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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