About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2025)
MARCH 5, 2025 Madison County Journal Merged with The Corner News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 • U MadisonJournalTODAY.com Merged with Vol. 42 No. 9* Publication No. 1074-987* Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 * A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. *16 Pages, 2 Section Plus Supplements $1.00 County postpones action on T-Mobile tower for Carlton Five speak in opposition of tower By Caleb Rollins At a March 3 meeting, the Madison County Board of Commissioners voted to postpone action on a zon ing request for a condition al use to allow a 286-foot telecommunications tower to be placed on a property located at 0 West St., Carl- ton. Attorney Andy Roten- streich spoke on behalf of T-Mobile, a telecommuni cations company that in tends to construct and use the tower. Rotenstreich provided a map, showing a gap in T-Mobile’s coverage in the Carlton area, and cited the lack of another tower within a three-mile radius. According to Rotenstre ich, if another tower or tall structure was present in that area, T-Mobile would look to co-locate with the companies using that tower rather than construct a new one, however the company’s See BOC, page 3A Water rate comparison and proposed increase Madison County's current water rates and proposed new water rates are shown compared to the rates of surrounding counties. Rates include start up costs and tiered rates for 3,000 gallons, 5,000 gallons and 8,000 gallons. Startup (already metered) 3,000 gallons • 5,000 gallons 8,000 gallons $190 Chart by Caleb Rollins 50 $75 Proposed new rate $28 $43 $65.5 $50 Madison County $25 $38 $57.5 Jackson County >35.01 $49.78 $130.42 $60 Clarke County 624.79 $45.72 $82.75 $50 Franklin County >25.21 $33.75 $55.8 100 $150 BOC discusses proposed increases to county water rates; water supply issues Hull-Sanford Elem. announces ‘Top Dogs' and ‘Super Huskies' NFORD By Caleb Rollins caleb@mainstreetnews.com The Madison County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation from water department mem bers at a March 3 meeting. Among other things, the water department provid ed information related to a proposed increase to water rates in the county. Water Department Office Manager Stephanie Wilson provided charts comparing Madison County’s current water rates with those of surrounding counties, in cluding Jackson, Clarke and Franklin. According to Wilson, the county is currently “very in line” with its similar neigh bors, but could afford an increase, particularly some thing over five years while letting customers know that it is coming. Water rates in Madison County are tiered, meaning customers are charged dif ferent rates based on their water usage. The proposed new rates would increase the cost of 3,000 gallons of usage from $25 to $28, 5,000 gallons of usage from $38 to $43 and 8,000 gal lons of usage from $57.50 to $65.50. The proposal also involves increasing start-up costs for already metered systems from $50 to $75. Wilson also floated the idea of changing the thresh olds for the tiers of usage, providing the example of a rate change occurring at 2,000 gallons rather than 3,000. District 1 Commissioner Dennis Adams encouraged greater increases to con nection fees, citing the fact that many new residents moving to Madison County are from counties with sub stantially higher connection fees, and “would not blink an eye” at connection fees two or three times higher than current rates. Adams stated his support for mov ing to “mid-range” rates for new customers connecting their water systems. Commission Chairman Todd Higdon stated that other local counties are seeing the same trends and may be moving to increase their water rates as well. District 5 Commission er Derek Doster thanked Wilson for the informa tion and added that, since the BOC took over control of the water department in recent months, the plan is to “rely on outside pro fessionals to help develop things that make sense to See Water, page 3A Submitted photos Hull-Sanford Elementary’s Feburary Top Dogs: 5th Grade: Jeremy Sanchez Castro, Alain Rebollar, Kamon Meeler and Kolt Brown. 4th Grade: Luis Lopez, Khloe Conley, Kyla Weber and Rickie Glenn. 3rd Grade: Aubree Childers, Dan iel Sanchez, Nowl Maldonado and Jade Johnson. 2nd Grade: Aniyah Brown, Gabrielle Rit ter, Landen Hill and Bomani Wilson. 1st Grade: Bianca Her nandez, Grant Chambers, Ad die Coggins, Riley Glenn and Makenna Hull. Kindergarten: Nathaly Reyes, Luna Colyer, Alessia Madera-Toribio and Ari Halsey. CBI: Skyler Lewis, Gavyn Spaulding and Brinley Drake. 17. 9 A Hull-Sanford Elementary’s February Super Huskies: Nikyah Dunn (5th Grade) and Carley Hay (4th Grade) are pictured with Jerry King and Doug Wood. Municipalities opt out of HB 581 By Caleb Rollins The cities of Colbert, Corner, Danielsville and Ila all voted to opt out of House Bill 581’s float ing homestead exemption prior to the March 1 deadline, joining the Madison County Board of Com missioners, Board of Education and city of Carlton which all re cently did the same. The only Madison County mu nicipality that did not elect to opt out was the city of Hull which, according to representatives, does not assess property taxes. The other five municipalities, along with the BOC and BOE, all went through the proper protocol to opt-out, including holding three public hearings, running ads in the newspaper, and submitting their decision to the state prior to March 1. Madison County is no excep tion, as a large number of county governments, school boards and municipalities all across the state chose to opt out of the bill, which many local government officials See HB581, page 3A Index News — 1A, 3A, 5A, 7A-8A Opinions — 4A Crime — 6A Socials — 2A, 3B Schools — 8B Churches — 3B Obituaries — 4B-5B Sports —1B-2B Classifieds — 7A Legals — 6B-7B Chamber of Commerce celebrates 2024 accomplishments at annual dinner MAILING LABEL 4879 1 4144 89 new members added lastyear By Caleb Rollins The Madison County Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and din ner last month, celebrating the accomplishments of the chamber and local business owners throughout 2024. The chamber added 89 new members last year, bringing the total up to 375 — a substantial jump from having only 67 total mem bers in 2020. The chamber also donated $1,500 in student scholar ships last year. ANEW HOME The Chamber of Com merce moved into a new home in 2024, after spend ing the last four year based out of the Board of Educa tion building. The Chamber’s new headquarters is located at the R.G. Strickland House in downtown Danielsville. The house, which was built around 1860, was most recently owned by Tripp Strickland. Supporting the chamber’s mission, Strickland donated the house to serve as their new headquarters. “This opportunity to once again have a central physi cal presence in our business community would not have been possible without the generosity and vision of Tripp Strickland,” chamber leaders said. GEORGIA GROWN TRAIL 98 The Madison County Chamber of Commerce also partnered with legislators and organizations from both Banks and Jackson counties to officially designate a por tion of Georgia Highway 98 as Georgia Grown Trail 98. “This designation is the first of its kind in northeast Georgia and serves as a tool for both locals and tour- Wists to explore the rolling hills from Homer to Comer along a route that highlights agriculturally related tour ism sites, included but not limited to, u-pick farms, See Chamber, page 7A T T l.ifIj 7. I "" ci. Photos by Dallas Anne Duncan Guests at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Annual Dinner and Meeting net work with one another. farm and farmers markets, vineyards and wineries, breweries and distilleries, restaurants using local and regional products, specialty stores with a selection of Georgia food/ag products, farm tours, agricultural-re lated events and more,” chamber leaders said. The chamber urges those who wish to learn more
