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PAGE 6A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. MARCH 19. 2009
Hull officials chase a
Search for subdivision street
owner churns up more mystery
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
Hull leaders’ search for the
original developer of Hidden Falls
subdivision turned bizarre when
they learned the person they were
hunting doesn’t actually exist.
The city council is trying to
address the deteriorating streets in
the subdivision, but the individual
named on the title for the streets
is currently under witness protec
tion, a revelation brought forth by
councilman Paul Cook Monday.
Therefore, the name supplied
on the paperwork is an alias.
“So we’ve been chasing a
ghost,” Cook said.
The address listed for the owner
— and the one city attorney Pat
Graham has been sending inqui
ries to — is also bogus.
"It doesn’t exist,” Cook said.
Cook’s information comes via
a resident in Hidden Falls who
allegedly has knowledge of the
mystery man.
"She's trying to follow up her
leads to let me know and see
how we can further contact him,”
Cook said.
The problems with catch basins
are the major issue facing the
Hidden Falls streets, while the
overarching problem will be lack
of professional maintenance over
time.
Cook said he’ll continue to
search for more information
despite the witness protection
obstacle.
Mayor Paul Elkins said that
might be an interesting process.
"I know this is a dumb question,
but how are you going to get this
gentleman to come out of his shell
so to speak to come down and
speak to you guys?” Paul Elkins
asked.
Cook said his informant knows
some of the original developer’s
business partners and hopes to get
answers there.
Bankruptcy courts relieved the
mystery owner of all responsibili
ties in Hidden Falls, according to
councilman Wayne Melton.
However, the streets weren’t
given back to the property owners,
so they don’t have control over
them. Technically, the phantom
developer remains the owner.
"Which still boils back down to
getting the actual person,” Cook
said.
If the city condemned the streets,
it would have to pay the developer
— whoever that may be — fair
market value, which would be too
costly for Hull, Melton said.
The process of bringing the
roads up to county standards to
turn them over to the county is
also too costly for the city.
And the county won’t touch the
streets unless they’re up to speci
fications, Melton said.
Forty to 50 people live in Hidden
Falls, which amounts to nearly a
third of Hull’s population.
"Although our hearts go out to
the community, to Hidden Falls,
there’s not much we can do,”
Melton said.
In the meantime, the residents
of Hidden Falls plan to form a
Neighborhood Watch program
and possibly a homeowners asso
ciation.
Transfer station to accept leaf/limb debris free of charge
The Madison County Solid
Waste Transfer Station will
accept leaf/limb debris (no
construction debris) from the
recent snowstorm free of charge
through April 24.
Leaf and limb debris includes
trees, limbs/branches, leaves
and stumps.
Leaf and limb debris may
be brought to the station dur
ing regular operating hours
(Wednesday - Saturday, from
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and during this
six-week period only. Leaf and
limb debris will also be accept
ed on Mondays and Tuesdays
from 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at
no charge. No solid waste will
be accepted on Monday and
Tuesday.
"We want the citizens to know
that we are here to help but
that there are special instruc
tions they must follow - such
as keeping storm debris sepa
rated,” transfer station director
Sandra Webb said. “Any build
ing or construction debris must
go to a C and D landfill.”
Leaf and limb rules for the
transfer station include: no loads
will be accepted after 5:30 p.m.;
no household garbage or other
debris is to be dumped with
leaf and limb debris; the load
must be secured; patrons must
weigh in and out of the dump
ing area; this service is available
to Madison County citizens
only; debris must be unloaded
yourself and must contain only
trees, stumps, leaves, branches,
etc. No construction debris.
If you have any questions,
please call 706-795-3222 or the
Keep Madison County Beautiful
office at 706-795-5151.
Hull announces qualifying dates for vacant post
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
Those wishing to qualify to fill
Hull’s still-vacant council seat
may do so May 4-6.
Hull leaders announced the
qualifying dates Monday as they
seek to drum up interest in a lune
16 special election that will hope
fully end what's been a six-month
absence at the city council table.
The qualifying times for the
June election are as follows:
9-10:30 a.m. on May 4, 5:30-7
p.m. on May 5 and 4-5:30 p.m.
on May 6.
Qualifying will be held at city
hall.
The council currently operates
as a four-piece with a mayor and
three council members.
Paul Elkins formerly held the
vacant position, resigning his seat
in September for a successful bid
for mayor.
Two other municipalities —
Colbert and Danielsville — held
special elections for vacant coun
cil seats this past Tuesday.
Hull wanted to hold a special
election for its open seat as well,
but no one bothered to qualify for
the post in February.
The city intends to be more
assertive this time in luring poten
tial candidates.
It plans to mail all registered
voters, notifying them of the open
post.
There's possible interest this
time, too, as two citizens attended
Monday night’s council meeting.
One, according councilman
Wayne Melton, is considering
running for the seat. The other
asked questions over the qualify
ing process during the meeting.
If multiple candidates qualify,
Hull will proceed with the special
election as planned.
Early voting dates are May 26
and June 2 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Advanced voting is June 9 from
6:30-8 p.m.
The polls will be open from 7
a.m to 7 p.m. on election night,
June 16.
All voting will be done at the
Hull Civic Club.
Madison Co. unemployment
insurance claims up over 2008
Initial unemployment insurance claims in Madison County were up
in February over the same month last year by 169 percent. However,
the claims in February were down from January by 17 percent,
according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
Some 342 people in Madison County filed for unemployment insur
ance for the first time in February, up from 215 in 2008. In January,
414 people had filed for unemployment insurance for the first time.
The state year-over-year increase was 111 percent.
Schools complete audit
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
The Madison County School System enjoyed a “very good
audit report,” superintendent Mitch McGhee said, save a few
minor details.
Some construction money wasn't labeled correctly as a
result of adjusting to a new system used by auditors.
“Some accounts were mis-posted,” McGhee said. “Those
were corrected. All money is accounted for. All money was
spent in the appropriate place.”
Auditors complemented the school system for school spend
ing controls, McGhee said. Madison County has been cited in
audits for school-based spending issues in the past, he added.
“They pointed out that we had addressed those issues,”
McGhee said.
Each school board member will be mailed an official report
of the audit.
Water agreement finally reached
The Madison County School System will buy county
Industrial and Development Authority (IDA) water to irrigate
the Madison County Middle School athletic fields rather than
enter into an agreement for use of a private well.
The Madison County School System will pay the IDA the
same rate — $3.50 per thousand gallons — it charges all other
government entities. There's a $53 per month minimum pay
ment included in the contract.
The BOE twice tabled action on the matter before opting to
contract with the IDA for water.
SPLOST Update
Madison County collected $52,000 more in February in
SPLOST over January. The system’s SPLOST receipts for
February were also $35,000 more than what it took in for Feb.
2008.
The SPLOST report lags two months behind the actual
spending, so SPLOST figures represent money generated in
the busy shopping month of December.
With a lack of retail business in the county, the majority of
school system's SPLOST revenue is tied to gasoline sales.
The Madison County
Journal is your source for
local news. Subscribe by
calling 706-795-2567.
FAYE CAREY'S TAX SERVICE
CONTINUES TO OPERATE
“We’re here for your income tax preparation needs”
In business 46 years at the same location.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts
during the passing of Faye in December.
We appreciate our customers.
• DiAnne Carey, Enrolled Agent - Owner (Faye’s Daughter)
• Peggy Thrasher, Tax Professional
• Kellie Beard, Tax Professional
We Look Forward To Helping You With All Your Tax Needs.
Please call for an
appointment.
Walk-ins Welcome.
HOURS:
Mon. - Fri. ~ 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sat. ~ 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
706-795-2265
Fax: 706-795-5291
Email: careystaxservice@windstream.net ’
www.careystaxservice.com
2579 Faye Carey Road • Danielsville, GA 30633 ’
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