Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 105, NO. 49, JUNE 24, 2009
LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY
MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
Work
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
The anticipation is over. Five
years after being awarded the first
of two Transportation Enhance
ment (TE) grants, work began last
week on the City of Millen’s Cot
ton Avenue streetscape project.
Downtown merchants met June
17 with representatives of Ellis
Wood Contracting. W. R. Toole
Engineers, Inc. and Southeastern
Contracting at the City of Millen
Municipal Building to discuss the
project.
It was explained that work
would be completed on each block
of the street before continuing to
the next block. Merchants were
assured that everything possible
would be done to provide access
and keep walk-ways open to their
respective businesses.
In connection with the TE grant
project, Millen City Council voted
during a called meeting June 15
to accept a bid in the amount of
$43,880 from Ellis Wood Con
tracting for installation of an 8 inch
water main on Cotton Avenue with
begins on TE-grant project
the city to furnish materials. The
total cost of the project, $87,275,
will be paid with Special Purpose
Local Option Sales Tax IV funds.
The new water line will replace the
existing line.
The Georgia Department of
Transportation awarded the city a
$500,000 TE grant in 2004 for the
purpose of renovating and promot
ing economic development in
downtown Millen. An additional
$350,000 TE grant was awarded
the city in 2005. The two projects
were later combined with Ellis
Wood Contracting, Inc. being the
successful low bidder.
Phase I of the TE grant project
will incorporate green space into
Cotton Avenue, enhance lighting,
make the sidewalks handicap ac
cessible and initiate parallel park
ing on the store side of the street.
Phase II provides for construction
of additional parking lots on the
railroad side of the street, among
other things.
Federal funds available under
the TE grant program provide 80
percent of the total project cost.
The sponsor’s local match must be
at least 20 percent of the total
project cost and may be cash, in-
kind services or donated services,
materials or real estate.
TIMELINE
The following schedule was
presented as a timeline for the
progression of work:
• Hendrix St. to Gray St.,
June 15-July 30 (46 days)
• Gray St. to Daniel St.,
July 30-Sept. 16(48 days)
• Daniel St. to Harvey St.,
Sept. 16-0ct. 10 (25 days)
• Harvey St. to Masonic St.,
Oct. 10-Nov. 10 (32 days)
• Masonic St. to end of project,
Nov. 10-Dec. 12 (33 days).
* It was noted, however, that
should a block be completed
ahead of schedule, construction
would Immediately begin on the
next block.
Workers are shown saw cutting the sidewalk against buildings along Cotton Avenue
as work began last week on the City of Millen’s TE grant project. New sidewalk with
brick accents will be installed as part of the project. (Photo contributed)
Jenkins reaches Certified Work Ready Community status
Gov. Sonny Perdue announced
that Jenkins County, along with
Chattooga, Cook and Grady
counties were named new Certi
fied Work Ready Communities,
a designation showing the county
has the skilled workforce that
business demands and the educa
tional infrastructure to drive eco
nomic growth and prosperity.
“These Georgia communities
are positioning themselves for
strong future growth by building
the skilled workforces that em
ployers need,” said Gov, Perdue.
“Work Ready is helping them
build a pathway for life-long
learning that empowers both citi
zens and companies to succeed.”
The four counties represent the
fifth group of Georgia counties to
complete their Work Ready Cer
tificate goals.
Jenkins County achieved 277
Work Ready Certificates earned
(67 percent above goal) and in
creased public high school gradu
ation rate from 63.6 percent to
72.3 percent.
To earn the Certified Work
Ready Community designation,
counties must demonstrate a
commitment to improving pub
lic high school graduation rates
through a measurable increase,
and show a specified percentage
of the available and current
workforce have obtained Work
Ready Certificates.
Each community created a
team of economic development,
government and education part
ners to meet the certification cri
teria. Counties are given three
years to reach the goals necessary
to earn the designation.
To date, 12 counties have
earned the Certified Work Ready
Community designation and 112
others are working toward their
individual goals.
Once counties attain their Cer
tified Work Ready Community
goals, they are able to maintain
their status by ensuring a small
percent of their available
workforce continue to earn Work
Ready Certificates, engage local
businesses to recognize and use
Work Ready, and continue to
increase their public high
school graduation rate until they
reach a threshold of 75 percent.
Once they reach 75 percent, they
must maintain that graduation rate
to maintain their certification sta
tus.
To continue their work, each
county will receive a $10,000
grant. Their Work Ready Com
munity teams will also receive a
two-year membership to their lo
cal chamber of commerce and a
budget for additional Work Ready
outreach materials. Counties that
are fully certified receive road
signs and a seal denoting the year
they achieved certification.
Georgia’s Work Ready initia
tive is based on a skills assess
ment and certification for job
seekers and a job profiling sys
tem for businesses. By identify
ing both the needs of business and
the available skills of Georgia’s
workforce, the state can more ef
fectively generate the right
talent for the right jobs. The
Certified Work Ready Commu
nity initiative builds on the assess
ments and job profiling system to
create opportunities for greater
economic development.
The county’s efforts to earn the
Work Ready status were led by
Jenkins County Family Enrich
ment Center, Jenkins County De
partment of Family and Children
Services, Millen-Jenkins County
Chamber of Commerce, Jenkins
County Board of Commissioners,
City of Millen, Jenkins County
Board of Education, Jenkins
County Extension Service, local
faith based organizations and
Swainsboro Technical College.
Regional partners assisting
Jenkins County with their efforts
include East Central Georgia
Consortium, Department of Com
munity Affairs, Georgia Depart
ment of Economic Development
and Georgia Department of La
bor.
Funnel cloud spotted
This “funnel cloud” was photographed by a West Old Savannah Road resident during a severe thunderstorm last
week that caused damage in southern Jenkins County. However, there has been no official confirmation that a tor
nado touched down in the county. (Photo contributed)
Commissioners help fund pool repairs at Magnolia Springs
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Needed repairs for the pool at
Magnolia Springs State Park are
being fundedjointly by the Jenkins
County Commissioners, City of
Millen and Jenkins County Devel
opment Authority. The commis
sioners approved the county’s
share in the amount of $8,300 dur
ing the group’s June 2 meeting.
In connection with this action.
Commissioner Tommy Lane re
ported on his efforts to get the lake
adjacent to the swimming pool
cleaned up so that it can again be
used for swimming. The cost of
the project is estimated to be
$36,000.
Field Director Grady Lane re
quested that the commissioners
approve grass cutting at the
Jenkins County Airport by a lawn
care company. The area needing
to be cut is only a few feet around
buildings and runway. The com
missioners approved grass cutting
one time per month at the airport.
It was reported that the county
attorney was completing the re
quired legal papers to present to
the commissioners in order to ac
cept BB Lane and Addie Road into
the county road system.
Wade Parker, Jenkins County
Extension Service coordinator, re
quested direction on controlling
noise at the Jenkins County Agri
culture Center when it is rented for
certain activities. The commission
ers agreed to leave rental control
to Mr. Parker, stating that he may
meet with the group if the situa
tion warrants.
Other actions taken by the com
missioners included the following:
• Authorized Field Director
Lane to seek sealed bids for two
backhoes which will be purchased
with Special Purpose Local Option
Sales Tax IV funds;
• Approved employment of per
sonnel on Saturdays to work with
community service workers until
other arrangements can be made;
• Authorized the expenditure of
$3,000 for the Jenkins County
Health Department to assist with
paying expenses associated with
the recent Anthrax drill;
• Tabled nominations for the
Jenkins County Hospital Author
ity until the next meeting;
• Approved the expenditure of
$2,500 to Millen Better Home
town to help defray expenses as
sociated with the annual fireworks
display in July;
• Denied a citizen’s request that
the county cut down a tree that had
been struck by lightening in
McCoy Cemetery on Hiltonia
Road due to the fact that the tree is
not on county property;
• Agreed to leave the Chief
Registrar’s salary unchanged, pay
able for every hour worked; and
• Approved the purchase of a
refrigerator for the Jenkins County
Senior Citizens Center.
Patriotic celebration
to be held July 3 rd
Jenkins County residents will have the opportunity to enjoy
a spectacular fireworks show Friday, July 3, in celebration of
the nation’s birthday. The event will take place 7:30 p.m. at
the Jenkins County Recreation Department complex. Millen
Better Hometown and the Millen-Jenkins County Chamber
of commerce are sponsors of the eighth annual Hometown
Patriotic Celebration.
Activities will include a patriotic tribute, fireworks, patri
otic music by a variety of local talents and activities for chil
dren and youth. The Jenkins County High School JRTOC will
present color at the brining of the ceremony.
The “Kiddie Patriotic Parade” will begin at 8 p.m. on the
track. All children who are dressed in patriotic attire are in
vited to participate.
The public is invited to come, bring blankets and lawn chairs,
a picnic dinner and friends to enjoy a fun-filled evening. Ad
mission is free. A concession stand will be open with pro
ceeds going to help pay for the fireworks.
VFW earns All State award
The local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #2776 was
presented the All State Commanders Award recently at
the organization’s annual convention held in Macon. From
left, Dwayne Epps, Commander, Department of Georgia,
VFW of the U.S., presents the award to Byron Scogins,
Commander, VFW Post #2776. Commander Scogins will
attend, at VFW expense, the National Convention in Phoe
nix, Arizona, in August where the All American Award will
be presented. Commander Scogins commented, “It is an
extreme honor to be nominated for this prestigious Na
tional award.” (Photo contributed)