Georgia County Government - October 2008 - (Page 27) construction and initial paving under a state contract and a CDBG grant totaling $1.3 million. The receipt of a Homeland Security Grant of $141,871 was put toward equipment for Fire and Fire Safety Services. The county completed an upgrade of E-911 centralized communications providing for better interoperability throughout the state, made available through the Georgia Technology Authority and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) at a cost of $132,000. Turner County also implemented a beaver control program commissioners hope will alleviate damage exceeding $100,000 per year to county roads and local agricultural properties; completed a Safety Action Plan consisting of repainting highway lines, sign improvements and raised pavement markers, funded by $139,013 from the Georgia DOT; implemented a drug testing program; bought a new ambulance and extended ambulance services, while adding three more emergency medical technicians; and adopted a five-year Capital Improvement Plan for the Turner County Airport, mentioned previously. Turner County also completed the federal and state requirements of a multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, which will enable the county to gain reimbursement at an 80-percent percentage from the federal government in the event of a presidentially declared disaster. Finally, the county sheriff ’s department procured four new patrol cars to replace high-mileage vehicles, at a cost of $74,208; another $74,000 in congressional appropriations went for computer purchases and record maintenance software. Tift County is proud to have been chosen by the Georgia DCA as a “signature community” in 2006, a program designed to “raise the bar” helping communities reach higher levels of achievement and quality of life for citizens – those chosen have demonstrated they are “serious about improving the local quality of life” through effective planning, implementation and comprehensively addressing community improvement issues. The package of benefits the county and Tifton receive include customized technical assistance, Signature Community grant access for plan initiatives, assistance in identifying financial resources to help further with identified initiatives, and state recognition. According to Tift County Manager Carter, the county made numerous improvements in the past couple of years and several others are in the works. Under the banner of recreation, the county is in the final stage of constructing a new three-field soccer and football complex at a cost of $270,000, with recreation and public works staff performing all work except for lights and grassing (with grassing and laser grading donated by a local turf company). If built by outside contractors, the project would have exceeded $1 million. The county also upgraded lighting on softball and football fields already in place, and hosted a Georgia Recreation Professionals Association State Swim Meet, bringing 28 communities and approximately 700 swimmers to the county. Tift County’s E-911 system received $350,000 in upgrades replacing an older communications system with state-ofSOUTH GEORGIA continued on page 28 Ben Hill County, Georgia Working together with Industry – Forestry – Agriculture for continuous progressive growth p og essive BEN HILL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Larry E. Davis, Chairman O.D. Netter Jr., Vice-Chairman Scott Downing Member Kathy Davis - Member Richard Goodman - Member d David McCranie - County Manager Paula Jones - Clerk Tim Kegebein - Road Superintendent Toni Sawyer - County Attorney 402-A East Pine Street ~ Fitzgerald, GA 31750 t Telephone: 229-426-5100 ~ Fax: 229-426-5104 www.benhillcounty.com 393857_BenHill_393857.indd 1 OCTOBER 2008 www.accg.org 7/29/08 27 9:45:20 PM http://www.benhillcounty.com http://www.accg.org
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