Madison Co. gets statewide attention

The Georgia County Government Magazine produced by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia featured Madison County in its September/October edition. The story “Madison County: Celebrating the Past and Planning for the Future” includes a cover photo of Watson Mill Bridge.

“The people writing the article sent some photographers and they thought the Watson Mill State Park Bridge was one of our vital assets and they made a beautiful picture on the front of the magazine,” said BOC chairman Anthony Dove.

Due to budget strains, state officials recently downgraded Watson Mill from a “state park” to an “outdoor recreational area,” eliminating three jobs. The downgrade also includes the elimination of reservations for park camping areas.

Local leaders worry that such a downgrade could lead to criminal activity in the park if law-abiding citizens stop using the park for recreational purposes. They note that such a change in the park’s recreational environment would carry long-term costs.

County officials are now negotiating with state officials on ways to keep staff at the park, both for taking park reservations and maintaining a law enforcement presence. Local leaders are also seeking help from Madison County’s elected legislators on protecting the park.

“The picture on the state magazine shows how important this is to us and how much it means to our county,” said commissioner Stanley Thomas. “It should send a message to those who are trying to cut and take away, that this is a very vital part of our county as recreation and as an economic impact because people come into our county from outside the county for this.”

Thomas said the park provides low-cost recreation for local citizens.

“In the economic times we face, a lot of people can’t go on trips and it gives recreation for people locally who can’t afford to go to the beach,” said Thomas.

Dove said he was pleased with the magazine article.

“The article was well written on where we’re at in Madison County,” the chairman said. “It talked about the bicentennial and looked at some of the infrastructure we’re putting in to meet our modern needs, but it also emphasized that we’re still an agricultural county. And we’re trying to fit to both. We’re trying to be one of the few counties that does retail, residential and realizes that agriculture is our biggest industry.”