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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. AUGUST 27. 2009 — PAGE 3A 2009 tax bills expected this year By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County taxpayers can expect to get their 2009 tax bills this year, with offi cials hoping to have tax bills out by early November. Chief appraiser Robin Baker said he spoke with Department of Revenue offi cials last week and the state has determined that the coun ty’s appeal total is accept able, meaning the county’s digest — or overall property value — can be submitted for approval by the state. “We’re good on our appeals and so we’re moving for ward,” said Baker. The county appraisal office received 635 appeals from residents who disputed the assessed value of their prop erty. The appeal total is more than three percent of the total parcels in the county. And Baker had expressed con cern that the state would not accept the county’s digest with more than three percent of properties under appeal. He informed assessor board members in recent months that the three percent thresh old is required unless a coun ty is conducting a total reval uation of values — which only requires a five percent threshold. But Baker spoke with a DOR official last week, who informed him that the county didn’t have to meet the three-percent threshold, which would have meant that appeals couldn’t exceed 480. BOC chairman Anthony Dove said this is welcomed news. He said one of his pri mary goals in office this year was to get tax bills out in 2009. “We’ve been trying to get back on schedule,” said Dove. “It’s important for the citizens and how they budget, espe cially for people with escrow accounts. And it’s important for how the county budgets, too.” In a separate matter, Madison County’s new three-member board of assessors met briefly Wednesday afternoon to set meeting times and to name officers. The group agreed to reduce their monthly meeting schedule from twice a month to once a month. The BOA’s regular meeting will be held on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. The group named Ralph McCay as chairman and Janis Ellis as vice chairman. Lynn Hix also serves on the board. The three members have 180 days to complete their 40-hour cer tification training. Baker said classes are offered in October and February in Hapeville and Dahlonega. Qualifying for municipal elections ahead A number of municipal posts will be up for grabs in November in Madison County. Qualifying for those elections will begin Aug. 31. Here is a brief look at the county’s municipal elec tions: Colbert Three positions at the Colbert City Council table will be up for grabs Nov. 3. They are the mayor’s post, held by John Waggoner, and council seats currently held by Chris Peck and Roger Fortson. All offices are two-year terms beginning in Jan. 1, 2010, and ending Dec. 31, 2011. Those wishing to qualify for this election should file a notice of candidacy in the Colbert City Hall, 23 South 4 th Street, Colbert, with the election superintendent between Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The qualifying fee for the mayor is $111.20 and $45.20 for council seats. The deadline for voter reg istration for the November election is Oct. 5. Early vot ing will begin Oct. 13 and Oct. 30 during normal city hall business hours and 7 Doa Daws 01 August • Fresh Produce • Honey • Baked Goods • Plants • Incense • Music • Seeds • Crafts • Handcrafted Soaps • Handcrafted Jewelry • Craft Demonstrations Saturdays, 8am-Noon comerfarmersmarket@gmail.com 706-788-9719 Founder’s Comer by Buhl Cummings WEEK...What a great first week of school at Athens Christian School last week. The teachers were ready and the students came back excited. The many new students are already fitting right in. Our teams are practicing, with the coaches giving them plenty of water breaks. The youth football (ages 5-12) is also underway. We sometimes call ACS “the opportunity place”. If you want your children to be in a school with strong academics, many opportunities in athletics, cheerleading, music, and drama, all in a caring Christian atmosphere, ACS is the place for you. ATHENS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL “Affordable Quality Education Since 1970” K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586 www.athenschristian.com a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day. Hull Elections will be held for two positions on the Hull City Council Nov. 3. Those posts include the mayor’s seat, held by Paul Elkins, and a council seat held by Paul Cook. Both offices carry four-year terms, which will run from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2013. Those wishing to qualify for this election should file a notice of candidacy in the Hull City Hall, 1326 Old Elberton Road, with the elec tion superintendent on Aug. 31 between 9-10:30 a.m.; Sept. 1 between 5-6:30 pm.; or Sept. 2 between 4-5:30 p.m. The qualifying fee for mayor is $37.50 and $19.50 for the council seat. The deadline for voter reg istration for the November election is Oct. 5. Early voting will be Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Hull Civic Club on Old Elberton Road. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day at the same location. Comer The city of Comer will hold municipal elections Nov. 3, with the following offices on the ballot: mayor, incum bent William E. Burroughs, with the term beginning Jan. 1, 2010, and ending Dec. 31, 2011: councilperson for District 1, incumbent Melissa Yarbrough, with the term beginning Jan. 1, 2010, and ending Dec. 31, 2013; and councilperson for District 4, incumbent Laquita Bridges, with the term beginning Jan. 1, 2010, and ending Dec. 31, 2013. Candidates for councilper son must be a resident of the district for which they qualify. Qualifying begins Monday, Aug. 31, at 8:30 a.m. and will close on Friday, Sept. 4, at 4:30 p.m. at Comer City Hall at 70 Hwy. 72 E during normal business hours. The qualifying fee is $60 for mayoral candidates and $45 for councilperson candidates. Carlton All seats at the Carlton City Council table will be up for grabs Nov. 3. This includes the mayor’s seat currently held by Rufus Kidd and five council posts held by Robert Tucker, David Seawright, Mary Tucker, Call 245-2695 24 Hour Obituary News Compliments of tP/'irill ’ffFimeral f/(omc, f/nc. “Locally Owned and Operated Since 1905” 47 Franklin Springs St. Royston. GA 30662 (706) 245-7234 Claudia Thornton and Myron Hedgelon. All seats carry two-year terms, extending from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31,2011. Qualifying will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 1-3 at the Carlton City Hall/ Fire Hall. The qualifying fee is $48.75 for mayoral candi dates and $32.50 for council candidates. Danielsville Three posts will be on the ballot in Danielsville Nov. 3, the mayor’s seat currently held by Glenn Cross, and two council posts held by Phillip Croya and Barbara Dove. Qualifying will begin Monday, Aug. 31, and end Friday, Sept. 4, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Danielsville City Hall. The qualifying fee is $82.19 for mayor and $56.41 for coun cil seats. The Madison County Journal is your source for local news. Call 706-795-2567 to subscribe. Furloughs to close county DFCS office on certain days in 2010 By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com The Madison County Department of Family and Children Services office will close on certain days as the state con tinues to furlough workers under a tightening budget. Department employees expected furloughs — unpaid days off— in conjunction with Labor Day, Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays, but additional furloughs were handed down recently. One was added for Columbus Day, while the DFCS office will close one Friday a month in January, February, March and April and two Fridays a month in May and June for furloughs. There’s a chance DFCS may avoid the May and June furloughs, however. “Hopefully, something will be straightened out by then, and we won’t actually have to do it,” Plank said. The office will provide notice in advance regarding which days DFCS will close. Any emergency calls to DFCS during office closure days will be directed to 911. “And then 911 has the on-call worker just like it’s after- hours or on weekends,” Plank said. While scheduling some of these furloughs on holiday days will help. Plank still expects busy days following furlough days. She said that’s already the case when the office reopens after a three-day weekend. “If we’re closed on a Monday, when Tuesday comes, it’s just twice as many people,” she said. But furloughs are better than the alternative. Plank added. “We’ll take furloughs if it prevents layoffs,” she said. Meanwhile, the department continues to keep a close watch on its expenses during the funding crunch. Though July, it had spent only 33 percent of its budget with 58 percent of the year complete. “We’re doing pretty good for the year so far,” Plank said. In other DFCS news, the department finalized four adoptions in July, according to Plank. “We’ve got a lot of things moving in Madison County, so I’m really pleased with that,” she said. 2530 Macedonia Church Rd. • Danielsville September 5 - Noon to Dusk September 7 - All Day 706-795-2747 706-795-2737 Day of Hunt Only Not responsible for accidents! MUSCADINE AND SCUPPERNONG grapes are ready at Thaxton’s Vineyard. Located 8 miles East of Lexington on Hwy. 78. Open 7 days. IWDillEeiliGgHli Super Summer MOTHER’S MORNING |j OUT PRESCHOOL Jj Do you want your child II I* ready for kindergarten? Bundle of Love Group Home in Comer is now offering Mother’s Morning Out Preschool for ages 2-5 Half Davs: 8am - 12:30pm Full Davs: 7am - 6:00pm 3 Days - $50 Mon. Wed. & Fri. 3 Days - $70 Mon. Wed. & Fri. 5 Days - $70 Mon. - Fri. 5 Days - $90 Mon. - Fri. Under 2 Class Available - $100/week Mon. - Fri. *Rates include Pre-K lessons, breakfast & lunch. P P ft <1 rj Call Kimberly, Director/Preschool Teacher ' 706-783-0077 or 706-255-6187 Vy0)tfuiVv0)Tli Mother's Morning Out Preschool Begins September 8. Please register by September 5. Registration Fee ?40. Carhartt Hard at work since 1889." 20% /o OFF Carhartt Summer Items 'Excludes pants & accessories. Madison County Hardware & Building Supplies, Inc 535 General Daniel Ave., North Danielsville, GA 30633 706-795-2260