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OPINIONS
Frank Gillispie
Time to de-annex Atlanta?
An interesting conversation has emerged on
the Internet among traditional Southerners. A suggestion was
made that Georgia de-annex Atlanta, declare that the city is
no longer a part of Georgia and allow them to form their own
state. Those proposing the move say that Atlanta is so far out
of step with the rest of Georiga that both sides would be better
off . . .
Ben Munro
As race heats up, Gore resorts to stupid antics
Sometimes I wonder whether if these presidental
candidates want to run our nation or the local chapter of the
Sigma Chi fraternity.
Just the other day, I opened the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
to find an article about Al Gore embarking upon some sort of
riverboat "party" campaign where he's supposedly drumming
up support with the usual political song and dance act to show
us "hey man, I'm a cool guy."
This is not surprising . . .
SPORTS
Raiders hope to turn program with first non-region season
This opinion is generally accepted in these
parts: The problem with Madison County football isn't what's
on the field; it's what's off the field. Low turnout usually
puts the Raiders at a disadvantage against like-sized schools.
Neighborhood News...
BANKS COUNTY
Lula may have broken law
Lula's discussions in closed session questionable
The Lula City Council may have violated state
law after discussing several broad personnel issues in a closed
session Monday night. By law, the council may only discuss issues
in closed session related to a specific employee, not a range
of employees.
Banks County students turned away from Baldwin Elementary
due to lack of space
Banks County students planning to attend
Baldwin Elementary School when classes began on Friday found
out last week that they would not be able to due to a lack of
space at the school.
News
from...
JACKSON COUNTY
Tuesday forum to kick off fall election season
State rep., probate judge races to be featured
A forum set for Tuesday in Hoschton will kick off the final dash
of local candidates for the November General Elections.
Survey Shows Companies Like Doing Business Here
A survey of 31 local manufacturing plants and other businesses
shows that while the companies may have problems getting qualified
labor, they all like Jackson County as a place to do business.
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The Madison County Journal
Danielsville, Georgia
Telephone: (706) 367-5233
Fax: (706) 367-8056
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 Madison Co. school superintendent resigns
Madison County school superintendent Dennis
Moore has resigned from his post on the fourth day of the 2000-2001
school year. His resignation takes effect Sept. 1.
Moore informed the county school board of his decision Tuesday
night in a closed meeting, following a heated meeting with parents
over busing problems. He announced his resignation to the schools
Wednesday morning.
"He told us there was a business opportunity he could not
turn down," said school board member Elaine Belfield.
Moore, who still has 10 months left on his contract, did not
return a call to his home Wednesday evening and was not at his
office Thursday morning.
The superintendent told an Athens reporter Wednesday that his
resignation had nothing to do with the busing dilemma currently
facing the system - many kids aren't getting home until late
in the afternoons.
He also told the reporter that he has been eligible for retirement
for a long time and cannot turn down his current opportunity,
though he would not give any details about his business venture,
saying it was personal.
The resignation has caught many off guard, including board attorney
Lane Fitzpatrick, who said he knew of Moore's decision before
Tuesday.
"I was floored when he told me," said Fitzpatrick.
Asked for specifics on Moore's plans, the attorney said the superintendent
just said he had a business opportunity he couldn't pass up.
Fitzpatrick said there is no truth to rumors that Moore will
receive a large severance package.
The school board will meet Tuesday to discuss the issue. New
assistant superintendent Allen McCannon is expected to be named
the interim superintendent.
Moore was hired as superintendent in May of 1998, replacing longtime
school head Jim Perkins.
RIDING THE BUS
Madison County eighth grader Reginald Mathis, 13, of Hull,
boards a bus at the middle school Monday afternoon.
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Parents concerned
about school system's transportation plans
Over 100 parents gathered at a called
meeting of the Madison County Board of Education Tuesday night
to express their concern over the school bus schedule. At issue
were whether county buses would transport kids to a local day
care and the length of time busing kids has taken so far this
year. According to parents, buses aren't getting some kids home
until 5:30 p.m.
Jan and Steve Filkins of Busy Box Day Care complained that a
30-year program of picking up and dropping off students at their
facility was being canceled at the last minute. Steve Filkins
reported that he received a call from new transportation director
Steve Sorrells on Thursday, the day before school started, informing
him that the buses would not stop at his Booger Hill Road facility.
He later agreed to make the stops until the board had a chance
to hear the issue.
Board attorney Lane Fitzpatrick was asked for an opinion on the
legality of using school buses to transport children from and
to a private business. He said Georgia law forbids county-owned
buses from being so used, supporting his position with several
other code sections and opinions.
The board decided that it had been unfair to the Filkinses to
inform them so late in the season that the rules had changed,
and voted to override Fitzpatrick's suggestion and allow the
buses to run to Busy Box Day Care for this term. Their decision
was greeted with applause by the parents.
This is the second time recently the board has voted against
the legal advice of Fitzpatrick. In an earlier meeting, they
voted to continue funding the Madison County Library for this
year even though such actions are illegal, according to Fitzpatrick.
Following the vote to support Busy Box, a number of parents complained
about the new bus schedules, arguing that children were spending
too much time waiting for buses, and riding buses to and from
school. Typical of the problems is that of Aleta Nalley. She
told the board that her children had to spend up to 45 minutes
waiting for the bus alone. She is a single mother who cannot
afford to jeopardize her job by being late.
Charles Hooten angrily joined in, saying that he had to leave
his job and take his child to school because the bus was not
on schedule. He asked if the board was going to compensate him
for time lost from work.
Superintendent Dennis Moore admitted that there were problems
with the bus schedule. He attributed the problems to the opening
of the new Hull/Sanford school and new rules from the state board
of education. Moore said that the staff was working hard to correct
the problems as they arise and promised that all problems would
be solved within 10 days. He urged all parents with problems
to come in and talk to him. Nalley said she couldn't afford to
leave work to visit his office. Moore responded that he is in
the office as early as 5 a.m.
Hooten demanded that they be solved now and angrily left the
room.
Nalley said that the schools should make sure the problems are
solved within four days. Board Member Elaine Belfield, presiding
in the absence of chairman Jimmy Patton, agreed that quick work
was needed and offered to stay after the meeting to discuss specific
problems with parents.
Municipal qualifying
begins Mon.
Qualifying for city council elections
begins this week in Madison County.
DANIELSVILLE
Post 3 on the Danielsville city council, currently held by Don
Delay, will be up for election Nov. 7. The term of office will
be from Jan. 1, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2002.
Qualifying will begin Monday, Aug. 28, at 8:30 a.m. at city hall
and end Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. The qualifying fee for council persons
is $40.07.
ILA
Council seats held by Don Freeman and Nathaniel Hobbs will be
up for election Nov. 7. The term for council positions is four
years. Qualifying will begin Monday at 9 a.m. at city hall and
end at noon Friday, Sept. 1. The qualifying fee is $24.80.
COLBERT
Two posts on the Colbert city council will be up for election
Nov. 7: the offices currently held by Julian Davis and Jeffery
Dale Roberts. Both seats are two-year terms. Qualifying for both
posts will be held Monday, Aug. 28, to Wednesday, Aug. 30, from
8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The qualifying fee is $39.
HULL
Two city council seats will be up for election in Hull Nov. 7:
the offices currently held by Mark Cronic and Ken Murray. Both
posts hold four-year terms - from Jan. 1, 2001, to Dec. 31, 2004.
Those wishing to qualify should file a written notice of candidacy
with city clerk James Norton at 250 Oak Drive, Hull, Ga. 30646.
The qualifying period will begin Monday, Aug. 28, and end Friday,
Sept. 1. The qualifying fee is $24.80.
CARLTON AND COMER
No elections are planned this year in the cities of Carlton and
Comer.
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Comer mayor resigns
Kevin Booth has resigned as the mayor
of Comer, effective Sept. 1. He turned in his resignation Aug.
15.
"As an elected official of the city of Comer, my primary
concern has been to see as much accomplished for the city as
possible," Booth wrote. "However, current circumstances
and conditions in the office of mayor and council no longer allow
me to function in this capacity. For these reasons I wish to
resign my position as mayor of the city of Comer, effective Sept.
1, 2000."
Booth, who took office Jan. 1, and the council have had longstanding
policy disagreements over various issues, primarily over budgeting
for the police department.
The mayor had no comment about his resignation but said he would
write a letter to the editor in next week's paper to explain
his action.
The Comer City Council had not announced a meeting as of press
time Wednesday morning to discuss Booth's resignation or replacement.
Madison County
BOC to hold Sat. budget meeting
The Madison County Board of Commissioners
will meet Saturday, Aug. 26, with county department heads to
discuss next year's county budget.
The all-day meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the county government
complex.
Other special meetings planned by the commissioners include:
·Monday, Aug. 28 - The commissioners will meet at 6 p.m.
- 30 minutes prior to their regular 6:30 p.m. meeting - to discuss
a storm water management ordinance. (See page 2A for the agenda
for Monday's meeting.)
·Monday, Sept. 11 - The commissioners will meet at 6 p.m.
- 30 minutes prior to their regular 6:30 p.m. meeting - to receive
public input on the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance
to eliminate the Plan Commercial Farm District zoning classification.
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