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PAGE 2A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 2009 Finances ... cont’d from 1A Taxes ... cont’d from 1A Miller noted that the audits have improved on several fronts. “From where y'all were to where we are now is just great,” Miller said, pointing out that the reports have gone from 50 to 70 comments (concerns) down to just two. “You're not on any delinquency list now,” he told the committee And Miller said two previ ous major concerns, namely infrastructure values and EMS receivables (money to be received from EMS services, such as ambulance services), have been taken care of. He said Clark went back retroactively and accumulat ed infrastructure values from 1980 forward, converting the cost to current values, includ ing depreciation. And Miller told the commit tee that the county now has a 60-percent collection rate on ambulance fees, which is con sistent with the national aver age. Miller pointed out that the collection rate for EMS fees was estimated by auditors in the high 30 percent range in the past few years. “Now that's far better,” he said. Miller said on-time prop erty tax collections and an improved collection rate on ambulance fees have made a big difference in the county fund balance (contingency fund), bringing it to a healthy 32 percent, which gives the county a good “cushion” between tax cycles. He added that the county should not need to borrow money to run the government, as it has resorted to in previ ous years. “Once you get on track, its not hard to stay on track,” Miller said. “And it's just a lot easier to audit something that's current.” “Kudos to the finance office for doing a great job for the county,” Miller said. Commission chairman Anthony Dove agreed, prais ing Clark and the finance department, as well as clerk Linda Cox for their work at keeping records straight. Dove said he now receives copies of cash receipts daily, that double signatures are required on all cash receipts and that he receives a weekly finance report from Clark. “And I can say this, Kathy (Clark) don’t want to be off one penny,” he added. “I’m real proud of this,” commissioner and finance committee member Stanley Thomas said. “We've sat through some rough sessions on this committee and went through some bad things, from the audits being two to two and a half years behind where we couldn’t get state grant money, to getting only 30 percent of $1 million a year in EMS receipts.” Thomas added that with “money disappearing” con stituents were losing confi dence in their local govern ment. “I appreciate all the hard work of all the employees, including our constitutional officers,” Thomas said. “I’m really happy.” on people, but adding that at least the 2009 bills are being mailed in 2009. Tax bills have been perennially late in recent years. While local tax rates remained steady this year, homeowners can expect an increase of about $240 on their bills since the state government eliminated the Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant this past year. Local governments had no say in that decision. OTHER BUSINESS In other matters Monday, the BOC learned that sales tax col lections were up slightly last month. The board approved three zoning requests with no opposition. The commissioners agreed to allow the Madison County Master Gardeners to plant a com munity garden behind the new extension office on Sunset Drive in Danielsville. The board approved Gabe Martin for another term on the county planning commission. The commissioners approved two promotions in the EMS department from part-time to full-time employment. The BOC approved speed limit signs of 35 mph on Charlie Morris Road. The commissioners also approved a new definition of "impervious surfaces” in the county zoning ordinance, recognizing a “man-made structure or surface which prevents infiltration of storm water into the ground below the structure or surface.” Theft.. • cont’d from 1A • • • cont’d from 1A Election time Mayor John Waggoner in Colbert. Peck, currently a Colbert councilman, was elected Tuesday night in an uncontested race. Waggoner opted not to run for re-election after serving 40 years in that post. In city council races, Paige Phillips beat incumbent Paul Cook 23-6 in Hull’s second election this year. Phillips joins Wayne Melton, Brandon Fortson (who has elected in a could be more receptive to the H1N1 shot over to the nasal spray, but Dumpert said there seems to be public disinterest in general to the vaccine, which alarms him. “I find that very discouraging and very scary that so many peo ple are willing to not develop an immune response for a vims that very few people have experience for and could sweep through our June special election), Becky Elkins and mayor Paul Elkins at the Hull council table, “Paige is really happy ... She was very pleasantly sur prised,” Paul Elkins said. Meanwhile, Colbert, again, proved that one election wouldn’t be enough. Ellyn Trinrud (31 votes) was the top vote-gainer in a three- candidate race that included Tim Wyatt (22) and Reginald Hunter (20), but didn’t gain a population," he said. Dumpert said he’s “doing his homework right now” to find out why the public isn’t more recep tive to the vaccine. Among the notions that Dumpert wants to dismiss is that the HINI vaccine was produced too quickly. He says the HINI vaccine was produced with exactly the same process and testing protocol as majority of the votes. Trinrud now faces Wyatt in a Dec. 1 runoff. Early voting starts Nov. 10. Colbert had a runoff back in April, also involving Trinrud, after no candidate earned a majority of the votes during a March special election for Jeff Roberts’ vacated council seat. Trinrud eventually lost that race to Evelyn Patton Power. Now, the city faces the pro cess for the second time in the seasonal flu shot. “Since we have a different strain of seasonal flu every year, we have a new vaccine every year,” Dumpert said. “So we only have one year to produce this stuff. And the H1N1 shot was seven months. “Yes, sir,” Colbert mayor John Waggoner said. “It’s one of those things we have to do.” Whoever emerges from the runoff will join Bert Robinson, Patton Power and Roger Forston, who was re-elected Tuesday in an uncontested race, on the council. In Comer, Jimmy Yarbrough and Laquita Bridges won uncontested council races. produced with the same timeline, with the same process.” He added that the H1N1 vac cine is essentially the same as the seasonal flu vaccine. The only difference is the viral compo nent. Lavender was asked if his office is reviewing records to determine if there is anything beyond Spence's testimony By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com City leaders are asking that Santa Claus add a Colbert stop to his December tour. The Colbert City Council, at the suggestion of council can didate Ellyn Trinrud, wants to arrange for a Friday, Dec. 4, ses sion with St. Nick for area kids. “I don’t know how many years it’s been since he came,” Trinrud said. More details will follow, but the Santa Claus event is tenta tively set the evening of Dec. 4 in an illuminated fire truck shed on Fourth Avenue in Colbert. “It might be a nice thing to start to do something to bring the that connects Fortson to the crime. ‘The records are pretty ster ile in that regard,” he said. community during the holidays back together again,” Trinrud said. Coaxing Santa back to Colbert would revive an old tradition in the town. Father Christmas used to make an annual stop in Colbert in years past, according to Mayor John Waggoner. The evening may also include a celebratory lighting of the city’s Christmas lights. “I think it’s a great idea,” coun cilman Chris Peck said. Colbert wants to hold the event on a Friday so it won’t interfere with Comer's Christmas parade on Dec. 5. Trinrud also suggested arrang ing for a photographer for the event. $ 5 °°0FF Ticket Of s 2ff° Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only. #1/01/1/ OPEN COLBERT PAWN SHOP West 4th Avenue • Colbert, GA Beside Peachy Clean Car Wash/K&B Mini Storage Barry Flurer, Owner/Operator Hours of Operation: Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 9-5; Sat. 9-1; Closed - Wed. & Sun. HOMETOWN INSPIRATIONS Gifts, gallery, arts and crafts supply Featuring handmade jewelry, and a variety of arts and crafts by local artists. Quality gifts for all ages. Custom paintings or portraits in oils, pastels, or watercolors Open Wednesday through Saturday N. Main Street, Ila, GA • 706-789-3697 Owner: Caroline David Carey Flu cont’d from 1A Colbert calling on Santa La Hacienda Commerce 173 Steven B. 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