Newspaper Page Text
O
O
DECEMBER 8, 2022
Madison County Journal
Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006
MadisonJoumaITODAY.com
Vol. 39 No. 45 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 16 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements
$1.00
Raider
guys rolling
— Page IB
Former
librarian
rehabilitates
wildlife
— Page 3A
ELECTIONS
Walker
heavily favored
in Madison Co.
Herschel Walker was
heavily favored over
Raphael Wamock by Mad
ison County voters in the
runoff for Georgia’s U.S.
Senate seat.
With all 12 precincts
reporting Tuesday, the
Republican received 8,683
votes (76.3 percent) of
Madison County votes
compared to 2,699 (23.7
percent) for the Democratic
incumbent.
As of press time Tuesday
evening, the two were in a
dead heat statewide, with
both holding 50 percent of
the vote with 1,328 of 2,711
precincts reporting.
Index:
News — 1-3A, 7A
Opinions — 4-5A
Social — 5A, 3B
Crime — 8A
Sports — 1-3B
Church — 3B
Obituaries — 4-5B
Legals — 6B
Classifieds — 7B
Contact:
Phone: 706-367-5233
Web: MadisonJournal
TODAY.com
News submissions:
zach@
mainstreetnews.com
INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY
Ginn out as IDA director
By Zach Mitcham
zach @ mainstreetnews.com
The dotted line remains to
be signed, but Frank Ginn
and the industrial authority
have agreed to part ways.
The IDA’s executive direc
tor said he has agreed to
leave his position.
“Basically, I’m stepping
down as the executive direc
tor and leaving the develop
ment authority,” said Ginn.
“We still have to finalize the
FRANK GINN
paperwork. We’ve reached
an agreement where we’re
on the same page that I’m
leaving and as they say
Chairman (Todd) Higdon is
winning. He gets his wish.”
Ginn began as IDA exec
utive director on Labor Day
2018, filling the position
long held by Marvin White.
The industrial authori
ty met for over two hours
in closed session Friday to
discuss Ginn’s employment,
periodically calling Ginn
into the meeting to discuss
details of his departure.
The IDA concluded that
meeting with a 4-0 vote to
approve a separation agree
ment with Ginn.
"We’re working out the
details on it,” said Ginn.
“Right now, that’s not a pub
lic document or anything.
It’s in between the parties.”
The Journal filed an open
records request for what
the IDA approved, but as
of press time that document
had not been received. There
was no open discussion Fri
day after the closed meet
ing of what the agreement
includes regarding compen
sation. When does Ginn's
pay stop? Is there any pay
for vacation days accrued?
Such matters have still not
been finalized.
The IDA gave Ginn until
noon Monday to sign off on
the agreement, but Ginn's
attorney suffered a death in
the family and asked to have
See ‘Ginn’ on 2A
Scarlett Watson, 4, Hull, tells Santa what she wants for Christmas at the
“Christmas in Colbert” festival Friday night.
The Christmas season
Courtney Mattox tosses out candy during Saturday’s Comer Christmas
Parade. See more pictures on 3A, 8B and on MadisonJournalTODAY.com.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Leverett addresses
‘soil amendments’
at ‘Eggs and Issues’
By Zach Mitcham
zach@ mainstreetnews.com
Spreading manure is an age-old practice to fertilize
fields. It’s smelly, but nothing like the stench people
encounter now with certain “soil amendments,” such as
sludge from chicken processing, that are being used in
Georgia.
So how do you make sure that what’s spread on fields
is the “good stuff,’’ not the "bad stuff?”
That’s what Madison County’s Chamber of Commerce
asked legislators Friday morning at the organization's
annual “Eggs-and-Issues” breakfast at Jackson EMC,
with Representatives Rob Leverett and Alan Powell in
attendance, along with State Senator Frank Ginn.
"There is no clear definition of what constitutes a ‘soil
amendment,”' Chamber officials stated in a document on
Chamber priorities passed out to all in attendance Friday.
"Additional products used as soil amendments should
have proven and verifiable soil benefits and must contain
verifiably safe levels of any component for humans,
plants, animals, soil and water. We recommend the Gen
eral Assembly codify a definition of soil amendments
for agriculture and establish/implement rigorous and
verifiable testing procedures to ensure their proper and
safe use while protecting normal agricultural practices
and right to farm.”
Leverett said the “soil amendment” issue is one of his
primary focuses in the upcoming legislative session.
"I do foresee some legislation,” Leverett told the audi
ence. “It is such a big issue in our district. It’s a sensitive
issue, because a lot of ag businesses do depend on it.’’
Leverett said he favors allowing soil amendments, but
it must be done right.
"You’re taking something that would be wasted and
See ‘Chamber’ on 7A
Rep. Rob Leverett (C) speaks about soil amend
ments Friday at the Chamber of Commerce’s
“Eggs and Issues” breakfast at Jackson EMC.
He’s pictured with Sen. Frank Ginn (L) and Rep.
Alan Powell (R).
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
BOC hears presentation on possible noise ordinance
8 ,B 0 4 8 7 9 14144" o
By Zach Mitcham
zach @ mainstreetnews.com
Madison County com
missioners plan to pass a
noise ordinance in coming
months to set guidelines on
allowable noise limits in the
county.
But it’s complicated.
What's an appropriate vol
ume level in what area of
the county? And how often
can a noise occur before it’s
deemed a nuisance? Who
determines a sound is a nui
sance and by what criteria?
What remedy or punishment
should happen when a nui
sance is determined? What
sounds should be exempt
from noise regulations?
These are a few of many
questions considered when
establishing a noise ordi
nance. So the county has
contracted with Arpeggio
LLC to conduct a sound
study in the county and draft
a possible noise ordinance
for the county.
Kenneth Cunefare of
Arpeggio presented findings
to county commissioners
Monday. He gave a Power
Point presentation that
included color-coded maps
of where the most noise
occurs in the county. The
red (or louder) parts of the
county were primarily along
state highways and the CSX
rail line which runs parallel
to Hwy. 72. The green (or
quiet) parts of the county
were in more rural areas.
However, poultry operations
also dotted the landscape
with red dots across the
county. Cunefare said chick
en houses are a noise source,
but agricultural operations
are exempted from noise
restrictions.
The push for a noise ordi
nance came from citizens
around Georgia Renewable
Power (GRP), with a num
ber of residents saying the
noise from the plant is a
significant nuisance. Several
neighboring residents of the
plant have pushed the BOC
to do something about the
sound, including establish
ing restrictions on what is
allowed.
Commission chairman
Todd Higdon asked Cune
fare if there are any current
businesses that will require
the county to purchase
noise-monitoring equip
ment.
“Do we have businesses
that are pushing the bound
ary that we’re going to go
out and purchase 30-some-
thing-thousand worth of
equipment to monitor it?”
asked Higdon.
Cunefare said "GRP is a
bit of a hot spot,” but he said
the ordinance as proposed
does not include any action
against current noise pro
ducers.
“We anticipate that mea-
See ‘BOC’ on 2A
