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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)