can't think about these children,"
said Wilbanks.
Reed and the council have appealed to both BOEs and recently
got a letter from Sisk stating that a majority of the board is
not interested in revisiting the matter.
"They say they have adequate space, teachers and resources
to teach these children," Reed said. "A child should
not have to get on that bus. The board should do what is in the
best interest of the children and they should write a check to
Habersham County and let them educate those children."
Reed said he is refusing to give up in this fight. He has contacted
District 22 State Representative Jeanette Jamieson, who is looking
for a solution, along with Governor Roy Barnes. But for the time
being, it looks as if the parents of those children will have
to pay the tuition or enroll their children in the Banks County
school system.
Homer budget up 16 percent
City council to hold budget hearing Tues.
BY SHERRY LEWIS
The Homer City Council will hold a hearing on the proposed fiscal
year 2000 budget Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
The proposed general fund budget is expected to increase from
$302,850 to $359,100, a 16 percent increase over last year.
Changes in general fund revenues include $40,000 in grants from
the Georgia Department of Transportation to build 1.5 miles of
sidewalks. Sales tax revenues are expected to increase from $155,000
to $159,000; the insurance premium tax is expected to rise from
$27,000 to $28,000; and the beer and wine tax is expected to
remain at $21,000.
License and permit fees are expected to increase from $6,000
to $7,000; franchise fees should rise from $35,000 to $36,000;
and garbage pick-up revenues are expected to increase from $18,000
to $23,000.
Most general fund expenses are expected to remain constant. The
proposed budget includes $132,000 for general administration,
a $13,600 decrease over last year. This category includes adminstrative
salaries, professional fees, utilities and office expenses.
The fire department budget is $10,700, which is a $2,500 decrease
over last year, and street sanitation is budgeted at $133,000,
a $20,000 increase over last year. This includes the grant money
for the sidewalks.
The Piedmont Regional Library has requested $1,983, a $217 decrease
over last year; and the Banks County Public Library has requested
$20,500 to increase services. This is up $6,500 over last year.
The proposed budget includes $500 for the adult learning center;
$1,000 for economic development; and capital outlay of $50,000.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Water department revenues are expected to increase from $163,700
to $224,350, a $60,650 increase. The fees for water services
should rise from $69,500 to $75,000; tap-on fees are expected
to increase from $4,000 to $8,000; and the city is expecting
to get $64,000 from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
The city is expecting to spend $64,000 on an addition to the
water system, $2,500 on lab fees and $1,000 on equipment consulting.
Payroll expenses are expected to rise from $27,000 to $32,000;
repairs and maintenance should increase from $4,500 to $7,000;
and the amount of water purchased from Banks County is expected
to decrease from $6,000 to $5,000.
The city council will not take final action to approve this budget
until the public hearing is held. |
