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PAGE 2A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 29. 2009
Madison County BOC to meet Monday
The Madison County Board
of Commissioners will meet
at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov.
2, in the county government
complex.
Agenda items include:
•Business involving guests,
groups or multiple visitors.
•Chairman's report
(Chairman Anthony Dove)
•Hearings and actions on
rezoning matters, special
use permits, etc.: (Linda
Fortson)
•Malcolm Myers’ request
to rezone four acres and an
existing mobile home from
his 14.61-acre parcel of A-l
to RR. This property is locat
ed on Map 11 Parcel 23 on
O'Kelly Road in District 1.
•Vickie and Ricky McElroy
are requesting to rezone a
5 acres from R-3 to A-2 to
combine with their adjoin
ing property. The property
is located on Map 12 Parcel
65-A on Aderhold Rogers
Road in District 1.
•Vicky and Ricky McElroy
are requesting to rezone a
3 acres from R-3 to A-2 to
combine with their adjoin
ing property. The property
is located on Map 12 Parcel
64-B on Aderhold Rogers
Road in District 1.
•Chairman Wayne Douglas
change to Section 7.14.1
of the zoning ordinance to
include the definition of
impervious surface.
•Statements and remarks
from citizens on agenda
items.
•Consent agenda: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
•Consider Master
Gardeners of Madison
County permission for a
community garden behind
the new extension office on
Sunset Drive in Danielsville.
(Victor Johnson and/or Gerry
Coutant)
•Consider appointment of
Gabe Martin to the next term
on the planning and zoning
board. (Wayne Douglas)
•Consider amending the
animal control ordinance.
(Commissioner Youngblood)
NEW BUSINESS:
•Consider promotion of
part-time EMS employee to
full-time status to fdl cur
rent vacancy. (Donna Sisk,
Human Resource Director)
•Roads update.
•Urgent matters.
•Statements and remarks
from citizens.
•Closed session to discuss
land acquisition, personnel
matters and/or potential liti
gation (if needed).
Food Bank... cont’d from 1A
“I don’t know what peo
ple are going to do,” Rooker
said, adding that the worst
of it is that she doesn’t see
an end in sight.
And while the need for
life’s basics continues to
grow, the Christmas season
is also approaching, which
means the center is gearing
up for its annual Christmas
kids’ program to distribute
gifts to needy children.
Last year, Christmas
gifts were provided for
more than 200 households
(579 children) in Madison
County, well above the
usual number.
And Rooker expects even
more applications for assis
tance this year.
In fact, people are already
calling to ask for Christmas
help.
“The phone’s been ring
ing off the hook,” she said.
The agency will take
applications for Christmas
assistance this year Oct.
26 - Nov. 12, Mondays
through Thursdays, from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m.
Applicants must come
to the office to sign up,
Rooker said.
“The needs just continue
to grow, I don’t see any
lessening,” she said, point
ing out that Social Security
benefit amounts have been
frozen for two years, which
also places an additional
hardship for those living
on fixed incomes.
"Their checks may have
been frozen, but their bills
aren’t,” she said.
And people are continu
ing to lose their jobs - a
story Rooker hears most
every day.
"A woman came by last
week, she’d had an acci
dent and been out of work
so long that (her employer)
let her go,” Rooker said.
"So I gave her some food,
and then I handed her a
bottle of shampoo, and
that’s when she cried.”
The next day, Rooker
said the woman called to
thank her, saying she had
"saved her life” by giving
her some shampoo so she
could clean up.
“When people don’t
even have the basics to
feel clean, that’s bad,” she
said.
But while the needs
mount, Rooker also notes
that the community “has
really stepped up to the
plate.”
Individuals, churches,
schools and civic organi
zations have all contin
ued, and in some cases
increased, their donations
of food and money.
“One lady, a senior
citizen herself, comes
by to give a donation of
$100-$150 every month,”
she said. "It’s really heart
ening, especially now.”
Dogs ... cont’d from 1A
said Dove. “We don’t want
to circumvent due process,
but we want to be protected.
There is a gap in the law
where that (apprehension
of the animal) has to take
place.”
The dog that attacked the
child was surrendered by its
owner the day after the inci
dent and euthanized.
Commissioner Mike
Youngblood, who worked
the Hidden Falls Drive inci
dent as a First Responder,
said the attack was "a ter
rible situation" and that the
board needs to do whatever it
can to prevent future occur
rences. However, he allowed
that an animal that gets off a
leash and runs to a neighbor’s
property can’t be stopped by
an officer. The akita dog got
off its leash and entered the
open door of a neighboring
home where it attacked the
boy. The mother fought the
dog off and officials said
the child could have died
without his mother’s quick
action.
"You could have had 10
animal control officers and
couldn’t have helped this
problem," said Youngblood,
who praised animal control
officer Jack Huff for his
response to the situation.
Huff said that he had seen
the dog before chained in
the owner’s carport and saw
nothing to indicate that it
would seriously maim a per
son.
"I thought it was a pretty
good guard dog,” he said.
The commissioners agreed
to have county attorney
Mike Pruett look at the ani
mal county ordinance and
the board will discuss the
matter again at its meeting
Monday night at 6:30 p.m.
in the county government
complex.
Documents ... cont’d from 1A
Motto, the preamble of the
Georgia Constitution, the Bill
of Rights and the description
of the image of the Lady
Justice.
Hudgens noted that the
documents must be donated.
The government cannot pay
for them.
In 2006, Gov. Sonny Perdue
signed H.B. 941 into law,
which authorizes local gov
ernments to erect historical
displays that include a copy
of the Ten Commandments.
County commission
ers voiced gratitude for the
donations and voted unani
mously to accept the gifts
from Ralph and Suzanne
Hudgens. No one spoke in
opposition of the donations
Monday.
Commissioner John Pethel
asked Hudgens if the coun
ty could face litigation for
accepting the donations.
“Suppose an organization,
you know who I’m talking
about, decided to have a
class action suit, would we
be defended by the attorney
general?” asked Pethel.
Hudgens responded: "I
don’t think it would come
to us to have to defend. It’s a
state law.”
Pethel said the donation
was a “gracious act."
BOC chairman Anthony
Dove said he was pleased to
accept the donation.
“I am glad to be a part of
these documents we’re going
to place up here,” he said.
Commissioner Bruce
Scogin said he appreciates
a governor who recognizes
“our right to hang these doc
uments in public places."
“They hand out birth con
trol pills in high school, con
doms,” said Scogin. “You
can worship almost anything
now and not get chided, but
when it comes to God, for
some reason some people
have a problem with that, but
not, I think, the majority of
the people.”
Scogin said the approval of
the documents could open a
door for other things, but that
the recognition of God in
public is a good thing.
“Who knows, some day
you may have to side step
a Buddha statue,” he said.
“We’ll have to deal with
that when the time comes.
I guess what I’m trying to
say is when you see people
who fight against the word of
God being spread. And the
word of God may not be for
everyone, but it’s good sound
doctrine for anyone to live
by. Even if you don’t believe
in it, it can’t hurt you.”
Commissioner Stanley
Thomas said he appreciates
the donation.
"It’s nice to see if you
look at things happening in
Washington and some of the
corrupt stuff that happens in
our government, that one of
our senators and his wife are
donating something to this
county that means what it
does," said Thomas. "I vote
yes."
$500
Ticket Of‘2CP° Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only.
5 00 0FF
La Hacienda Commerce
173 Steven B. Tanger Blvd.
706-335-7458
La Hacienda Braselton
5391 Highway 53
706-654-0070
The Original Mexican Restaurant! Not affiliated with any other restaurant.
Madison County Transfer Station
November Closings
The Madison County Transfer Station will be closed
on the following dates in November:
November 11,2009 - Veteran’s Day
November 26-27, 2009 - Thanksgiving Holidays.
JAIL BREAKS BY
CLASSIC CITY BONDING, INC.
706-354-8655
24/7/365 Fast & Friendly Service
Now Serving: Madison & Jackson Counties!
Also Clarke, Jackson, Oconee, Oglethorpe & Barrow Counties
Email: jailbreaks@classiccitybonding.com
Web: classiccitybonding.com
ATTENTION
HULL RESIDENTS
SPEED HUMPS ON
POPE MILLER ROAD
Please, any questions you have about the 3
speed humps at the end of Pope Miller Rd. in
Hull, call the City of Hull - don’t call me, I had
nothing to do with the humps or their location.
ROBERT L. SHELTON
Danielsville leaders
weigh more cost cuts
vs. tax rate increase
By Zach Mitcham
zach@mainstreetnews.com
Danielsville leaders haven't raised the city’s tax rate in
12 years.
But the city council faces a revenue shortfall this year,
with the choice of slashing another $50,000 out of the
budget or raising the city millage rate to cover expenses
in 2010.
Council members met several times in recent weeks to
pore over budget line items, looking for ways to cut costs.
City department heads have been asked this week to look
for additional cost-saving measures. And the council
will discuss its budget outlook again Monday night at its
regular council meeting at 7 p.m (See page 5A for the
agenda).
All other tax levying entities in Madison County have
set their millage rates this year, but Danielsville has yet to
determine what day it will set its tax rate, which has been
held steady at 2.85 mills for a dozen years. The council is
expected to set a date for millage rate approval Monday.
The group may also decide whether or not to raise its tax
rate. Council members said last week that they don't have
money for any wage increases next year, though they tra
ditionally offer cost-of-living increases to employees.
The Danielsville budget process has been complicated
this year by questionable line-item figures left by former
city clerk Michelle Dills, who is serving a four-year
prison sentence for stealing approximately $200,000 over
a six-year span.
City clerk Connie Riley said that determining the real
numbers in the budget has been a challenge.
“Our biggest issue with the next budget is this is the first
year we’ve had any real expenses and revenue numbers,"
said Riley. “They weren't recorded before. The book
keeping was never done in a fashion where you could
determine what was spent. I don’t know what she was
basing her numbers on and I couldn’t find anything to
verify her numbers."
City leaders have vowed to avoid any such occurrence
in the future, approving safeguard measures and spending
more time on budget line items.
A decision on the tax rate on Nov. 2 would come just
hours before two the contested mayoral race in the city on
Nov. 3. Long-time incumbent Glenn Cross faces a chal
lenge from new council member Philip Croya. Early voter
turnout for that election has been high.
DFACS .. • cont’d from 1A
them," Plank said. “If you only see them four times a year,
you don’t know."
Madison County workers actually spend many hours trav
eling to various events of foster care children, In fact, some
Madison County foster care kids are in group homes as far
away as west and south Georgia.
Plank acknowledged the added strain on staff but said bet
ter outcomes and faster results are already evident. In fact, a
sibling group of three recently returned to their parents in less
than 12 months, she noted.
“Previously, that’d be unheard of — unheard of,” Plank
said.
Though a year is a long time in a child’s life, the previous
average had been two to three years for Madison County fos
ter children to return to their parents. Plank said.
“We’re getting to know our families more, we’re going to
the parents’ house ... It is a lot more work on the worker, but
I think it’s better for the kids and the families in the long run,”
she said.
Local DFCS still under budget,
department breakfast is Nov. 20
In other news, the local office continues to spend expedi
tiously. With 75 percent of the year complete, Madison
County DFCS has spent just 36 percent of its budget.
Also, the department actually gained an employee with the
state appropriating funds for Madison County DFCS to hire a
social services worker.
Meanwhile, the department announced that its annual staff
appreciation breakfast is Friday, Nov. 20 at approximately 9
a.m.
// \\
City of Ila
PROPOSED WATER RATE
The Ila Mayor and City Council will hold a
public hearing on a proposed water rate
increase to take effect January 1, 2010.
A public hearing will be held on Monday,
Nov. 2, 2009 at 6:30 P.M. at the Ila City Hall.
RE-ELECT
Mayor
Billy
Burroughs
Tuesday
November 3
Paid for by the candidate.