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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 30, 2009 — PAGE 7A
Furloughs .cont’dfrom 1A
McGhee said this was a bit of
legal maneuvering by the state.
“It’s like we got the choice,
which we really don't have,” he
said. "It does make us look like
we’re the bad guy, but it's also
some legal games that the state is
playing.”
As for the new schedule, taking
an entire week for Thanksgiving
break isn’t a new concept for
Madison County. In fact, the first
draft of the 2009-2010 school cal
endar (which wasn't used) had
the system taking that week off
anyway.
But school leaders had to come
up with a creative way to compen
sate for those extra two vacation
days.
As a result. 10 minutes will be
added to each day during the first
semester (which is allowed, thanks
to a new state law).
"That will mount up to two days
worth of school.” McGhee said.
Madison County is using this
10-minute system because kids
must go to school 180 days or the
equivalent hours.
"So we’re taking that equivalent
hours to try to work our deal.”
McGhee said.
Walton and Winder school
systems are also looking into the
10-minute-a-day option.
While the system has seemingly
reached a solution in this case,
McGhee said the bad news is that
this might not be the last time fur
loughs are an issue.
He expects the state to push for
more after Jan. 1.
McGhee said school systems are
at the state's mercy when it comes
to furloughs. The only other option
besides layoffs is to pay the dif
ference with fund balance, which
isn’t an option for already finan
cially-strapped districts.
“The only choice would be to
use your fund balance to pay for
it, but school systems have been
hit so hal'd recently, nobody has
enough fund balance to do that,”
McGhee said.
Budget .cont’dfrom 1A
Pethel proposed that county
commissioners put a moratori
um on all pay increases for six
months, a year or until the econo
my gets better.
"I wish we had the money to
give everybody a pay increase,
but we just don’t have it and it
looks like it’s going to be a while
before we do ... It’s a known fact
that we’re going to have to do
some adjusting to get the budget
down."
Commissioner Stanley Thomas
said the BOC doesn’t have control
over how constitutionally elected
officers handle their personnel
budgets.
"We voted that we weren't
going to give any pay raises
(this past year) and we had some
people in some constitutional
departments to give pay raises,”
said Thomas. "That’s their office.
They’re elected by the people just
like we’re elected.”
Thomas said a lot of pay increas
es are awarded after employees
complete training. In fact, the
BOC approved a pay increase
earlier in the evening Monday for
an appraiser who had completed
appraiser II certification classes.
The District 1 commissioner
said the board needs to consid
er what employee certification
best serves the county and then
approve such classes accordingly.
He said some certification classes
can bump employee pay without
necessarily improving things for
the county.
"That has been something we've
done in the past but we need to
look real closely at needs for that
amount of training,” said Thomas.
“... Is it (employee training) ben
eficial for our county, or is there a
need for it?”
County attorney Mike Pruett
said that there are certain checks
the BOC has on constitutional
officers.
"It's generally true that you
don’t dictate individual salaries
for employees of constitutionally
elected officers; you’re supposed
to give them a budget,” said Pruett.
"Now, at its logical extreme that
would mean that each constitu
tional officer gets a check every
year and they’re responsible for
providing all of their own services
and they have their own payroll
department, purchasing depart
ment, human resources depart
ment. None of them have that;
that would be a terrible duplica
tion of services.”
Pruett said that everyone has
worked on a type of "honor sys
tem,” with constitutional officers
"recognizing that they’re going
to use our services in the county
administrative offices and they’re
going to follow our rules.”
"And I think that, at least the
oretically, has applied to wage
and pay as well," said Pruett.
"Deputies and court clerks are on
our wage scale. I think we try to
assign them a pay supporting that
wage scale. Whether you can dic
tate that to them (constitutionally
elected officers) if there’s a show
down. probably not. But we have
to try to work with them on it so
that everybody’s on one page."
Pethel said his aim in pushing
for a wage increase freeze is to
keep from laying off employees.
“From the state on down, all
the surrounding counties are lay
ing off people, cutting jobs." said
Pethel. “And I am looking for a
way to try and keep everybody
we have and reduce the budget
to a state where we can make it
work.”
The group took no action on
Pethel’s proposal to put a morato
rium on pay increases, agreeing to
discuss the matter again Monday
night.
Meanwhile, the group agreed to
begin budget meetings this week,
starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday,
with possible meetings with the
probate court, magistrate court,
clerk of court and tax commis
sioner.
“These budget hearings we’re
going to have, these department
heads better buckle down,” said
Commissioner Mike Youngblood.
"Because I thought last year was
pretty tough, but this year is going
to be tough.”
“It will be the toughest we’ve
had,” responded Pethel.
Industrial authority
issues report to BOC
Madison County Industrial Development and Building
Authority executive director Marvin White issued the fol
lowing report to Madison County commissioners Monday:
“The 2008 Water System Improvement is nearing com
pletion. The Hull-Sanford and MADICO Park systems are
connected, which will allow water to flow into this one
system from wells at Hull-Sanford or MADICO. We are
working on the water system for Columbia Farms. The
wells are in, and the water lines connecting the wells along
Cooper Road are in. We will be getting the well house
constructed this week, along with treatment equipment in
the next couple of weeks to provide water for this industrial
park area. We hope to be able to construct a water tank on
this property for future industrial use.
The Highway 98 West water tank has been completed and
was placed in service July 7, 2009. We experienced several
delays in getting everything completed on this project.
The contractor (Griffin Brothers) began work on the
Harrison water project last week. Griffin Brothers stated
they expect this work to be completed in 6 months. This will
provide drinking water for the residen ts who need it along
with water for fire protection to this area of the county.
Construction should begin on the Hull-Sanford Waste
Water Plant mid-August. Driver Construction of Athens was
the low-bidder at $1,995,545. The MCID&BA accepted the
big and authorized the chairman to sign notice of award,
and to execute the contract with Driver Construction Co.
Inc.
The City of Danielsville entered an agreement with the
MCID&BA for engineering service. This will allow rea
sonable engineering sendees for the MCID&BA, Madison
County and the City of Danielsville.”
Support
Nadison County
SHOP LOCALLY
Sponsored by
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Danielsville council to meet Monday
The Danielsville City
Council will meet Monday,
Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. at city hall for
their regular August business
meeting.
Agenda items include:
Old business
•Madison Street lift station
•Water rates
•Wage study regarding ben
efits
•BOE lease agreement
New business
•Police chief monthly report
•City clerk monthly report -
budget and finance
•Qualifying fees - November
election
The Madison County Journal
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Subscribe by calling
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JEFFERSON EIONS CEUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
lefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 387-1156
Mack Cates, President
542
UNITY LODGE
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No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449
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Meets Tuesdays
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12:30 p.m.-(706) 367-7696
Gina Mitsdarffer, President
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BANKS COUNTY
AMERICAN LEGION
.2^- Georgia Real Estate Investors
vmra Association, Inc. - Athens
Meets the third Thursday each month
6:30 pm at the UGA Conferen ce Center
1197 South Lumpkin Street,
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Kiders Post 215
Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m.
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BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
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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.
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706-335-2622 pd.05/09
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Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
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For Missionaries Call: 706-380-9927
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