TRAVEL WRITERS VISIT CITY A group of 30 travel writers from both the U.S. and Canada visited Madison last week. They went to the Downtown Dance at Town Park last Friday night. The Chamber of Commerce’s Ellen Ianelli (standing, second from right) hosted the group. photo by dianne yost

By Stephanie Johns
staff writer

Members of the Rutledge City Council accepted a bid from Conyers-based A&B Contractors for $55,479, which includes the bond, for a new tennis court in North Rutledge Community Park.
A second bid from Monroe-based Sims Paving came in almost $10,000 higher at $64,876. It was not clear whether this amount included a bond or not.
The council accepted a bid from this same company in March but, according to City Clerk Debbie Rutherford, the city’s attorney had concerns regarding wording and the city had to re-do the bid process.
Mayor Spencer Knight said he would call A&B Contractors to ask them about a start date.
Knight added that Willow Construction continues working on a punch list for the park with the goal of opening the ballfields as soon as possible.

IN OTHER NEWS
Business license City council approved a business license for Indiana-based Royalty Roofing.
DCA meeting Knight will attend a Department of Community Affairs (DCA) plan implementation meeting at 7 p.m. next Thursday, May 30, in Madison.
Budget meeting The city will hold its budget work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 11.

Printed in the May 23, 2013 edition.

By Nick Nunn
staff writer

Monday, the Buckhead city council held their May meeting to discuss the issue of stop signs at the intersection of Davis Lane and Baldwin Dairy Road, the size of the donation they would make to the Buckhead Fire Department for new lighting, and set a date for a work session regarding the upcoming budget.
First, the council discussed what they hope to do with the $1,453.86 profit from Old Buckhead Days. Although several ideas were offered, including adding a new grill to the town park and completing a gap in the fence at the park, the council decided to give more time to thought before making a decision.
Next, the council voted to spend $1,400 from SPLOST funds on the Buckhead Fire Department’s relighting project, which will involve rewiring and replacing light fixtures in the building. The funding from the city will cover over half of the total estimated cost of the project, which is now $2,730.
The outcome of a hotly debated discussion regarding the safety of drivers at the intersection of Davis Lane and Baldwin Dairy Road ended with the council deciding to have the stop sign at the end of Davis Lane moved closer to the edge of the road and the stop sign clearly indicated on the road by painting a large, white stripe and the word “stop” at the intersection.
Although the addition of a stop sign on Baldwin Dairy Road was discussed as well, the council thought it best to wait and see the results of the first changes before making further changes.
Finally, the council set dates for a work session, during which they will work on the upcoming budget. The work session will take place on May 28 at 6 p.m., leading up to meetings for the public discussing the budget on June 17 at 6:30 and 7 p.m. and a vote on the budget June 20 at 7 p.m.

Printed in the May 23, 2013 edition.

By Stephanie Johns
staff writer

During its May meeting the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approved all four of the applications that came before it.
Two submitted by applicant Mike Conrads were for a change in new roofing material. Each building – one at 174 W. Washington St. and the other at 205 N. Second St. – needed new roofs, he said.
The fifth application was for a conceptual review for the construction of a new primary structure on Lot 11 of Candler Lane.  HPC member Joe Smith recused himself from the commission and presented on behalf of the property owner.
Smith shared a request from the property owner and asked the HPC if the property owner could begin clearing the lot and working on the foundation.
The HPC agreed that clearing the lot would be fine but that it could not give permission to begin work on a foundation prior to the HPC’s approval.

Printed in the May 23, 2013 edition.

By Stephanie Johns
staff writer

April showers bring May flowers – and based on recent observation, more rain.
This is good news, though, as far as drought conditions.
“All the rain we have had has really, really helped our drought situation,” said Morgan County Extension Agent Lucy Ray. “It’s definitely helped us in Morgan County.”
According to Ray, at the beginning of the calendar year about 98 percent of the state was in a drought.
“Now only about 1 percent of the state is in that category,” she said.
Gwen Ruark, director of the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency, agreed that the rain has helped.
“The drought for Morgan County has been lifted,” she said. “For right now we’re at an average water level.”
It’s been three, almost four years, that the county has been at drought levels, she later added.
Ray added that there are certain concerns that come with too much rain as well.
Ruark shared several of those concerns: flooding, rotting crops, toppling trees, difficulty planting crops as well as bringing them in.

Printed in the May 23, 2013 edition.

By Kathryn Schiliro
managing editor

When it comes to the state-required, annually administered Grade 5 Writing Test, Morgan County Elementary School has made its greatest score in the past five years.
Of the 227 students to take the test, 87 percent met or exceeded the passing score.
In the 2011-2012 school year, 79 percent met or exceeded the passing score; 2010-2011, 81 percent; 2009-2010, 78 percent; and 2008-2009, 83 percent.
"It's the best in five years," MCES Instructional Lead Teacher Robbi Jordan told the school board at their May meeting. "Every group and subgroup met the goal."
As far as subgroups, 80 percent of black students met or exceeded the passing score; 90 percent of white students; 50 percent of Students with Disabilities; and 90 percent of regular program students. These are the highest scores in the past five years for the black, white and regular program students. The 2010-2011 school year saw the highest meeting-exceeding rate for Students with Disabilities: 60 percent.

Printed in the May 23, 2013 edition.