Fifth graders learn about programs for disabled in the great outdoors

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

On Monday morning members of the Morgan County Board of Tax Assessors met for the third time in April to decide on the remaining applications for Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA).
Of the applications discussed during the Monday meeting, they approved all but one, which they tabled.
According to the Georgia Department of Revenue website, CUVA is a “favorable tax treatment” in which “conservation use property is assessed at 40 percent of current use value which gives a reduced assessment to the owner of this type property.”
The board received 333 renewal, 52 new, and seven continuation applications this year.
In all, the board spent several hours in work sessions January through March reviewing the almost 400 CUVA applications as well as several more hours in regular and special called meetings held throughout April to vote upon the applications.
In other news, the board will hold its next meeting at a special time: 5 p.m. May 6. Public comment will be accepted at the beginning of the meeting.

Printed in the May 2, 2013 edition.

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

The Corridor Design Commission (CDC) conducted a conceptual review of a project by Athens-based Parallel Housing during its April meeting.
Chairman Sonny Pennington reminded those present of the CDC’s purpose: to protect and enhance assets in the gateways and corridors of the community.
He added that they typically have one meeting to review a preliminary plan and another meeting to vote their approval or disapproval.
City Planning Director and CDC Staff Monica Callahan pointed out that the proposed development is internally oriented and does not address the by-pass, where it would be located.
“The buffer requirement of 50-feet seems to be the most overriding guideline,” she said. She noted that the appearance of the proposed 44-unit project is “more of a cottage approach.”

Curry Wadsworth of Parallel Housing explained that he and his partner at Parallel, Greg Bayard, are developers of affordable housing. For this project Parallel is partnering with the Woda Group, a national developer.
The preliminary plans call for quadraplexes for those age 55 and older, he said, adding that they are LEED certified sustainable developers. He explained that LEED is a nationally recognized third party that determines sustainability.
Wadsworth said they plan to use hardiplank on the homes and have all native landscaping on the site.
“Part of sustainable development is an interest in conservation,” he said. “We’re firm believers in leaving what’s there intact.”

They also plan to have a four-acre passive park, which Wadsworth said means they would have a trail or path but no playground equipment.
Also, he said they only intend to do phase one of the four-phase project.

Memorial Fund for city proposed by Lurey daughters

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Members of the Madison Greenspace Commission (GSC) heard a couple of updates – one about a grant they are pursuing and another about a trail study – during their April meeting.
GSC Staff Monica Callahan explained that the GSC has submitted its environmental assessment to the state for its recreational trails grant.
She noted that the grant is contingent upon a positive assessment.
As for the Founders’ Trail Network Study, Callahan said that Chair David Land shared a one-page executive summary of his work to-date.
“This is still in process,” she said.
Two other items – one pertaining to a potential property donation and another pertaining to the creation of a possible memorial fund – were discussed during this meeting.
Callahan noted that the Bryans family may donate 0.31 acres of land on East Washington Street.
She said GSC recommended the Madison City Council accept this as the land does three things: includes a sensitive water area, offers connectivity, and includes greenspace.
As for the memorial fund, Callahan said that Barry Lurey’s daughters are contemplating such a fund: The Barry and Marcia Lurey Memorial Fund for the Beautification of Madison.
Barry, a former member of the Madison City Council, spearheaded the Round Bowl Springs project as a councilman, Callahan said, adding that Marcia served on the Madison Cemetery Stewardship Commission.
Part of the Round Bowl Springs trail connects to the cemetery, Callahan explained.
It is possible that the GSC would use funds to replace the defunct water feature on that trail, she said.

Printed in the May 2, 2013 edition.

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Main Street Director Ann Huff updated members of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) of Madison regarding that group’s BoomTown projects.
According to the city’s BoomTown website, “BoomTown is a state initiative to enhance job creation in Georgia’s Main Street communities through encouraged and improved use of economic development tools.”
“We’ve done pretty much everything we said we would do,” she said.
Two recent BoomTown projects include a visit by an opportunity development team last fall and participation in community asset mapping with Startupoint, which was launched earlier this year.
Huff said they recently attended a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) presentation on what the SBDC can do for businesses in the community.
“We’re becoming very, very business friendly,” she said.
DDA Executive Director Monica Callahan said their next BoomTown product, an online real estate database, will come out in June.
In other news, Callahan said the DDA has scheduled visits to its partner BoomTown city, Jefferson, in May. She said this would be a chance for the two groups to learn from one another.

Printed in the May 2, 2013 edition.