County will roll back millage rate
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

During their Tuesday, Oct. 16, meeting the Jenkins County Commissioners set the dates for three public hearings relating to its 2007-2008 budget, noting that the county's millage rate would be rolled back to compensate for property value increases brought about by a state-required property re-evaluation. The dates for the hearings were later changed to the following: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. A called meeting will be held 8 p.m. Nov. 8 to set the millage rate.

It is predicted that the rolled back millage rate, 10.55 mils, will net the county only $37 more in local taxes than the previous year. The previous year's millage rate was 15.75 mils.

In other matters, the commissioners granted a "stay of execution" to a pit bulldog picked up several weeks ago by the county animal control officer.

Erica Simmons, owner of the dog, asked the commissioners to return the dog to her, contending that the animal was only defending its territory when it attempted to attack county workers responding to a complaint about the dog. Simmons said she had made arrangements to keep the dog at a more secure location within the City of Millen and stated that she was willing to pay the $261.40 expenses incurred by the county for impounding the dog.

Clay Boulineau, county animal control officer, had previously recommended that the dog be "put down" because of its vicious nature.

"It is the most vicious dog I have dealt with in the two years I have been doing this," he commented.

Questions then arose over whether or not the dog could be legally destroyed since the animal had not actually bitten anyone. After further discussion, the commissioners agreed to return the dog to Simmons provided Boulineau approved the new confinement area for the dog and the expenses owed the county were paid.

Jenkins County Tax Commissioner Brenda Mathern requested the purchase of a new server for her office, stating that her computer system had recently crashed and could possibly do so again due to the age of the present server. Employees of TBS computers were present to present a proposal for a new server for $26,000.

Commissioner Tommy Lane made a motion to approve the purchase of the system, but the motion died for lack of a second.

A motion to table the matter until the next meeting of the commissioners was approved 3-1 with commissioners James Henry, Domingo Green and Pam Dwight voting in favor and Lane casting the opposing vote. Commissioner Floyd Chance was absent.

The resignation of a landfill employee was accepted with the position to be advertised as soon as possible.