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PAGE 2A-THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 21.2019
League continued from
1A
Dec. 2 meeting.
Little League offers
youth baseball and softball
for boys and girls ages 7 to
17. The league also plans
to field teams to compete
in Little League All Star
tournaments.
“We're looking into
some grants to upgrade
the fields and possibly pur
chase land in the future."
said Cristin Thurman, who
oversees marketing for the
Little League. “We are
grateful to Colbert for let
ting us use the fields. The
fields need work, but with
the help of the community,
we can get it done.”
Thurman said the orga
nization is fund-raising
to help cover the costs of
facility upgrades. For in
stance, the league is hold
ing a sale of “Sam Beard’s
famous Boston Butts" Dec.
14 for $35. The average
weight of the meat is eight-
to-10 lbs. Orders can be
placed at madisoncountyll.
com. The Little League is
putting on a softball tour
nament Saturday, Nov. 23
at the Colbert park. Vis
it the league’s Facebook
page for more details.
“A few things we are
currently working on in
clude: lighting, building
dugouts, updating the con
cession stand, improving
the ground quality on the
fields and equipment for
players,” Little League
officials said. “Every pen
ny we raise will be going
towards the improvement
of these fields. We hope
that we can count on our
community to help get us
get these facilities back in
tip-top shape for the kids
and community that will
be using them for years to
come.”
IDA
continLied from 1A
to the new water line to their
water system. Ginn said Com
er officials had expressed an
interest in having a connection
to county water.
The IDA’s contract with
Griffin Brothers, along with
GEFA funding, is set to close
out in December.
Ginn recommended they
move forward with the proj
ect, arguing that the move
would build the county’s wa
ter supply in its industrial area,
supply “redundancy” to the
Columbia feed mill’s water
supply and add an intercon
nection with the city of Com
er. Ginn later said that it would
also add to the county’s avail
able water supply for GRP.
Mahoney said she felt it
would be “irresponsible to go
down that road” at this point
by incurring more debt at this
time. She also pointed out that
the proposed project is likely
to cost more than the bid pro
posal of $461,000, since there
will be other expenses asso
ciated with it including per
mits, such as one that will be
needed to bore under the CSX
railway, silt fencing, insurance
and other costs.
“So is it going to end up
costing $600,000, $700,000?"
she asked, adding that these
are also things they need to
know before making a com
mitment.
And in a reply to Ginn
about the county’s long term
contract with GRP and its tax
revenue, she said that “none of
us can predict the future" as
to whether GRP would be a
long-term major tax contribu
tor to the county.
Chandler expressed some
concern about taking on the
new project as well, saying
the move made him nervous,
especially since the GRP plant
owes the IDA money.
“I want to do it, but can we
afford to do it?" he asked.
New authority member
Marc Perry agreed that the
board needed to be cautious,
saying he wasn’t in favor of
going out on a limb, especially
since they do not have current
figures on water supply and
tests on the well in hand.
Chandler asked Ginn to
request a 30-day amendment
to their contract with Griffin
Brothers to give the board
more time to discuss the proj
ect.
Perry agreed with that, say
ing he’d also like to see how
the revenue stream was with
GRP before moving forward
on the proposed project.
Ginn said he wants to move
forward as he remains con-
Madison County GOP
to meet November 21
The Madison County Republican Party will meet Thursday,
Nov. 21 at the Colbert Train Depot located at 23 S 4th Street in be public.
Colbert.
“Please note that this is a different location from our usual
meeting," organizers said.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a meet and greet and the
meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
The topic this month will be “Why We are on the Trump Train
and the Train Robbers Who Keep Trying to Rob our Train!” The
speaker will be Ron lohnson, Jackson County GOP committee
member, GOP state committee member and radio host of the “Is
sues” program on WIIC 95.1 in Commerce, Thursday mornings
from 7:05-9 a.m.
“If you’re on the Trump Train or would like to be, we invite
you to come join us for a fun night with fellow Republicans,"
organizers said.
cemed about the water supply
to GRP.
Also Tuesday night, the
board heard a presentation
from Brian Kimsey of Car
ter Engineering on the ques
tion of what to do about the
Seagraves Lake dam issue.
The IDA took ownership of
what Georgia Safe Dams has
deemed a “high-hazard dam"
back in 2007 with the inten
tion of repairing it and using
the lake as a water source.
Kimsey pointed out that the
IDA has since put aside using
the lake as a potential water
source and is now “stuck"
with having to upgrade the
dam. He said there are two
major concerns; minimizing
the reduction in the lake level
for property owners along the
lake and minimizing costs in
repairing the dam.
Kimsey noted that his com
pany has since identified only
one home that would be en
dangered should a dam breach
occur.
Ginn said he, Kimsey,
Chandler and utility direc
tor Steve Shaw plan to call a
meeting with the lake property
owners to make them aware of
the situation and the costs in
volved. He said he wanted to
do this to give the landowners
advance notice of the options
instead of having them hear
about the details in a public
meeting. He also pointed out
that the entire board could not
meet with them as that would
constitute a quorum, which
would require the meeting to
Kimsey said the issue is a
“double-edged sword" with
the interest of the lake property
owners and tax money in the
balance.
In other business, the author
ity approved the written job
description for the IDA exec
utive director, with Mahoney
voting against the approval
and Perry abstaining since he
had not had the opportunity to
review the job description.
Mahoney said previously
that she feels the executive di
rector’s position should be oc
cupied by someone who is on
hand full-time for 12 months
out of the year. Ginn’s duties
as state senator put him in At
lanta for much of the legisla
tive session.
The group tabled a vote on
the remaining job descriptions
to give Perry an opportunity to
review them.
Also Tuesday, the authority
voted to change the IDA’s reg
ular monthly business meeting
date from the third Monday
of each month at 6 p.m. to the
fourth Tuesday of each month
at 5:30 p.m., beginning in Jan
uary.
The authority also agreed to
hold a called meeting Wednes
day, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m. to
discuss the Seagraves Dam
project after Ginn and others
meet with the four property
owners surrounding the lake.
The authority will also likely
further discuss the proposed
well and water line extension
project proposed by Ginn.
This will be the only IDA
meeting in December.
Elections
from 1A
a change to their vote, they
must give the old ballot to a poll
worker and print out a new one
after changing their choice.
Raffensperger said the sys
tem was due for an upgrade. He
noted that the iPhone came out
in 2006 and is in its 11th gener
ation. The state elections system
hasn’t been updated in 17 years.
The Secretary of State said
providing a paper trail gives
voters more confidence in the
system.
“What I tell everyone is, we
understand that we live in polar
ized times," said Raffensperger.
“It’s very contentious on these
elections. We understand that
a lot of these elections will be
50-50. And half the people will
be happy and half the people
will be sad. But 100 percent of
the people now can have con
fidence that their vote was se
curely counted. If we can secure
the vote and we can provide that
confidence to voters, then they
understand that the winner truly
did win and the loser truly did
lose. And then we can get off
of that and get back to what we
need to do, get back to our day
jobs."
Raffensperger said imple
menting the new system before
the presidential primaries is a
quick turnaround, but he noted
that it’s been done before.
“It was done in 2002, Cathy
Cox was funded in 2001 and
had to get ready for the May
elections," he said. “Our sched
ule is a little bit tighter, but it’s
very doable. We have a plan
in place. Right now, we have
certified over 50 percent of the
ballot-marking devices. There
are 30,500 of those. And we’re
ataboutthe 15,000 mark. So we
are working diligently through
that. It comes in. It gets set up
in a warehouse building. Do
minion Voting Systems, after
they certify it they hand it over
to us."
Raffensperger said the state
is focused on making sure
election workers are properly
trained.
“People have 17 years of
muscle memory in the old sys
tem," he said. ‘This is similar
but different. From the voters’
standpoint, they won’t see as
much change. But (for the elec
tion staff) it’s basically a total re
vamp of how we do elections in
Georgia. It’s similar to if you’ve
been in a PC world and sudden
ly someone puts a Mac on your
desk. You say, ‘What’s going on
here?’ That’s why it’s all about
training.”
Dean agreed, saying she
wants all county election work
ers to get enough training to feel
fully confident.
“I don’t care how many times
it takes them to be trained," she
said. “I want them to be com
fortable and know what they’re
doing when they go out on
election day.... My main con
cern is our voters, that they feel
comfortable when they come in
and vote."
Dean will work in the com
ing months to educate the
public about the changes and
she is available to give demon
strations to local civic clubs,
churches and other organiza
tions. To speak with Dean about
a demonstration, call 706-795-
6335.
Clean Power Coalition
to meet Dec. 5
The newly formed Madison Clean Power Coalition will
meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5 in the Madison
County High School cafeteria to discuss concerns about
the Georgia Renewable Power (GRP) plants in Colbert and
Carnesville.
“Our speakers will be discussing the impact of burning
railroad ties in our communities,” organizers said. “We will
have a short question-and-answer session after the presen
tation."
For more information about the group, visit “Madison
Clean Power Coalition" on Facebook.
Madison Co. Democrats
to meet November 23
The Madison County Democrats will have their monthly
meeting at the Madison County Senior Center Saturday, Nov.
23 at 10:30 a.m.
In addition to regular agenda items, the group will welcome
Mayor Paul Walton of Hull for a meet-and-greet opportunity.
Everyone is welcome to attend. The senior center is located
next door to the Madison County Public Library on Hwy. 98.
For more information, visit the Madison County Democrats’
website: mcgademocrats.wixsite.com/mcdp.
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The
Madison County Journal
438 Courthouse Sq., Ste. 18A
P. O. Box 658
Danielsville, Ga. 30633
(706) 795-2567 or (706) 367-5233
MADISON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHEDULE OF APPROVED LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PROJECTS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
ORIGINAL
ESTIMATED
COST (1)
CURRENT
ESTIMATED
COSTS (2)
AMOUNT
EXPENDED
IN CURRENT
YEAR (3) (4)
AMOUNT
EXPENDED
IN PRIOR
YEARS (3) (4)
PROJECT
STATUS
2006 SPLOST
(1) Acquiring, construction, equipping and furnishing
of new school building and facilites, including, but
not limited to, a new middle school.
(2) The addition, renovation and repair and improvement
of existing school buildings and facilites, including,
but not limited to, the existing middle school, other
schools, transportation facilities and administrative
offices.
(3) the acquisition and purchase of systemwide
technology and safety equipment, including, but not
limited to, computer hardware and software and
security and safety equipment
(4) the acquisition and purchase of school vehicles,
including, but not limited to, school buses and
maintenance vehichles.
(5) acquiring of any property necessary or desirable
therefore, bother real and personal Fund 308
10,000,000 $
23,094,137 $
79,936
21,673,639
6/30/20
2011 SPLOST
(1) Acquiring, constructing and equipping new schools
and facilities, including physical education/athletic facitlites
Madison County High School
(2) Adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, and
equipping existing school buildings and school system
facilities (including physical education/athletic faciliites
and parking lots), but not limited to construction and
renovation at Madison High School.Comer Elem, lla Elem
(3) Acquiring miscellaneous new equipment, fixtures and
furnishing for the school system, including technology
equipment and safety and security equipment.
(4) Acquiring school buses and transportation
and maintenance equipment
(5) Acquiring a portion of a psycho-educational faciltty
(6) Paying portion of principal and interest due on the
Series 2006 G/O Bonds not to exceed S3,718,537
(7) Paying a portion of the debt service on the
General Obligation Debt of the School District
not to exceed $10,000,000.00
(8) Paying Expenses incident to accomplishing the
foregoing. Fund 311/318
14,300,000 $
31,800,807 $
211,671 ft
29,876,146
6/30/30
24,300,000 $ 54,894,944,00 $
291,606.75 $
51,549,785
(1) The School District's original cost estimate as specified in the resolution calling for the imposition of the Local Option Sales Tax.
(2) The School District's current estimate of total cost for the projects. Includes all cost from project inception to completion.
(3) The voters of Madison County approved the imposition of a 1% sales tax to fund the above projects and retire
associated debt. Amounts expended for these projects may include sales tax proceeds, state, local property
taxes and/or other funds over the life of the projects.
(4) In addition to the expenditures shown above, the School District has incurred interest expense to provide advance funding
for the above projects as follows:
Prior Years
6,610,424.62
478,947.19
Current Year
Total $ 7,089,371.81