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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 ’ \\1 WINTER CLEARANCE ^ Golf Clubs & Equipment must go to make room for spring arrival! 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