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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA1 JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 2, 2009 — PAGE 3A Economy Unemployment rate remains steady in Madison County Madison County's unemployment rate remained relatively steady in May, up one-tenth of one percent over April. According to the preliminary May figures released by the Georgia Department of Labor, Madison County’s |n% Unemployment rate, 95% unemployment rate increased from 8.0 to 8.1 percent from 8% — April to May. The total number of county residents receiving unem- 6% - ployment actually dropped slightly dur ing that time period, w _ from 1,323 to 1,314 in May, but the coun ty’s overall labor force increased from 2%- 16,273 to 16,444 between April and May. Like most coun- M“ di ” nCo ' m ' ! ' Geo, ' 6i “ ties across the state, Madison County’s unemployment rate for May 2009 is significantly higher than last May’s rate, which was 4.7 percent. Georgia's unemployment rate for May was 9.5 percent, up from 9.0 percent in April and 5.7 percent in May 2008. County Personnel Cox hired as county clerk By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com Current deputy county clerk Linda Cox was hired Monday night as the new county clerk. The board of commissioners unanimously agreed to allow chair man Anthony Dove to hire Cox, who has been serving as deputy county clerk since last fall, at a starting salary of $35,000, with a pay increase to $37,000 once she completes county clerk training. Cox has also been serving as acting county clerk since the board fired former long-time county clerk Morris Fortson. Dove said part-time help from the chairman’s office and other departments will be used to assist Cox, instead of hiring another person. Dove said he has been pleased with Cox's professionalism and that though his office had interviewed several for the county clerk position, he just could not justify hiring an additional person during these economic times. “We’ve tried to work within budget constraints and I didn’t feel we could hire someone (else) and stay within budget at this time,’’ Dove told the board, adding that he thinks his office will be able to cut its 2010 budget by $20-30,000. Dove noted that Fortson's salary was approximately $54,000 and that the county had also had a deputy clerk. “Times are hard now and we’ve been asking more of county employees, such as taking on extra duties,’’ Dove said, adding that a goal of his has been to do more cross-training instead of hiring new employees in an effort to keep expenses under control. Dove said he based his offer to Cox on county clerk pay in coun ties similar to Madison County. BOG to hold work sessions on sheriff’s budget, personnel policy The Madison County Board of Commissioner will hold two work sessions on Thursday, July 9, in the public meeting room of the Madison County Government Complex. The BOC will meet with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 4 p.m. to discuss the 2009 and 2010 budgets. At 5 p.m., the BOC will meet to consider changes to the county personnel policy, which will, among other things, revoke all vested proprietary rights to employment and convert all employees, both current and those hired in the future, to “at will” status. All interested employees as well as interested members of the public are encour aged to attend, and all employees who wish to speak on the changes will be afforded the opportunity to be heard, officials said. Property Taxes Tax notices expected soon All Madison County property owners will receive a property tax assess ment notice this year. And those notices could come late this week or early next week. "We’re hoping for Thursday,” said Madison County chief appraiser Robin Baker. Madison County’s board of assessors agreed to mail notices to all property owners, even though members voiced concern about setting the tax digest behind schedule if everyone receives a notice. In recent years, only property owners whose values had changed received a notice. But assessors agreed that every property owner should have the opportunity to review their property values annually. Property owners have 45 days to appeal their values. If more than three percent of Madison County’s 15,995 parcels are under appeal, the county cannot submit its digest to the state. The top 50 taxpayers in Madison County Madison County will bring in a projected $16.36 million in property taxes this year for the county government, schools and industrial authority. Here are the top 50 tax bills for 2008 in Madison County (not in order): •Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, $360,797 •Transcontinental Pipeline, $328,293.11 •Weyerhaeuser Company, $131,688.19 •Windstream Georgia Inc., $166,951.25 •Colonial Pipeline Co., $148,605.03 •Georgia Power Co., $138,724 •Star Home Builders Inc., $133,579 •Shopping Center Financing II, $73, 526 •Tms Joist MacMillan, $60,961 •Smith Land and Cattle Co., $13,352 •CSX Transportation, Inc., $43,852 •Ingles Markets, Inc. #450, $36,327 •Team American Vans, Inc., $15,849 •Atlanta Gas Light Co., $28,435 •Georgia Transmission Corp., $27,255 •Plantation Pipeline Co., $27,166 •Rich-Way Properties, Inc., $26,598 •John W. Byram, $25,821 •Allen David Farms, LLC, $7,842.97 •Madison Lumber Products, $5,743 •Brnsh Creek Farm LLC, $5,865 •John-John Investments, LLC, $22,846 •Dinsmore Grading, Inc., $22,026 •Merial Inc., $21,640 •Merchants and Farmers Bank, $22,248 •Engineering and Cycle Co. I, $21,615 •Geny E. Burdette, $9,884 •Troy Chandler, $9,862 •Charles C. Dinsmore, $12,453 •David M. Sailors, $15,574 •William and Mary Chandler, $6,717 •Charles Michael Alewine, $19,185 •Marlowe Madison County Farm, $5,644 •Tim Seymour Custom Homes, $20,300 •C. Michael Alewine, $16,348 •Couch Construction Inc., $19,411 •Diane C. Saville, $7,800 •Pine Hill Farm LLC, $3,684 •Glades Woodland Farms LLC, $18,417 •Marianna M. Miller, $1,273 •Giang T Nguyen, $15,575 •Hart County EMC, $18,109 •BroadView Plastics Inc., $6,592 •Plum Creek Timberlands LP, $17,880 •Morris J. Bullock, $17,925 •Brenda B. and Gary E. Bennett, $5,750 Southern Pride Land, $17,196 Madison County Hardware, $17,619 Randy and Beth W. Daniel, $5,042 Patricia S. Glenn, $8,140 Keep your dollars in Hadison County LOCALLY Sponsored by The lladison County Chamber of Commerce Get the local school church, sports uni other community news ielwered to your home each week! Just clip the coupon below to begin saving today over the newstand price! Name Address. City State Zip Subscription rates for The Madison County Journal are as follows: $19.75 per year for Madison and adjoining counties; $17.75 per year for senior citizens in Madison and adjoining counties; $38.85 per year for delivery elsewhere in Georgia; $36.85 per year for delivery elsewhere in Georgia with senior citizen discount; $44.50 per year for delivery out of Georgia; $42.50 per year for delivery out of Georgia with senior citizen discount; $42.20 per year for the military with APO address. Enclosed is my check for! Expiration Phone or n MCor n VISA# MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. 33 Lee Street, P. O. Box 908 Jefferson, GA 30549 706-367-5233 Fax: 706-367-8056 Website: www.mainstreetnews.com GEORGIA METALS Fabricators of Metal Roofing, Siding, and Steel Building Components 2009 - 2010 Tax Rebates Available Up TO $1,500 Offerings wide variety of profiles and colors for residential as well as agricultural purposes. ALL Our Paints Now Meet ENERGY STAR Standards! 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