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PAGE 8A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 2, 2009
County astronomer honored
Madison County’s own astronomer, Howard Sims (left), was honored by chairman Anthony Dove (right) and the
county board of commissioners Monday night for his contributions to the community. Sims, a native of the coun
ty, has been featured in a number of local and regional publications, including an original story in the Madison
County Journal. He was most recently featured in the national AARP Magazine. Sims, a self-taught astronomer,
constructed his own 300-pound telescope and 18-foot tall observatory on his property near Comer over a decade
ago. A retired glass-factory worker, who spends his time fishing, gardening and of course, gazing at the night-time
sky, invites children and adults alike to come view the stars with him. Margie Richards/staff.
Public meetings held in the county
Public meetings held in Madison
County include:
•Madison County Board of
Commissioners - an agenda-set-
ting meeting is held on the final
Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
in the government complex on
Albany Avenue in Danielsville. A
business meeting is then held on
the first Monday of the month at
6:30 p.m. at the same locale.
•Madison County Planning and
Zoning Commission - the first and
third Tuesdays of the month at
6:30 p.m. in the government com
plex.
•Madison County Board of
Education - the second Tuesday of
the month at 7 p.m. in the library at
Madison County High School.
•Madison County Board of Tax
Assessors - meets the first and
third Thursday of every month at
6 p.m. in the conference room of
the Madison County government
complex in Danielsville. The pub
lic is invited to attend all meetings
of the board of assessors.
•The Madison County Industrial
Development and Building
Authority - the third Monday
of the month at 6 p.m. in the
public meeting room of the old
county courthouse in the center of
Danielsville.
•Madison County Public Safety
Communications/ E-911 advisory
board - the Thursday prior to the
second Monday of each month.
Meetings are held at 11:30 a.m. at
the 911 center.
•The Madison County
Recreation Department Board -
the fourth Tuesday of every month
at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room
at Sammy Haggard Park on Hwy.
98.
•Danielsville City Council -
holds monthly work sessions the
Monday prior to regularly sched
uled council meetings, beginning
at 7 p.m. Council meetings are
held the first Monday of each
month, beginning at 7 p.m.
•Colbert City Council - the first
Monday at 7 p.m. in Colbert City
Hall.
•Carlton City Council - the first
Monday at 7 p.m. in Carlton City
Hall.
•Comer City Council - the first
Monday following the first Sunday
of the month at 6 p.m. in Comer
City Hall.
•ComerDowntownDevelopment
Authority - meets the second
Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.
in the Comer City Hall.
•Ila City Council - the first
Monday at 7 p.m. in Ila City
Hall.
•Hull City Council - the third
Monday at 7 p.m. in Hull City
Hall.
•The Madison County High
School Council - the second
Monday of every month at 5 p.m.
in the high school media center.
•The Madison County Middle
School Council - the second
Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. in
the school media center.
•The Colbert Elementary School
Council - the second Thursday of
each month at 2:30 p.m. in the
school’s media center.
•The Comer Elementary School
Council - the third Thursday of
each month at 7:30 a.m. in the
school media center.
•The Danielsville Elementary
School Council - the first Thursday
of the month at 7:30 a.m. in the
school media center.
•The Hull-Sanford Elementary
School Council - the third Tuesday
of the month at 3:15 p.m. in the
school media center.
•The Ila Elementary School
Council - the fourth Wednesday
of the month at 3 p.m. in the Ila
Elementary School media center.
•The Democratic Party of
Madison County - meets regu
larly to talk with elected officials
about local, state and national
concerns. For more information,
call 245-6875 or e-mail democrat-
sofmadisoncountyga@yahoo.com
•The Broad River Watershed
Association - meets at 7 p.m. on
the second Wednesday of each
month at the BRWA office on the
square in Danielsville. Call Victor
Johnson 706-795-2184 for more
information.
•Property Owners for Common
Sense Growth (POCSG) - meets
the last Tuesday of every month
at 7 p.m. at the Madison County
Library.
•Citizens Organized for Pipeline
Safety in Madison County (COPS
MC) - meets the second Thursday
of every month at 6:30 p.m. at
the Colbert Grove Baptist Church.
For more information, call Jill
McElheney 706-742-7826.
Budget... cont’d from 1A
shave five percent off their budget next year, a move to offset the
anticipated revenue shortfalls in 2010.
And Dove added that overall adjustments might need to be
made to the 2009 budget in the coming months, depending on
revenue flow.
The chairman said recently that the county property tax collec
tion rate is at 89 percent at this point and that the budget is set on
a projected 97 percent collection rate.
Despite no plans at this point to raise the mill rate, he noted
that county property taxpayers are already going to feel the pinch
of the state’s decision to eliminate the Homeowners’ Tax Relief
Grant, which will tack on another $233 to homeowners’ bills,
according to tax commissioner Louise Watson.
Dove also provided commissioners with a six-month overview
of employees’ salaries, which the board plans to review at the
upcoming BOC meeting Monday night.
In other business:
•Commissioners approved a pledge agreement with Merchants
and Farmers Bank in connection with an upcoming city of Comer
SPLOST anticipation loan ($200,000 line of credit) for down
town water line improvements.
•The board agreed to allow chairman Dove to sign a proclama
tion declaring July 4 “Mayor John Waggoner Day.’’ Dove will
recognize the long-time Colbert mayor and read the proclamation
during the annual Independence Day Celebration in Colbert on
Saturday.
•Commissioners approved a variance of the subdivision regula
tions to allow property owner Robert Sides to further subdivide
his 32.24 acre property on Parham Town Road for his wife and
children, due to health reasons. Zoning administrator Linda
Fortson told the board that Sides meets all the legal requirements
for the rezone, except for a three-year time limit requirement that
would normally prevent further subdividing of the property until
December, 2010.
•The board agreed to hire 4-H Club members at $10 per hour
(two-hour minimum) to run the taping system during BOC meet
ings, beginning with the July 6 meeting. Dove said he would like
to provide county 4-H members/students with the opportunity to
run the system and gain experience, while at the same time sav
ing the county money, since it will cost less to pay them to run
the equipment during meetings than to pay overtime to county IT
director Gary Venable. Venable has agreed to provide training to
the students.
•Commissioners voted 3-2 (commissioners John Pethel and
Mike Youngblood voted “no”) to pay $325 for the county gov
ernment to be included on a county “place mat" caricature map,
which will include participating county businesses.
•The board approved the re-appointment of Sheila Collins to
another five-year term on the Madison County Department of
Family and Children Services board.
•Commissioners approved a $635.81 tax refund for property
owner Sharon Turpin for two outbuildings on her property with
overstated square footage on the property assessment.
•The board agreed to increase the county’s monthly contribu
tion for the annual Indigent Defense Fund agreement to $5,645
per month, up from the current $4,868 paid per month. County
attorney Mike Pruett told commissioners that the increase is based
on a rolling average of the judicial district's increased caseload.
•Commissioners approved the continuation of two contracts
with Whitworth Parole Center for inmate work details.
•The BOC held a 20-minute closed session to discuss land
acquisition, personnel matters and potential litigation, but took no
action in open session.
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Let your members know wl
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meeting time, place and date in...
• The Jackson Herald
• The Commerce News
• The Braselton News
• The Banks County News
• The Madison County Journal
PER MONTH,
GROUP'S MEETINGS!
ien your group is meeting!
JEFFERSON EIONS CEUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 387-1156
Mack Cates, President
542
UNITY LODGE
W 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
WjCjM BANKS COUNTY
U^Jamerican legion
Riders Post 215
Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 pd.or/io
.2^ 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
the wlettl @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 pa.-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.05/09
JEFFERSON
AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 .no
BANKS COUNTY
I|§ 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
r|f| VETERANS OF
W FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4thTuesdasy, 7:00 p.m.
Lamar Langston, Commander
Phone 706-652-2627 263
JESUS CHRIST
And His Restored Gospel!
Come Worship With Us!
4859 Mt. Olive Road, Commerce
Meeting Time: Sunday, 9:00 am
www.mormono.org
For Missionaries Call: 706-380-9927
The Church Of Jesus Christ
Of Latter-Day Saints pd.06/09
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
AMERICA!
706-335-1270 * www.WJJC.net
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