Woodstock improvement plans get council support

For the AJC

The Woodstock City Council has approved two contracts aimed at revamping city facilities downtown.

The contracts with architectural firm BRPH are for a study of the potential conversion of the 1913 sanctuary building of the Woodstock Community Church into city offices, and for development of a master plan for expanding City Park, including construction of an amphitheater and other facilities.

The master plan also would include razing the old city building on Arnold Mill Road.

Also getting unanimous approval Monday was a moratorium until early January on new licenses for pawn brokers and precious gem dealers.

The moratorium will allow city staff to rework city ordinances dealing with such enterprises, and allow them to check on how other cities regulate them. The council did grandfather one business under existing pawnshop law because it already had signed a lease in preparation for opening for business.

-- Mark Woolsey

Parks and Rec agency named one of the best

Forsyth County Parks and Recreation was named the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 7 Agency of the Year.

The annual award focuses on well-maintained facilities and the quality of programs offered. Forsyth County is one of 39 agencies in District 7.

In addition, athletic manager Wayne Maddox won the District 7 Programmer of the Year award.

Maddox manages youth and adult athletic programs in the county. He also has been responsible for bringing in lacrosse, youth track meets, triathlons and the Miracle League to Forsyth County.

“The quality facilities and programs in Forsyth County are the result of the work of dedicated staff members who take pride in their jobs and in serving our citizens,” Parks and Recreation director Jerry Kinsey said.

The department previously won Agency of the Year in 1991, 1997, 2000 and 2003.

Laura Berrios, for the ajc

Nearly $2 million saved from bond refinancing

At a savings of $1.89 million, Paulding County commissioners approved Tuesday the refinancing of about $17.8 million in 1999 water and sewerage revenue bonds.

These bonds are paid by county residents from their water system fees, explained Lani Gardner Skipper, one of the county attorneys from the Dallas law firm of Talley, Richardson and Cable.

The savings will have to be used within the water system – perhaps to repair water and sewer lines damaged during the September floods, she added.

Carolyn Cunningham, for the ajc

Fayette candidates talk issues on video forum

Candidates for mayoral and City Council offices in Fayetteville, Peachtree City and Tyrone appear in a question-and-answer video forum available online and on local cable television.

The candidates were asked about leadership, land use and transportation and were given equal time to respond.

Their answers can be viewed online any time at www.fayettechamber.org. Comcast Channel 25 in Fayette County broadcasts the Fayetteville forum at 10:30 a.m. and the Peachtree City forum at 12:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 3.

The forum was jointly sponsored by Comcast and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

Jill Howard Church, for the ajc

State

DOT board adds former Lumpkin commissioner

Former Lumpkin County Commission Chairman Steve Gooch on Wednesday won the state Transportation Board seat for the 9th Congressional District, which includes Cumming and Gainesville. Gooch said he would help cities and counties that are struggling to maintain local roads, and work for new transportation funding.

The 13 board members hold five-year terms, but Gooch is the third person elected to this seat in less than two years. Dalton lawyer Steve Farrow resigned in August for for personal reasons. Before Farrow, the seat was held by Mike Evans, who resigned in 2008 following revelations of a romantic relationship between him and the Department of Transportation commissioner. Asked if he planned to serve his full term, Gooch chuckled. “Yes ma’am,” he said. “I plan to.”

The board used to set policy for the Department of Transportation’s $2 billion budget, but a new law has forced the board to share power. Members are elected by the state legislators whose districts fall within the congressional district. Ariel Hart

Diocese settles sex abuse case for $4.2 million

The Catholic Diocese of Savannah has announced a $4.24 million settlement with a 40-year-old man who says he was sexually abused by a former priest.

The Diocese said in a statement Wednesday that the settlement was to avoid the expense and burden of a lengthy trial.

Savannah native Allan Ranta filed a civil suit in Jasper County, S.C., in 2008 saying he was molested by former priest Wayland Y. Brown from 1978 to 1983.

Ranta was 10 to 14 years old and a student at St. James Catholic School when the alleged abuse occurred. He claimed the Diocese ignored signs Brown posed a danger to children.

Brown was convicted in 2003 for sexually abusing two Maryland boys nearly 30 years earlier. He was released in April 2008 after serving half of his sentence.

associated press