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PAGE 2A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JUNE 4. 2009 Tax ..cont’dfrom 1A Shelter ..cont’dfrom 1A County commissioners postponed a decision on the proposed ordinance on May 21, agreeing to review the 10-page document. Thomas, who favored keeping the occu pation tax, said the proposed $250 to $500 fine for fail ing to pay the tax seemed too steep. He proposed that the commissioners eliminate the possibility of such steep fines and instead include a 10-per cent, $3.50 late fee, and a $20 charge for those who fail to pay the tax at all. Thomas has supported the occupation tax, noting that it will be a way for county lead ership to keep tabs on what businesses are actually in the county, while also providing contractors a form of official licensing. The occupation tax has been discussed at length at numer ous meetings, with debate on whether people with rental property would be required to pay and how business owners with conservation use proper ties could be affected. A number of people pro tested the tax, saying it was an unfair burden on small busi nesses. Commissioner Bruce Scogin said he felt the early plans for a “per employee” fee were unnecessarily punitive, but that the $35 fee was reasonable. However, Scogin said Monday that he felt the issue has gone on too long and should be dropped if it couldn’t be resolved that night. “Tonight we’re going to iron this out or I’m not going to fool with it anymore,” he said. OTHER BUSINESS In other business Monday, the board approved a $4,000 budget increase for the Department of Family and Children’s Services to $33,000 for next year. An increase in foster care cases is a primary reason for the boost in funding. DFCS employees have also faced furloughs this past year and DFCS plans to offset about $6,000 in losses the employees have endured if the state ulti mately approves the plan. The commissioners approved a contract with E.R. Snell for $275,000 for the paving of Cherokee Road. Commissioner John Pethel noted that the county had $385,000 allocated from the state for the proj ect. Commissioner Thomas requested that the road department cut back vegeta tion at Crabapple Hollow and Sanford roads that is obstruct ing the view of motorists. Commissioner Youngblood asked that the board consider funding for an ice machine for the EMS station 4 and backup water coolers at each station to be used at incidents where firemen and other emergency personnel respond. The group met in closed ses sion Monday night, but took no action after the meeting. They also approved several zoning requests, including one from David Peck for an area variance on the Broad River. While the state requires just a 25-foot setback, the coun ty recently approved 75-foot setbacks. Peck is planning a small, “green friendly” home, with a compost toilet — an aerobic processing system that treats excreta, typically with no water or small volumes of flush water. Scogin praised Peck, who has participated in a four-month Green Advantage certification program. “We’ve been preaching green for years and I appreciate your efforts,” said Scogin. Rabies .cont’dfrom 1A Kelly said she was walking her small dog “Sugar” in her yard on Irvin Kirk Road at dusk when a small animal ran toward them. Thinking at first that it was a cat, Kelly only ran when it got close enough for her to see that it was in fact a skunk. "I was doing pretty good until I tripped and fell,” she said. Calling out for help as the skunk attacked her, her friend Gerry Bridges came to her aid and began trying to kick the animal off of her. Bridges was bitten on the leg. They were unable to locate the skunk, which ran away after the attack. Kelly found that she had been bitten four times. "It just kept striking at me,” she said. Knowing the potential danger they both faced, she and Bridges went to Athens Regional Medical Center as soon as pos sible to take the series of shots required to prevent infection with the vims, which is fatal in both humans and animals. "It was a very scary experi ence,” Kelly said. And though Sugar was not attacked by the skunk, she was given a precautionary rabies booster since she was current on her rabies vaccine. A month later, Kelly said her large outside dog. Wiggles, pre sented her with a dead skunk which he had killed inside his enclosure. That skunk tested positive for rabies as well and Wiggles was also re-vaccinated as a precaution. A total of five skunks have tested positive for the virus, all in the Danielsville area, along with four raccoons in the Sanford Road/Crabapple Hollow Road area and a fox about five miles north of Danielsville. These forms of wildlife, along with bats, are the most common carriers of the rabies vims in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. No domestic animals have tested positive for the disease in Madison County this year, although 13 unvaccinated dogs were euthanized due to expo sure to rabid wildlife. (Rabies in domestic animals accounts for less than 10 percent of confirmed cases in the U.S. in recent years, according to the CDC.) As a precaution, two other people in Madison County have received rabies vaccines this year due to bites by stray cats who ran way and could not be tested. Kelly noted that if dogs, cats, or other pets are not current on their rabies vaccines and are exposed to the virus, the law requires that they be either euth anized or quarantined for six months in a double pen to moni tor them for the disease. Regular rabies vaccination of dogs and cats is also required by law. Kelly says that incidents of rabies in Madison County as well as surrounding areas tend to fluctuate. For example, there may be numerous confirmed cases this year, but the vims may wane in the area next year. "It's just unpredictable,” she said, but advises that the most important tiring residents can do is to keep their pets current on rabies vaccines to avoid human exposure. "I vaccinate my horses and goats as well,” Kelly said. Colbert ..cont’dfrom 1A see which way we come out the best,” Mayor John Waggoner said. Colbert is eying four proj ects that warrant attention — replacing substandard water lines on three different streets and installing a water line under Hwy. 72 and the railroad at Canna Street. Whether the city takes the 40 percent or chooses the upgrades, Colbert will ben efit, Waggoner said. “It’s a pretty good deal either way,” he said. The contract extension is for 15 years, but Colbert could opt out at any time by paying a fee. F.O.J. CELEBRATION APPROACHING Colbert's annual Independence Day celebra tion is fast-approaching and the city seeks volunteers. “We need all the help we can get on the Fourth of July,” Mayor John Waggoner said. Specifically, it needs people to man its museum, log cabin and train caboose exhibits from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. that day. Following tradition, Colbert canceled its July meeting, agreeing to con vene only if something “spe cial happens,” Waggoner said. In other news, Colbert agreed to tackle drainage problems in Crystal Creek subdivision next year when it has money in the budget to pay for it. Remedying the problem required curbing, funds the city doesn't have currently. WATKINS MONUMENTS Monument Sales & Date Engravings We are here to provide all your cemetery needs. Serving Madison and surrounding counties for over 30 years. BUCK WATKINS 706-283-7326 ACE HARDWARE & LAWNMOWER SERVICE Proudly Serving Northeast Georgia For 18 Years Master Your Great Outdoors With Professionally Proven Outdoor Equipment We Carry Parts & Service Most Brands Of Power Equipment Pick-Up & Delivery Available IT’S THAT EASY. cessions, a pet adoption, a raffle, a rabies clinic (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and, of course, all-day music. Five acts — Ramblin' Country, The Gibsons, The Songsters, Sons of Shiloh and Clark Kesler — will take the stage, with sounds rang ing from bluegrass to country to gospel. Admission is free, but there will be plenty of donation jars floating around. "If anybody would like to give a donation, we would certainly be appreciative,” Fomash said. The goal is to raise S3,000 to aid the cost of housing and caring for homeless pets in Madison and Oglethorpe counties. “I don't know if we'll make it,” Fomash said. “But whatever we raise, it will be great.” Fomash said the shelter is cur rently “full to the ceiling” with homeless pets. She noted that an enormous influx of puppies and kittens recent ly, with only a staff of five to tend to all of them. About 100 homeless pets reside at MOAS right now. “There are five people — not counting me and the receptionist — that take care of those animals seven days a week,” Fomash said. “That’s a big job.” The shelter hopes to alleviate a small fraction of that overcrowding Saturday. Several dogs will be on display during an off-site adoption drive at the music festival. While raising money is impor tant, finding pets a home — and getting the word out about MOAS — is the ultimate goal of Saturday's event. “If we adopt three or four or ten dogs, that will be a great day,” Fomash said. “The money will be icing on the cake." NOTES An all-day drawing will be held at the music festival with numerous prizes being given away, includ ing a GPS navigation system, free oil change and front-end alignment and gift certificates. Organizers say entrants do not have to be present to win. D’ville ..cont’dfrom 1A have to go through the process again,” Hancock said. Hancock said the line of credit could be renewed, if the council chooses, at the end of the year. In a separate matter, the coun cil postponed a hearing on a conditional use permit for auto sales at the comer of Hwy. 98 and Hwy. 29 due to advertising criteria. City attorney Victor Johnson told the council that the public hearing had not met the 15-to-45 day deadline for advertisement in the newspaper. The council agreed to hold a called meeting on June 29 at 6 p.m. during its regular work session. City maintenance worker Jerry Riley told the council that he estimates a new sewer lift station for Madison Street may cost as much as $100,000, plus engineering fees. Mayor Glenn Cross asked City Clerk Connie Riley to call School Superintendent Mitch McGhee to set up a meeting later this month, or in July, to discuss the sewer sedimentation pond, which is located on school prop erty. The council wants to begin discussions with the school sys tem before the contract ends in 2013 and before they look fur ther into constructing the new lift station and/or expanding the city's sewer system. The council also agreed to talk about contracting with county industrial authority engineer Phil Munro at its July 6 meeting. Tire council also discussed, but took no action on, the need to raise water rates over the next few years. Cross told the council that Danielsville has "some of the lowest water rates around,” compared to 18 other local cities and counties. He said the city must raise its rates in order to be able to obtain financing for future water/sewer projects. The council also discussed developing an event ordinance to regulate events in Madison County Memorial Park, which though located in the city, is on county-owned land. Temple told the council that she did not see why the city should be encum bered with the expense of devel oping an ordinance and enforc ing it, since the park grounds are county property. No action was taken on the matter. Also Monday night, the coun cil approved a beer and wine license for Royal Food Store. Williams Bar-B-Que Best BBQ Ever Since 1988 THURSDA Y NIGHT - STEAK SPECIALS FRIDAY NIGHT - FISH FRY SATURDAY NIGHT - KARAOKE 706-795-5394 (across from Madison County Hardware) COMBO SPECIALS SAUSAGE Biscuit 1 hash brown, 16 oz. drink $3.50 BACON Biscuit 1 hash hrown, 16 oz. drink $3.25 STEAK I SMOKE LINK Biscuit I Biscuit 1 hash hrown, 16 oz. drink I 1 hash hrown, 16 oz. drink $3.50|$3.25 Fountain drink, Coffee or Sweet Tea only Add Cheese OR Egg for additional 250. HOMESTYLE COOKING DINE-IN / DINE OUT Hwy. 72 • Hull Mon. - Fri. 5 a.m. - 11 a.m. • Sat. 5 a.m. - 12 p.m. 706-546-6141 706-788-2878 • 706-788-3319 6145 Hwy. 72, West Colbert, Ga. 30628 www.colbertacehardware.com r