Georgia County Government - February 2009 - (Page 25)

GREENE County Transfers Bond Proceeds, Bolsters Investments Following its receipt of a bond rating putting the county among the state’s top nine counties in terms of sound fiscal management, Green County commissioners in recent weeks opted to transfer $15 million in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) bond proceeds from standard money market accounts to the higher-yielding Georgia Fund One investment cooperative. The move will permit the bond proceeds to continue generating interest as the county pulls from the $15 million when 2009 SPLOST projects are begun. County Manager Byron Lombard commented that the Local Government Investment Pool is an ideal program for the county, which has been used in the past; and that officials are unanimous that taking advantage of any opportunity to bolster the bond proceeds’ yield and increase in value is very desirable. On the current SPLOST, adds Chairman Dene Channell, “Greene County is not paying nearly the interest other governments would for the amount issued in bonds.” RABUN Health Department Renovation A $640 million-plus construction bid for the former Rabun County Health Department building will leave room for unforeseen contingencies and will be a “guaranteed price” officials claim. While an original estimate for the work came in at some $100,000 lower, that figure had not allowed for necessary improvements that need to be made, discovered only after the bid-winning vendor, Garrard Construction Group, first evaluated the building. The project is expected to be completed within 3 1/2 months. WARE Fire Department Equipment Upgrades, New Fire Chief Ware County Commissioner Carlos Nelson claims the county’s incoming fi re chief will “be starting his tenure with an entirely new fi re department,” following the purchase of almost $2.2 million in new equipment for the Ware County Fire Department at last year’s end. New acquisitions include nine Class A pumpers and one 3,500-gallon tanker from Fire Line, Inc. to be utilized by the county and its volunteer stations. Regarding the new fi re chief, the board named Captain Dennis Keen to the post, replacing lifelong chief Jimmy Brown, who retired last spring following 40 years of service. Keen has been with the department for many years, having begun as a rookie, proceeding to shift captain and training officer. In accepting the post, Keen told commissioners becoming fire chief has been “a dream of mine for many years,” adding that he is grateful for the commission’s support. In the summer of 2006, the Ware County Fire Department garnered national attention for its role in fighting the worst wildfires in Georgia’s history, which began in April and continued through mid-July, affecting the Okefenokee, parts of Waycross, and many other proximal counties. ■ GROUND ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SINCE 1960 • Water Resources • Mining • Manufacturing • Transportation • Waste Management • Power • Land Development • Oil & Gas Atlanta Headquarters: 770.496.1893 Henry Mock: hmock@golder.com www.golder.com 406914_Golder.indd 1 11/13/08 8:33:34 AM 367912_StreetSmarts.indd 1 2/26/08 9:01:54 AM 408450_Moreland.indd 1 FEBRUARY 2009 www.accg.org 12/15/08 25 9:57:42 AM http://www.golder.com http://www.maai.net http://www.streetsmarts.us http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - February 2009

Georgia County Government - February 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters ACCG Training Programs: A Foundation for Excellence in County Government ACCG Welcomes Newly Elected Commissioners Georgia’s Trauma System: The Emergency Management System Component Demographics Program Addresses County Planning Extension News: 4-H Camping Program Benefits Georgia Youth Research Corner: Promote Economic Development in Your Rural County County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - February 2009

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