Statham Upping Millage Rate by 11 Percent

The Barrow Journal is asking whether this is a tax increase or not and cites the city's higher spending as prompting the millage rate hike.

The city of Statham is increasing its millage rate by 11 percent, according to a report by the Barrow Journal, and the local newspaper is asking whether this is a tax increase or not.  The summary? It may be a tax increase for some and not other — depending on how one looks at the millage rate hike.  Click here to read the full only story posted by the Barrow Journal, which cites increased city spending, particularly on its police department, as cause for the millage rate increase. The department constitutes 41 percent of Statham's general fund budget.  "No town government can thrive when a single department sucks away 40 percent or more of the town’s general fund revenues," the story reads. "The numbers just don’t work. (Auburn has the …

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Local Newspaper Calls Firm Seeking Statham Annexation and Rezoning 'Controversial'

Read a news release submitted by Walton Development & Management to Barrow Patch.

An online report posted by the Barrow Journal calls a company seeking the annexation and rezoming of property into the city of Statham "controversial."  According to the Barrow Journal, Walton International is a Canadian-based land investment company that purchases raw, undeveloped land and resells it in small “units” to mostly Asian investors.  Click here to read the newspaper's full online report.  Walton Development & Management submitted the following news release to Barrow Patch, which is posted in its entirety.  Walton Development and Management (WDM) submitted the 360-acre One University Parkway (One University) project to the City of Statham, GA for Annexation and Rezoning. One University is a proposed mixed-use development …

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City Spotlight

Statham Introduces Residents to HomeSafe Georgia

The city’s July newsletter highlights the Georgia-based mortgage assistance program.

In a city that strives to make its Barrow County municipality “home sweet home” for all its residents through terrific local events and amenity offerings, the mayor and council of Statham are acutely aware the economy and job market may have taken a toll on area homeowners. Featured in the city’s July newsletter released earlier this month, a large segment was devoted to educating readers about the HomeSafe Georgia Program through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. HomeSafe Georgia is a mortgage assistance program that provides up to 18 months of mortgage payment help for Georgia residents who are unemployed or underemployed while they seek work. After the assistance period, the interest-free loan is forgiven at 20 percent per …

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A History Lesson in Patriotism from the City of Statham

The local Barrow County city takes cues from the past to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.

While North Georgia residents gather together at local events such as parade-watching at Celebrate Braselton and sparks-spotting at Gainesville’s American Legion fireworks display at Laurel Park, the city of Statham will be honoring those who played a role in securing its rights to a colorful past and a bright future. As the city commemorates the dedication of the Statham Veterans Memorial Park, Barrow Patch feels this serves as a perfect time to remember Statham’s history. Like most municipalities in North Georgia, Statham was born out of the same red clay that once marked Cherokee and Creek Indian territory. The city itself grew from a combined post office and country store that was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Statham. The …

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Statham Council to Match Grant Funds for Paving of Street Adjacent to New Barrow Middle School

The Barrow Journal reports the city council voted unanimously to approve a $35,000 match to the $125,000 Georgia Department of Transportation grant.

The Statham City Council has unanimously approved an expenditure to match a Georgia Department of Transportation grant toward the cost of paving of a portion of Jefferson Street in anticipation of construction of a new middle school, according to an online post by the Barrow Journal. Statham City Clerk Susan Gabriel said the council approved $35,000 from the city's SPLOST account to match the $125,000 DOT grant toward the total estimated cost of the project, which the Barrow Journal reports is $161,000. The Barrow County School System broke ground on the planned middle school Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. The facility, set to be completed in April 2013, will include 58 classrooms and will be part of the Winder-Barrow cluster of schools. This …

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City Spotlight

Should Voters Pop the Cork on Sunday Sales in Statham?

A special vote is set to take place at Statham City Hall on March 6 regarding Sunday package sales of beer and wine within city limits.

With the recent passage of a referendum ending the ban on Sunday alcohol sales within many neighboring municipalities, the city of Statham has opted to take the issue before voters in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Statham City Hall will host a special vote that will allow residents to answer the question as to whether or not to allow Sunday package sales of beer and wine within Statham city limits.  Voters must then visit their regular polling location — Statham Fire Department 1 or Statham Elementary School — to cast their vote in the presidential primary and on the T-SPLOST referendum, among other items on the Super Tuesday ballot. What are your thoughts on ending the ban on Sunday alcohol sales within Statham city limits…

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City Spotlight

Happy Birthday, Statham Depot!

The historic former railroad depot — the current location for Along the Line Antiques — is celebrating 100 years.

The city of Statham is a Barrow County municipality awash in history. Like many small towns and cities in the South during the late 1800s, Statham grew up out of the railroad tracks that snaked their way through North Georgia. Although Statham was first established from a combination country store and post office run by Mr. and Mrs. M. J. C. Statham, it is the railroad that made it a town and eventually a city. Shortly after the railroad came to town, Statham was incorporated and received its charter Dec. 20, 1892. As a matter of fact, the incorporated area of Statham extends one mile in every direction from the Seaboard Airline Railway Depot, which was originally constructed in the center of town about 1900. A second depot took its place…

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City Spotlight

Statham Embraces the Season of Giving

The city requests donations from residents for a food and toy drive, holiday gifts for patients at East Central Regional Hospital and the purchase of raffle tickets to support the Statham Library.

During a time of year when people have generosity and goodwill toward others at the top of their holiday lists, the city of Statham asks residents, friends and neighbors to dig deep and embrace the season of giving with them. There is not one but four major charitable events taking place at Statham City Hall in December, and you are cordially invited to get as involved as you wish in any or all of them. Local food drive In honor of the approaching Christmas season, the Christmas in Statham Committee is joining forces with the city of Statham Sunflower Festival Committee and Boy Scout Troop/Cub Scout Pack 789 to collect nonperishable food items to be assembled and distributed as holiday meal packages Dec. 17, 2011 at city hall. Distribution…

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City Spotlight

Statham Shares a Common Bond with the First Thanksgiving

Both Plymouth, Mass., and Statham owe their histories to close ties between early settlers and Native American Indians.

Founded more than 270 years after the first Thanksgiving, the city of Statham owes its rich history to a similar bond between Native American Indians and early settlers. Whereas the first Thanksgiving was a celebratory feast of the first successful harvest shared by the Plymouth colonists (aka pilgrims) and the Wampanoag Indians, the earliest settlers to the region now known as Statham lived peacefully alongside Creek and Cherokee Indians in the Talasee Colony (circa 1784) for many years. Legend holds that a portion of the Indian Village Calamit — located within the colony on a major trade route between Atlanta and Athens then known as the Ocoloco Trail — was purchased from Creek Indian Chief Umausauga by settlers for the rumored price of …

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