Fine Finish to move

Fine Finish

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Wednesday, March 16. 2011

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Leaders say too much money already sunk into sinking building

The Fine Finish building off Hwy. 98 was constructed on top of an old landfill and the front of the structure has been gradually sinking ever since. Though the cracking building was patched up years ago, the sinking continues and new cracks have formed.

So, it’s finally time to quit throwing money at the problem, time to move. That was the word from the county commission table March 7.

The Fine Finish facility serves as a daytime center for mentally and physically challenged adults of Madison County.

“We’re very concerned that there are some issues there and we’re going to continue to pour money into (the facility,” said BOC chairman Anthony Dove. “And we don’t have assurances that we’re not going to have problems again.”

The chairman said past measures to stabilize the structure didn’t work.

“There were measures taken to fix the problem and I don’t think it has,” said Dove.

Dove said the county talked to its insurance provider, which sent an agent to investigate the structure. He said the insurance company determined that the building is “settling,” but that the company won’t “warranty the settling.”

Dove said he and other leaders will look for temporary and permanent facilities for Fine Finish clients.

“I think we need to do something with the people now,” said Dove. “I think we need to look for a different place to house Fine Finish, even if it’s for a time and even look for a new home for them. I cannot see this county putting any more taxpayer money into a building that may or may not continue to have trouble.”

Dove said the structure could be used for other things, such as storage.

“I just don’t think it needs to be used for what it’s being used for now,” he said.

Commissioner Stanley Thomas recalled the previous move of Fine Finish clients from the facility and how it was difficult on some who are served by the facility and their families. He said he wants the county to work hard to find a permanent facility as soon as possible.

Commissioner Mike Youngblood added that the county will need to relocate the road that runs from Hwy. 98 to the Fine Finish building and down to the sheriff’s department, since it is sinking too.

“Parts of that road are starting to sink,” said Youngblood. “We need to keep that (the road relocation) in the back of our minds.”

OTHER BUSINESS

In other matters, the commissioners agreed to allow EMS director Jason Lewis to apply for a $72,000 grant through the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. The commissioners learned that March 19 will be opening day for the Madison County Little League.

The board approved part-time season workers at the recreation department. They approved bids for the removal of an old truck scale at the county transfer station and the installation of a new one. The cost of the scale will be covered through sales tax funds. The board approved a lawn maintenance contract with Tim Nunn for $280 per cutting of county properties.

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#1 lynn on 03/16/11 at 05:17 AM [Reply]

So who was in charge of construction of these buildings? They need to be run out of business!

#1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/17/11 at 02:50 PM [Reply]

lynn- Yeah you are right and I wonder if he is the same man who built the sheriff Dept. too? Didn't they have problems with that building too? Makes me wonder how many other buildings he has built for Madison County? BUT my main question and concern is still DIDN'T THE SOIL TEST SHOW THIS? Before my parents could pour their foundation they had to have a soil test done, then before they could put in a septic tank system they had to do another soil test. And you know if you have to go through all this red tape for a residential construction that a goverment building or a business would be worse?

#2 Resident Redneck on 03/17/11 at 12:46 AM [Reply]

My first Question is WHY would you build a building over an old landfill? I mean you know it's gonna sink and continue to sink forever? And the second question is HOW did the plans EVER get approved in the first place? I mean they had to know it was there? Didn't they do a soil test that is required anytime you build something new?

#2.1 anon on 03/17/11 at 03:36 PM [Reply]

I guess you forgot but this is the county goverment and the rules don't apply to them for some reason ! I guess they think they are better than me and you ! We are the ones paying for all this nonsense but for some unknown reason the goverment makes all these rules but don't tell everyone that they don't apply to the goverment that made them !

#2.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/18/11 at 04:18 AM [Reply]

Well anon- Then the county Goverment needs an overhaul? They need to learn that the rules they make for us ARE FOR EVERYONE including them too? They may have knew all this but pulled some strings to get it passed and thought before the building started giving trouble they wouldn't be in office anymore? OR even when the building starts sinking the TAX PAYERS of Madison County can pay to fix it? Either way they win. It ain't costing them a dime?

#2.1.1.1 E.J. on 03/19/11 at 01:47 AM [Reply]

"They may have knew all this but pulled some strings to get it passed and thought before the building started giving trouble they wouldn't be in office anymore?" Bingo! And it is '...may have KNOWN....', please.

The error was in the survey to site the building; this is the entity responsible. I'm disappointed, but not surprised, that the insurance won't cover it. Insurance is such a rip-off.

#2.1.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/19/11 at 09:14 AM [Reply]

E.J.- I agree insurance is a rip off? And since this story came out I have talked with people who have lived around Danielsville for 70-80 years and they said they NEVER remember a Dump there? SO it makes me wonder if this was a private dump when someone lived there hundreds of years ago? There would be NO records. BUT the soil test should have caught it before the building was built?

#2.1.1.1.1.1 E.J. on 03/20/11 at 07:19 PM [Reply]

Interesting. You are right about the soil test and there probably was one.

#3 Anonymous on 03/21/11 at 12:14 AM [Reply]

I remember hearing from numerous people about the old dump where the current jail and Fine Finish is located. It's local knowledge that the building was built on a landfill. I also personally know someone who worked there for years, and always heard the same.

#3.1 Redneck on 03/21/11 at 11:36 AM [Reply]

Would our county code officer at that time not have told BOC this problem ? Is it with code department and if not what department and is that person still being paid by MC taxpayers and if so I vote they be FIRED unless they noted problems and told to stop complaining then go after who told them to be quire. My dime / taxes and tired of this type of stuff.

#3.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/21/11 at 04:04 PM [Reply]

Redneck- I agree BUT it shouldn't just fall on the code officer? If he in fact told the BOC and they told him to keep quite he was just doing what he was told AND if he went and told others he could have been fired? And the BOC could say he was making it all up?

#3.1.2 MC person on 03/21/11 at 04:10 PM [Reply]

Redneck good question : who in our county public departments let this go ? Anyone post a name so we get handle on that department or person ?

#3.1.2.1 Resident Redneck on 03/22/11 at 03:58 PM [Reply]

MC person- You ain't going to get NOBODY to admit that they did this? If you go to the office responsible for this they are going to lay the blame on someone else? They know how to play the blame game?

#3.1.3 E.J. on 03/21/11 at 05:28 PM [Reply]

Not sure code enforcement could have done anything to uncover this mistake. However, the code enforcement when I built my house a few years ago was very poor. I know building codes and caught the problems after the department o.k.'ed some things. Unfortunately, there's lots I can't see, so I have no confidence in the properness of the construction. This county needs truly knowledgeable officials.

#3.1.3.1 Resident Redneck on 03/22/11 at 03:52 PM [Reply]

Yep E.J. I still stand beside my statement that someone needs to come in and wipe out the whole Madison County Goverment and start over with new people? That's from the Dept. of public works all the way to the BOC? Fire everyone who works for Madison Co. and start fresh?

#3.1.3.2 MC another Redneck on 03/23/11 at 08:16 AM [Reply]

Who would have signed off on this ? Was Mrs. Fortson there during this time ? Who should I ask about this.

#3.1.3.2.1 Resident Redneck on 03/23/11 at 08:17 PM [Reply]

MC another Redneck- I don't know but I would start with the BOC? Dove and Pethel should know IF it wasn't thbem? They act like they know everything and they think they are God's gift to Madison County anyway?

#4 MC BOC follower on 03/24/11 at 08:40 AM [Reply]

Mr. Dove : I supported Nash but later did not. You are loosing my support. If you do not change you will not be re-elected. Pethel has said he will not run and after Sam Bruce Road if election were today he would loose after all what known now getting out there. SO BOC FIRE the MC person who ahould have done the code or research on this better. In non government job it would be done.

#5 Anonymous on 03/24/11 at 06:14 PM [Reply]

THere was indeed a dump there and it was not that long ago - just trenches where the dumped and then covered it up. It was then moved to the Colbert-Danielsville Road with the same type of dump and cover arrangements. Water would fill the trenches and drain off down the hill into the creek. This was a treehugger's night mare. It is also the same arrangement that caused the water table to be contaminated and caused the county to have to run waterlines from Danielsville to supply those people with contaminated water in their wells.
This was a period in Madison County government that they tried to do everything on the cheap and ended up costing us more in the end.

#6 Seriously people? on 04/03/11 at 03:54 PM [Reply]

Seriously? Some of you are calling for the current board to be ousted because of the Fine Finish building's current location and problems. This building was built and subsequently repaired before this current board EVER took office. Are you seriously placing the blame on them? Come on...

What Grinds My Gears... paying for dirt cheap lawn care that looks like crap. Have you driven by some of the county buildings and seen these people riding a 42" Murray? It looks like crap.

#6.1 Resident Redneck on 04/03/11 at 09:29 PM [Reply]

Seriously people- NO we ain't saying fire the current board because of the problems with the Fine Finish building UNLESS they were on the board when Fine Finish was built? WHAT I SAID WAS FIRE ANYONE WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PLANS GETTING APPROVED? Because somebody Knew something? Who ever did this knew they would always have problems?
BUT don't fire the board because of this IF they were not on the board at the time THERE IS SO MANY OTHER REASONS TO FIRE THEM?
All I ever hear is some of you people saying how bad Pethel and the other board members are SO there's a reason? AND AND didn't Pethel walk out of a meeting because somebody disagreed with him? WE should have let him keep on going because in my book when he got mad and walked out HE QUIT?

#6.1.1 Another Redneck of MC on 04/04/11 at 02:21 PM [Reply]

Who would have been county code officer at the time that would have looked at plans or tested soil or visited site ? If that code person long term resident of county the BOC should invite her/him to a public meeting and ask questions. If not satisfactory questions she / he should be fired. SO WHO WAS the CODE person at that time ?

#6.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 04/04/11 at 10:53 PM [Reply]

Another Redneck- That's what I was saying BUT I don't guess nobody knows?????????????

#6.1.1.2 Redneck on 04/05/11 at 10:36 AM [Reply]

Was there a Ms. Butler there at the time or am I wrong. Would she have looked at it ? Would like to know who in building / zoning / code was the person who looked at this. Surely someone knows ?

#6.1.1.3 Anonymous on 04/05/11 at 02:09 PM [Reply]

Jack Huff?

#6.1.1.3.1 Anonymous on 04/06/11 at 11:52 AM [Reply]

To my knowledge Mr. Huff was not, is not, nor has never been a Building Inspector.

#6.1.1.3.1.1 Anonymous on 04/07/11 at 08:35 AM [Reply]

He has never been a code offer either, so what is your point?

#6.1.1.3.1.2 Anonymous on 04/07/11 at 04:42 PM [Reply]

Oh. Thanks. Guess I'm too stupid to know the difference between "code inspector" and "building inspector." I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Jack Huff and to everyone here for my complete ignorance and embarrassing myself by trying to drag Jack's name through the mud. Sorry everyone. I'll shut up now and try to mind my own business.

#6.1.1.3.1.2.1 Anonymous on 04/13/11 at 02:44 PM [Reply]

U SAID IT.

#6.1.1.3.2 Redneck on 04/06/11 at 04:33 PM [Reply]

does anyone know who ? if so can BOC ask them to appear and address why they approved this ? Or is BOC to busy with Pethel and Sam Bruce road stuff again.

#6.1.1.3.2.1 Resident Redneck on 04/06/11 at 07:35 PM [Reply]

Redneck- Ain't it right that your BOC has to approve ALL plans before a building can be built? So this mix up don't fall on just one person UNLESS the BOC didn't look at NONE of the paperwork? This proves they didn't read the soil test or none of the other reports? It makes me wonder HOW MANY other plans they have approved without reading anything first?

#7 kim on 04/04/11 at 05:48 PM [Reply]

Where is the article about Habitat for Humanity building another house?

#7.1 Redneck also on 04/07/11 at 10:59 AM [Reply]

Honey the local vocals about Sam Bruce Road and costs. Paying toooooo much for the problem road and bridge. Sounds to me like a democratic thing where give me the money as I am entitled to it.

#8 Resident with brain on 04/06/11 at 11:49 PM [Reply]

FYI..Generally counties will bid out the work. The GC would hire his own independent testing company (if he was required). All depends on the specs written by the engineer who designed the site. It was known that there was a landfill but from what I heard the building was about 4 ft over the trench that was used for dumping. The county settled a lawsuit against the GC. The settlement was for the GC to make certain repairs, it also stated once repairs were made then the GC would have no more liability. It could have been that the county surveyor, which is who submits his plat to the engineering company that draws the building and specs that are bid on by out of county residents. Building Inspections only look at footings, which would have passed inspection by any county anywhere since they only look at width, depth, proper reinforcing per specs. If the engineering firm submits a letter to the Inspection Dept then they have no choice but to pass it. The FORMER CHAIRMAN, ENGINEERING COMPANY, GC, and Surveyor, are all to blame, which is why they agreed to a settlement. (Everyone pointed fingers at the other and a jury could have gone either way) A "Soil Test" aka in real world as a "compaction test" would only test 4 ft deep in a few locations. If dump was deeper than that, it could have passed a compaction test. . Regardless, it was done by the PREVIOUS administration and I believe Chairman Dove is trying to move forward in the right direction. I have no ties to anyone listed but I do live in MC and have been in construction business for more than 18 years.

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