The Madison County Board of Commissioners recently discussed a grant awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand a county wastewater treatment facility. The $2 million grant will expand the facility’s capacity from 50 million gallons of water per day to 150 million gallons of water per day. “This project is critical to meet the county’s projected growth in commercial and industrial needs in the southern part of the county,” Chairman Todd Higdon said. During the February BOC meeting, Higdon also said that House Bills 1083 and 1084, affecting the magistrate and probate courts, passed the Georgia House of Representatives. The bills would authorize the court systems to collect a technology fee and will take effect once the governor signs them. Higdon said House Bills 1114 and 1116 are a “huge concern” to the county government and school system. He and Superintendent Jody Goodroe have discussed the potential impact of the bills with local legislation. The bills would phase out property taxes on primary homesteads by 2032, cap revenue growth for local governments and protect renters through caps on non-homestead properties. “To be short and to the point on these two bills, t
