BOC still aims to preserve state park

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BOC still aims to preserve state park

Posted by

Zach Mitcham

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Friday, November 18. 2011

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Madison County commissioners agreed Nov. 7 to continue efforts to preserve Watson Mill’s “state park” status.

County commission chairman Anthony Dove informed the board that he received a letter Oct. 27 from Becky Kelley, director of Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites through the Department of Natural Resources.

Kelley outlined options for the county in preserving the park. One option would require Madison County to pay $90,000 per year to maintain staffing levels in place prior to recent cuts.

Commissioners agreed that they couldn’t do that. But they are considering a second option, which would include a $25,000 county contribution for five years. With this money, Watson Mill would maintain “state park” status. Oversight of the park will fall under Victoria Bryant State Park. The park office would be open from March 1 through Oct. 31. Reservations for the equestrian and RV campgrounds would be available March 1 through Oct. 31. There would be one full-time law enforcement officer on site, one part-time maintenance worker on site and two part-time office clerks.

Dove said losing “state park” status would open the door for deterioration of the park and hurt chances for re-establishing full services when the economy improves.

“At least this (proposal) is a step in the right direction,” said Dove. “Hopefully, in the future we’ll be able to get more from the state.”

The economic impact of the park on Madison County is estimated in the millions. Commissioners say the park’s downgrade will hurt the local economy and lead to criminal activity at the park.

No vote on approving or denying the state’s proposal was taken Monday. The group simply agreed to continue negotiations with the state. For instance, Dove wants to see if county labor at the park can knock down the $25,000 contribution expected by the state. The BOC also wants to talk with Oglethorpe County leaders about contributing to the park, since part of the park is in Oglethorpe.

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#1 taxpayer on 11/18/11 at 06:50 AM [Reply]

i have a idea why dont u use that 30,000 that u gonna use to invade ppl privacy and put it to GOOD USE towards watson mill park? and that way the ppl in the tax divison can earn there money and go out and look at ppl land and get a real figure...................oh and make the convicts and ppl on probation do the work and u can keep it open year round duh its not like ur trying to build a ROCKET .

#2 Ben Had on 11/18/11 at 08:10 AM [Reply]

If the park is in Oglethorpe county, why not let them foot the bill? Shouldn't they be the ones asking us for help?
If the big concern is for horse riders and campers,let them foot the bill.

If businesses are losing "millions" in revenue,let them foot the bill. What's a $25,000 investment when the return is millions?

These yahoos just keep adding debt to our 1/2 million dollar shortfall for next year. I really don't think they have a clue.

#2.1 Mc Taxpayor on 11/18/11 at 11:44 AM [Reply]

Ben ; Roosevelt would say we should pay Oglethorpe's way and when you no longer can then sell your stuff and pay till can not do it any more.

Debt Ben ; hey lets get your conservation tax gone to help the rest of us in MC who are taxed too much already.

However : I agree : I stopped going to this park due to people there that I felt were doing things they should not. Glad police finally patrolling. Shame local game wardens or guess call them conservation officers did not sit and scope out park and catch some druggies like they do the canoe people in the past.

#3 Shoulda Coulda Woulda on 11/18/11 at 03:57 PM [Reply]

NO! We cannot afford this. Taxes already TOO HIGH!

Now, if three of these clowns, ( Stanley Thomas, Pete Bond, and Mike Youngblood ) had not voted to donate $30,000 for useless airplane pictures freely available elsewhere, WE COULD HAVE SAVED WATSON MILL and had $5,000 LEFT OVER!

Literature has The Three Musketeers....Madison County has THE THREE IDIOTS!!! 4 including Dove.

#4 Anonymous on 11/19/11 at 09:51 AM [Reply]

The three idiots wishing they hadn't spent that $30,000 on the crazy photography junk now. They could have saved Watson Mill! Instead, we get a set of pictures from the air and lose Watson Mill.

We need some candidates, y'all! With some COMMON SENSE and FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

#4.1 Resident Redneck on 11/20/11 at 02:17 AM [Reply]

Anonymous- I agree. IF YOU are in charge of a county as big as Madison County is. You don't blow every dime you have on a "WHIM" because something more important WILL come up that you need the money for. They all may be getting higher educations but I think they need a simple class in HOW TO BUDGET MONEY. They are worse than a bunch of kids? You give a kid $10.00 and take them to the store to buy a toy and they will spend their $10.00 and you will have to put some of your money with it to buy some crappy toy that will break after they play with it for 10 minutes then they expect you to go buy them another toy.

#4.2 Whiteneck on 11/21/11 at 01:23 PM [Reply]

I think the $30,000 photo system OK by the way. It will let me show my neighbors structure that not taxed and so I pay more. it will let me call the local code enforcement people ( when I figure who to call ) when all of a sudden of Hwy 29 another dirt road goes in and maybe not supposed to. This way can show it was not there before and does not interfere with my driving that area due to people pulling out of it. I like this idea and bet those fuzzing concerned maybe their property not correctly used for that conservation tax problem I am hearing about more and more. Yep those of you with many cars parked on you land or have it with not recorded stuff such as a work shop can be found.

#5 Resident Redneck on 11/19/11 at 01:22 PM [Reply]

Wait a minute I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. Do you actually think 4 people can run the park? 1 full time law enforcement officer on site, 1 part-time maintenance worker on site, and 2 part-time office clerks? Does ANYONE think ONE cop can handle the park all by their self? AND as for a part-time mainteance man he may be paid for part time work BUT will end up working full time.
AND as for getting county labor to work at the park? Don't you think having CONVICTS there working is UNSAFE and may add to the criminal activity at the park?
I got it why don't you fire everybody and just let the convicts run the park? That way you could make 4 or 5 of them cops and have 4 or 5 of them do the mainteance and put the rest in as office clerks? That way you don't have to give them a place to live they go back to the jail every night to sleep.

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