Newspaper Page Text
ChflYiur
Rate
m
tut
rL
££qShB3 oi? <Thra
<n? Dsss ®as
isxnflsto
The Oglethorpe Echofris|nOyvjltaking
subscriptions again^tmei^briginSlIy
turning awayjffljmyMj^upIe^that
i\v;a n tedatd^fsu b^u^J^mykth at the
iraneninaslbeen more
a s s iir e’dow^encourage
Eeirewtheir subscriptions.
All future receipts from subscriptions
will be transferred to the new
operators after the sales tax has been
paid to the state. We have delayed
for two weeks the removal of those
people that expired in September. We
urge those with expiration dates that
have passed or are soon approaching
to mail in a check, call in with a credit
card or stop by the office in Lexington
Monday through Thursday to renew
or even start a new subscription.
If you subscribed your name would be here
Check your Subscription Expiration date
upe Echo
Volume 148 Number 2 P. O. Box 268 • Lexington, Georgia 30648 • email: editor@oglethorpeecho.com 706.743.3111 October 14, 2021 50 Cents
County employees eligible to
share substantial tiered bonuses
from federal COVID program
characteristics:
1) The nature of the job
2) The level of job-related exposure to
the public
Category 1
•Frequent and direct exposure to the
public
• Job is substantially related to life safety
• Max benefit: $2,000
• Includes jobs like medics, jailers and
deputies
Category 2
• Limited exposure to the public
• Job is substantially related to life safety
• Max benefit: $1,500
• Includes jobs like roads crew,dispatch
Category 3
• Reasonably mitigated exposure to public
• Job is essential but not substantially
related to life safety
• Max benefit: $1,000
• Jobs that support the courts, other indoor
administrative functions
Category 4
• Eligible part-time employees
• Minimum level of employment:
$3,000 total earnings in the time period
• Max benefit: $500
• Full time and actively employed
only.
Those employed less than the full time
period are prorated based on the number of
months of full time employment.
Minimum benefit of $250
Ineligible for the benefit:
• Elected officials
• Those not actively employed as of the date
of approval by the Board of Commissioners
• Active part-time employees that earned
less than $3,000 in the time period
The commissioners were given two
different proposals from vendors to the
Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Department
for an enhancement to the E-911 system
operated by the Sheriff’s Department.
Chief Deputy Jason Taft was supposed to
appear before the commissioners to explain
the budget request and the purpose for
enhancing the system.
Commission Chair Paul noted that a
conflict had arisen for Paul and that he was
not going to be able to appear.
The Commissioners agreed to table the
discussion of the bids for 30 days or until
the November meeting. Commission Andy
Saxon noted that one bid was given on
August 24 and was only good for 30 days
and was thus already expired.
The bids obviously contained different
equipment or software. One bid was
approximately $75,000 with a $25,000 a
year maintenance agreement. The second
bid was for $27,000.
Saxon brought up again the need for
re-striping the white lines on the sides of
county roads. He noted that it had been
done a number of years ago but that the
lines had faded or disappeared and that
he thought it was time to do it again. He
asked Adam Nation for a progress report
on that project. Nation gave him the names
of several county roads that would be
resurfaced and repainted with state LMIG
(state DOT) money and gave an additional
list that would be done with T-SPLOST
money.
Saxon said he remember that all the county
roads had been done at one-time before and
that it might have been done as a county
funded project. A discussion between the
commission and Finance Director Josh
Hawkins revealed that there was a good
possibility that it was a state project that
was only funded intermittently.
Saxon also noted that a local contractor
had been awarded the bid. He said that he
remembered that because the low bidder
that did a lot of that type of work across the
state called him to find out why he didn’t
get the bid.
Commission member Tracy Norman
noted that the commission was allowed the
flexibility to not always accept the lowest
bid. Saxon noted that he remembered that
Lady Pats 4AA Region Champions; sweep Jefferson
Lady Patriot Catcher Abby Jones blocks the plate and easily tags out a Jefferson County runner last week as Oglethorpe
County swept the Lady Warriors 6-1 in both games. The victories gave the local girls their second 4AA region championship
in two years. The Lady Patriots split their Tuesday double-header with Toombs County and will finish the best two out of
three match-up on Wednesday.
there was very little difference between the
two bids.
Chief Deputy Jason Taft was supposed
to appear before the commissioners to
explain a budget request and the purpose
for enhancing the dispatch and 911 system.
Commission Chair Paul noted that a
conflict had arisen for Taft and that he was
not going to be able to appear.
The Commissioners agreed to table the
discussion of the bids for 30 days or until
the November meeting. Commission Andy
Saxon noted that one bid was given on
August 24 and was only good for 30 days
and was thus already expired.
The bids obviously contained different
equipment or software. One bid was
approximately $75,000 with a $25,000 a
year maintenance agreement. The second
bid was for $27,000.
Saxon brought up again the need for
re-striping the white lines on the sides of
county roads. He noted that it had been
done a number of years ago but that the
lines had faded or disappeared and that he
thought it was time to do it again. He asked
Road Superintendent Adam Nation for a
progress report on that project. Nation gave
him the names of several county roads that
would be resurfaced and repainted with
state LMIG (state DOT) money and gave
an additional list that would be done with
T-SPLOST money.
Saxon said he remember that all the
county roads had been done at one-time
before and that it might have been done
as a county funded project. A discussion
between the commission and Finance
Director Josh Hawkins revealed that there
was a good possibility that it was a state
project that was only funded intermittently.
Saxon also noted that a local contractor
had been awarded the bid. He said that he
remembered that because the low bidder
that did a lot of that type of work across the
state called him to find out why he didn’t
get the bid.
Paul said he would prefer to delay the
discussion until a later time but he informed
for an enhancement to the E-911 system the
board that they would need to think about
the amount of involvement they wanted
to have with the City of Crawford if they
decided to participate with the construction
of part of the Firefly Trail within the city
limits of Crawford.
10-year-old J.D. Armour and a local hogzilla.
More hog than boy
J.D. Armour recently killed this 350-pound wild hog on his father’s farm near
Lexington. J.D. said he frequently saw wild pigs on the farm and that he, in fact,
had previously a hog approximately the same size in almost exactly the same
spot as this one. Oglethorpe County has a very healthy population of wild feral
pigs. The Department of Natural Resources said that the average wild pig weighs
between 100 and 200 pounds but that it is not uncommon for them to get a lot
larger with the proper genetics and plenty of local food supply. Wild pigs can
reproduce early and often. Females can have a litter of 3-8 piglets as early as six
months and do so twice a year. They are a problem for farmers as they root up
many pastures and planted crops looking for food. Hunters also have problems
with the animals as they will kill and eat anything they can catch in the way
of wildlife, including fawns. The hunting of hogs and coyotes is not regulated.
Several local hunters hunt them year round and at night.
The Oglethorpe County Commissioners
approved using funds from an ARPA
(American Rescue Plan Act) payment
payment to the county from the federal
government to provide supplemental
payments to county employees in four
different tiers.
Elected officials would not be eligible for
the supplemental payment.
The supplement will be distributed
later this month to the over 100 county
employees. The federal program specified
that such a payment was eligible from the
funds paid to the county.
ARPA PREMIUM PAY PROPOSAL
It was requested that the Board of
Commissioners appropriate $155,000 from
the general fund for a one-time employee
pay supplement.
Purpose: The past 19 months have
presented new challenges and risks in
the lives of our workforce. We recognize
the burden on employees and their
families during that time. The Board of
Commissioners offer this extra one-time
pay supplement to employees as a small
way to say thank you for your sacrifice,
your contribution, and your commitment.
Chairman’s Intent: Everyone gets
something. The amount should be relative
to the job and risk assessment.
The calculated total cost to the BOC is
$153,742. The actual amount could be
different based on minor adjustments from
changes between now and the time of
Board consideration.
The time period considered is March
2020 through September 2021 (19
months). There are four benefit categories
that are distinguished by two primary
Public Meetings
Thursday, October 14
Lexington City Council meets at
Lexington City Hall, 7 pm.
Tuesday, October 19
Oglethorpe County Board of
Education will have their
Work Session at the
Central Office, 7 pm.
Thursday, Oct 21
Amoldsville City Council
meets at Amoldsville
City Hall, 7 pm.
OCMS - OCHS
Athletics for the Week
Thursday, October 14
Football: JV @ Madison - 5:30
Saturday, October 16
Cross Country: GA MS
State Championship
@ Bleckley County(Cochran)
Football: Varsity @ Josey - 12 noon
Tuesday, October 19
Cross Country: HS Varsity
@ Tallulah Falls, GA
Thursday, October 21
Football: JV vs. Morgan - 5:30
COVID-19 Numbers
(As of 3:00 PM, October 12)
Oglethorpe County
Confirmed Cases: 1663
Confirmed Cases Last week: 1646
Deaths: 37
Oglethorpe County Vaccinations:
13,123
Fully Vaccinated: 42%
Georgia
Confirmed Cases
1,246,100
Deaths:23,512
State Vaccinations:
10,786,167
Fully Vaccinated:48%
Lady Pats knock off Toombs County
7-4 in first game of double header. Lose
second game 7-2.
The Oglethorpe County Lady Patriots
won the first game against Toombs County
Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday in the first
round of the the tate play-off 7-4. They
dropped the second game 7-2, their first
loss in sixteen games. The deciding third
game was set for Wednesday in Lexington
Coach Brianna Dickens predicted that
Toombs County would be a tough opponent.
She pointed out that region 2AA was a
good region for softball with strong teams
like Bacon County, Vidalia and Jeff Davis
Toombs finished fourth in that region with
an 18-15 record.
For a softball season that didn’t start so
hot at the beginning of August, the Lady
Pats put on a spit shine and highly buffed
polish for coach and fans alike..
Oglethorpe County lost four of their first
six games. There were some one-mn losses
in that number but the games still ended
up lr
the P column After that the, team
See Lady Pats, Page Eight