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County tables track issue

• The entire Dougherty County Commission gets its first look at a draft of the county's FY '09 budget.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — The Dougherty County Commission did not, as advertised, take up the lingering issue of the Albany Motor Speedway at its work session Wednesday morning, but Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard noted that additional time was being taken to investigate the issue further.

“We have not gotten sufficient information on the muffler systems being proposed by the owners of the speedway,” Sinyard said. “We hope to have the information we need by the next meeting (Monday), but we want to give this issue the consideration it deserves.

“We’re awaiting further information from the applicant (on proposed muffler systems that are said to be capable of reducing noise by up to 30 percent), and we’ll move forward accordingly.”

The commission voted in April to allow speedway owner Bill Farnsworth the right to legally race vehicles other than Legends cars at the track with the stipulation that he erect a 25-foot dirt berm around three sides of the track. When Farnsworth (through prospective buyer Tim Pafford) refused to accept the proposed conditions, the commission voted last week to table the matter until “documented information” about muffler systems could be gathered and presented.

“If those mufflers do what we’ve been told they’ll do, we can allow racing that meets the quality-of-life issues of the (Radium Springs) neighborhood that is concerned about the noise at the track,” Sinyard said.

In recommending the tabling of the matter last week, Commissioner Jack Stone all but guaranteed that it would be addressed and finished this week.

During Wednesday’s work session, commissioners discussed the purchase of Oracle XML software that would “provide several enhancements for all departments,” according to County Administrator Richard Crowdis.

Funding for the software has been allocated through Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax V.

“This has been a long, drawn-out process that’s coming to its conclusion,” city- county IT Director John Antoniewicz told commissioners. “I think everyone will be happy with the results.”

The commission also discussed an alcohol license application by Toufiz Sojib at the County Corner on Leary Road and the recommended awarding of a contract to Doherty, Duggan & Rouse for various insurance coverages.

“Every three years or so we like to put our insurance plan on the market and let the brokers compete,” Assistant City Manager Thomas Thomas said. “We hit it at a perfect time this year, and the quote we got from Doherty, Duggan & Rouse is $377,233 less than the contract we had last year.”

Meghan Murphy and Susan Breen of Wachovia Insurance Services recommended that the commission accept the DDR bid.

“Your timing was excellent this year,” Murphy said. “The market is soft right now, and the changes you’ll get are dramatic. You’ll have the same coverage — if anything, certain parts of it will be enhanced — at a significantly lower cost.”

“The county and our taxpayers thank you,” Sinyard said.

Crowdis and County Finance Director Karen Goff then unveiled a working draft of the county’s fiscal year 2008-09 budget to the entire commission for the first time. That document includes a 1.7 percent increase, to $47,540,104 dollars, for management and operations, a 5.33 percent decrease ($1,726,026) in capital improvement funds, and a 2.9 percent jump ($7,206,245) in funds for the county’s special tax district.

The budget calls for the addition of five new positions — one each in administration, finance, EMS, district attorney and superior court — at a cost of more than $219,000 and an additional animal control officer for the special tax district (outside the incorporated city limits).

“This has been a very smooth process this year; I’m proud of this budget,” finance committee member Art Searles said.

Noting that the budget kept the current millage rate (11.897 mills) intact, Sinyard said, “I’m personally glad that we’re getting leaner and leaner.”

Added Commissioner Muarlean Edwards, “This (budget process) is teamwork at its best.”

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