http://www.hallcounty.org/ Top 10 News Items from Hall County Government - Gainesville, Georgia Hall County Government - Gainesville, Georgia Hall County offices closed Monday This is a reminder that Hall County’s administrative offices and community centers will be closed Monday, March 15, for an employee furlough day. The Hall County Board of Commissioners instituted one day per month of unpaid leave for all employees to compensate for revenue shortfalls due to the recession. Public safety and necessary public works personnel will operate as usual. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1235 TIME CHANGE CAN TRIGGER SAFETY CHANGES IN THE HOME This Sunday, March 14th, is the time to change our clocks to daylight savings. The change in time should lead to other changes that need to be made relating to safety in our homes. The first change is to check your smoke alarm. For those alarms that use a 9-volt battery, it is recommended that you change the battery when you change your clock. This is an important step to take. Working smoke alarms cut your risk of dying in a fire in half. About one-quarter of all smoke alarms that are installed in residences are not working due to a dead or missing battery. Recently Hall County has experienced numerous fires that smoke alarms were present but not operating. One of these fires led to a fatality in the city of Oakwood. Many times individuals will remove the battery due to nuisance alarms or continuous alarming. This may be from steam from the kitchen or the bathroom, or even dust from heating equipment. Instead of removing the battery, wave a towel in front of the alarm, or fan it. This will cause the alarm to stop sounding without sacrificing your smoke alarm protection. Take a moment and check the inside of the alarm to make sure it is free of dust or other materials that would keep it from operating efficiently. If your alarm is more than ten years old, replace it with a new one. For those that have alarms with long lasting lithium batteries, take this opportunity to check the alarm to make sure that it is working properly. While the battery may not need replacing, it is still important to check the operation of the alarm on a regular basis. Just as important as having a working smoke alarm is to know what to do if the alarm sounds. If you and your family have not prepared a home escape plan, this weekend will be a great time for this family project. Using a floor plan of your home, indicate two ways out of every room, the location of your smoke alarms, and then designate a meeting place outside. If there are young children or others that need assistance in escaping, plan who will be responsible for assisting those individuals. Then practice your plan. Make sure that windows will open with ease, and that children understand how to open them if necessary. Stress the importance of taking action when the alarm sounds. There is no time to waste – everyone must move quickly to escape unharmed during a fire. Take time this weekend to inspect your home for fire hazards and take the appropriate measures to insure the safety of you and your family. Fire has claimed the lives of too many individuals this year – don’t let you or your loved ones become a statistic. Act now to insure the safety of those that live in your home. If you have questions concerning fire safety measures for your home, contact the Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office at 770-531-6838 or email Scott Cagle at scagle@hallcounty.org http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1234 Laurel Park ramp closed Saturday; Mulberry Creek closed March 14-17 The Laurel Park boat ramp will be closed Saturday, March 13, while the American Bass Anglers compete for the best bass and BBQ, according to Greg Walker, Director of Hall County Parks and Leisure Services. The rest of the park will be open to the public. The ABA’s BBQ Tour will be March 12-13 at Laurel Park, which was one of five locations in the South chosen for the tour. For more information, visit ababbq.com. In addition, Mulberry Creek Community Center will be closed March 14-17 due to hazardous fumes caused by flooring work. The gym will be unavailable for use until March 20 while the floors dry. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1233 Positive rabies alert in North Hall This is to advise that on March 5 in the Will Wheeler Road area of North Hall there was contact between a skunk and two dogs. The skunk was shipped to the Georgia Public Health Lab - Virology Section in Decatur, Georgia on March 8. On March 10, Hall County Animal Services was advised that the skunk was positive for rabies. This is the third confirmed case of 2010. Positive alert signs will be posted in the area where the rabid skunk was located. If you live in this area or you see an animal acting abnormally in the Will Wheeler Rd area, contact Hall County Animal Services at 770-531-6830 or during non-working hours call Hall County Dispatch at 770-536-8812. Animal owners are encouraged to vaccinate their pets and livestock for rabies. Vaccines are available at the Hall County Animal Shelter for $10 Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1688 Barber Road, Gainesville. Contact: Mike Ledford, Animal Services Director, 770-531-6831 Hall County Animal Shelter, 1688 Barber Road, Gainesville; 678-450-1587 Visit animalshelter.hallcounty.org to see pets available for adoption. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1232 The Northeastern Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office is proud to announce that Circuit Public Defender, Brad Morris, has received the Equal Justice Foundation’s 2009-2010 Practitioner’s Award. The award recognizes a law practitioner who has made an outstanding commitment to public interest law. The award was presented last week at the annual Public Interest Conference of the Equal Justice Foundation and Working in the Public Interest Committee of the University of Georgia School of Law. Morris received his B.A. from Emory University in 1968. After serving as an officer in the United States Army, Morris received his J.D. from the University of Houston. He has practiced law for more than 30 years, with a concentration in criminal defense. He serves as Public Defender for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which includes Dawson and Hall counties. Photos available at http://www.hallcounty.org/media/#bradm. Contact: Nicki Vaughan or Evi Turk, 770-718-5523 http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1231 All Hall County Government offices, including the Courthouse and Community Centers, closed at noon today due to inclement weather. All facilities will reopen at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Emergency personnel will operate as necessary. Fire Chief David Kimbrell, who is also Emergency Management Director, and Public Safety Director Marty Nix continuously monitor alerts from the National Weather Service and send out relevant warnings or watches. “We have several areas that have already received upwards of 2-3 inches, and we expect to get about 6 inches of accumulation. We have already reached the high temperature for the day. With the low around 26 tonight, we expect overnight and tomorrow to be our biggest challenge,” said Kimbrell. The Road Maintenance Division is ready to clear roads with salt trucks and motor graders if necessary, according to Road Superintendent Jimmy Hightower. The public will be alerted of any emergency road closures. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1230 Hall County to build library in Nopone Road park The Hall County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 25 to construct a library in the park planned for 127 acres on Nopone Road near Cleveland Highway. The park is still expected to open in 2011 on the accelerated schedule approved by the Commissioners last year. Based on population density and geography of the area, the Nopone Road site will be easily accessible for most North Hall residents. Combining the community center and library buildings will allow families to meet their quality of life needs in one well-traveled location. “This will be a place where families can get to know their neighbors instead of driving all over the county to go to Little League games or to check out a book. We want to make these services more convenient to North Hall residents,” said Tom Oliver, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. By acting now to attach the library to the park project already under way, the County will be able to take advantage of low construction prices available in the current market. In March 2009, the voters approved $3 million in SPLOST VI, a one-cent sales tax program to fund capital projects, for a library in central North Hall near Hwy. 129. Also included in SPLOST VI were a community center and park in North Hall, which will include ball fields, walking trails, and more as the Nopone Road park’s phases are developed. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1229 The application period for most tax exemptions ends March 1. Hall County property owners have one more week to submit tax exemption applications to the Tax Assessors' office, located at 300 Henry Ward Way, Suite 203, Gainesville, which is in the Joint Administration Building. The homestead exemption application is available online at www.hallcounty.org/depts/RealProperty/, along with details about the types of exemptions, property assessments and the appeals process. An application is required to receive an exemption. The Tax Assessors' office will accept applications for the total school tax exemption for seniors through May 1, in accordance with state law. House Bill 1411, which took effect Jan. 1, 2009, allows seniors to receive the total school tax exemption automatically at age 70, if they were already approved for the partial school tax exemption available at age 62. To receive the total school tax exemption for the 2010 tax year, a resident must submit proof of age (e.g. driver's license) by May 1, 2010, to the Tax Assessor's office. Residents who already receive the partial school tax exemption are asked to contact the Tax Assessor's office to make sure a birth date is on file, so they can automatically receive the full exemption at age 70. Please contact the Tax Assessors' office at (770) 531-6720 or delrod@hallcounty.org. Hall County Property Tax - Important Dates January 1 • Valuation date for Taxation • Date owner must reside at property to qualify for Homestead and other related Exemptions January 1 until March 1 • Period to file tax returns (Must be filed in person or by mail). Please note: Filing a tax return is not the same as filing an appeal of your property value – When filing a return; the property owner must clearly identify the property, state an estimate of the true market value of the property and give contact information including a phone number. Filing a return may generate a Change of Assessment notice to be sent to the property owner. At that time, the property owner may file an appeal of the county assessed value if they choose to do so. • Period to file personal property reporting forms • Period to file applications for Freeport Inventory Exemption • Period to file Applications for Preferential Agricultural, Conservation Use, Freeport, Residential Transitional and Environmentally Sensitive Exemptions. Homestead Exemptions - (Applications are accepted year round, however in order for the exemption to be applied to the current tax year they must be in before the deadline) • Standard Homestead Exemption – Owner must reside at property on Jan 1. • Partial School Tax Exemption – Owner must be at least 62 years of age on or before Jan 1 and meet the income requirements. • Senior's Citizens Exemption – Owner must be at least 65 years of age on or before Jan 1 and meet the income requirements. • Total School Tax Exemption – Hall County residents (not including residents inside the city of Gainesville) – Owner must be at least 70 years of age on or before Jan 1 (must show proof of age). No income requirements for this exemption. Deadline for this exemption is May 1. • Total School Tax Exemption – City of Gainesville residents - Owner must be at least 72 years of age on or before Jan 1 (must show proof of age). No income requirements for this exemption. Deadline for this exemption is May 1. • Disabled Veteran's Exemption - Must provide a letter from the Veteran's Administration certifying that you have a 100% service-related disability. • Disabled Person's Exemption – Must provide a certificate from your licensed physician stating that you are mentally or physically unable to seek gainful employment and the disability is likely permanent. • Extra Homestead Exemption for the Elderly – State ad valorem exemption for anyone over age 65 on Jan 1 of the year applying for the exemption. Must provide proof of age. No income qualifiers. Only applies to home and up to ten acres of land. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1228 Hall County Animal Services will offer a Rabies and Microchip Clinic from 12:30-4 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center’s activity hall, located at 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville. Rabies shots are $10, microchip and registration is $20, or get both for $25. Residents from all counties are welcome. Pets must be 3 months old to get a shot. Please bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier. Cash or checks are accepted. To learn more or to volunteer, call Gwen Trimmer at 678-540-1587 or visit animalshelter.hallcounty.org. Date: Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 What: Hall County Animal Services Rabies and Microchip Clinic Where: Activity Hall, Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville, GA 30507 Time: 12:30-4 p.m. Costs: Rabies Shot - $10 Microchip and Registration - $20 Combo (Rabies and Microchip) - $25 http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1227 Hall County residents will have a chance to dispose of large household appliances by registering for the annual appliance pick-up week. To register, call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 22 to March 5. Hall County residents: 770-536-7225 Gainesville city residents: 770-532-0493 Registration is required for items to be picked up. Residents will be given a specific date to have their items out at the curb. Up to three items per household will be accepted, including stoves, washers, water heaters, refrigerators/freezers, dryers and dish washers. For safety, please remove doors from appliances that could trap a child. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=1226