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PAGE 2A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 30. 2021
IDA ..cont’d from 1A
to use $2.5 million of that
to seek another $7.5 million
in federal money to address
county infrastructure needs,
which would give them $10
million to spend on infra-
strucure. The county indus
trial authority oversees water
and sewer infrastructure in
Madison County.
The state government also
received federal funds that it
will distribute to local gov
ernments for various proj
ects, but cities and counties
must go through an appli
cation process to get that
money.
Local governments were
initially given an Aug. 31
deadline to submit applica
tions for those grant funds.
And governments across the
state felt the rush to get the
application submitted. The
state then extended that dead
line to Oct. 31.
Ginn asked the Northeast
Georgia Regional
Commission (NGRC) to
assist in the grant applica
tion process. He said apply
ing through a regional com
mission would improve the
county’s chances of getting
the grant. Ginn was told that
the request needs to come
through the board of com
missioners, not the IDA. He
asked Higdon to submit a
letter to the NGRC.
“Basically I reached out to
the regional commission and
asked Eva Kennedy to assist
me in making the applica
tion, make sure we’re cross
ing all the Ts, dot the I’s,”
said Ginn.
Higdon said Ginn failed to
communicate with the BOC
in seeking the help from the
NGRC.
“I think the board needs
to know about what we're
doing because there’s going
to be a cost there,” said
Higdon. "And I don’t know
if you actually got a dollar
figure or quote on what the
cost will be. And I have con
cerns about that.”
Higdon added that the
grant application is about
five pages long and could be
completed before lunch.
“It seems like over here
in this department and this
board, you had an Aug. 30
deadline,” he said. “Thank
God it got extended, because
you wouldn’t have met it,
because you waited until
the last second. Now here
we are, 22 nd of September,
we got a deadline, it still
hasn’t moved even though
you had an Aug. 30 deadline
and now you’re requesting
to jump through hoops, but
you ain’t even seen it yet.
If you're the director of this
IDA, you should have done
seen this grant. This is a $10
million deal. How in the hell
do you not know what you’re
supposed to do next? I’m
pissed about it. I think y'all
dropped the ball, kicked the
can. Something's going on
over there, but the time is not
being used wisely.”
Higdon added: “Why are
you going to pay someone?
This is a broke bunch, the
IDA, we struggle to pay our
bills. Why would we pay
someone else to do this?
Please explain that.”
“Just so you know, I wear
two hats,” said Ginn. “You
can jump on me if you want
to.”
“I'm not jumping on you,”
said Higdon. "I'm trying to
make it clear you always
wait until the last minute on
everything.”
“Who’s waiting on the last
minute? I’m waiting on you,”
said Ginn.
“You are now, but you
done missed the Aug. 30
deadline,” said Higdon.
“It got extended,” said
Ginn.
“Thank God!” replied
Higdon.
IDA chairman Josh
Chandler cut off the dis
cussion and told Higdon:
“Please stop cutting me off,
sir.”
Chandler said the IDA
needed to get a price quote
from the NGRC to give to
the BOC and a determination
could be made quickly on
whether the county will han
dle the process in house or
with NGRC assistance. Ginn
said a letter from the BOC
stating that they will stand by
the $2.5 million commitment
is also needed.
IDA member Marc Peny
said, “I thought we had the
grant application.”
"We need to know what
questions are and get
answers,” said Perry. “We
need to gather that informa
tion and knowing what we’re
looking for. It needs to be
happening at the same time.”
Audience member Gary
Harvin asked about how the
$10 million in federal funds
would be used. The BOC
asked the IDA this summer
to provide a list of poten
tial infrastructure upgrades
that might be paid for with
federal funds. Harvin said
water line projects aren’t
as important as Madison
County establishing its own
water source and no longer
relying on purchasing water
from other counties.
"Why is the first water
line project not to develop
our own water source in this
county?” Harvin asked the
IDA.
Chandler asked him if he
knew where to drill a hole.
“There's people who could
tell you,” said Harvin.
“Do you know how expen
sive and what a risk it is to do
that?” asked Ginn.
Earlier in the meeting,
Ginn spoke of the potential
use of an old well on James
Holcomb Road that draws
330 gallons per minute but
would need a filtration sys
tem. Some equipment was
also accidentally dropped
down that well years ago,
which could cause problems.
Harvin said that well could
be a good water source
and Ginn said that’s being
explored.
Chandler said that if the
additional $7.5 million in
federal money is received
from the state, it won’t be
enough to develop a water
source to serve the whole
county.
“Now would it be great to
go build a reservoir and have
a surface treatment pond?”
he asked. “Yeah, that would
be terrific, but you're not
going to touch it with $10
million.”
Ginn said water is pur
chased from surrounding
counties because immediate
water needs must be met.
“The fastest way for the
development authority to
meet its immediate demand
was to purchase outside
water, because developing
other water sources takes a
good bit of time,” said Ginn.
“I've developed other water
sources, Frank,” said Harvin.
“I know what it takes.”
Harvin asked what the IDA
is doing to provide its own
water source in the county.
“We’re exploring that,”
said Ginn.
“Pretty broad, but OK,”
said Harvin.
HAVE A WELL
THE COUNTY
COULD USE?
Along those lines, Ginn,
IDA members and the BOC
are interested in contracting
for the use of private wells
along its major water lines in
the county to help Madison
County be more self reliant
in terms of water flow. One
potential line off Commerce
Neese Road was discussed
last week. County leaders
ask that property owners
with potential wells for use
along major water lines who
may be interested in selling
water to the county contact
the IDA. There are require
ments on the quantity and
quality of the water that must
be met.
IDA OFFICE
MOVING
The industrial authority and
water department has been in
the process of moving over
the past several weeks from
a building off the courthouse
square to the old elections
office off Spring Lake Drive.
RedlStriCting...cont’d from 1A
The 12th Congressional District, which
borders the 10th to the south, would shift
northward to take in the part of Columbia
County it does not contain now as well as
all of McDuffie, Jefferson, Washington and
Wilkinson counties. On its southern end, the
12th would lose Coffee, Jeff Davis, Appling
and Wheeler counties.
Democrat McBath captured the 6th Con
gressional District in Atlanta’s northern sub
urbs in 2018 after it had been in Republican
hands for decades, then won reelection last
year.
But holding the seat would become hard
er in 2022 under the Senate map, which
would put all of heavily Republican Forsyth
County inside the 6th District for the first
time. The district would retain East Cobb
and North Fulton but lose northern DeKalb
County.
Similarly, Democratic Rep. Carolyn
Bourdeaux could face a new obstacle under
the proposed 7th Congressional District
Senate map. While the district would lose
Forsyth County to McBath’s district, the
Republican-dominated 9th Congressional
District in North Georgia would dip down
into northern Gwinnett County, uncomfort
ably close to and possibly even including
Bordeaux’s residence.
Even if Bordeaux’s home ends up out
side of her district, however, she would
be allowed to run for reelection next year.
Federal law does not require members of the
House to reside in their districts.
The special session will begin on Nov.
3 and is expected to run into the week of
Thanksgiving.
Citizens of Comer invited
to meet their candidates
The Honey Pond Garden Club of Comer
invites the citizens of Comer to a reception in
honor of the candidates in the upcoming city
elections at 5 p.m. on Satrday, Oct. 9 at the
Gandy Residence at 182 Sunset Avenue, Comer.
Hotdogs and soft drinks will be served. This is
an opportunity for the citizens of Comer to meet
all their prospective elected officials. There will
be no debate but each candidate will be afforded
the opportunity to speak.
“The intent is to provide a suitable and safe
outdoor setting for the citizens of Comer to talk
to their election candidates in a relaxed atmo
sphere,” organizers said. “The continuing city
council members will also be invited, as will be
the Presidents of the Madison County Republi
can and the Democratic parties."
Joey Wilbon and Jimmy Yarbrough are seek
ing the mayor's post in Comer. Michael Bradley
Free and Sherman George Mattox are running
for the District 1 council seat, while Michael
Braxton Wilder is challenging District 4 incum
bent Eddie West.
“Everyone is welcome and this is a good
opportunity to meet your Comer neighbors,”
organizers said.
For more information, call 706-783-8024 or
561-990-9410.
Fall recycling, document
shredding event
Keep Madison County Beautiful will hold
a fall recycling event Saturday, Nov. 13 from
10 a.m. to noon at the county government
complex.
There will be document shredding, medi
cation take-back and other recycling oppor
tunities. Masks are requested.
Citizens can bring up to two file boxes of
documents to shred for free (additional fees
set for Nov. 13
may apply over two boxes). Any over-the-
counter or prescription medications can be
dropped off for proper disposal (please keep
in original container if possible).
Other opportunities: electronics recycling
(no TV’s or computer monitors), books, ink
cartridges, batteries, clothes/shoes and light
bulbs
For more information, call 706-795-5151.
IRON PIN
HR A N C
High Marbling Angus Beef
Born and Raised in Madison County
QUALITY ANGUS
BEEF FOR SALE!
(a)ironpinranch (a)madicomade
Stephanie Harvin
678-614-3425
stephaniedharvin(a)gmail.com
BOC ..cont’d from 1A
fair had been vandalized last week. Hig
don said "parents need to step up” and
report their kids when they engage in such
behavior.
WATER MEETING TO BE HELD
In a separate matter, commissioners
agreed that they would like to meet with
the county industrial authority to discuss
establishing priorities on potential water
projects. The commissioners have agreed
to allocate $2.5 million in federal Amer
ican Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to infra
structure improvements and are seeking
an additional $7.5 million in federal funds
from the state. Higdon said he would set
up such a meeting.
CDGB GRANT APPROVED
Higdon announced that Madison Coun
ty has been awarded a $529,676 Commu
nity Development Block Grant (CDGB)
to tie a water line in the Blacks Creek
Church Road/Mize Road area in western
Madison County to the county’s main
system. The water line will run about
9,200 feet from the Mize Road area to the
county’s “60 system" (the term used for
its main water system). The Mize Road
system is currently served by the City of
Commerce.
LIBRARY REPORT GIVEN
The board heard a quarterly report from
library director Jennifer Ivey, who noted
that the library returned to pre-covid hours
in May. Commissioner Dennis Adams
thanked Ivey for giving regular reports to
the board and said it would be helpful for
other departments do the same. Ivey was
thanked for her work by both BOC mem
bers and library board members for her
work at the library. The commissioners
also approved local author Teri Drake-
Floyd to the county library board.
LAND SOLD TO VFDS
Madison County commissioners
received and approved $1 bids from the
Danielsville and Collins Volunteer Fire
Departments to own the land beneath their
structures. The sale means that the depart
ments can use the land and structures as
collateral for loans on equipment.
MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS WEEK
Higdon read a proclamation recognizing
Oct. 3-9 as “Mental Health Awareness
Week.” He said everyone knows someone
with a mental health issue and he said
it’s an issue that needs attention and sup
port for the local Advantage Behavioral
Systems, which helps those with mental
health needs.
CHANDLER THANKS
LIONS CLUB
Commissioner Terry Chandler thanked
the Comer Lions Club for the job they did
putting on the fair last week. He noted that
they did a “phenomenal job every night”
with the agricultural programs, “as good
as you find anywhere.”
Georgia Legal Services Program offered
Free legal services are available to low-income clients. Services are based on case
type and financial eligibility. The Georgia Legal Services Program does not handle
criminal cases. For an appointment, call 1-800-745-5717 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Broad Elwer Com Maze
Sept. 18-Oct. 31
Sat & Sun 12-9PM; Fri 6-9PM
Adults - $12
Kids 10 & Under - $5
Under 3 - Free
grown
entrance
Fun for the Whole Family
:tting Zoo, Camels and the Last Unicorns
Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Games & More
1 HWY 29 N. & Manley Martin Rd
Danielsville