Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 — Wednesday, October 3, 2012, TheTrue Citizen
Commissioners settle issues
to adopt $48 million budget
One killed in
Hwy. 25 wreck
By Anne Marie Kyzer
annemariek@thetruecitizen.com
County employees will get pay
raises but animal control will be put
on hold for another year.
Burke County Commissioners
tentatively adopted a $48.1 million
budget for this fiscal year at a meet
ing last week, which concluded
months of work sessions spent de
ciding where tax dollars should be
spent.
They were faced with a list of
requests to increase spending in a
number of areas but were split on
granting them. Chairman Wayne
Crockett voiced the most concern
over increased spending, often cast
ing the sole vote against certain in
creases.
Commissioners opted not to fund
a contract with Old Fella Burke
County Animal Rescue to provide
county animal control services.
Though the organization had
whittled its request down to $43,750
by proposing a delayed start date,
commissioners voted unanimously
to stick with an allocation of $6,000
to support the organization’s spay/
neuter program.
Chairman Wayne Crockett ab
stained from the discussion, stating
he was a dues paying member of
the organization, but county admin
istrator Merv Waldrop told com
missioners his reservations were
fueled by internal turmoil he’d
observed in the organization.
“Until they get that settled, I
don’t think we can do it,” he said.
County employees will see pay
raises but they won’t kick in until
January. Commissioners debated
whether the county could afford the
raises, which would cost taxpayers
roughly $350,000 if implemented
as the fiscal year begins this month.
“Are you getting a raise this
year?,” Chairman Crockett asked a
couple of his fellow commission
ers. “I’m not, Lucious isn’t, the
people at the hospital aren’t, but if
y’all want to do it, go ahead."
All voted in favor of a measure
to start the raises Jan. 1, which is
expected to cost nearly $100,000
less, except for Crockett.
The budget discussions didn’t
come without fireworks over fund
ing for the court system.
Clerk of Court Sherri Cochran
argued for the appointment of a
chief deputy clerk in her office who
could take her place if ever the need.
Along with a higher salary to go
with the position, she said the
deputy clerks in her office deserved
far more than the hourly wages they
receive now. While commission
ers were willing to elevate a chief
deputy clerk in the office, they took
no action on raising other pay rates
in the office.
Chief Magistrate Judge Sterling
Wimberly was granted his request
to make his part time deputy clerk
a fulltime employee and to add a
fourth magistrate.
And perhaps the toughest lobby
of all came from State Court Judge
Jerry Daniel, who is calling on com
missioners to make his position full
time with a salary of $90,000. He
argued that holding State Court,
along with the three accountability
courts he oversees, is simply more
than a part time investment. He said
the DUI/drug court, mental health
court and family violence court, are
run by volunteers, rely on mini
mal funding from the county and
For General Election
Register to vote by Oct. 9
By Elizabeth Billips
lizbillips@yahoo.com
Burke County residents have until next Tuesday, Oct. 9, to register
to vote in the November 6 General Election.
The election will be the biggest in four years, running the national
to local gamut on everything from the next Resident to Burke’s two
races for county commissioners.
Voters will also weigh in on several alcohol referendums, including
Sunday sales in both the city of Waynesboro and the unincorporated
sections of the county.
Voter registration drives continue over the next week, including
one this Thursday, Oct. 4, at Augusta Technical College’s Waynesboro
campus. Volunteers will gather in the media center from 10 a.m. to
noon to lead residents through the process.
Potential voters may also register during regular business hours at
the Burke County Courthouse, Burke County Library and Burke
County Health Department. Mail-in forms are available at the U.S.
Post Office and online registration is available at www.sos.georgia.gov.
A photo ID is required.
The Oct. 9 cut-off is also the deadline for name and address changes
for the November election.
Historically, Burke County has had a high turnout for General Elec
tions. Four years ago, 9,701, or nearly 76 percent of the county’s
12,812 voters cast ballots.
At last count, Burke had 14,420 registered voters, according to
Barbara Hammett, Executive Director of the Burke County Board of
Elections and Registration.
While advance voting by mail has been underway for more than
two weeks, in-person voting will begin Oct. 15.
Walk-a-thon, health fair
aim to raise awareness
By Anne Marie Kyzer
Annemariek@thetruecitizen.com
A woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer
in her lifetime. And her most important risk factors, Burke Medi
cal Center’s Tammie Salter points out, are being a woman and
aging, not exactly avoidable.
But early detection can keep a diagnosis from becoming fatal,
the radiographer said, pointing to self-breast exams and yearly
mammograms as a woman’s best bet.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off this week, Burke
Medical Center is working to bring attention to the disease and the
fight against it.
On Oct. 27, a Breast Cancer Walk-a-Thon and Health Fair will be
held to honor those affected by the disease and raise funds for the
American Cancer Society. Walkers are invited to complete a 2-mile
trek and also honor someone they know affected by breast cancer in a
balloon release. The health fail; which will run from 10 a.m.-lp.m„
will offer free blood pressure readings, blood sugar and respiratory
tests, body mass indexes, bone density tests and more. Additional
booths will provide information on dental, eye and chiropractic care,
cardiovascular health. Weight Watchers and blood donation through
the Shepard Blood Center. Children’s activities, including games and
a puppet team performance, will also be on tap.
A registration fee of $10 for the walk-a-thon includes a breast can
cer awareness cap and a memory balloon. Registration forms are avail
able at Burke Medical Center, Salter’s Building Supply, Burke Perk,
First National Bank and Southern Bank.
For more information, call Burke Medical Center at 706-554-4435.
are sorely needed because they treat
the causes behind the crimes.
Judge Daniel had also asked for
an office and a secretary to support
State Court and the accountability
courts. While commissioners
agreed to give him shared office
space with Juvenile Court as well
as clerical assistance there, they
weren’t in consensus on making the
judgeship fulltime.
“I for one don’t think we need a
fulltime judge,” Chairman Crockett
said, instead supporting a proposal
to give him a supplement of $8,000
for his work in the accountability
courts.
Commissioner Allen DeLaigle
was adamant that they should con
sider fulltime status for Judge
Daniel, pointing to his progress in
the courts. But he was overridden
when the other four commission
ers voted for the supplement which
would bring Judge Daniel’s salary
to nearly $37,000.
No money was allocated for
supplementing operations at the
hospital, however the budget does
have $1 million in SPLOST II
funds earmarked for capital ex
penses.
WANT TO WEIGH IN?
Commissioners will hold a
public hearing Wednesday, Oct.
10 to hear any feedback on the
spending plan.
Final adoption of the budget is
planned for Oct. 17.
By Elizabeth Billips
lizbillips@yahoo.com
A Reidsville man died Monday morning after he flipped
his Chevy Tahoe on Highway 25 South.
Clinton Wayne Harper, 46, was pronounced dead at the
scene of the one-vehicle accident, just after 8 a.m.
According to officers, he drifted into median, just south
of McMaster Road, then overcorrected and crashed into a
ditch.
Harper, along with his wife and adult stepdaughter, were
about three miles shy of Waynesboro on their way to Au
gusta, Burke County Coroner Lee Webster said.
“He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and he was thrown from
the vehicle," Webster said. “The two passengers were wear
ing theirs ... they were treated at the hospital and released.
The accident is being investigated by the Georgia State
Patrol.
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