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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 2009 — PAGE 3A Dogs that attack people can now be seized immediately By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Animals that attack people in Madison County can now be taken into government cus tody without a court order. County commissioners unanimously amended the county’s animal control ordi nance Monday, giving local officials the authority to appre hend an animal that poses a public safety risk without first getting a judge’s approval. The measure was deemed necessary after a 5-year-old boy was savagely attacked in his home in Hull last month by a dog that had gotten free from a neighbor’s chain. The dog was surrendered to the county the following day and euthanized. But since the ani mal was up to date on its vac cinations, there was nothing in the county ordinances that would have allowed animal control officers to take cus tody of the dog, despite the attack. If the owner refused to give up the dog, it could have remained on the owner’s prop erty until a Superior Court judge issued an order to seize the animal, which could have taken days. “Imagine that child going back home from the hospital and not knowing if the dog was loose or where it was at,’’ said commissioner Stanley Thomas. Thomas and other commis sioners said that the inability to seize a dog that has attacked a person was unacceptable. They noted that a person who attacks another person can be immediately arrested. Therefore, it makes no sense not to be able to immediate ly seize an animal that hurts someone. Hoke Strickland was the lone citizen to address the BOC on the matter Monday. He stood at the podium and protested the action. “I’m for protecting our chil dren, but why do we need another law when we already got one?’’ asked Strickland. BOC chairman Anthony Dove noted that the abil ity to seize an animal that has attacked a human does not eliminate due process rights for the animal or its owner. For instance, an animal, in some cases, may be provoked into an attack. The owner can present such evidence before a judge in an effort to get his dog back. But commissioners said it is imperative that the dog be adequately restrained while the legal process plays out. And in some cases, that means the county must take control of the animal. “We do not want to circum vent that process; we just want that dog to be secured,” said Dove. The chairman noted that the animal may not necessarily be apprehended by the county. Animal control director Jack Huff said that if animal control deems that the dog is kept in a properly maintained kennel, it could remain on the owner’s property under regular super vision from the department while legal proceedings take place. Owners of animals that are seized by animal control are liable for a $25 confiscation fee and $10 per day boarding expense. No tax rate increase for D’ville ...but city employees will face furloughs By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com There will be no tax rate increase in the city of Danielsville this year. But Danielsville city employees will likely pay a price for the council’s deci sion not to raise the millage rate for 2010. The council tentatively agreed during a budget work session Monday night to furlough all city workers two days per month beginning in January. Certification upgrades in pay will also be frozen for employees and there will be no annual Christmas bonus es. “The budget has to be bal anced,” councilwoman Junne Temple said. “If we don’t have the money to spend, we can’t spend it.” But Temple added that she, along with the rest of the council, is ‘TOO percent” in favor of removing the hard ships on employees as soon as the situation changes. The council agreed that employees need to work out a staggered schedule of fur lough days for 2010. The council will hold a hearing on the proposed budget, along with a special called meeting to set the mill- age rate on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. just prior to their regular worksession. A second budget hearing will be held Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m., just prior to the coun cil’s regular business meet ing. The council is expected to approve the 2010 budget during that meeting. Dowdle Gas 275 Athena Drive Athens, Ga. 30601 PROPANE For Service & Installation Call 706.546.8181 Your Locally Owned Propane Supplier CASH CALL AND COMPARE PER GRAM 706-369-0000 ■n);l ww 1 GREG REEVES Fine Jewelry 613 Hawthorne Ave. • Athens >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:^^^ MedLink Welcomes JUDY COMER & BERT STAUFF To Our Staff at MEDtLINK f COLBERT Judy Comer Nurse Practitioner (C-NP) Bert Stauff Nurse Practitioner (C-NP) Judy Comer sees all patients, but specializes in women’s health. Bert Stauff’s focus is children’s health. Medlink Colbert accepts: Medicaid (Amerigroup, Wellcare, PeachCare for Kids, Georgia Better Healthcare), State Health Benefits Plan, Medicare, Tricare, most insurance programs and offers a sliding fee program for patients who qualify with proof of income and household size. 11 Charlie Morris Road Colbert, GA 706-788-2127 Twenty years after fall, small pieces of Berlin Wall on display at Madison Co. Library By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com A few fragments of perhaps the most recognizable structure of the Iron Curtain currently lie in Madison County’s library. Small pieces of the Berlin Wall, which stood from 1961 to 1989, are on display this month in celebration of the 20 th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall. The rubble still bares the graffiti that covered the his torical barricade between East Berlin from West Berlin. “Yeah, it is exciting to have it,” Madison County Library director Suzi DeGrasse said. “Some of the pieces still have the spray paint on them.” These historic chunks were donated not long after the wall’s fall on Nov. 9,1989, and DeGrasse discovered them a few years ago. But she held off on an exhib it, waiting for the right moment to put them on display. “I had known that they were here and I thought that putting them out for the 20 th anniversa ry was appropriate,” DeGrasse said. The donation predated her time at the library, but DeGrasse doesn’t think this is the first time the Berlin Wall remains have been on exhibit for the county. The Berlin Wall dis play includes a photo of the Brandenburg Gate — at which former U.S. President Ronald Reagan made his famous, “Tear down this wall” speech — and a historical explanation of the Berlin Wall, including a small summary about escape attempts. “To clarify that, no, it wasn’t just a wall,” DeGrasse said. “It was not meant to be crossed. If you did, you would die.” The display has already stirred some interest, especially among those who weren’t even been bom yet when the wall fell. “The teenagers have found it interesting,” DeGrasse said. In connection with the 20 th anniversary of the wall’s fall and Veterans Day, the library is also coordinating an origami crane peace project. Comer council to write letter of appreciation to ‘good Samaritan’ By Frank Gillispie frankgillispie67 l@msn.com Comer City Council mem bers agreed Monday to write a letter of appreciation to a good Samaritan. Chris Warren, a worker for AAA Sanitation of Hull, was on his route on West Pine Ave in Comer Oct. 13 when he saw a lady in distress. When he went to her aid, he found that she was having a heart attack. Warren immediately called 911 and stayed with the stricken lady until the ambu lance arrived. In other matters, the city will hold a budget hearing Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. The city office will be open and anyone who wishes to make comments about the 2010 budget will be welcome. City clerk Steve Sorrells has compiled figures for the coun cil to study prior to making a formal proposal He said that all comments and concerns expressed by city residents will be taken into consideration in the final plan. Sorrells said that income from the Local Option Sales Tax has been inconsistent in recent months, which makes it difficult to make accurate projections of income. He pre dicted that the budget would be “tight” next year. The water budget is doing quite well, he said. The city has paid off a 10-year loan used to finance well number four, and with the trash contract with AAA Sanitation, city workers have more time to deal with leaks, reducing the amount of work being contracted to out side companies. Council member Laquita Bridges questioned the legality of setting a 20 MPH speed limit on Laurel Drive. She was under the impression that state law prohibits speed limits below 25 MPH. The council agreed to determine state law cover ing the question and adjust the speed limit if necessary In a separate matter, setting a schedule for leaf and limb removal remains a problem, in part due to the weather. The chipper does not work well with waterlogged wood, said Mayor Billy Burroughs. The city expects to remove leaves and limbs at least once a month, but setting a specific schedule will not be possible in the immediate future. The Children’s Wear Outlet WAREHOUSE SALE 4 days only! 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