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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 3. 2009 — PAGE 3A Bats .cont’dfrom 1A Seasonal flu vaccine now procedure will cost, since their removal has to follow specific guidelines as a protected species. "The way I understand it is that it is something that’s got to be done," District 2 Commissioner John Pethel said. "It's a major health issue, and the question is who we use, not if we do it or not,” District 1 Commissioner Stanley Thomas said. Dove explained that bat drop pings, or guano, are a threat to human health. He also said that waiting longer on ridding the old courthouse of the problem could damage the reconstruction work that has already been done on the building. "This is something that needs to be taken care of,” he said. Dove also said the bat issue is one of those things he never anticipated when he ran for county chairman. "I've learned more about bats than I've ever needed to know.” he said. “Mr. Strickland, rest assured if we were hying to hide any thing from you. it wouldn’t have been in the newspaper.” District 5 Commissioner Bruce Scogin said. The BOC will discuss the mat ter again at their Sept. 8 meeting. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT In other matters, Dove read a note from Janies and Linda Threlkeld Monday night, thanking them for the paving of Cherokee Road in commissioner Pethel’s district. On a similar note, the board voted to accept a state contract to move forward on the pav ing of Reggie Ingram Road and McGinnis Chandler Road in com missioner Thomas's district. Dove read a letter from Emory Flight III recognizing Madison County EMS and director Dwayne Patton for their help in guiding them in for landings during acci dents. Dove told the board that, sur prisingly. there was an 11 percent increase in SPLOST and LOST revenue to the county in August over revenue received during the same month in 2008. Dove also reported that new car pet has been installed in the county clerk’s office, which was paid for by new county clerk Linda Cox. BUDGET AMENDMENTS Commissioners plan to discuss amendments to the 2009 budget next week that may increase the county’s contingency fund by as much as $42,000. The board agreed Monday night to discuss the amendments at its Sept. 8 busi ness meeting. Dove said the BOC could move some funds not being used out of different departments to increase the contingency fund and prevent the money from being spent. Dove asked commissioners to talk with finance director Kathy Clark before next week's meeting if they have questions about the proposed amendments. OTHER MATTERS •The board agreed to amend the new personnel policy to require county employees to maintain accumulated vacation time at no more than 240 hours, instead of the 280 hours cun'ently fisted in the policy. Chairman Dove also agreed to allow those employees with a current excess of accumu lated hours to “whittle down" their time between now and 2011, the end of his cuirent administration. •Madison County residents Scott Edwards and Carl Deitrich, own ers of Fertile Crescent Gardens, were honored with a proclamation from the BOC for their “outstand ing achievements" in cleaning and restoring property on Roy Woods Road at the Broad River. The proclamation stated that they have turned "one of the most blighted properties into one of the most beautiful." The pair also received a "Certified Steward Award” from the Forestry Service for their efforts. •The BOC also agreed to enter into a partnership with 2010 Census efforts. Dove pointed out that the Census will help the coun ty with state and federal grants, future water sources and other resources for the county, which CORRECTION In last week’s article, “Old fort - new discovery for Madison County,” the woman listed as Charlotte Strickland Maney, should have been listed as “Charlene Strickland Maney.” We apologize for this error. Support Madison County SHOP LOCALLY Sponsored by The Hadison County Chamber of Commerce FOR ONLY $5 YOU CAN LIST YOUR < Let your members know wh Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in... • The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News • The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal PER MONTH, SROUP'S MEETINGS! en your group is meeting! NORTH GEORGIA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Meets the 1st Thursday each month at the Commerce City Public Library 1344 South Broad Street www.ne4ga.org w. 12 BANKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441 North in Homer pd.-07/io 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. Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org 706-335-2622 JEFFERSON 111 AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 .no BANKS COUNTY MB, AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.06/10 v|f| VETERANS OF W FOREIGN WARS Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr. Each 4thTuesdasy, 7:00 p.m. Jason Mergele, Commander Phone 706-367-7237 263 JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m.-(706) 367-7696 Gina Mitsdarffer, President 547 UNITY LODGE W F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449 Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m.-(706) 387-1156 Mack Cates, President 542 H9 BANKS COUNTY AMERICAN LEGION Riders Post 215 Meets each 2nd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.02/10 Georgia Real Estate Investors mSS Association, Inc. - Athens Meets the third Thursday each month 6:30 pm at the UGA Conferen ce Center 1197 South Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30601 Tom Hewlett - Chapter President thewlettl@charter.net pj 12/09 available at health dept. However, health dept, won’t offer shots Fri The Madison County Health Department has sea sonal flu shots available for the public, but it will not give shots Friday, Sept. 4, due to a statewide computer shutdown. “We apologize for any inconvenience,” health depart ment officials said. We will resume giving shots on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. If you have questions, call 795-2131.” are based on population figures. •The board agreed to allow E-911 director David Camp to enter contract negotiations with Southern Software, of North Carolina for the new computer- aided dispatch system, which will be funded through SPLOST mon ies. Camp pointed out that purchas ing officer Cheiyl Jensiud had obtained a manufacturer's price quote from Dell Computers for hardware for the system, which he estimates will save the coun ty $15,000 over purchasing the system directly from the vendor. Camp plans to present a proposed contract to commissioners at their Sept. 8 meeting. •The BOC agreed to adopt the ACCG (Association County Commissioners of Georgia) Inmate Medical Program. The program should provide signifi cant savings on inmate medical care since it provides Blue Cross/ Blue Shield insurance at PPO/ HMO contract prices, according to Cheri Wyatt, who handles med ical billing for the county. •The board also plans to discuss an 8 p.m. curfew for amplified music in the Madison County Memorial Park in Danielsville. District 4 Commissioner Pete Bond said he has received several complaints about loud music fol lowing a concert held earlier this year in the park. In a related matter, the board also agreed to discuss an amendment to the county wide noise ordinance that would address loud noises during the day. County attorney Mike Pruett said the amendment, if one is agreed to, could include certain exemptions for agricultural operations, special events and school activities. Routine seasonal flu vac cines are available a month early this year, according to local health department officials. Health departments in the 10-county health district sur rounding Athens (Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton) have flu vaccine available for the public. The usual high-risk patients should get the shot as they have every year, according to health offi cials. People over 65 and people with high-risk con ditions are at greatest risk for complications from sea sonal flu. However, as has been recommended for several years, the shot is also rec ommended for people of all ages from 6 months old and up. (The vaccine for chil dren flu (VFC) shots for those 18 years of age and younger will arrive later - call the Madison County Health Department to veri fy that VFC flu shots have arrived.) Flu shots remain at $25 and are covered by Medicare and Medicaid. No appoint ment is necessary, officials said, just walk in to your local health department. Hours are: Monday 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-6 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Officials say the shot contains antigens for the three flu viruses believed by experts to be the most likely to affect the United States this fall and winter. This seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against the pandemic strain of the new H1N1 (swine) flu virus, officials stress. Vaccine for that virus is being devel oped and tested but is not expected to be released until late in the fall. Symptoms of flu include sudden onset of fever, head ache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, nasal conges tion and body aches. In the U.S., flu usually peaks in late fall or winter. In addition to getting the annual flu shot, public health officials recommend these steps to prevent the spread of flu: wash your hands, especially before you touch your face or eat, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not avail able; don’t breathe where someone has just coughed or sneezed; cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper sleeve and stay home from work if you are sick to avoid spreading germs to others. Information on other clin ic s can be found by calling the Public Health Information Line at 1-800-4PD-HELP, or by visiting www. PublicHealthAthens.com. The Madison County Journal is your source for local news. Subscribe by calling 706795-2567. 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