Work on Phase II of the Jenkins County Courthouse renovation project will soon begin. The Jenkins County Commissioners awarded the bid on the project to Dabbs-Williams Construction Company during a May meeting of the group. The company’s bid amount was $477,000.

Phase II consists of renovation and repairs to the columns, porches and fascia of the structure. It was noted that the original cost projection for Phase II was less than the bids received with the increase deriving from repairs needed to the metal and leaf ornamentation. It was decided that some repairs could be deleted to lower the cost and that the first floor marble renovation would be done in Phase III.

A motion to approve placement of the leaf ornamentation as in the original concept was approved.

Jeff McPhail addressed the commissioners, explaining that he had previously requested that his land be placed in the CUVA program in order to reduce his property taxes. He said that only one-half of his property was put in the program, however, and he was now requesting that the commissioners make an adjustment to his 2009 tax bill to compensate for the discrepancy.

The commissioners referred Mr. McPhail to the Jenkins County Tax Appraiser, stating that he may be able to file an appeal with the Board of Tax Assessors in order to settle the dispute.

The need to clean up numerous sites around the county was discussed with Chairman James Henry asking the other commissioners to bring a list of possible sites from each of their districts for consideration at the next meeting.

Other actions taken by the commissioners included the following:

• Approved a bid from Superior Alarm for installation of a fire alarm system at the Jenkins County Senior Citizen Center;

• Approved the signing of a resolution accepting the Comprehensive Five Year Plan for Jenkins County and City of Millen as prepared; and

• Reappointed Wilehmena Scogins to represent Jenkins County on the Ogeechee Community Service Board.