CMYK Thursday, November 21, 2013
Get updates during the week at ClickThePaper.com | 50 ¢
Honors for Box Tops at Gum Springs. 3B
Hoschton survives: Debt restructured By LEANNE AKIN
lakin@clickthepaper.com
The death knell would be sounding for the City of Hoschton early next year unless a proposal made to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) was accepted so Friday’s confirmation that the city’s $5.5 million debt can be consolidated. It was a time of celebration at Hoschton City Hall on Friday when a call came accepting the plan to get the city out of its financial mire by reorganizing its debt and infusing money into an ailing infrastructure system in order to grow jobs. Mayor Theresa Kenerly and City Clerk Ali Merk made an August trip to downtown At-
lanta to make the city’s case that every other possibility for resolving the city’s debt crisis and addressing infrastructure woes. “This was a make or break situation,” said Kenerly, who noted she had gone to other jurisdictions including municipalities and Jackson County in an effort to find the key to sustaining Hoschton. The plan which the city proposed in a report developed by Engineering Management Incorporated (EMI) and Cybergov Consultants was unchartered waters. Never before has GEFA considered such a proposal which finds the city’s two existing loans being consolidated into one 20-year note. While the interest clock continues to tick, the city will get a three-year amnesty period and will save
$140,000 a year in debt service payments. Merk points to the sustainability of the plan which frees up funds for the city to invest in needed infrastructure improvement. The proposal includes expanding service to the industrial park in hopes of supporting business and industry which desire to expand and add to the employment base. Kenerly said she genuinely cares for her city and she had exhausted all other means to keep the city afloat. The unability to met its debt obligations to GEFA could have meant the city would give up its charter and cease to exist. But even then, the debt would remain. Debt is not forgiven and would have had to be paid via a property assessment. Kenerly said when she stepped into the
role of mayor she found a dilemma much more serious than anticipated. When Merk came onboard as clerk, she joined Kenerly in the struggle to find a means to save the city. Fortunately, the Hoschton City Council had brought Jerry Hood of EMI onboard in June to help begin the process of addressing the city’s water and wastewater worries. Hood was tasked with developing a plan and finding funding opportunities to resolve the woes. “We turned over every rock,” said Kenerly, who, with the council, had cut spending. The city was looking for a debt answer without imposing a city property tax. The accepted plan will save a tremendous expense
See HOSCHTON, 2A
Dawn Farris is Municipal Court Clerk of the Year By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
Home for an All-American Holiday The Town of Braselton hosted an All-American Holiday celebration with a Saturday parade and festival. The Blue Ribbon Award – the judges’ favorite – was awarded to the multiple vehicle entries of Braselton Christian Academy (above), while the White Ribbon Award for Theme/best “All American” entry went to Gerard Preparatory School (below). As carolers sang “I’ll be home for Christmas,” a uniformed soldier carrying a ruck sack and a bouquet of flowers, arrived home to greet his sweetheart. See more on Page 7A.
Dawn Farris, Braselton’s Municipal Court Clerk was recently named Court Clerk of the Year by the Georgia Municipal Court Clerk’s Council. Farris has received this award as a result of professional development, continuing education, and the efficiencies of the municipal court. She was nominated by Judge Graham McKinnon. “Dawn has restored everyone’s confidence by taking on the position of Municipal Court Clerk four years ago. She has cleaned up what she has inherited and continues to work hard every day. Not only is she a kind person, but she is great at what she does,” said Judge Graham McKinnon. McKinnon said Farris has what it takes to be named the Court Clerk Farah Bohannon The Paper of the Year, Dawn Farris was nominated for the statewide which is why recognition by Braselton Municipal Court Judge he nominated her. McKinnon Graham McKinnon. joined with the Braselton Town Council in honoring Farris at the Nov. 11 town council meeting. Farris took the place of a clerk who was charged with embezzling funds from Braselton’s city court, so the individuals she works with are relieved to have a trustworthy and assiduous Municipal Court Clerk here to stay. Farris has been a Court Clerk for 12 years, four of those years with the Town of Braselton. She says her time at Braselton has been extremely rewarding for her. “I was led to Braselton because I was looking for a growing court to transfer my skills to,” said Farris. “I have lived in Jackson County for 24 years and knew that Braselton was an ‘up and coming’ town. I was ready to take on the challenge of more volume and more complicated cases as well as a court with more co-workers to
See COURT CLERK, 2A
Leadership Jackson supporting Wellspring Camp
By Katie Griffin
klgriffin@clickthepaper.com
Leadership Jackson, a program offered by the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, announces that Wellspring Camp will be the beneficiary of this year’s fundraiser. Each year, Leadership Jackson hosts a fundraiser as part of the class, and selects a non-profit organization in Jackson County that will receive the money raised. Wellspring Camp was chosen and the fundraiser, which will be a “Tug of War” event has been titled “Tug of Love.” “Leadership Jackson is very important because we are developing the next generation of leaders in Jackson County,” said Josh Fen, Chamber President and CEO Director of Economic Development. Each month the class has a different theme or area of focus. Last month the theme was economic development and they visited
INSIDE Church Entertainment Events Features Forum
4A 6B 4B 3B 6A
Havertys and Kubota, two very large employers in Jackson County. Leadership Jackson class member Leigh Carroll was chosen as the chairman of the board of fundraising. She has a background in sales, marketing and event planning. Carroll and her classmates have created a logo for the event, with the help of a donation from the Braselton Rotary Club. Carroll and her classmates have also started to market Wellspring Camp so that the community will know who they are raising money for during the “Tug of Love” event. Leadership Jackson has worked very hard in promoting the upcoming “Pulling Together for Camp Wellspring” event at Swirlee’s Frozen Yogurt in Jefferson on Nov. 23. Swirlee’s will give 10 percent of sales that day to the Leadership Jackson Class to help with the fundraiser for Wellspring Camp. Everyone is encouraged to visit Swirlee’s to help with this event. “Individuals with special needs come from
Volume 8, Number 3 Obituaries 4A Police report 2A Puzzles 6B Schools 7B Sports 1-2B
all over the country to stay at Wellspring Camp because there, no one is considered ‘different’,” said Carroll. The actual fundraiser event will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Crows Lake. Leadership Jackson is now accepting team
registrations, $250 for a team of five ($50 per person). Upon registering, participants will receive advertising on all printed materials,
See WELLSPRING CAMP, 3A
Katie Griffin The Paper
Daniel Walthers from Winding Woods Ranch in Commerce brought Kennesaw State University mascot, Sturgis the owl, on a day when the campers were building owl boxes. Walthers’ daughter, Christina, is a Wellspring Camp volunteer.
Got a news tip? Call 706-658-2683 or e-mail editor@clickthepaper.com Want to advertise? Call 706-658-2683 or e-mail ehouse@clickthepaper.com Delivery questions? Call 770-532-2222 or e-mail circulation@clickthepaper.com
The Paper P.O. Box 430 Hoschton, GA 30548
ECRWSS CURRENT RESIDENT
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 13 GAINESVILLE, GA