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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 23, 2009 — PAGE 7A
County commissioners hire PT
help for courthouse security
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
Madison County commis
sioners want to secure the
county government complex
— but at what cost?
The group discussed the
matter on several occasions in
recent weeks, agreeing July 15
to hire four part-time workers,
who will now man the metal
detectors at the front and back
doors of the Madison County
government complex. Three
of the four employees have
some security background,
commissioners said.
While two deputies are leav
ing the courthouse, Sergeant
Willie Wilbanks will remain
at the building full time to
oversee security. And the
part-time workers will have
communication equipment to
contact Wilbanks in the case
of an emergency.
The BOC office estimated
the cost of the part-time help
at $13,920 for the rest of the
year and $30,160 for 2010.
The commissioners approved
a budget amendment to cover
the cost of the part-time help
for the rest of the year, but the
2010 expenses will be consid
ered during upcoming budget
discussions.
The estimated costs were
based on the expense of
employing minimum wage
workers for 40 hours a week
at two courthouse doors.
Earlier cost estimates provid
ed by the sheriff’s office were
lower than the BOC’s projec
tions, but those calculations
only included the expense of
manning one door.
Commissioners say the
expense of part-time help will
be dramatically lower than
what it takes to fund full-time
deputies at the government
complex.
But Magistrate Judge
Harry Rice, who attended
Wednesday's meeting, told
commissioners that two
deputies are already required
during Superior Court func
tions, adding that the Superior
Courtroom is in use rough
ly three days a week, with
the Magistrate, Juvenile and
Probate courts also using the
room. He said courtroom dep
uties are paid at time and a half
and he suggested the BOC
look at integrating courthouse
security detail with courtroom
security as a way to cut costs
by paying deputies at their
regular salary, rather than
time and a half.
Commissioner Bruce
Scogin said the issues of
courtroom and government
complex security are different.
He said the primary objective
in Wednesday’s action was
to free up deputies for work
outside of the government
complex.
Commissioner Stanley
Thomas agreed, saying he
favors having deputies on
patrol in the county, rather
than in the courthouse.
“I feel strongly about put
ting our deputies out in the
county,” he said.
Hiring part-time help was
also necessary because Sheriff
Thomas said he doesn’t have
the funds to man two court
house doors with deputies. He
said he would have to close
the back door of the complex
unless the board hired part-
time help. Chairman Anthony
Dove has opposed closing the
back door, noting that more
parking spaces are available
in the back and that many citi
zens use that door for county
business.
The board agreed to pay
for two white Polo shirts for
each security employee. The
shirts will include the county
logo. The security staff will
be trained by the sheriff’s
department but will be under
the supervision of Chairman
Dove.
Fortson sworn in
New Hull coun
cilman Brandon
Fortson was
sworn in to
office at Monday
night’s meeting
by city clerk
Sandra Pou.
Margie Richards/
Staff
Hull-Sanford receives
‘healthy’ grant
The Madison County School System did receive one
good grant report amid the bad news at last week’s school
board meeting.
Hull-Sanford landed the ‘‘fresh fruit and vegetable grant”
for next year.
This will allow the school to vary the menu with fruits
and vegetables and offer more nutritious snacks.
Only 53 schools in the state received this grant.
St. Mary’s to donate
emergency vehicles
St. Mary’s Health Care System is donating eight
used emergency vehicles to deserving community
organizations that can demonstrate they will put the
former ambulances to good use.
From now until Sept. 1, St. Mary’s will accept pro
posals from organizations that are interested in one or
more of the ambulances. Any non-profit, school, col
lege or government agency may apply. Applications
will be reviewed by St. Mary’s and vehicles will be
granted to the organizations that St. Mary’s deter
mines will best use them to serve the community.
The ambulances are available because St. Mary’s
outsourced its Emergency Medical Services to
National EMS in March and no longer needs the
eight vehicles. Four of the ambulances are van-type
vehicles while the other four are larger, truck-style
ambulances. All are Fords, and range from a 2006
model with just over 64,000 miles to a 1998 model
with nearly 235,000 miles.
“We have already awarded one ambulance to St.
Mary’s Auxiliary for use in picking up donations
to St. Mary’s Hospice House Thrift Store,” said
Stephanie Walsh, grant specialist for St. Mary’s
Foundation. “Our hope is that these vehicles will help
other service organizations in our area, especially
non-profits, improve or expand their service to our
community.”
All vehicles will be transferred “as is” and with no
warranties. Organizations that receive them will be
responsible for repainting the trucks and any other
costs associated with transporting them or refitting
them for a new use.
Proposals must include the name, mission, goals
and population served by the organization, along
with information about how the ambulance will
be used and who it will serve. Winning proposals
must be consistent with St. Mary’s mission to be a
compassionate healing presence in the community,
and agencies must agree not to sell, transfer or give
the ambulance to another organization or person.
Preference will be given to non-profit organizations
in the Northeast Georgia area, but any qualifying
organization may apply.
For complete application details or for more infor
mation about the former ambulances, contact Walsh
at 706-389-3928 or by email at swalsh@stmarysa-
thens.org.
JEMC warns about new phone scam
Jackson Electric
Membership Corporation
(EMC) is cautioning mem
bers to be aware of a new
phone scam that’s tricked
some Georgia utility con
sumers into compromising
their credit card numbers in
an effort to keep their power
on.
Though Jackson EMC cus
tomers so far appear unaf
fected, some Georgia util
ity customers are reporting
fraudulent phone calls from
persons claiming to be a util
ity employee and demanding
credit card information to
prevent immediate discon
nection. In a few instances,
customers have provided the
perpetrator with credit card
information that was then
used to fraudulently wire
money to Alabama.
Though Jackson EMC has
yet to receive reports of any
similar calls placed to mem
bers, employees were recent
ly advised to remain alert to
suspicious activity and report
any similar customer com
plaints or inquiries to their
supervisors.
“Our members should be
aware that Jackson EMC
employees never call cus
tomers to ask for a credit
card number or make any
similar demand of payment,”
said Brent Cochran, Jackson
EMC’s director of customer
service.
If a Jackson EMC member
is past-due and scheduled for
disconnect, they receive a
pre-printed notice, and an
automated phone call with
a pre-recorded message
informing the customer that
they are scheduled for dis
connect. The call instructs
members to contact their
local office to make payment
arrangements.
Cochran said that if a mem
ber calls to inquire about
or report a suspicious activ
ity regarding their account,
a “fraud alert” can be placed
on their account to help pro
tect them in the future.
“If anyone has a question or
concern about their account,
or something they’re hear
ing from someone claiming
to represent Jackson EMC,
the best thing they can do
it is just contact their local
Jackson EMC office direct
ly for assistance,” Cochran
said.
To contact your local
Jackson EMC office, visit:
www.jacksonemc.com/con-
tact.
The Madison County Journal
is your source for local news.
Subscribe by calling 706-795-2567.
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