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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. APRIL 9. 2009 — PAGE 3A
BOC to meet Thursday about chief appraiser Comer council approves
sanitation contract
The Madison County Board
of Commissioners will meet at
4 p.m. today (Thursday) in the
county government complex to
consider a recommendation for
chief appraiser.
BOC chairman Anthony Dove
has recommended Robin Baker
Three watersheds in Madison
County will be rehabilitated
with funding from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment
Act.
Officials say Georgia is lever
aging S3 million in state funds
to get $6 million in economic
stimulus money — all of it part
of $28 billion in stimulus money
allocated to USDA.
The Madison County projects
include:
for the position. The proposed
salary is $60,000.
Baker, a Lawrenceville resi
dent, served as chief appraiser in
Banks County for a year before
serving as deputy chief appraiser
in Fulton County for a year and
a half. He holds “appraiser IV"
•Little Sandy Trail Creek
Watershed Structure 1, which
includes widening the auxiliary
spillway to 195 feet and length
ening the control section to 100
feet to enhance downstream pro
tection below the high hazard
dam. It is expected to provide
more than $113,000 in annual
flood control benefits.
•South River Watershed
Structure 10, which includes
widening the auxiliary spillway
certification. Dove said Baker
comes with good references and
that he is knowledgeable and
experienced.
Dove said he interviewed four
applicants for the post.
“There is another one that is
a close second that I will put
crest 20 feet and raising the
existing dam two feet to achieve
the required protection down
stream of the high hazard dam.
It is expected to provide $57,000
in annual flood control benefits.
•South River Watershed
Structure 4, which involves
building an auxiliary spillway
with a weir over the top of the
existing dam to provide bet
ter downstream protection. It
is expected to produce annual
before the board if this one is
not hired," said Dove.
The agenda for Thursday
also includes statements from
citizens and a potential closed
session to discuss land acquisi
tion, personnel matters and/or
litigation.
flood control benefits of more
than $57,000.
Documents from the USDA
say the Madison County projects
will also result in annual benefits
in excess of $755,000 in unspec
ified non-flood-related damages
and will generate 66 jobs.
All of the projects are in
partnership with the Natural
Resource Conservation Service
and the Georgia Soil and Water
Conservation Commission.
By Frank Gillispie
frankgillispie671@msn.com
The Comer City Council
approved a contract with
Triple A Sanitation to pro
vide garbage and recycling
services for the city Monday.
At the suggestion of the city
attorney, the council changed
the duration of the contract
to one year with automatic
renewals unless the city or
the company chooses not to
renew. Georgia law prohibits
a sitting council from com
mitting future councils to any
binding contract. This provi
sion solves that problem.
In other matters, the council
approved a resolution allow
ing the city to establish a
line of credit based on future
special purpose local option
sales tax (SPLOST) receipts.
The line of credit is to be
used for replacing water lines
in the downtown area.
The council agreed to con
sider taking bids for subcon
tracting repair services on
city facilities and equipment.
They agreed to adjust a water
bill for Kenneth Jacobson
and approved a plat for Jeff
Ginn.
They asked a representative
of Royal Oaks Home Owners
Association to have patience
about storm debris removal.
The 2008 city audit is under
way and council members
were encouraged to contact
the auditor with any ques
tions or comments they may
have.
Two city employees, John
Howard and Ruban Moore,
were told to accept a reduc
tion to part-time employment
as a condition of continued
employment.
Federal stimulus money to be used for
three Madison County watersheds
Commissioners to ask committee to review animal control
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
Madison County commission
ers plan to ask the committee that
helped draft the county's animal
control ordinance to come back
in for a second look.
“It seems like things have got
ten totally out of control from
and different from what the com
mittee had agreed to do,” said
Commissioner John Pethel, who
suggested that the board of com
missioners get the committee
back together to discuss animal
control.
Code enforcement and animal
control director Jack Huff asked
the commissioners to consider
scaling back animal control ser
vices. He said the animal control
is overshadowing code enforce
ment work that needs to be
done. For instance, he noted that
the animal control department
received 67 dogs-off-property
calls in January.
“They take about two hours.”
said Huff of the calls. “It’s time
consuming. We’re trying to find
a way to reduce that work load.”
Commissioner Bruce Scogin
said he feels getting the commit
tee together is an OK idea, but he
said he believes they’ll determine
that animal control needs more
money to function properly and
that cash is in short supply now.
“I think they’ll find that the
only way really to fix this prob
lem is to throw some more
money at it,” said Scogin. “But
I don't know that we’re going to
be able to do that anytime soon.
I think what the committee will
find is that we’re going to have
to struggle along as we are until
we can get more money.”
Several citizens urged the board
to keep animal control, noting
the problems that uncontrolled
dogs can cause for citizens.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business Monday,
the board agreed to begin post
ing video of its meetings on the
county website. Technology
director Gary Venable said the
video service will cost the county
approximately $30 a year.
The board tabled a decision on
updates to county sign regula
tions, which are deemed more
“business friendly.” The pro
posed sign guidelines would
make it unlawful to put up any
sign of 33 square feet or larger
without obtaining a permit from
the planning and zoning office.
The group tabled any action
on the matter, agreeing to have
the county attorney review the
guidelines.
The BOC also tabled a deci
sion on regulations for occupying
an RV or camper. With numer
ous foreclosures in the county
in recent months, some people
have been forced to live in recre
ational vehicles. The occupation
of such vehicles raises possible
health and safety issues, such as
the matter of septic services. The
board agreed to study the issue.
The board approved two
rezoning and one conditional use
requests, including a rezoning for
a vet clinic for small animals on
Hwy. 98 East, near Danielsville.
The board approved a beer
license for Pizza and Sub Express
Inc. on Hwy. 29, provided that
the owner agree to tie in to the
county's planned sewage system
in the area.
The BOC approved the pur
chase of a van for transport
ing inmates from the Madison
County Jail. The fully-equipped
van will cost $18,778. The board
approved the cancellation of a
contract with the American Law
Enforcement Network, which
means county deputies won't
conduct background checks
through laptops in their car.
Instead, they will contact 911
for that information. The laptops
are being turned back in to the
county technology director.
The commissioners renewed
an annual contract with the 11
volunteer fire departments in
the county. Madison County
provides one mill of funding to
the departments — which has
totaled in the neighborhood of
$600,000 in recent years. That
money is divided between the
departments. Commissioner
Bruce Scogin said the county
gets a great deal from the fire
men. He noted that a paid depart
ment would cost significantly
more than what the volunteers
provide.
“They bring a real savings to
the county.” said Scogin of the
firemen, adding that they spend
time away from their families
while helping the community.
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Opening Act
Bobby Compton Band
Come out and support your schools!
Colbert Elementary &
Madison County Middle School Fundraiser
Friday, Apri 10,2009
Doors Open at 5:45
Adlib-$12
Students-$8
Famiyuf Four-$30
i: HacfesonCotnty
HMde School Gym
Bobby Compton Band at 6:15
John Berry at 7:00
Please come and enjoy all the fun
while you are supportfig
Colbert Elementary & Madison County Middle School.