Homer Fire Department in need of pagers, fire gear

The Homer Fire Department is in need of pagers and turnout gear for its personnel. Homer fire chief Cliff Hill reported at Tuesday’s town council meeting that the department needs pagers and three partial sets and one full set of turnout gear for its employees. He said new sets run about $1,600 a piece.

Hill also said Banks County is looking to change its fire personnel pagers and the department ought to look at the same kind the county will purchase.

In other business at the meetin, the council:

•learned that a business in downtown Homer is out of ordinance because of a sign that is “too big and too close of the right of way.” Mayor Doug Cheek said the town attorney would send a letter to the owner notifying him of the ordinance violations.

•tabled any action on a nuisance ordinance with the county to handle disputes.

•discussed bids for a roof replacement on the old fire station, located on Athens Street. Cheek told the council that the best bid price he received for the work is $9,420. Other quotes ranged from $18,000-$19,000.

•discussed water run over on Woody Street to open clogged ditches. The council came to a consensus to put gravel at the end of the road to alleviate the problem.

•heard from town clerk Carol Ayers that Banks County has voted to go with an election board, therefore the Probate Judge won’t be handling the elections. Ayers told the council that she had been discussing contracting the town’s elections out through the Banks County Election Board.

•heard city employee Ricky Vaughn give an update on a recent water class he attended.

•was reminded that the town’s planning committee is short two members since Jason Bond and Danny Lord resigned.