Newspaper Page Text
. The Summerville News, Thursday, December 31, 1987
16-A
No Local Proposals
Planned By Solon
from front page
given an answer. What I'm told is that all towns will be
ypassed. They (DOT) say that's the firszdpriority. to
bg'pass the towns. And after they're bypassed to connect
the towns tmether and the ones with t{e most traffic, the
greatest traffic count, :vill l‘).e connected first.
*
Q. You mentioned the gasoline tax in your earlier com
ment. I've heard some talk that it will be brought up
althouih it had not originally been expected to be brought
up in the House or the Senate. Do you really think it will
be brought up for a vote on the House and genate floors?
A. I doubt it. The sponsor of the bill in the House is
Rep. (Lauren) McDonaltf and he said wasn't going to bring
it up so I don’t know v‘vho‘(i bring it up.
*
Q. Getting down to local issues, there seems to have
been some confusion and non-compliance with the budget
laws, the state general budget laws and the locally required
budget laws, particularly on the county level. Do you an
ticipate introducing any local lefislation this coming year
to kind of clarify that and offer clear guidelines, and maybe
some penalties for non-compliance?
A. I hadn’t planned to introduce anything on that. I've
looked at it some. I think probably the best approach would
be . .. soon we'll have a new, some years down the road or
whatever, a commissioner who wants to look at the law,
work it out with him, something that he can understand,
something that's reasonable that they can all comply with.
Of course, where there is a conflict with state law and local
law, the state law would prevail.
* * *
Q. The problem is now, as I understand it, the state law,
as well as the local law, there are no penalties for failure
to comply. In other words it says you have to do it but if
you don't, there’s absolutely nothing that can be done to
force you to do it. Is there any chance that could be cor
rected? The problem with waiting is that in the meantime
you still have non-compliance with the budget laws and peo
ple don’t know how their money is being spent and how
it’s raised to a very great degree.
A. It's my understanding that if he's not complying
with the law, you can take him to court. Now, I don't know
whether you could . . . there's no fine levied under the law.
But still you could force him to obey the law by taking him
to court. :
* * *
Q. What about the possibility of local legislation to re
quire quarterly public meetings, quarterly financial reports
and reports on official action that was taken during that
quarter (by the county government)?
A. Right now, I don’t plan to do this. I did not plan to
introduce local legislation. This doesn’t mean that I won't
do it. My concern is that if we pass it I want to make sure
that it will be obeyed, I guess.
* * *
Q. Would that be done through penalties?
A. I don't know whether it could or not. I'm not sure
what kind of penalties you could ... of course 1 suppose
you could levy a fine. I want whatever we do here to be
in line with what other counties do.
* * *
Q. There are about 20 other counties in Georgia that
have a single commissioner form of government, regardless
of who the individual is who is the commissioner. How
about possibility of looking at legislation that they have
and patterning local legislation after some of those things?
A. The laws that I'velooked at . . . the ones around this
area, I think ours are very similar to what they have.
* * *
Q. Boards of education, particularly the Chattooga
County Board of Education, have been criticized in the last
several months for failing to award contracts on a sealed
bid basis but rather awarding some contracts, at least, on
a cost plus basis on construction projects that are quite
large. Is there any possibility that local legislation could
be introduced to require that sealed bids be received on ex
penditures, especially capital expenditures of more than
a certain set amount, whether $5,000 or whatever the
amount?
A. I'm told by the Legislative Counsel that it would
have to be a change in the state law. It's not necessarily
bad to have a cost plus contract. Sometimes they can save
the taxpayers' money. I know that oftentimes some in
dustries around here, they use cost plus. It's not necessarily
the best way to go although politically a bid is the safest
way to go.
* * *
Q. As I understand state law, all cities and counties are
required to receive sealed bids above a certain specified
amgunt. Why shouldn’t that apply to boards of education
too?
A. I don't know why it wasn't. When the laws were
originally passed, they gave the boards of education a lot
more leeway in the bidding. And the city and county con
tracts, city and county laws are mostly local legisla
tion . .. whereas the others are sg‘atewide.
*
Q. We've probably already covered this, but school of
ficials in Chattooga County and Trion both are really upset
with the amount of paperwork that teachers and principals
are having to do and some of it, on the surface at least,
seems aside from the purpose of education. Do you think
that particular item will be taken care of in the legislature
or think that the interest of the legislature will motivate
the Department of Education to take a little harder look
at it?
A. The simplest way to do it is I understand the gover
nor to say he was going to try to cut out some of the paper
work. Really, this is an executive problem which they
should do because it's hard for the legislature to fine-tune
implementation of the law. We can give some broad
guidelines but it's hard for us to come down and say ex
actly how it should be implemented . . . It's best for us, I
thini. to stay out of implementation. If they don't correct
this then we'll have to do it. Hogefully. they will get the
message. Most legislatfrs, I've heard, have been upset.
* *
Q. Do you think there will be legislation to provide
cabins for James H. “‘Sloppy’’ Floyd State Park in the next
few years?
A. Until we have more — which comes first, the use or
the cabins, I guess — until we have more use, I think it's
going to be hard to have a major capital expenditure at the
park. We need to find ways to attract more outside people
to the park. Now the day use, we have real good day use
but we don't have the outside use that we can show them
that we can really uti]ize thfse cgbins.
Q. Do you think there will be any problem in the budget
to run city water lines out to the park?
A. Idon't anticipat:a any prol;lem.
Q. Another question involves an issue I think we’re both
aware of, and I think legislators throughout the state are.
Driver’s licenses and insurance: they sometimes get peo
ple in a **‘Catch 22" situation where they may switch from
one insurance company to another and let their old in
surance expire, and a notice goes into the state that that
insurance has expired. Their license is then suspended, and
the new insurance company pulls their insurance because
the license has been suspended. It takes a whole lot of time
and effort sometimes to get the license back when it's really
no fault of the person. lgow can that be straightened out?
A. We're going to have to do something with that law.
Let me give you another example. A Floyd County
legislatoriad one of his constituents who lost his insurance
and he's a truck driver. The man he drives the trucks for
has insurance. But because he hadn’t paid his insurance
on his personal car, he lost his job because he lost his license
and he can't drive a truck. There was no driver’s license
violation . . . it's just the fact he didn't have insurance on
a personal car. Really, we are going to have to make some
major changes in that law.
It seems to be like we're getting into the insurance
business too much. Government can't make everybody do
right. 1 think everybody oufiht to have the in
surance . . . but there's some people where it's a hardship
on them. People have a teen-age son and they might have
an insurance premium of $2,000. Somebody making
minimum waie. they don't make enough. That's a real
hardship on them. When it gets down to doctor bills and
putting food on the table, or insurance, which one’s the
more important?
* * *
Q. Do you think that it's causing the State Patrol a lot
of time to pick up licenses that might be better spent on
patrol?
A. How many manhours they're putting in, I don't
know, but I know they're going to ask us for more people
on that insurance staff because even legislators can’t get
ahold of gggrbody. It takes a half-day just to find out, to
get somebody on the phone, much less an individual. I don’t
see how they can ever get tbrough.
* *
Q. The Georgia Press Association has proposed some
legislation to strengthen the so-called ‘‘sunshine law”’ or
open meetings, open records law and you were sent a copy
of that proposal. I believe that Lt. Gov. Zell Miiller has
said he will sponsor similar legislation in the Senate. How
do you stand on that and do you think a proposal like that
would pass in 1988?
A. Just from reading it over, I couldn’t see any real pro
blems with it other, than as I understand it, you have to
give a two-day notice on a Teetiilg that's called?
The News: A written notice if you know about the
meeting in time to do that. But if you're not aware until
the last minute, if something important comes up and you
have to have quick called meeting, the law requires that
a phone call be made to the media who normally cover that
particular meeting.
Crawford: One of the problems I can see. With the
legislature, we have in the last few days especially with con
ference committees, it's sort of when you can get them
together; they'll be meeting all over, three members from
each house, sort of when they can get together and in what
room they can get together in. Things happen pretty quick
at one time! There may be some problems there but as a
general statement, I don't have any problems with it.
* * *
Q. Do you think it will pass?
A. I think some form of it will pass.
* % *
Q. One legislator has said he would introduce legisla
tion to set up a state health corps so that the state could
make loans to medical students and if they would relocate
in a rural area that had a shortage of doctors, the state
would forgive all or part of that loan. Have you heard about
that and what’s you opinion of that?
A. I haven't heard anything about any particular legisla
tion. We have tried simfiar deals before. %he problem is if
they don't want to go to a rural area, they just pick up and
go to Atlanta or somewhere else who'll pay off the loan for
them . .. As most of the people who've studied this have
said, the only way to get rural doctors is to get somebody
from your area who wants to be a doctor and send him to
school. And that's about the only way to get them there.
That's the best way of assuring tKey‘lf’stay there. They've
sent them out with a commitment in rural areas before and
when they end their commitment, they'll leave immediately
after.
* * *
Q. The U. S. House and Senate have authorized funds
for a bypass around Chickamauga Park and the National
Park S{rvice has recently come out with a plan to reduce
the speed limit through the park to 25mph when the bypass
is completed sometime in the future. Rep. Wayne Snow
(Walker County) has received a lot of complaints about that
proposal. What are your thoughts on it?
A. I think it will hurt the park’s visitation, if you have
to stick down to 25mph riding through the park. They
count everybody that goes up and down that road as a
“*visitor” and if more people start using the bypass — 1
assume that their funds are allocated by the number of
visitors they have or something along that line . . . I think
it would cut their fund*s. I don't see any reason for it.
* *
Q. How do you feel about the possibility of the state
financing part of the new Atlanta domed stadium?
A. My initial reaction was that we need a team before
we get a stadium. But the stadium is a money-making deal
for the state. The private sector has got to raise 70 per
cent before any state money is used. It looks like a good
deal for us. They said that one Super Bowl would bring in
between $250- and S3OO-million. The Democratic Conven
tion is going to bring in about SSO-million. I would have
thought that the Democratic Convention would have
brought in more money. But they said the Super Bowl
would bring in that much money because people would
come in and stay for a week and spend money. The taxes
that we'd get off it would pay its way. The other thing is
that we can put it with the World Congress Center . . . the
chief OYerating officer of the World Congress Center said
we could use it another 150 to 180 days for different types
of shows and conventions. As I see it, the stadium would
bring in more tax dollars than being a liability.
e *
Q. I've heard a report that the bonded indebtedness of
the state has grown by sl-billion since Gov. Harris went
into office, and that a lot of the work is being financed by
bonds rather than by general revenues and that's one
reason the state’s general fund shows a surplus. Is that
becoming a problem or is that one reason the state has had
a lot of general fund surpluses?
A. We do fund capital improvement projects with bonds.
I don't think the bonded indebtedness is a problem right
now but it's something that could be a robfiem ... We've
got a cap on the percentage of bondecf) indebtedness and
right now we aren't close to that but we can't just keep
on so it's something we're going to have to be cautious
about. Our total budget is up, too. When I first went down
there, it was just over sl-bis)lion and I think this year it's
just over $6-billion.
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Menlo's new hair salon, Design Cuts, had a grand open
ing on Monday. Members of the Chattooga County
Chamber of Commerce and the Menlo Council were pre
sent for the ribbon cutting. From left are Bill Kinzy and
Use Confiscated Funds
For Drug-Sniffing Dog
Sheriff McConnell Suggests To Commissioner Powell
Chattooga County Sheriff
Gary McConnell this week pro
posed sgmending $38,000 in con
fiscated drug money and in
terest on a grug-smffing dog
for his department, bullet-proof
vests for lawmen and programs
designed to curb alcohol and
drug abuse by young people in
the county.
McConnell also suggested
to Commissioner Harry %‘owell
that part of the funds go to
recreation departments in the
county, fire cs)epartments and
drug abuse training.
The requests were contain
ed in a letter sent to Powell
Wednesday by the sheriff.
Enclosed with the letter was a
check for $38,445.14. It
represented $36,711 in con
fiscated drug funds plus
$1,734.14 in interest.
RAID
The cash was part of the
money seized in a (fi'ug-related
raid on Jan. 20, 1987 near the
home of Elliott Lee ‘‘Chief"”
Norton, 32, in North Summer
ville. A total of $73,422 in cash
was seized at the time.
Norton later in the spring
agreed to surrender half the
funds to the county if the other
half could be used by his at
torney, Bobby Lee Cook Sr., to
defend him during the t#al of
his case. Superior éourt Joseph
“Bo" Loggins accepted the
agreement between gook and
the district attorney’s office.
The county received
$36,711 and by law at least a
portion of the funds must be
used for law enforcement
purposes.
NO COST
After listing his requests,
McConnell told Powell in his
letter Wednesday that they
could be *‘done at no cost to the
t,ax;l)]ayers of Chattooga Coun
ty but, by the use of con
fiscated drug money, to help
combat drug abuse.”
~ The check was made out
jointly to Powell and to Lann
Cordle, clerk of court.
Ring in
tlle NGW Yeal‘ouo
WithUSo
New Year’s Eve Dance
9 P.M. UNTIL 1 AM.
CURLEY’S AMVETS
POST 92
. —MUSIC BY—
SOUTHERN EXPRESS
PARTY FAVORS TO ALL
FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE
9P.M.-lAM.
SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE
8 P.M.-12 MIDNIGHT
Grand Opening For Design Cuts
‘ol re%uest that this
money ... be used totally for
the apprehension of other drug
dealers and for educational pur
poses dealing with alcohol
abuse, substance abuse, teen
suicide and other problems fac
ing our young people,” McCon
nell said in the letter.
1 specifically request that
$7,500 of this money be set
aside for the purchase of a drug
dog for sheriff's department
use. This dog will be used to
enhance the ability to work
with the school system,
parents, recreation depart
ments and other interested
groups to slow the use of drugs
in Chattooga County.
EDUCATION
“I further request that a
portion of this money be used
in connection with the drug
free school program and/or the
Chattooga County Library for
substance abuse training,
which would be open and
available to each and every
citizen of Chattooga County,”
McConnell continued.
I also request that bullet
proof vests be purchased for all
sheriff's department patrolmen
and investigators,” rl)me added.
**Also, I request that a cer
tain amount be made available
to each and every fire depart
ment, based on individual
needs and demands for lifesav
ini eqll)xipment,” the sheriff
asked Powell.
RECREATION
*] feel that a portion of this
money (should) be used to
enhance the recreation depart
ments throughout the county,”
he said, ‘‘for the simple reason
they do a great job offering an
alternative to substance
abuse.”
The sheriff suggested that
the requests be addressed *‘im
mediately’’ by Powell. “I am
looking forward to working
with you and other agencies in
volved in these programs,”’
McConnell conclu(f:ad.
Sam Freeman of the Chamber, Councilman Danny
Powell, Cindy Mitchell and Jane Canada, co-owners and
operators of Design Cuts, Lamar Canada, and Coun
cilman T. J. Luther. (Staff Photo By Rich Jefferson).
Our Fifth Year in Summerville!
Shorter College
-
Spring Semester
=
Evening Classes
-
At Chattooga High
Shorter College of Rome is offering five full
credit night classes taught at Chattooga High
School during spring semester.
Classes in Physical Science (Geology,
Geography, Astronomy) and Introduction to
Special Education will run one night a week
for seven weeks. Classes in Biology,
Freshman English, and General Psychology
will run one night a week for the full semester.
Courses Offered:
Physical Science I
on Mondays, 5 to 10:30 p.m.
(January 11 to February 29)
Intro to Special Education
on Mondays, 5 to 10:30 p.m.
(March 7 to May 2)
General Biology 102
on Tuesdays, 6 to 9:50 p.m.
Freshman English 102
on Wednesdays, 5 to 7:50 p.m.
General Psychology
on Thursdays, 6 to 8:50 p.m.
Registration will be held Wednesday,
January 6, at 6 p.m. in the Chattooga
County High School Library.
A college counselor will be in the Chat
tooga County High School’s Counselor
Office on Tuesday, January 5, from 9 to 11
a.m. for consultation and advising of in
terested participants.
For an information sheet and other
details, contact Summerville Off-Campus
Coordinator, Jack Herring, at Chattooga
County High School, 857-2402.
Interested in going to England for four
weeks of study in May, 19887 Call Betty
Zane Morris at Shorter College in Rome,
291-2121, for a MAYTERM brochure.
Shorter College wants to make it easier
for you to achieve your career educational
goals.
| COLLEGE
Shorter College
Rome ® Summerville ® Calhoun ® Cedartown