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President's Comments From Bill Bomar The lake is rising. During the draw down to approximately 14 feet below normal pool this winter, Barry Woods and his crew were able to complete the excavation, footings and foundation for the boathouse in Murray Cove for Burton One. The lake at January 31, 2002 was back to the usual draw down of approximately 8 feet below normal pool, and is continuing to rise. Lake Burton has not been in hibernation this winter. Also, during the month of January, Georgia Power Company transferred 2 acres of land to Rabun County for a recycling center on Laurel Lodge Road. Your Association has been very active in working with the County Commissioners and other County officials to insure funding for the recycling center in the County budget, and in working with the Georgia Power Company Land Department management. Our thanks go to Jim Holmes and Lawrence Stockton for their leadership, to Glenn Ivie and Roger Harrison at Georgia Power Company for their push to get the survey and environmental study completed, and the deed transferred, and, of course, your County Commissioners for their roles. The above two events are just examples of what can be accomplished through close cooperation between Rabun County, Georgia Power Company and Lake Burton Civic Association. Yes, we work hard for our Members. The 2002 Membership Directory is going to press and will be ready for mailing around the end of February. If you missed the cutoff date with your dues, you can still join Lake Burton Civic Association by paying your $75 dues for 2002. Also, send in your Directory information so that you can be included in a Directory Supplement when it is issued this summer. In the mean time, set aside the following dates for our major events:
We understand that the Lake Burton Fireworks put on by Hal Rhoad win be on July 6, 2002. Each year Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Power Company publish a North Georgia Boating Safety Calendar. The pictures in the calendar are excellent drawings submitted by students in Rabun County on safety matters. The calendar also identifies important dates around the lakes. You can pick up a copy for free at the Georgia Power Company Land Office or at several other locations. Also, if you call or email me with your mailing address, I will be happy to mail one to you. They are not doing any good sitting in a box at my home. I once again urge you to subscribe to The Clayton Tribune by calling (706) 782-3312 or through the Internet at www.theclaytontribune.com. It can be mailed to your home in Atlanta, and is an excellent newspaper covering the events in Rabun County. It is one of the best ways that I know of to stay informed. As a final note, April is cleanup month around the lake. However, you do not need to wait. Take advantage of one of these beautiful winter weekends to pick up trash along the road fronting your property. As always, please contact any of our Officers or Directors with your questions or concerns. My email address is bbomar@windhambrannon.com. Recycle Center For Southwest Rabun County On Its Way Hooray!! The new recycling center for the southwestern part of the county could be a reality by late spring. Georgia Power Company deeded two acres of land on Laurel Lodge Road (last site of the old dumpsters) to Rabun County whose Board of Commissioners had previously funded construction of the center. LBCA Directors Jim Holmes and Lawrence Stockton presented the deed to Commission Chairman John Davis in mid-January. Lake Burton Civic Association took the opportunity some months ago to ask Georgia Power to donate the land when it became evident that the County was budgeting funds to build and operate a new center. Jim and Lawrence have been working closely with Roger Harrison to affect the transfer since that time. With the deed in hand the County plans to start construction as soon as possible. When complete, the new center will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of each week. The new center will be staffed and use smaller, portable containers for the recycled materials. 2002 Membership And Directory Update Thanks to all of you who have joined the LBCA for 2002. If your dues of $75 were paid by mid-January 2002 you will be listed in the new membership directory. The directory is being prepared for publication and it will be sent to the membership on or about March 1, 2002. If you have friends, neighbors or other family members who have not joined Lake Burton Civic Association, please encourage them to do so. Also, please note that adult co-owners, other than spouses, are considered to be separate families for membership purposes. A supplement to the 2002 Directory will be published this summer to include new members and address changes, if necessary. Rescue / Fireboat Boathouse Update The concrete foundation for the new boathouse for the lake's rescue / fireboat has been completed, Georgia Power has closed the gates and the lake level is on the rise. The Clayton Tribune recently reported that the boathouse will be completed in the spring, but we understand that Rabun County has not yet released the funds to complete construction. GTC Takes Rabun County To Court Georgia Transmission Corporation's (GTC) lawsuit against Rabun County was presented Wednesday, January 30, 2002 before Senior Superior Court judge Robert Struble who will rule on the constitutionality of Rabun County's moratorium banning the construction of high transmission power lines until June 2003. Judge Struble indicated he would also rule on the timeliness of the suit since GTC still needs to obtain permits from the U.S. Forest Service to run the power lines over public land. Paving Rabun County Roads The Rabun County Board of Commissioners recently announced that the paving of Rabun County Roads would be a number one priority for the Year 2002. And indeed, the paving of Blalock-Goldmine Road, which we reported as a reality in October, has begun. We suggest that any LBCA members who want their road paved form a group, call the County Commissioners Office (706-782-5271) to be placed on a commission meeting agenda and attend the meeting to present the group's petition to give their road a high priority for paving. RGNS Performing Arts Center Completed The Rabun Gap Nacoochee School opened its new 630-seat Performing Arts Center in January. A number of live performances will be open to the public throughout the year. We will try to include these events in our newsletter, but you need to check out the Center's schedule whenever you are in Clayton. Calendar Of Events Winter is a quiet time on the lake even though the year round population of Rabun County (and the lake) is growing. Good restaurants are busy, golfing buddies are easier to find and Clayton stays active throughout the year. Yet, put seven or eight inches of snow on the ground, a fire in the fireplace, a good book in your hands and you can fully enjoy the quiet time . . . this is a special place. |
Copyright © 1999 - 2009 by Lake Burton Civic Association and Scot Roberge. All rights reserved. |