Oakwood road annexation gets county attention

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commission Chairman Tom Oliver said Monday morning to count on his opposition to Oakwood's proposed road connector annexation to Lake Lanier at Thursday's voting session.

Oliver said subdivision residents along the proposed annexed roads would lose representation. Homeowners opposed to the annexation have expressed fear of being taken into the city against their will. Homeowner association leaders called for a delay until they could meet with Oakwood officials but Oliver said the commission votes on it Thursday.

Oakwood City Manager Stan Brown said all his city wants is to be a lakeside community.

"That is our primary purpose. In fact, we've published it in our annual newsletters that this is a goal we're trying to pursue, a good connection to Lake Lanier," Brown said.

NEW ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM

Commissioners said there would be public hearings on a proposed ordinance to require pawn shops, precious metals dealers and metal recyclers to install a new statewide electronic reporting system. Sheriff's Department Police Services Major Woodrow Tripp said the system is aimed at combating the growing metal theft problem.

"What this does is gives us the ability to access a data base that will afford us the opportunity to see where these items are being pawned," Tripp said.

Metal dealers and pawn shops would pay a $.20 per transaction fee, install a $180 fingerprint scanner and must have a digital camera.

Tripp said pawn shops that are inside the City of Gainesville would come under a similar but separate ordinance drawn up by city police.

NEW GLADES CONTRACT

Hall County Commissioners plan to vote yes Thursday on an extension of their Glades Farm Reservoir consulting fees contract that saves $25,000 a month and $300,000 this year. Commissioner Ashley Bell said he wanted the expense cut because consulting fees were too high. Bell said consultants are working to get the Glades project permitted by the Corps of Engineers, a major step toward constructing the reservoir, still years away.