Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 23 2009
Services .cont’dfrom 1A
“Since last July, it’s been over a 20 percent increase,’’ she
said. “And if we go back two years, it’s closer to a 50 percent
increase.”
Plank said her staff has worked hard to help struggling local
families. But the state government’s revenue shortfall has
led to reduced budgets for social services. And DFCS staff
members have faced their own financial setbacks this year, as
furloughs have cut into their pay, even as their caseloads have
increased. There’s also been a hiring freeze at DFCS.
“As folks have left, we’ve not been able to rehire,” said
Plank. “We’ve had a 20 percent increase in caseload and we’re
down staff positions. So, it’s been a push from both sides with
more cases and fewer people to do the work.”
The local DFCS director said the tough economic times take
a toll on social service workers.
“My folks are troopers and they are holding up, but it’s
hard,” said Plank. “It’s hard to interview people. It’s hard to
have thousands of cases and still be able to maintain your
personal morale and still be able to be a support to families
coming in asking for help.”
Plank said many of the people asking for help these days
have never asked for help before.
“They’re at the end of the rope,” she said of families in need.
“And it’s very emotional for them. It’s very stressful for them.
And my workers, who interview people all day long, are hear
ing these stories over and over again. And they’re trying to be
supportive and help this family get the services they need, but
it does take an emotional toll.”
While the economic pinch on DFCS has been severe this
year, Plank said her office used fewer county funds in the first
six months of this year than anticipated. DFCS relies primarily
on state and federal funding to cover the cost of services.
“Through the first six months of this year we should be at
50 percent (of budgeted county funds) and we’ve spent only
27 percent,” she said.
Plank offered that encouraging news to DFCS board mem
bers Friday morning during a brief meeting.
Also of note Friday, Sheila Collins was named the DFCS
board chairman, while Ann Stone will serve as vice chair
man.
Madison Co. BOC to meet Monday
The Madison County Board
of Commissioners will meet
at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July
27, in the county govern
ment complex.
Agenda items include:
•Chairman’s report.
(Chairman Dove)
•Report from IDA - Marvin
White.
•Statements and remarks
from citizens on agenda
items.
•Consider lease of copier
for sheriff’s department.
(Sheriff Thomas)
•Consider signing group
adoption agreement for the
ACCG inmate medical.
(Chairman Dove)
•Consider refund request
for Watson Home Builders
and Gail Bates. (Robin
Baker)
•Consider advancement for
Renee Botelho from apprais
er I to appraiser II. (Robin
Baker)
•Consider personnel issues
for EMS. (Donna Sisk)
•Discuss changing Human
Resource Director Donna
Sisk from hourly to salaried
status. (Chairman Dove)
•Discuss personnel issues
for the road department
(Tony Mattox)
•Consider Virginia
Lane 25 mph speed limit.
(Commissioner Youngblood )
•Consider future pay
increases. (Commissioner
Pethel)
•Consider amendment to
criminal justice technologies
software license and support
agreement. (Mike Pruett)
•Discuss personnel policy.
(Chairman Dove)
•Consider transport
of bodies for coroner.
(Commissioner Youngblood)
•Roads update. (Chairman
Dove)
•Urgent matters.
•Review August 3, 2009
agenda for business meet
ing.
•Statements and remarks
from citizens.
•Closed session to discuss
land acquisition, personnel
matters and/or potential liti
gation (if needed).
IDA ..cont’dfrom 1A
primary business zone in
the southern portion of the
county.
In other matters Monday,
the authority discussed the
construction of the Harrison-
area water system, which
is scheduled to begin this
week. Authority members
agreed to offer a $650 dis
count in connection fees to
Harrison residents along the
path of the lines, but only
if they hook up during the
initial construction.
The project is part of the
American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
provided to Georgia for
shovel-ready projects. The
federal funding consists
of a 70 percent subsidy
($1,610,000) and a three-
percent 20-year loan on
the remaining 30 percent
($690,000).
The IDA recently approved
a contract with Griffin
Brothers out of Maysville of
roughly $1.2 million to con
struct the Harrison system.
The water system will
include approximately 8.5
miles of water lines. It will
tie Madison County to the
Royston water system, with
an eight-inch water main
from Royston to the Harrison
Fire Department, and six-
inch lines elsewhere.
Leaders say the system
will improve fire protection
and provide water services
to a good portion of the
county on the outskirts of
Royston.
In other matters, the IDA
approved a maintenance
contract through 2018 for the
Hwy. 72 water tank. They
approved an agreement with
the city of Danielsville for
engineering services. They
approved large tap and meter
fees. They learned that the
industrial authority had 650
customers in June who were
billed over $42,000, with
7.44 million gallons of water
sold for the month. And they
received a proposed 2010
IDA budget from execu
tive director Marvin White,
who said the budget is down
about 10 percent. The group
did not discuss the budget
Monday, but will consider
the matter later.
Hull ..cont’dfrom 1A
Hwy. 29 .cont’dfrom 1A
chairman Anthony Dove, who attended Hull’s council meet
ing, told the council that he is “very impressed with all that’s
going on in Hull, especially the steps being taken to move the
city forward.”
He urged city leaders to continue their work and told them
that the state’s LARP program to help cities pave local sheets
has been re-opened. He also said some grant funding, which
had dried up due to the state’s budget crisis, may now be
available.
Dove also discussed the expected shortfall in county revenue
for 2010 - saying it may be down as much as 10 percent.
“I see it as a wake up call for us to change the way we look at
government,” Dove said.
In other business, the council heard from city clerk Sandra
Pou that the final report from the special election gave 28
votes to Brandon Fortson and six votes to Randell King. A
provisional vote was not able to be counted because the voter
had not changed their address.
The council welcomed Fortson, who was sworn into office
by Pou.
The council agreed to pay Pou, who serves as the city’s
election superintendent, $1,000 for her work connected to the
special election.
Mayor Elkins and councilwoman Becky Elkins gave a report
on their recent trip to the GMA convention, where they attend
ed conferences on the upcoming census, grants, environmental
concerns and the “going green” effort, the importance of com
munication, and other issues. Mayor Elkins said the GMA also
suggested that small towns consider forming associations with
other small towns.
Jobs .cont’dfrom 1A
are receiving federal extended benefits.
Thurmond added, “Georgia leaders should develop a bi
partisan recovery plan that focuses on three critical elements:
protecting vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly,
and the sick; preserving our health, safety, and educational
institutions; and encouraging economic development invest
ments that promote job creation and future prosperity.”
The June jobless rate was up 4.0 percentage points from 6.1
percent at this same time last year. Georgia’s unemployment
rate remained above the national rate of 9.5 percent for the
20th consecutive month.
The number of payroll jobs in June decreased 209,500, or
5.1 percent, from June of 2008. The over-the-year losses came
in professional and business services, including temporary
employment agencies, manufacturing, trade, transportation
and warehousing, and in the construction industry.
On a positive note, health care and educational services,
showed a combined increase of 12,000 jobs.
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windy road along the way.
“What we’re going to do
is flatten out the hill and
straighten out the curve,”
Pope said.
That would change the
highway significantly in
some spots — up to 1,000
feet from the existing road
way — Pope said.
“So we want folks who
live along this section of
Hwy. 29 to please come
look at it and see where the
proposal is,” Pope said.
The second phase is a
6.5-mile, four-lane bypass
of Danielsville on the west
ern edge, feeding back
into Hwy. 29 at Irwin Kirk
Road.
“This project will improve
the traffic flow through the
area by creating addition
al lanes for vehicles and
building the Danielsville
bypass around the western
side of town,” DOT District
Engineer Russell McMurry
said in a press release.
“Please come see the plans
and let us know what you
think.”
The first portion of the wid
ening project would require
125 parcels of land, totaling
$27.4 million in right-of-
way costs. Construction will
cost $20.6 million.
Construction of the bypass
will cost $55.4 million.
Seventy-five parcels of land
are required, costing the
DOT $22.6 million.
The proposed widening
will also provide 12-foot
travel lanes in each direc
tion, separated by a 32-foot,
grassed median. Plans
include 10-foot outside
shoulders.
Those unable to attend
the public hearing can view
the plans and leave com
ments on the Georgia DOT
website at dot.ga.gov. Click
on “information center,”
then “public outreach,” and
“Madison County.”
Citizens may also mail
comments to Glenn
Bowman, Georgia DOT,
3993 Aviation Circle,
Atlanta, Ga., 30336.
Comments, which must be
received by Aug. 13, will be
considered in the final proj
ect design.
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