About The Millen news. (Millen, Jenkins County, Ga.) 1903-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2024)
EVERY TUESDAV IS SENIOR CITIZEN PAY AT VOL. 118 NO. 26 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, December 25, 2024 • 750 Water is flowing again in Perkins DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor After four months of waiting and setbacks, a new water well in Perkins is up and running. The well became operational on Tuesday of this week. However residents still need to boil the water for drinking and cooking for several more weeks. The well must be inspected and permitted by the Envi ronmental Protection Division before the water is cleared for drinking. Bobby Young Well Drilling of Hephzibah has been onsite for sev eral weeks working to restore water service to residents who use the community well which failed in Sep tember. Emory Rabitsch, Chairman of the Perkins Water Authority, was able to secure a grant to cover the costs of digging a new well. Numerous organizations and indi viduals have donated bottled water to the community over the past four months and residents expressed ap preciation to all who have come to their aid. Monetary contributions will be used to cover fencing and other expenses not covered by the grant. Sardis woman dies in 2-vehicle accident DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor A 2-vehicle accident that occurred Friday, Dec. 20, at the intersection of Hwy. 23 and the Millen By-pass claimed the life of Ashanee Dixon, 23, of Sardis. Dixon was an employee of the Neighbor’s Convenience Store in Millen. Dixon was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her grandmother, Debra Griffin, also of Sardis. Griffin was seriously injured and airlifted to a trauma center in Augusta. The driver of the second vehicle did not incur serious injuries, Henry Young, Jenkins County Emergency Medical Services Director reported. Sheriff Robert Oglesby said Grif fin’s vehicle was struck as it crossed the By-pass. “She apparently didn’t see the on coming traffic,” Sheriff Oglesby said. The Georgia State Patrol’s inves tigation into the accident is ongoing. HB581 Floating Local Option Sales Tax DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor (Editor’s Note: Voters across the state, including local voters, approved HB518 in the November General Election. The bill provides for significant changes impacting local governmental revenue and tax payers as it relates to property taxes. This is the third and last in a series of articles on the changes.) The third and final component of the HB581 homestead exemption limits local sales tax but allows three “buckets” of exceptions. It also cre ates a new Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) for counties and cities. The legislation keeps the sales limit at 2% but allows local gov ernments 1% from three “buckets” - ESPLOST penny; a transportation penny, Regional, Single County and Transit TSPLOST or MAR TA; and one additional cent from OLOST, CSPLOST, MOST, or the new FLOST. The new FLOST for cities and counties can be levied up to 1% for property tax relief and must be ap proved by a voter referendum. It must be split between counties and cities that levy an ad valorem tax on prop erty. Counties and cities must have in effect a base year value or adjusted base year value homestead exemption. The revenue must be distributed between cities and counties based on an Intergovernmental Agreement with proceeds used exclusively for tax relief. The tax may be levied for up to five years but may then be renewed. The FLOST must be approved by a local voter referendum. For renewal, local action by the General Assembly is required in addition to the Inter governmental Agreement and voter referendum approval. With voter approval, the total amount of FLOST col lected the preceding calen dar year must be subtracted SEE HB581, 3 Roy Cook retires after 24-years of service DEBORAH BENNETT Millen News Editor For 24 years Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE) member, Roy Cook, District #3, has served the lo cal school system. On Dec. 16 Cook attended his last BOE meeting as that legacy of service came to a close with his official retirement. Following the meeting, School Superintendent Dr. John Paul Hearn presented him with a Barbour Waxed Jacket commemo rating his service on behalf of the BOE and school system. The Jenkins County School System hopes Mr. Roy remembers his service to our students and staff each time he puts that jacket on. The presentation was made dur ing the Jenkins County Middle/High School band concert and art show held at the Pal Theater. Cook was elected to the BOE in 2020 and began serving Jan. 1,2001. During his tenure he served with numerous school superintendents, BOE members, and other profession als to whom he credits much of the accomplishments of which he was a participant. “They all brought something differ ent to the table,” he said. As he reminisces on the achieve ments through the years, one in par ticular stands out. “I think the biggest accomplishment occurred when then School Superin tendent Tara Cooper secured a grant for a new school. That was a big deal!” Cook said. And, of course, there have been challenges. The biggest challenge by far, Cook said, was the recession Jenkins County experienced in 2008- 2009. “We lost all of our industries dur ing that time. People couldn’t find jobs and moved away. So, we lost a lot of students. We had around 1,700 when it started and around 1,200 afterward. We had to COOK make adjustments to school ’ operations and faculty that At right, BOE member Roy Cook, left, is presented with a Barbour Waxed Jacket upon his retirement by School Su perintendent Dr. Paul Hearn. Cook represented District #3 for 24 years.
