About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 2025)
FEBRUARY 26, 2025 Madison County Journal Amoved with The Corner News and The Danielsville .Monitor, 2006 < U MadisonJoumalTODAY.com Merged with Vol. 42 No. 8* Publication No. 1074-987* Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 * A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. *12 Pages, 1 Section Plus Supplements $1.00 County, BOE working on school tax exemption for seniors By Caleb Rollins caleb@mainstreetnews.com Madison County Board of Commissioners Chair man Todd Higdon an nounced at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting that the coun ty and school board have agreed to work on a school tax exemption for county residents aged 70 and older. The proposed change would make all citizens 70 and older totally exempt from paying school taxes. “The process has be gun,” said Higdon, who recently spoke with Mad ison County School Sys ¬ tem Superintendent Joseph Goodroe about the exemp tion. According to Higdon, Goodroe confirmed that the Board of Education is willing to work on a school tax exemption for seniors, something that those at the BOC table have supported for years. “Four years and two months ago when I ran, one of the things I ran on was exempting seniors from school tax,” Higdon said. He added that all five of the county commissioners on the BOC shared this goal. Higdon went on to say that, while the details are still being worked out, he expects the county and school boards will likely move forward with the ex emption soon. “It is the intent of the BOC and the BOE to sup port this kind of reduction for our seniors,” he said. If approved by the coun ¬ ty and school board, the exemption would go be fore the state’s General As sembly, likely when they reconvene in January of 2026. If passed by the General Assembly, the exemption could then go into effect in 2026. County votes 4-1 to opt out of HB 581 following final public hearing 10 speak in favor of opting out at hearing; one opposed By Caleb Rollins The Madison County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a res olution to opt out of House Bill 581’s floating home stead exemption at their Feb. 24 meeting. The meeting directly fol lowed the county’s third and final public hearing on the matter, in which 10 residents came forward in support of opting out, while one stated their opposition. Those at the hearing heard a presentation from Madison County Depu ty Chief Appraiser Gary Kappeler about the floating homestead exemption and its potential impacts. Kappeler, along with oth ers on the Board of Asses sors, ran projections show ing the compounding losses to revenue the county could incur if they were to remain opted in, as well as the pro jected increases to the mill rate the county would likely have to enact to recoup such losses. BOARD MEMBERS SPEAK Following the hearing, in the BOC’s regular business meeting, a resolution to opt out of the exemption came before the board and was approved by a 4-1 vote. The lone dissenting vote was District 1 Commissioner Dennis Adams. District 5 Commission er Derek Doster thanked everyone who came out to the county’s public hearings and offered their opinions. As to his reason for voting in favor opting out, he said that he felt that the bill and some of its language was “convoluted.” He added that he thought by remaining opted into the bill, the county would be “pitting the homestead par cels against the non-home- stead parcels.” “If you look at our non-homestead parcels, you’re talking about some farms and some business es,” Doster said. “Those are the same people you’re go ing to church with, the same people you’re going to eat dinner with. It’s not a mass of unknown folks there.” Doster went on to say that with the county’s large See BOC, page 3A C-Y .2- Submitted photos Vincent’s Place’s founder Heather Santerineross and Col by, a horse. Cappuccino, a goat that endured severe injuries in a neglect sit uation, was helped to find sanctuary by Vincent’s Place volun teers. Vincent's Place Sanctuary: A safe haven for rescued farm animals and community healing Index News — 1A, 3A Opinions — 4A Crime — 6A Socials — 2A, 5A Schools — 8A Churches — 6A-7A Obituaries — 9A Sports — 12A Classifieds — 7A Legals — 10A-11A MAILING LABEL 4879 14144 Report road maintenance issues on county website County residents who notice road maintenance is sues can report these issues directly to the county’s Road Department through the coun ty’s website. Road complaint forms are available to be filled out, and the department will come out to evaluate the issues and pro vide necessary treatments. Services the Road Depart ment provides include: • Road repair: pothole re pair, resurfacing • Road signs: ordering road signs, installing and repairing of road signs. • Right of way: mowing, lit ter pick-up, side arm mowing • Drainage: clean out and re place drainage culverts, clean drainage ways and ditches. • Gravel road maintenance: scrape and reshape gravel roadways, replace gravel as needed. Road complaint forms are available at madisoncoun- tyga.us/government-offices/ road-department Maintenance issues can also be reported by calling the Road Department at 706-795- 6260 Nestled in the heart of Colbert, Vincent’s Place Sanctuary stands as a beacon of hope for animals and peo ple alike. Founded as a 501©3 non- profit organization, the sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing and providing lifelong care for small farm animals that have been victims of abuse, ne glect or abandonment. What began as an empty field has now transformed into a secure and welcoming environment, thanks to the tireless dedication of founder Heather Santerineross and the Board of Di rectors, combined with the support of compassionate donors and volunteers. “The journey of Vincent’s Place has been nothing short of remarkable,” Santerineross said. From grading the land to constructing a fenced pasture that encompass both open fields and wooded areas, each step has brought the sanctuary closer to fulfilling its mission. A recent significant milestone was the completion of the main barn, which now boasts five stalls, electric ity and a fully equipped utility room. However, one critical piece remains before the sanctuary can responsibly biles Volunteers at Vincent’s Place. welcome permanent animal residents: the construction of a food shed. THE FINAL STEP: BUILDING THE FOOD SHED The food shed is essential for en suring the safety and well-being of the sanctuary’s future residents. Prop er hay storage is not only a matter of preservation but also a crucial fire prevention measure. Without it, the risk to both animals and structures is significant. Vincent’s Place is actively fundrais ing to make this final step a reality. They are asking for community sup port, through donations, which will help to lay the foundation for a sanc tuary that hopes to change lives—both See Sanctuary, page 5A McEachin Farm Wedding and Event Venue: A dream turned reality in Madison County By Michael Lafountain Nestled in the heart of Danielsville, McEachin Farm Wedding and Event Venue offers couples a picturesque setting for their special day. With a foundation built on strong Christian values, the venue was born from a small inheritance and a big dream—to provide the community with one of the finest wedding venues in the area. A UNIQUE SETTING FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS What sets McEachin Farm apart from other venues is its ability to ac commodate both indoor and outdoor weddings. With a capacity of up to 150 guests, the venue hosts weddings, community events and even provides rental opportunities for local photog raphers looking for the perfect back- drop for family portraits. Couples who choose McEachin Farm for their wedding have a variety of package options, ranging from the Wonderful Weekend Package, which allows two full days of celebration, to the Elopement Package, designed for a more intimate gathering. Each pack age includes ceremony and reception setup and breakdown, tables, chairs, lighting, a bridal and groom suite, a prep kitchen, an outdoor fireplace and even outdoor games to entertain guests. A parking attendant and golf shuttle service are also included to en sure a smooth experience. Photo by Michael Lafountain McEachin Farm’s facilities. While McEachin Farm provides a list of preferred vendors, couples have the freedom to bring in their own choices, allowing them to personalize See McEachin Farm, page 5A
