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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. FOR ONLY $5 YOU CAN LIST YOUR Let your members know wl Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your 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 In Business to Grow Your Business 1 A ■ HU Gina Belle's Cafe 706-336-6892 Join us for great food, great prices and wonderful service. WE WILL BE OPEN JULY 4th FOR BREAKFAST FROM 5:00 a.m. - ll:00 a.m.!! Call to hear our daily menu and to hear our daily specials. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU! Hwy. 98 W. (Midway between Commerce and Ila next to Food Mart) > fl