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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. For the best buys, read The Journal classifieds. 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. SAVE ENERGY. SAVE MONEY. 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