By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Morgan Memorial Hospital (MMH) posted a net income of negative $99,080 in December. They had budgeted a net income of negative $24,298, exceeding that by $74,782.

Treasurer Paul Courchaine said they expected this dip because of the holidays.
Chief Financial Officer Courtney Moore agreed. “Nothing about this was too surprising,” she said.
She explained that the hospital will receive is indigent care trust fund (ICTF) reimbursements mid-February and that it has not yet received its electronic health records (EHR) funds.

In fiscal year 2012, the hospital received $151,000 in EHR funds as well as $126,000 in ICTF funds.
Their average daily census for December was 16. Their emergency department had a high of 815, though. The number for only one year earlier was 537.

Salaries and wages were over budget by $20,000 in December due to overtime and holiday pay.
Employee benefits were below budget. Moore said employee claims had come down.
Professional fees were overbudget by $31,000. This amount includes the last of their audit fees.
Supply costs were below budget by $28,000.

Purchased services were over budget by $13,000. Moore said this number fluctuates.

Printed in the February 7, 2013 edition

By Patrick Yost
Editor

A 4-year-old boy died Monday afternoon from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle car wreck on Georgia Highway 83.
According to Sgt. Justin Howard, Georgia State Patrol, Joshua Allen Cole was pronounced dead at the scene by Morgan County Coroner Adam Carter.
Cole’s grandmother, Cynthia Lynn Miller, 50, was the driver of the 1999 Volkswagen that, Howard said, left the roadway while traveling south on Highway 83 past Sandy Creek Road, overcorrected and spun counter-clockwise on the opposite side of the road before striking a pine tree with the rear of the vehicle. Cole, Howard said, was in a booster seat in the backseat but was not in a child restraint seat.
Miller has been charged with first degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, DUI drugs, prescription medication not in its original container, failure to maintain lane and child restraint violation. Howard said investigators confiscated both Oxycodone and Hydrocodone pills from Miller at the scene. Howard said Miller agreed to both a blood and urine test at Morgan Memorial Hospital. She is currently detained at the Morgan County Detention Center.
A front seat passenger in the vehicle, 32-year-old Brandy Malcom, was transported to Atlanta Medical Center via life flight and remains in critical condition, Howard said.
Cole, Miller and Malcom all reside at the same Jims Daws Road, Monroe address. The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. and occurred in a curve in the road approximately one mile south of the intersection of Georgia Highway 83 and Sandy Creek Road.
Howard said troopers had collected witness statements that Miller was operating the vehicle in a reckless manner prior to the crash.

Printed in the January 31, 2013 edition

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Steak ‘n Shake received final approval from the Corridor Design Commission during their Jan. 22 meeting.
Abe Abouhamdan, president and CEO of ABE Consulting, Inc., in Watkinsville, presented the plans to the commission.
The defunct Shell Station at 2011 Eatonton Road in front of Cracker Barrel Restaurant will be transformed into a restaurant with about 56 parking spots.
Madison Planning Director Monica Callahan said it is exciting to see redevelopment on this site.
The restaurant’s signature 1950s-1960s design will be modified to comply with Madison’s regulations: it will feature blonde brick for the top portion of the building and very dark brown brick for the bottom portion.
Red detailing will be provided by a polycarbonate material while the window frames will be architecturally appropriate aluminum.
In the original plans brought before the commission in September, the site also included a car wash. That will no longer be included.
The deletion of the car wash increases the site’s green space, according to Callahan.
Abouhamdan detailed the next steps in a later interview.
He said they will submit development plans to the city for review within the next two to two-and-a-half weeks. After that they will submit building plans. They will then demolish the existing building, remove the gas tanks, and begin building the restaurant.

Printed in the January 31, 2013 edition

Madison City Council checks out Savannah’s tour house ordinance as well as Rome’s accessory permit

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

When it comes to tourism in residential zones, the Madison City Council is looking to other Georgia tourism-dependent cities for possible solutions.
Madison Planning Director Monica Callahan shared several documents pertaining to tourism in residential zones with councilmen. Two of those documents were from other cities in Georgia: one was the Savannah tour house ordinance and the other was language from the Rome accessory permit.
She noted councilmen had a working document for their consideration and recommended they keep it simple.
Councilman Michael Naples said it was “a step in the right direction.”
Resident Stratton Hicky suggested the council consider having tour limitations determined by the individual property.
Callahan said two problems would be, one, it would be at the discretion of a staff interpreter and, two, how neighbors would get to comment and how they would be notified.
City attorney Joe Reitman said they try to treat everyone the same: evenhanded.
At the end of her presentation, Callahan recommended the council move house tours from the zoning ordinance to code because it would be more timely. As it is now, zoning takes 45 days.
She asked councilmen to consider what restrictions or limitations they would like to include as well as tour limitations regarding hours, volume and number of people and/or motorcoaches.

Printed in the January 31, 2013 edition

City council shying away from pants rule

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

The Madison City Council and mayor, er, brought up the proposed saggy pants and skirts ordinance at their work session last Friday.
Madison Mayor Bruce Gilbert said while it is embarrassing to him to see someone’s underwear, he does not see how the ordinance could be enforced.
He noted they already have indecent exposure  rules to cover this issue and added he has seen that a person can purchase a pair of pants that looks like the underwear is showing.
“I’d rather make some kind of statement,” he said. “Be proud and don’t do these kinds of things.”
Councilman Fred Perriman said it is a matter of respect.
“It’s not the baggy pants,” he said. “Just pull them up.”
Councilman Michael Naples read a statement, part of which said freedom of expression will most likely protect this style of attire.
“This trend or style of dress will pass,” he said.

Printed in the January 31, 2013 edition

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Officials of the City of Madison and Morgan County continue to seek a solution to their dispute over distribution of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) monies.

LOST is a 1 percent sales tax levied by the county and distributed among the county and its four municipalities: Bostwick, Buckhead, Madison and Rutledge.

The county receives 73 percent while Madison receives 22 percent, Rutledge receives 4 percent, and Buckhead and Bostwick receive the remaining 1 percent.

The county only has to reach an agreement with a city or cities that make up 50 percent or more of the municipal population, according to County Attorney Christian Henry during a Sept. 2012 interview.

Madison Mayor Bruce Gilbert and Councilman Michael Naples met with Morgan County Commission Chairwoman Ellen Warren and Commissioner Andy Ainslie last Thursday.

Regarding their Thursday meeting, Naples and Gilbert shared their impression of that meeting during the city’s work session on Friday.

“I’m not too optimistic,” Naples said.
Gilbert added, “Not from yesterday, I’m not.” 

Naples said the city still hopes to come to a fair agreement.
“I just want to preclude one of us being a loser,” he said.

During a later interview, Ainslie explained that the city and the county touched base to see if there were any other grounds for negotiation.

“There will always be ongoing negotiations,” he said.

Ainslie said that both sides – the city and the county – are “receptive” to negotiations.
“Neither side has shut a door,” he said. “Each is willing to listen if something is offered.”