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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 17. 2009 — PAGE 3A CITY NEWS Colbert draws closer to water contract By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Colbert is drawing closer to securing a half a million dollars worth of water improvements upon renewal of its water system contract. The city’s system is managed by Piedmont Water, and though Colbert’s 15-year agreement doesn’t expire until 2012, the city is moving forth with sign ing another long-term deal. “We’re negotiating on that, and it’s looking pretty favorable,” Mayor John Waggoner said. The contract extension is for 15 years, but Colbert could opt out at any time by paying a fee. Colbert currently earns 20 percent of the revenue from the water system. Under the renewal terms, Colbert is entitled to 40 percent of the revenue, or it can remain at 20 percent and add improvement projects as part of the renewal package. Piedmont can perform these water sys tem construction projects in-house. “Which would be quite a bit of sav ings,” Waggoner said. Colbert is eying several projects that warrant attention, including replacing substandard water lines on three differ ent streets and installing a water line under Hwy. 72 and the railroad at Canna Street. Waggoner noted the advantage of tak ing 20 percent of the revenue and nego tiating for upgrades. If Colbert didn’t opt for the $500,000 in improvements, the city would have to finance the improve ment projects far in advance, he said. And the improvements Colbert needs have to be done within four years. Colbert leaders consider sidewalks for Second Ave. By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Being on sound finan cial footing for 2009-2010, Colbert leaders will con sider adding sidewalks to Second Avenue from the intersection of Fourth Street to First Street. The council discussed the idea at its Monday night meeting and will talk about the item further next month. Mayor John Waggoner said the city has been “blessed," with its financial stability this year. “Our finances have come through and everything,” he said. “We’ll be in the black again this year." On that note, Colbert leaders may also help tax payers with part of the financial burden left by the state cutting its homeowner exemption program. The state had been giving homeowners a tax credit on their bills, but eliminated that due to the state’s rev enue problems. Waggoner noted the pos sibility of “maybe picking up the slack where the state has stopped giving that." But he added that he’s “not 100 percent sure on that yet.” Meanwhile, the city will adopt its budget at its October meeting, with Colbert leaders looking at a $500,000 spending plan this year. Expenses are actually down for 2009-2010 since the half million dollar bud get figure actually incorpo rates more SPLOST money than last year’s $449,000 budget did. “All in all, it was slightly less than a year before,” Waggoner said. The city held a public hearing to take citizen input over the budget, but no one spoke In another matter Monday, Colbert leaders denied a rezoning request Monday to allow a used car lot on property on Hwy. 72 West. The city council voted 2-1 against the rezoning, which would have changed the property from one com mercial designation (Cl) to another (C2). An office is currently located on the property. The council held a public meeting prior to the vote, which was attended by half a dozen people. One citizen spoke in favor of the car lot, while two spoke against it. Ongoing services ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Colbert Baptist Church annex and Fridays at 7 p.m. at the Danielsville Methodist Church annex. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Narcotics Anonymous meets at7 p.m. Monday at the Danielsville Methodist Church annex. SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS The Madison County Greys, Camp 1526, Sons of Confederate Veterans now meet on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the community room of First Madison Bank in Colbert, Ga. Contact Frank Gillispie at 706-540-0120 for more information. OVER FIFTY CLUB The Over Fifty Club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at Gordon’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Membership is open to people ages 50 and over. TOUCHDOWN CLUB The Madison County High School Touchdown Club meets Tuesday nights during football season at 7:30 p.m. The football program’s web site can be accessed at http://eteamz.active.com/ madisoncountyfootball/ MART The Madison Area Resource Team (M.A.R.T)/ Family Connection meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the old Danielsville courthouse at 8 a.m. Call 795-3565 for more information. TOPS MEETING The local chapter of TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) Club International meets each Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. with weigh-in from 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. at the lla Community Center on Sewell Mill Road. MCHS BAND BOOSTER CLUB MCHS Band Booster Club meets every fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the high school band room. Band parents are invit ed and encouraged to attend. GAMBLER’S ANONYMOUS Gambler’s Anonymous meets every Monday night at7:30p.m. at Living Word Baptist Church. For more information, call (404) 237-7281. AMERICAN LEGION The American Legion Post #39 of Danielsville meets the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. All veterans are welcome. 4-STAKES HORSESHOES Four-Stakes Horseshoes pitches every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The league is handi capped to give all pitch ers an equal chance. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Call 207-9831 for more information or visit www.freewebs. com/4stakes. MADISON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION The Madison County Master Gardeners Association meets the first Tuesday of every odd month at 7 p.m. at the Madison County Extension office. Meetings are open to members and guests. For more information about becoming a Master Gardener or about mem bership in MCMGA visit the website at: www. madisoncountymaster- gardeners.org. Or, con tact the Madison County Cooperative Extension office at 706-795-2281 or email gamcmga@yahoo. com. COLLINS DISTRICT VFD The Collins District Volunteer Fire Department meets the second Saturday night of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. Refreshments, free bingo, games and priz es provided. The youth night at the Collins VFD is held the last Saturday night each month from 7 to 10 p.m. To have an event listed in on-going services, call Margie Richards at (706) 795-2567. We Buy All Gold & Silver ''I'M Including: Class Rings • Wedding Bands • Coins • Broken Jewelry • Dental Gold .Gamesoiffe (J)| 770-532-2592 1020 Jesse Jewell Pkwy. • Gainesville, GA Mon. - Thurs. 10-6:30 • Fri. - Sat. 10-7 ECONOMY Oct. foreclosures still high, but down slightly from Sept. Thirty-five Madison County properties are advertised in this week’s paper for the October foreclosure sale, down from 37 in September and a record high of 50 for August. Through the first nine months of 2009, 296 foreclosures have been advertised in The Madison County Journal. In 2008, there were 260 foreclosures advertised, up from 150 in both 2006 and 2007. At the current pace, Madison County will end 2009 with 355 foreclosures advertised. While the foreclosure sales are advertised in the news paper, not all homes will necessarily be sold through the foreclosure process. Mortgage holders could still settle with lenders before the property is sold at the courthouse steps. Industrial authority to meet Mon. The Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 21, in the histor ic Madison County courthouse in the center of Danielsville. Agenda items include: •Financial report. •Water request: a. Rodney Rogers - water quality; b. Spratlin Pond - group. •Utility director report: a. billing report; b. 2008 water system expansion update; c. Harrison water system update - Bud Freeman and Aaron Brown Roads; d. Spratlin Pond update. •Other IDA-related issues: a. Seagraves Mill project; b. Hu I I/San ford sewer project update and resolution for GEFA; c. water supply agreement with Franklin County. Contested municipal races ahead in Madison Co. Contested races for local municipal seats on Nov. 3 include: •Glenn Cross (incumbent) and Philip Croya for mayor of Danielsville. •Billy Burroughs (incumbent) and David McMickle for mayor of Comer. •Ellyn Trinrud, Timothy Wyatt and Reginald A. Hunter for a Colbert City Council post. •Paul Cook (incumbent) and Paige Phillips for a Hull City Council post. LANDSCAPING & HORSE ARENAS • RIVER SAND • TOP SOIL • RIVER ROCK • WHITE SAND • FILL DIRT • PEA GRAVEL WILLIAMS SAND 770-967-6501 OR 706-789-3779 Danielsville, GA • www.williamstransportco.com Highway 106 to Jot-em Down Rd. to Young Harris Road to Serenity Lane Madison County Board of Commissioners Sealed Bids Madison County Board of Commissioners is seeking sealed bids for Law Enforcement/Jail Records Management Software. Sealed Bids will be accepted until 12:00 noon on September 25, 2009 in the Madison County Commissioners Office: 91 Albany Avenue, RO. Box 147 Danielsville, GA 30633. Bids should be marked “SEALED BID”. For further information contact: Allison Craig at 706-795-6205. The Madison County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids. COMER WATER SYSTEM Hydrant Flush City of Comer Maintenance personnel will perform a hydrant flush on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 22 & 23. The two-day schedule is necessary to allow an adequate water reserve to be maintained. Approximately 50% of hydrants will be flushed on Tuesday, September 22 and, after the storage tank is allowed to replenish overnight, the remaining hydrants will be flushed on Wednesday, September 23. The flushing sequence will be one recommended by the Georgia Rural Water Association. This sequence minimizes problems during the flushing process while clearing the system of as much mineral buildup as possible. Additionally, hydrants with an operational problem are tagged for repair. Customers should be alert to discolored water during and shortly after these dates. We Custom Build on Your Land! Tomorrow’s Homes, Inc. New Location: 1960 Main Street (Just off Hivy. 72) Comer, GA 30629 tomorrowshomes.com FISH DAY • 4-6” Catfish $39.00 pen 100 • 6-8” Catfish $59.00 pen 100 • 8-11” Catfish $95.00 pen 100 To purchase 8-11 ” catfish, you must bring your own container and water (Too big to bag). Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Hybrid Blue Gill, Red Ear Sun Perch, Minnows, Grass Carp Thursday, Sept. 24 • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Southern States • Winder, GA 770-867-3144 Thursday, Sept. 24 • 4:00 p.m. ■ 5:00 p.m. Maddox Feed >1915 Winder Hwy., Jefferson, GA 706-367-9207 Friday, Sept. 25 • 11:00 a.m. ■ 12:00 Noon Southern Outdoors • 20519 Hwy. 441 l\l., Commerce, GA 706-336-8875 No Pre-Orders Necessary! Just show up! Tommy’s Fish Truck • 501-796-6349 • www.tommysfishtruck.net Thank you for your understanding.