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The Paper | Thursday, June 20, 2013
PROJECTS
Continued from 1A the need to reconfigure an industrial park to accompany the plans for the 800,000-square-foot building. Prior to the development authority meeting, the Jefferson City Council had approved the annexation of 38.078 acres at the northeast corner of Highway 82 and RACO Parkway with a zoning for light industrial to further the project. Ward said he thought it was a first time the city had combined some property from another industrial park, Jackson 85 Distribution Center, to make a project work for a company. Ward said the creation of 800 jobs was incentive to help make the site work for the HomeGoods project. “It’s exciting to be able to inform the development authority of the need for $68 million in inducements which could bring in up to 852 new jobs in our community,” said Ward. IDI was the applicant and RACO Jackson County was the property owner making the annexation application. George L. Drummey, se-
nior vice president of property development for TJX Companies, and Joe Dubord, vice president of distribution services for HomeGoods, attended the development authority meeting. “We are very, very excited to be in Jefferson,” said Drummey. He said many markets were evaluated before Jefferson was selected in part because of its strong labor force. “We’re just very happy to be here.” Development authority chairman Ron Bond said he was extremely pleased with the selection of Jefferson and thanked Drummey for making the selection. He said he looked forward to HomeGoods being a good corporate citizen. “We appreciate the warm welcome,” said Drummey, who said the company would like to begin construction before year’s end but “we have many permits ahead of us” and drawings must be finalized. He anticipates construction will take 12 months to 15 months. According to Doreen Thompson, vice president of corporate communications for The TJX Companies HomeGoods recently signed a purchase and sale agreement for the potential
purchase of approximately 100 acres of land, located at the intersection of I-85 and State Road 82 in Jefferson. She said the warehouse and distribution center will “help service the company’s growing network of HomeGoods stores in the southeastern part of the United States. “HomeGoods is very excited about bringing this project to Jefferson and looks forward to creating jobs for residents of the city and the surrounding communities,” said Thompson. The company will also be seeking an EDGE grant. Georgia’s EDGE Fund is to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants being considered as a relocation or expansion site and are competing with another state for location of a project. The fund is also used when the health, welfare, safety and economic security of the citizens of the state are promoted through job development. All Georgia Department of Transportation requirements involving right of way must be addressed for the HomeGoods site and a traffic signal warrant analysis must be completed with the project funding any signalization improvements.
LeAnne Akin The Paper
After the City of Jefferson Development Authority meeting, Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner greeted Joe Dubord, vice president of distribution services for HomeGoods, and George L. Drummey, senior vice president of property development for TJX Companies. With the formal approval of the Jefferson Industrial Development Authority, the City of Jefferson will be providing bond incentives for the project which include a five-year phase-in of city and county Maintenance and Operations taxes and school
taxes. In Year One, the company will pay 20 percent of those taxes with the percentage increasing by 20 percent per year to reach 100 percent in Year Five. The tax rates on which the company will be paying taxes is a County M&O rate
of 9.58 mills; City of Jefferson M&O of 6.398 mills; School at 13.238 mills; School M&O of 3.345 mills; and .250 to state for a total millage rate of 32.856. Also serving on the development authority is Tommy Healan and Elizabeth Leigh.
COUNCIL
CHAMBER
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chase price and the DDA will utilize revenue to fund revitalization activities throughout their jurisdiction downtown,” said Ward. In other business, the council: ■■ Approved the annexation of 38.078 acres at the northeast corner of Holly Springs Road and RACO Parkway which will remain as light industrial. The motion was made by Councilman Roy Plott which was seconded by Councilwoman Kathy DuBose. The zoning came in a motion by Councilman Mark Mobley which was seconded by Councilman Steve Kinney. Both measures passed unanimously with Councilman Steve Quinn absent. IDI’s plan submitted to the planning commission was combination of its parcel and the RACO parcel together as one tax parcel to pursue a specific prospect interested in purchasing the combined parcel of approximately 104 acres and develop a high tech distribution center. Project Carrier was the name of the project for a Fortune 500 company which is HomeGoods. The property is in the city’s Opportunity Zone. ■■ Passed the Jefferson City Schools bond refinance resolution. As the tax levying agent for the Board of Education for Jefferson City Schools, the council needed to approve the resolution which was adopted June 11 by the school board. The refinancing of the old bonds will save the school board $1 million, said City Attorney Ronnie Hopkins, who chairs the Jefferson Board of Education. Being issued will General Obligation Refunding Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $9,550,000. ■■ Approved the update to the city’s official zoning map. At the May 21 meeting of the Jefferson-Talmo Planning Commission, planning and development contractor Diana Werling noted there have been 50 annexations and corrections since the last official zoning map was adopted by the City of Jefferson in 2008. ■■ Appointed to the Jefferson Public Building Authority, District 3 nominee Chris Lane, District 4 nominee Patrick Brewer and District 5 nominee Don Kupis. ■■ Appointed Hilda Johnson Smith to fill an unexpired term ending at year’s end on the Historic Preservation Commission.
marketing agency for the county located in the Port of Savannah market. He has also served as an economic development, Chamber of Commerce and downtown development executive for the past 12 years in Georgia including tenures in Ware and Dodge counties. “I am excited about joining the Jackson County team,” said Fenn. “There is tremendous potential and opportunity to grow the Chamber and to continue the economic development successes that the county has experienced the last few years. I’m impressed with the county leadership and I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the community.” During his career, Fenn has led efforts in the recruitment of industrial projects including Fortune 1000 firms: Alcoa, Graphic Packaging and Smurfit-Stone. He has also worked to locate international firms Haier and CZM to Georgia. Fenn also led efforts in the relocation of the headquarters for the Jones Company, one of Georgia’s largest privately held firms. “Josh’s immediate task will be to help stabilize the Chamber team by filling the positions of membership director and membership sales,” said Valentine, who notes there is already a screening committee working on processing the candidates that have applied to date, and their objective is to narrow the field with Fenn helping to make the final decisions. “Beyond that,” said Valentine, “there is already a planning effort under way to develop a new long-term strategic plan for both the Chamber and for our economic development efforts, so it will be largely up to Josh to take a leadership role in that process and to assist in its successful implementation.” The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce is a notfor-profit business member organization serving the needs of the community in the Jackson County area. “Through Access, Opportunity and Relationships, the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce can help you grow your business,” said Valentine. The Chamber serves as the official economic development arm of Jackson County and its nine municipalities. Visit jacksoncountyga.com or call 706-387-0300.
of a database for storing information as well as the touch screen machines that voters use when casting their votes. “Most cities never get to take advantage of this equipment/technology and still have to use old-fashioned paper ballots which can be very costly and difficult and time consuming to tabulate on election night,” said Jackson County GIS manager Joel Logan, who assists with the technology aspects of elections. The deadline to register to vote in municipal elections will be Oct 4, and early voting begins Oct. 14. The first two weeks of early voting will be located only at the Administrative Building, located at 67 Athens St., in Jefferson. The last two weeks of early voting will also be at the voting satellite offices in Commerce and Braselton. There will be one Saturday voting day on Oct. 26 in Jefferson only. More specific changes and dates will be announced next month. The most important change to remember is that the city votes will be collected and the counting process for each city will be consolidated to one place, the Administrative Building, located at 67 Athens St., in Jefferson. The mayors, council candidates and their supporters can come hang out there and wait for the results of the election in November. For more information or questions regarding the city election changes made this year, contact Lori Wurtz by phone at 706-367-1887 or by email at lwurtz@jacksoncountygov.com. Attending the lunch and learn was Sandra Haggard from Commerce, Ali Merk from Hoschton, Wendy Carter from Nicholson, Barbara Thomas from Maysville, Jennifer Dees from Braselton, Priscilla Murphy from Jefferson and Deborah Mockus from Arcade.
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POLICE REPORTS Jefferson Police ■■ A man and his wife were taken into custody June 13 after a search warrant was executed at their Banks Road home. Jonathan Bernard Semon Porter, 33, and Jessica Leshea Porter, 28, were charged with manufacture, deliver, distribute, sell and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cruelty to children and reckless conduct. The residence had been under surveillance for several weeks after receipt of complaints from neighbors of excessive traffic due to possible
drugs sales. Officer Jay Parker and Officer Johnny Wood had observed a number of people stop at the home for five minutes. Several of those stopped and questioned had marijuana in their possession which they confirmed buying from Jonathan Wood, who said the marijuana was his livelihood and his wife was not involved. He said the large amount of cash in his pocket was given to him by his wife. She confirmed she was aware there was marijuana in the house and she had smoked pot with her husband the day before. The search warrant netted a large pile of a
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green leafy substance, digital scales and blunt wrappers. Two juveniles were in the house with accessibility to the drugs. The children were placed in the custody of a relative by the Department of Family & Children Services. ■■ A white 2005 Chevy Impala was reported stolen from the parking lot of Zaxby’s on June 12. The vehicle was driven away between 4-7 p.m. A possible suspect was identified as an ex-girlfriend who had threatened to take his car.
ELECTIONS
■■ A Jefferson resident reported the June 10 fraudulent use of his bank card with a $450.55 charge in Wyoming. Community Bank & Trust cancelled the card and issued a new one. ■■ A Georgia Belle resident reported possible abandonment or neglect of dogs on June 11 at a neighboring house from which someone is moving. The man had come onto the property without permission to check on the welfare of the dogs and he was advised by the owner not to return. The renter
ELECTION DATES: Oct. 4 Voter registration deadline Oct. 14 Start of Early voting Oct. 26 Saturday voting Nov. 5 Municipal elections who is still in the process of moving had been providing food and water for the dogs, the report shows. ■■ An Ellijay man was taken into custody in the back parking lot of Bentley Assisted Living on June 10 after he said his car broke down. He told Bentley workers that he was working with the government. Steven W. Payne, 44, rambled about nuclear material being transported in his car which had a government tag which had been stolen off a Department of Agriculture truck in
Gilmer County. He also talked in circles about the GBI and the Air Force and working with the FBI on terrorists. Twenty-one pills determined to be sleep aids were found in the vehicle which also yielded a quantity of methamphetamine. Payne was charged with theft by receiving stolen property, original container required for prescriptions and possession of a Schedule II narcotic. ■■ A man appearing before Judge Bradford in Jefferson Municipal were See POLICE, 5A