[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6312471,"mediaKeyId","2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2","parentId",2390860,"title","Madison County reviews road projects, bid openings and GIS integration; residents raise pothole, ditch and dumping concerns","audioSeconds",975,"startMs",1454670,"endMs",2429830,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2&start=1454&end=2429","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2/thumbnail_1454670.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312471/Madison-County/Georgia/Madison-County-reviews-road-projects-bid-openings-and-GIS-integration-residents-raise-pothole-ditch-and-dumping-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312471-ae62a8a7638f27559a2f1071ce5eddf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147333&Signature=aZKmPJKNiJK24rnc8BY8P4gwkHcIqUs2xW0hGQXPdWd7a7S1cI6ptQPCwmNaxR7V~pHWWX0RXDnLJzuhsJskMhRhIJNlInxFXgaiUIcubVzksM7J5mQCCqIAryE~1E5jflVNcKGyls~lJoArhj6MP3cnSp9rMmConsVcUbbGWjSA-iIvwTeY4oiZhiuaE22TaYqtj0TByMyla8LMrBSyyhaLbLIEotqqt04lfItcMwlgHi-B4huY~lrLRO7PdPFaCS8jnuMfBISuDLqoPBKlSdQak1V0uOXuZtqx8g55IC1MyQr6vytbgTbXLwwcJZSWUPYlyalnWBN5ptJqAJ~OsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-25T12:06:52Z","article","County staff briefed commissioners on road and infrastructure matters and fielded public concerns about road condition and roadside dumping during the meeting.

The update matters because GDOT-led projects, local contract lettings and county maintenance choices determine which roads are repaired, when work starts, and how limited county funds are allocated. Staff also described work to bring GIS parcel and road-condition data together to help prioritize repairs.

County staff announced bid openings: the county will open LMEK seal bids Friday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. for the 2025 LMEK project, and will open T-Splash seal bids Friday, March 21 at 11 a.m.; interested bidders were told to contact County Clerk Ms. Christina Baxter for bid packages. Officials said Georgia Department of Transportation will oversee bidding, contracting and funding of the FY26 off-system safety project, which currently includes Sanford Road, Rogers Mill Road, Crawford W. Long and Madison Street; the project scope ranges from shoulder widening to striping and signage, and the tentative project-let date is August 2026.

Staff described work to integrate the county's parcel information with road-condition data using Ezra GIS software so users can click on a parcel or road and view water lines, condition reports, potholes and when the last work was done. \"The software system is Ezra,\" a staff member said; staff said they are meeting with consultants Owen and Lacey to integrate survey and GIS datasets.

Commissioners and staff discussed a preservation treatment known locally as a triple-surface overlay. Several commissioners said they were dissatisfied where overlays were applied without prior repair, leaving potholes or edge deterioration visible beneath the surface. \"When we did the triple surface overlays, we did that, but we didn't do any repair prior to them,\" one commissioner said. Another meeting participant said the treatment \"does not look nice\" in cul-de-sacs and on heavily turned pavements.

Residents raised additional maintenance and safety concerns: shoulder erosion and a failing culvert on Garnet Ward and Highway 29; blocked ditches on Draper Road and other locations that residents said raise flood risk for properties near tributaries; and illegal dumping, including tires on Spratlin Mill Road. Staff said DOT has been notified where appropriate and that county code-enforcement and the sheriff's office would be asked to consider cameras or targeted enforcement for repeat dumping locations.

The transcript also records a brief construction procurement note at the meeting's start: a vault has been ordered for an upcoming project and county staff expected delivery in about two weeks, with construction to begin afterward.

Ending: Staff said they will invite the road consultant (Chris Field) to a future meeting to hear commissioners' specific concerns about treatment quality and to provide an updated work plan integrating survey, GIS and repair priorities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/24/2025 Madison County BOC RBM","oneSentenceSummary","County staff and commissioners briefed the board on upcoming bid openings and a GDOT-led FY26 safety project, discussed using Ezra GIS mapping for road data, and heard residents complain about potholes, triple-surface overlay results, shoulder erosion, culverts and roadside dumping.","taxTitle","Madison County, Georgia","taxId",28540,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6312476,"Commissioners consider industrial-development contract amendment and several board reappointments",209,1284250,1494020,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2&start=1284&end=1494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2/thumbnail_1284250.jpg","/articles/6312476/Madison-County/Georgia/Commissioners-consider-industrial-development-contract-amendment-and-several-board-reappointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312476-7ffe327eafc380a4bc4b5ae9ccbce50e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147333&Signature=jTCojcJaiX~zSA7c~Q22jzCYfF8SGPezUUVfC5kGVNVpLvpz2NkjRuMZEpll58Ueb1m98bnbIUrwUIFdF5LKtOqql26ZxnUZtRSnKJqwUvVqjECUYXYaSd5PZdH55oBOm0PiADxP-tKX6WHg1w7yCXW6ydGTeag4cyWYeKbak9Dw-AHCT-9zbuK4BGLDsAimkXLW0Kmkr9dCnOjCxC7KYTrSWE4gnWsq3RUVi7BpfsHQUEoXcRTYNT-d56JfHZq1qhwUl3Zr40I02yzYDyCxgRwkxyWFlmfb2X-fQwTQTgo0LfZ58jtsmVeUI0gfVO8038JRsOsp8cqhQkHHP6Xpeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison County commissioners reviewed an amendment to an industrial-development agreement and considered reappointments to a regional solid-waste board and a health services board during a work-session portion of the meeting.

The matters are routine but affect county economic-development terms and local board representation; commissioners moved to approve or reappoint as presented and asked few substantive questions.

The board considered a First Amendment between Madison County Industrial Development and GRP Madison LLC related to the IDA contract and water-rate arrangements with the City of Elvington. \"Yes. It's very good. I'll move to go ahead and approve this updated agreement as presented,\" Chairman Hicken said. A second was recorded from Commissioner Kurt. The meeting transcript records the motion and second but does not show a roll-call tally.

The board also considered the reappointment of Reginald Hunter to the Advantage Healthcare Community Service Board; meeting material indicated the appointment was made based on recommendation of the current board and its executive assistant at Advantage. The transcript does not show who moved or seconded that specific reappointment.

Commissioners considered reappointing Alan Lapzinski and Marybeth Dial as county representatives to the Northeast Georgia Regional Solid Waste Management Authority board. A four-year term was noted during the discussion. Commissioner Dahlstrom moved to reappoint those representatives and Commissioner May seconded; the transcript records that motion and the second but does not include a formal vote tally.

Ending: The items were handled as part of the work session; the transcript shows motions and seconds but does not record final vote counts in the provided excerpt.","The board reviewed a first amendment to an industrial-development agreement with GRP Madison LLC and considered reappointments to local boards; motions were made and seconded but the transcript does not include recorded vote tallies.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6312481,"Madison County officials discuss 70+ school-tax exemption while considering opt-out of state homestead change",1320,33950,1353960,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2&start=33&end=1353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390860-5419210841d423312852d44b85c02da2/thumbnail_33950.jpg","/articles/6312481/Madison-County/Georgia/Madison-County-officials-discuss-70-school-tax-exemption-while-considering-opt-out-of-state-homestead-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312481-aae8e81ebf668a5b8905c5df0087f80a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147333&Signature=dkdnzfHLJ~ZEFWmlMDiJgfNWZnY9NQhnWTdkE2DmwJcAXheNkTFyTbHXnpsbv5xzBN0~8fwCv8gslaFPmyzuD46Ky21aBF1spIfCO36v5SySxQycdE4VPa9SuLtpXbGfLR8kz7TvhZ-RMRHoTrpxUm6ryqHongU9QTYK8S7k2ufX5Um8qQVK24n9bKsqGNz5cRxCcvrrRSggUaGMpn7meaV7JrZMqJqkronHcO9Od44o6d78fiTWz2wZHuxNuwi3rDoVi3izrnifauhIB9VMCYAIzdU-9e64k3FuGvwYq4J8hBbxV0CxH9htWuL2nlvS1FkPf93s5BOS3-yLTTqrNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Madison County commissioners and school officials discussed next steps for a proposed school-tax exemption for residents aged 70 and older while the Board of Commissioners considered a resolution to opt out of state homestead-exemption provisions.

The discussion matters because a local exemption would shift how school taxes apply to older residents and because opting out of the state-level change would preserve local control over who receives reductions. Officials said any change that requires state action likely would not affect taxes until 2026 if approved by the state legislature.

Chairman Hicken told the meeting he had spoken with school leaders and that the Board of Education is willing to examine a 70-and-over exemption from school taxes. \"I had lunch with the school superintendent, Dr. Jody Giro, and he has confirmed that the school board is willing to look at 70 and older exemption for seniors,\" Chairman Hicken said.

Public comment reflected local interest. \"As a 78-year-old resident in Madison County, I appreciate all the efforts of going to eliminate or reduce our school tax,\" said David Carey, who identified himself as a county resident. He told commissioners county school tax is substantially higher than other local levies and thanked officials for pursuing relief.

During \"Old Business,\" the board considered a written resolution framed as opting out of the homestead-exemption provisions referenced to OCGA 48-5-44.2. Commissioner Dunster moved that the Madison County Board of Commissioners \"opt out of the homestead exemption.\" Commissioner May seconded that motion. The transcript records discussion but does not include a roll-call vote or final tally.

Commissioners who spoke during the debate stressed competing priorities: some described the provision as overly complex and potentially burdensome for large non-homestead parcels such as farms and businesses; others argued local control is preferable so the county can tailor exemptions and remain accountable to residents. One commissioner urged residents to continue to press the board at future meetings to ensure any local exemption is implemented.

Officials said the school-board process would require legislative timing: materials would likely go to the state legislature next year and could affect tax year 2026 if passed. Multiple commissioners and staff noted the county already applies a 70-and-over local exemption for county taxes and that any school-tax change would be a separate process requiring coordination with the Board of Education and the county\u0000delegation to the General Assembly.

The meeting included praise for staff work on financial analysis that informed the discussion; staff presentations and county financial figures were cited during commissioners\u0000remarks. The transcript indicates the board continued to request specific eligibility details and follow-up materials from staff and the Board of Education before any implementation steps.

Votes and next steps remained open at the meeting: the opt-out motion was made and seconded but the transcript does not record a final vote. Commissioners and staff said they expect further materials from the Board of Education and from county offices before any change would be enacted and that state legislative timing will determine when a school-tax exemption could take effect.

Ending: County officials requested continued public engagement and said staff would provide more detailed eligibility and budget information to the board and the public as the Board of Education advances its review.","Commissioners and school officials said the Board of Education will consider a school-tax exemption for residents 70 and older; the Board of Commissioners also debated a resolution to opt out of the state\u0000homestead-exemption provisions in OCGA 48-5-44.2, with a formal motion made but no recorded tally in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Madison County reviews road projects, bid openings and GIS integration; residents raise pothole, ditch and dumping concerns

Commissioners consider industrial-development contract amendment and several board reappointments

Madison County officials discuss 70+ school-tax exemption while considering opt-out of state homestead change