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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 2, 2009 — PAGE 7A
Courthouse Security
BOC to discuss
security changes
By Margie Richards
margie@mainstreetnews.com
Security at the county complex has been beefed
up considerably in recent weeks, with metal
detectors at two entrances, surveillance cameras,
locked doors and more deputies on regular duty
in the building. The board of commissioners will
consider more changes to courthouse security at
their business meeting Monday night.
Sheriff Kip Thomas came before them this
week to discuss hiring four to six part-time secu
rity officers at minimum wage to man the metal
detectors at the front and back entrances, while
reducing the number of deputies on duty from
two full-time and one part-time, to just two full
time officers.
The sheriff said he will soon need to remove the
part-time officer who provides relief to the two
deputies who now operate the detectors in order
to move him to other duties. That will require
the county complex back entrance to be closed
again, the sheriff said, since there will be no one
to provide relief.
He said a trained law enforcement officer is not
required to run the detectors.
County commissioner Stanley Thomas asked
if a security company might be considered as
an alternative for courthouse security, freeing up
seasoned law enforcement officers to be out on
patrol in the county. Commissioner Thomas said
he wondered if the citizens would be better served
that way, than with several officers in the county
complex.
Sheriff Thomas will bring more information
on the proposed changes to the Monday night
meeting.
In another matter, the sheriff told commission
ers that his department has applied for a $38,741
state grant funded by federal stimulus funds and
that his office plans to use the funds to purchase
a new Chevrolet Tahoe SUV for the department's
K-9 Unit at a cost of $33,800. They will use the
remaining funds to purchase seven additional por
table radios for officers. Thomas said a new state
law requires that law enforcement use a larger
vehicle than the Crown Victoria police cruisers to
transport police dogs.
In another law enforcement matter, the BOC
gave the go-ahead for the sheriff to research and
apply for a medical savings program for inmates.
Thomas said he believes the program, which
will work through HMOs and PPOs, will provide
substantial savings on some inmate medical care.
He noted that law enforcement in surrounding
counties currently utilize the program. The BOC
will give final approval before the contract is
approved.
BOC AGREES TO
BUSINESS LICENSE REFUNDS
The BOC reluctantly revisited the recently
abandoned occupation tax license issue again,
this time agreeing (4-0, with commissioner
Thomas abstaining) to give businesses that cur
rently hold the licenses ( which are good until the
end of 2009) 60 days (from June 29) to turn in
their licenses in order to receive a fifty-percent
refund of their fee.
Building inspection department head Eddie
Pritchett said the county has taken in just over
$12,000 in revenue since the occupation tax first
went into effect. He also said that there has been
some confusion over the matter since the com
missioners first implemented and then abandoned
the ordinance.
County attorney Mike Pruett pointed out that
those business owners who hold the Madison
County licenses are still shielded from having to
purchase a business license for the remainder of
this year if they work anywhere else in Georgia.
E-911 DISPATCH SYSTEM UPGRADES
The BOC agreed to allow E-911 director David
Camp to proceed to “Phase II” of implementing a
new computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) to the
911 call center.
Camp said the county received and opened bids
in May from five companies willing to install the
new system and that he wished to eliminate one of
the five. Logistics Systems, Inc., whose bid was too
high, and move on to Phase II of the hiring process
by doing further investigation with the other four
companies concerning their products, customer
reviews, payment plans and other options. Camp
said his office has estimated the cost of install
ing the CAD system at approximately $300,000.
Camp said Phase n could take several months to
complete, as they want to carefully consider the
services offered by each of the remaining four
companies.
Camp provided an overview of the current dis
patch system, which has been in use since 911 was
implemented in the county in 1998. He said that
the system itself uses 20-year old technology. "It
does not support a next-generation 911 system,”
Camp said, which includes text messaging, images
from cell phones and other advancements for natu
ral or other disasters.
In another E-911 related matter, the BOC
approved the promotion of dispatcher Matt
Cleghome from Dispatcher II to Dispatcher III
status. They did not, however, approve Camp’s
request for a retroactive pay increase for Cleghome
from his April 6 eligibility date. The board also
refused a retroactive pay increase request for fel
low dispatcher Ann Harrison, who was promoted
to Dispatcher II on May 4, though she was eligible
for promotion on March 22.
“It is my understanding that (pay increases)
are given on the date promoted, not on the date
(employees) become eligible, that’s my feeling,”
Commissioner Bruce Scogin said.
In other matters Monday, the BOC agreed unani
mously to condemn property for right-of-way
proceedings for a single piece of property along
Pittman-Matthews Road to clear the way to pave
the dirt road.
“I believe in all property owners rights,” com
missioner Stanley Thomas said. “It’s not fun to
go through the condemnation process, but a lot
of people have wanted that road paved for years.”
Thomas noted that the road contains not only
homes, but also a church and a historic cemetery.
“We made a promise to (the church members)
several years ago,” Thomas added.
Commissioners plan to continue a discussion
next Monday on how to reduce costs for the trans
port of bodies to the crime lab when autopsies are
required by the coroner’s office.
Commissioner Mike Youngblood said county
coroner Michelle Cleveland had asked fellow first
responders, EMTs or other emergency personnel if
they would be interested in being on a call list for
transport in such cases, but that none had expressed
an interest. Youngblood said he would like for the
county to now advertise for five positions to make
up a call list for transport. Youngblood said appli
cants would need a clean driving record and would
be able to drive the county van. He proposed a pay
scale of $50 for short calls (transport to Athens
Regional Medical Center or to BJC Hospital for
storage) and $100-$ 125 for transports directly to
the crime lab in Duluth.
Youngblood said a background check, drug
test and all other hiring qualifications for county
employees would need to be met upon hiring of
these individuals.
Cleveland said Tuesday that the county currently
pays $175-$225 per transport, and that in most
cases Dennis Brookshire, of Medical Events, pro
vides the service.
City News
DanielsviUe approves car lot
By Margie Richards
margie@mainstreetnews.com
Danielsville City Council approved a conditional
use permit for an auto sales lot at the red light dur
ing a special called meeting Monday night.
Robin Griffith was given the go-ahead to
open Twin Pines Auto Sales at 415 General
Daniel Avenue, on property owned by Kenneth
Williamson. The property is located at the comer
of Hwy. 29 and Hwy. 98 West.
Griffith said she will open the lot as soon as
possible.
The city council will hold its regular business
meeting Monday, July 6, beginning at 7 p.m.
The following items are on the agenda for that
meeting. Old business: the council will discuss
groups selling items at the red light, the Madison
Street sewer lift station, water rates and employee
evaluation pay increases.
New business: the police chief’s monthly report,
city clerk budget and finance monthly report,
employee evaluations for Connie Riley (six-
month), Henry Hicks (six-month) and Becky
DeLay (annual), a upcoming meeting with board
of education representatives on the wastewater
pond and an intergovernmental agreement with the
IDA for engineering services.
Support Nadison County
SHOP LOCALLY
Sponsored by The Nadison County Chamber of Commerce
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Madison County Water System
Annual Quality Water Report 2008
Ijfo I need to take special precautions?
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons
such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV / AIDS or
other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularily at risk from infections. These people should seek advice
about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to
lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Water Drinking Hotline
(800-426-4791). The county drinking water is disinfected by chlorine and floruide is added for better dental.
Where does my water come from?
The county drinking water is supplied by 4 ground water wells located in various locations throughout the county.
Source water assessment and its availability
The county water source is protected by a wellhead protection plan and a source water assessment program as provided by the state of
Georgia.
Why are there contaminants in my drinking water?
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The
presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and
potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-
4791). The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and
wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases,
radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity:
microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock
operations, and wildlife; inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban
stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; pesticides and herbicides,
which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses; organic Chemical
Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum
production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and radioactive contaminants, which can
be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public
health.
How can I get involved?
It is controlled by Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority which is located on Hwy 29S, 101 Courthouse
Square, Suite 102. Board meeting every third Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m.
Water Quality Data Table
The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the calendar year of this report. The presence of
contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in
this table is from testing done in the calendar year of the report. The EPA or the State requires us to monitor for certain contaminants less
than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.
MCLG MCL,
or TT, or
Contaminants MRDLG MRDL
Your
Water
Range
Low High
Sample
Date
Violation
Typical Source
Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products
(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.)
Chlorine . .
(as C12) 4 4
1.0
0.5 1.7
2008
No
Water additive used to
control microbes
(ppm)
T ™ s NA 80
[Total
14
N/A
2008
No
By-product of drinking
water disinfection
Trihalomethanes]
(ppb)
Inorganic Contaminants
Fluoride 4 4
(ppm)
1.2
0.6 1.5
2008
No
Erosion of natural deposits
water additive which
promotes strong teeth;
Discharge from fertilizer
and aluminum factories
Nitrate 10 10
[measured as
Nitrogen] (ppm)
1.0
NA
2008
No
Runoff from fertilizer use;
Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; Erosion of natural
deposits
Microbiological Contaminants
Fecal coliform/ 0 0
E. coli
(positive samples)
NA
NA
2008
No
Human and animal fecal
waste
A violation occurs when a routine sample and a repeat sample, in any given month, are total coliform positive, and
one is also fecal coliform or E.coli positive.
Total Coliform 0 1
(positive
samples/month)
0
NA
2008
No
Naturally present in the
environnment
Contaminants
MCLG AL
Your
Water
Sample
Date
# Samples
Exceeding
AL
Exceeds
AL
Typical Source
Inorganic Contaminants
Copper-action
level at consumer
taps (ppm)
1.3 1.3
0.46
2008
0
No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural
deposits
Lead-action level
at consumer taps
(ppb)
0 15
0
2008
0
No
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural
deposits
Undetected Contaminants
The following contaminants were monitored for, but not detected, in your water.
Contaminants
MCLG MCL
or or
MRDLG MRDL
Your
Water
Violation
Typical Source
Unit Descriptions
Term
Definition
ppm:
ppb:
positive samples
/ month
positive samples
NA
ND
NR
ppm: parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L)
ppb: parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (ug/L)
positive samples/month: Number of samples taken monthly that were found to be positive,
positives samples/yr: The number of positive samples taken that year
NA: Not applicable
ND: Not detected
NR: Monitoring not required, but recommended
Important Drinking Water Definitions:
Term
Definition
MCLG
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water
below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking
water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
TT
TT: Treatment Technique: A required process intended to reduce the level of a
contaminant in drinking water.
AL
AL: Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment
or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Variances and
Exemptions
Variances and Exemptions: State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique
under certain conditions
MRDLG
MRDLG: Maximum residual disinfection level goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant
below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits
of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
MRDL
MRDL: Maximum residual disinfectant level. The highest level of a disinfectant allowed
in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary
for control of microbial contaminants.
MNR
MNR: Monitored Not Regulated
MPL
MPL: State Assigned Maximum Permissible Level
For more information please contact:
Steven Shaw, P. O. Box 189, Danielsville, GA 30633, 706-795-9865.