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PAGE 2A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. APRIL 2, 2009 Madison County BOC to meet Monday The Madison County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 6, in the coun ty government complex. Agenda items include: •Approval of minutes. •Chairman Anthony Dove — chairman’s report to the board. •Business involving guests, groups of multiple visitors. Proclamation for Madison County Recreation and Parks Association "B” state basketball champions. (Chairman Dove) PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION: •Chairman P&Z Board, Wayne Douglas, changes to the zoning ordinance. Section 10: Sign ordinance Section 6.6.3: Occupying an RV or camper. Section 6.6.4: Temporarily occu pying an RV or camper. Section 9.5.1 and 9.5.1.4 and 9.5.2.5: Change planning and zon ing commission to zoning admin istrator. Section 9.5.10: Add music les sons, swimming lessons and per sonal care homes as permitted uses. •Zoning Administrator Linda Fortson, readoption of the follow ing amendments: Section 4.17.4 Designation of the open space: To include, All land included in the 50 percent open space set aside shall be protected by means of a conservation easement. Section 4.7.11 Permitted uses of the open space, to exclude pipe lines. Section 7.1.2.10 Inert Landfill. To include concrete, cured asphalt, rock and brick. •Bobby Gunnells’ request to rezone 1.5 acres with an existing house from his 55.01s acre parcel. He requests to rezone it from A1 to Rl. The property is located on Poss Road on Map 68 Parcel 54 in District 4. •James and Connie Arnold request a conditional use permit on approximately 4 to 5 acres of their 25.02 acres. This is for an inert landfill for recycling concrete. The property is located on Nowhere and Planter Gunnell Road in District 1. •Jennifer Howard for owner Joneal Griffeth request to rezone her 1.15-acre parcel from R-l to B-2 for a vet clinic for small ani mals. The property is located on Hwy. 98 E. on Map D-l Parcel 138 in District 4. •Daryl Molliere request to subdi vide the two existing homes that are located on his property. The request is to rezone 5.19 acres from A-l to R-R to subdivide into a two-acre parcel and a three-acre parcel. The property is located on Map 102 Parcel 83 on Bells Ferry Road in District 2. •Statements and remarks from citizens on agenda items. •Bids for paving Spratlin Mill Drive (CR# 520). (Chairman Dove) •Change in wording of the Madison County Policy regarding benefits. (Donna Sisk) •Madison County Board of Education — migrate from their current 800 MHz radio system to a frequency in the UHF band. (David Camp — E911 director) •Request for proposals for a new computer aided dispatch system. (David Camp — E911 director) •Application for permit for utility facility encroachment. (Chairman Dove) •Approval of beer license for Pizza and Sub Express Inc. (Chairman Dove) •Utility encroachment — New Haven Church Road (Chairman Dove) •Purchase of additional vehicle for sheriff’s department. (Sheriff Kip Thomas) •Changes to animal control ordi nance. (Jack Huff) •Right of way deed between Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority Inc. and Madison County, Georgia. Business Drive and Millcreek Drive. (Chairman Dove) •Occupation tax/business license. (Eddie Pritchett) •Videos of meetings and the termination of American Law Enforcement Network’s contract. (Gary Venable) •Contract with the volunteer fire departments of Madison County. (Mike Pruett) •Approval of notice of intent to remove members of the Madison County Board of Assessors. (Mike Pruett, county attorney) •Road projects update. (Chairman Dove) •Statements and remarks from citizens. •Closed session to discuss land acquisition, personnel matters and/ or potential litigation (if needed). Festival .cont’dfrom 1A James, oak and bark baskets; Joan Lurwig, knitting and cro cheting; Pat and Janice Shields, pottery; Jenny Stevens, herb al soapmaking; The Stevens Brothers, carving bowls, spoons; Michael Hill, heirloom plants and herbs; Melissa Tufts, quilting; Peter Loose, paint ing; Tina McCullough, pottery; Jerry King, wood lathe; Isabel King, woodcarving, walk ing sticks; Catherine Haley, herblore; Chip Chandler, log cabin building; Mills Farms, red mule com products; Beth Kelley Zorbanos, com shuck dollmaking; Lawson Moore, old fashion cookie baking con test. COOKIE CONTEST To enter the cookie contest, bring one dozen of your best homemade cookies or bars to the festival by 2 p.m. The baking contest is free to enter and open to everyone. Prizes will be awarded to the top three recipes. Only home made cookies and bars will be judged. Each entry will be scored on cookie uniformity, visual appeal, taste and over all quality. All entries must register by 2 p.m. on the day of the festival. Each entry must contain a dozen cook ies or bars of the same batch. However, contestants may submit more than one entry. After judging, all remaining cookies and bars will be sold to raise money for next year’s contest. The winners will be announced and prizes award ed during the festival. MountHermonPresbyterian Church will again sell a tradi tional meal of pinto beans, cornbread, drinks and home made desserts. “These ‘good cookin’’ ladies then share their profits with local service organiza tions,’’ said organizers. BARN DANCE An old-time barn dance, featuring the Georgia Mudcats with Susan Davis calling, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. in the old Danielsville gym. “You don’t have to bring a partner or know these dances to enjoy this style of commu nity dance,’’ organizers said. “The caller will teach you everything you need to know. Fun for all ages and great exercise too.’’ The festival is funded in part by Madison County Habitat for Humanity, Water’s Edge Woods, Danielsville Hardware, Sam and Maria DeRaimo, Graham Law Firm, Broad River Watershed Association, Merchants and Farmers Bank, Zorbanos Realty and Investment and Flying Dog Productions. The program is supported in part by Grassroots Arts Program of the Georgia Council for the Arts through an appropri ation of the Georgia General Assembly in partnership with the Morgan Cultural Center. BOC to discuss occupation tax, animal control Monday By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County commission ers will again discuss the county occupation tax and county ani mal control services. Both issues have been frequent topics of debate at BOC meetings for the past couple of years. County building inspector Eddie Pritchett appeared before commissioners Monday at their agenda-setting meeting to talk about the occupation tax, which is essentially an annual business license. The board has received numerous complaints about the occupation tax, with citizens saying it’s an unfair burden on businesses. The BOC is now looking at potential changes to the tax. The group appears ready to at least eliminate the “per employee” fees currently attached to the tax, with the establishment of either a $60 or a $40 flat fee. The board may also consider completely eliminating the occupation tax. If the county establishes a $60 fee, then the government would need to reimburse local busi nesses approximately $2,200 for “per employee” fees that have already been paid. They would reimburse businesses roughly $5,500 if a $40 flat fee is estab lished. And the government must reimburse businesses approxi mately $11,000 if the occupation tax is eliminated. Commissioners have voiced concern that the occupation tax on home-operated businesses could affect conservation use status for some property own ers. They agreed to seek clar ification on the matter before they make a decision on the tax. Likewise, they are trying to determine whether truckers should be taxed, as well as how rental property owners would be affected by the tax. ANIMAL CONTROL In a separate matter Monday, the board heard from code enforcement director Jack Huff, who asked the board to “rework the animal control ordinance and allow Andy (McClendon) to focus on code enforcement.” Huff noted that McClendon has collected $33,000 in unpaid mobile home taxes out of approximately $100,000 that needs to be collected. Huff said the change would eliminate stray dogs and cats from the ordinance. When ques tioned by Commissioner Mike Youngblood, Huff also said ani mal control would no longer respond to reports of "dogs off property.” “What you’re doing is basi cally doing away with animal control?” asked Commissioner John Pethel. Huff said animal control would still respond to dangerous dog calls. The board made no decisions on Huff’s proposal and agreed to put the matter on Monday night’s agenda. MEETINGS ONLINE? In other business Monday, the board heard from county tech nology director Gary Venable, who discussed making videos of commissioners’ meetings avail able online. He said the service would cost the county approxi mately $300 up front and about $30 a year. Commissioner Bruce Scogin said he's received some complaints about the county website not being updated, with meeting agendas and minutes not put up in a timely fashion. Venable said each department has a password to the website and is responsible for updating its own department's material. Venable also told commission ers that the sheriff’s department plans to terminate a contract with the American Law Enforcement Network. That means the county will remove laptops from patrol cars, with deputies instead con tacting 911 for assistance in looking up tag identification. The sheriff’s department is also look ing at using money from the jail’s payphone account to cover the cost of a fully equipped $18,000 van for transporting inmates. Aren’t you Worth If? City of Colbert SPECIAL ELECTION ^ RUN-OFF NOTICE Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with O.C.G.A. 21-2-501(c), a Special Election Run-off shall be held in the City of Colbert to fill the vacancy on the City Council. The Special Election Run-off will be held on April 14, 2009. The following candidates received the highest number of votes in order to be included in the run-off: EVELYN P. POWER ELLYN TRINRUD Only those persons registered to vote by February 18, 2009, shall be entitled to vote in the run-off. Early and advance voting will begin March 23, 2009, and end April 9, 2009, in the Colbert City Depot during normal Colbert City Hall business hours which are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. On election day, April 14, 2009, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the same location. This the 18th day of March, 2009. Pam Fowler Election Superintendent, City of Colbert 1936 - 2008 It's been one year since the Lord called you home. At times it seems like much longer and then again only yesterday. We miss your funny sayings and your wonderful knowledge of everything. We miss saying “Take it to Pop - he can fix it.” I miss our long talks and our laughs. We love and miss you very much! LANDSCAPING & HORSE ARENAS • RIVER SAND • TOP SOIL • RIVER ROCK • WHITE SAND • FILL DIRT •PEA GRAVEL WILLIAMS SAND 770-967-6501 OR 706-789-3779 Danielsville, GA • www.williamstransportco.com Highway 106 to Jot-em Down Rd. to Young Harris Road to Serenity Lane & Your loving family, Bev, Marty & Becky, Doug & Michelle and Grandchildren M FOR ONLY $5 YOU CAN LIST YOUR Let your members know wl Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in... • The Jackson Herald • The Commerce JVeivs • The Braselton News • The Banks County News •The Madison County Journal PER MONTH, GROUP'S MEETINGS! ten your group is meeting! Citizens Organized for Pipeline Safety investigating the health risks to citizens from underground pipelines and booster stations in Madison Co. Meetings 6:30 p.m. at the Colbert Grove Baptist Church the 2nd Thurs. of each month. 706-783-4702. Pd.04/09 ,g% JEFFERSON ip AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 3io BANKS COUNTY fg| AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.06/09 rm VETERANS OF W FOREIGN WARS Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr. Each 4th Tuesdasy, 7:00 p.m. Lamar Langston, Commander Phone 706-652-2627 263 JEFFERSON EIONS CEUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. *(706) 387-1156 Mack Cates, President 542 A UNITY LODGE F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449 Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260 JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m. *(706) 367-7696 Gina Mitsdarffer, President 547 BANKS COUNTY ®j§ AMERICAN LEGION Riders Club Post 215 Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.02/10 Georgia Real Estate Investors Association, Inc. - Athens Meets the third Thursday each month 6:30 pm at the UGA Conferen ce Center 1197 South Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30601 Tom Hewlett - Chapter President thewlettl@charter.net pj 12/09 BANKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441 North in Homer pd,-07/09 St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Mission Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m., Wed. 12:10 p.m. Parish Council meetings: 2nd Sunday of the month after 11:00 mass First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org 706-335-2622 pd.04/09 Family Car Care 630S Hwy 72 West. Colbert, GA 30628 706-788-2333 Blayne Pace, Owner One Stop For All Automotive Repairs STANDARD OIL CHANGE 4 Quart starting at 5 Quart starting at 6 Quart starting at $24.46 $27.66 $30.88 * With standard AC Delco Filters and 10W30 Shell Motor Oil ALIGNMENT SERVICE 4-Wheel (h/^C HA Alignment ?OJ.UU TRANSMISSION SERVICE $15.00 Off COUPON Expires May 30, 2009. 706-788-2333 6305 Hwy. 72 W. Colbert, GA 30628