The Wilkes County Board of Commissioners awarded a contract which will upgrade a large portion of the county's roads in desperate need of striping and signs.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) grant, which was applied for about two years ago, was set up for as much as $400,000, according to Commissioner Jerry Stover, "but the bids came in under that, which made the DOT happy." Stover was instrumental in securing the grant and was thanked and recognized by Chairman Sam Moore for his work on the project.

"Given the financial condition of the DOT, getting this grant is almost a miracle," Moore said referring to the DOT's many recent project delays, cutbacks, and cancellations due to lack of funding.

"Many of our county roads are in need of striping because, for example, when it rains, you can't see the center line," Moore explained. "So we've been waiting for this grant to come through."

While the contract won't allow for new signs and striping on all of the county's roads, there are some that are still in good shape, so work will be done where it is most needed. "A significant number of miles will be covered," Moore said, but not the entire county. "That's the sad thing," Stover added.

In addition to Stover, Moore thanked Charlie Norris, a retired DOT employee, and Bill Kuhlke Jr., DOT board chairman, for their help in securing the grant.

Bids ranged from $447,373.94 down to the low bid, $317,084.15, submitted by Midstates Striping of Eatonton, Georgia. County Administrator David Tyler reported that the DOT had checked bid specifications and said that Midstates did meet everything that was required.

Board approval was unanimous.

Members of the board, as well as others in attendance, were reminded of a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, at 1:30 p.m., for the purpose of establishing a temporary collection court order for 2008 ad valorem taxes. Due to the fact that the 2008 tax digest will not be complete and ready to be submitted to the state in time for tax bills to go out by the end of the year, the county is seeking the court order to allow for the collection of taxes.

The delay in the 2008 tax digest is due to the large number of appeals filed and the inability of the small staff in the tax assessor's office to process them all by the end of the year.

Judge Roger W. Dunaway Jr. presided over the hearing and was asked by the county to allow for tax collection at the 2007 rates. A complete copy of the petition to the court was printed in the November 13 edition of this newspaper. The outcome of the hearing, not in time for publication in this issue, will be reported next week.

Representing the CSRA Regional Development Center Area Agency on Aging, Linda Echols, Advisory Council chairman, issued an invitation to all members of the board to attend the council's annual meeting to be held on Wednesday, December 10, in Augusta. "We would like to see the new commissioner-elect, the chairman, and one or two of the other commissioners there for a free meal," Echols said. "The city was well-represented last year and we would appreciate it if you can come."

Echols also reminded the commissioners of a public hearing to be held January 14 for the purpose of discussing "Programs and Services for Older Adults: What is needed, what is missing, how can services be improved and where?"

Commissioner Donna Hardy pointed out that the hearing is a regional meeting and said, "it is an honor to be hosting this."

All of the commissioners - Divenski Lee, John Howard, Hardy, Stover, and Moore - were in attendance at the regular meeting of the board on Thursday, November 13, as were Tyler and a number of visitors.

In other business:

l The board set the 2009 rates for beer and wine licenses at $500 for a new licence and $300 for a renewal.

l Hardy asked to be released from her position on the Board of Mental Health and recommended Linda Echols as her replacement. The board approved unanimously.

l On recommendation by County Attorney Charles LeGette, the board granted a tax release and refund to Thomas Roth in the amount of $383.17 because a structure designation had been changed in error on his tax bills for the last two years.

l Tyler reported that Local Option Sales Tax in the amount of $60,059.59 had been received for the month of August and that $90,933.23 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax had been received for the same month.

l Hardy reported that Work Ready teams from seven counties would meet here at the Fitzpatrick Hotel on December 2. She said that 94 seniors are scheduled to take the Work Ready test that week, "so we'll be way over our goal by then." She also said there is a possibility of a new Work Ready program to be put in place after the new year.

Moore thanked Hardy for all of her hard work on the Work Ready project.

The next regular meeting of the board will be on Thursday, December 11, at 2 p.m. in the Wilkes County courthouse.