By Patrick Yost
Editor

A more-than-two-month undercover drug investigation ended last Wednesday, March 6, with the arrest of 32-year-old Ezekiel “Zeke” Thomas Spell, Bostwick.
Spell was arrested by members of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office following a traffic stop. Spell faces a charge of sale of methamphetamine.
According to Capt. Chris Bish, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division, Morgan County investigators made several controlled buys of methamphetamine from Spell in the past. Two months ago, Bish said, officers attempted to arrest Spell. Spell fled from police in a high-speed chase that ended in Walton County, where he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Since then, Bish said, officers increased surveillance and last Wednesday were able to alert Oconee County authorities that Spell was moving towards Watkinsville.
Spell gave Oconee County authorities a fictitious name, Bish said, but otherwise was arrested without incident. Deputies located approximately two ounces of suspected methamphetamine in Spell’s vehicle.
Spell is currently incarcerated in Morgan County at the Morgan County Detention Center without bond, Bish said. He also faces probation violation charges from Walton County and, Bish said, Morgan County authorities are urging federal authorities to indict Spell on drug trafficking charges based on the amount seized in last week’s traffic stop.
“He has poisoned this community a long time,” Bish said. “He is a significant source of supply.”

Printed in the March 14, 2013 edition

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Members of the Madison City Council unanimously approved an increase to natural gas base charges.
City Manager David Nunn pointed out that their natural gas customers currently pay $4.63 monthly but that this plan will allow them to charge customers based on the size of their meters.
Cost increases will be implemented in two phases: in 2013 the smallest meter will incur a $7 per month charge while the largest meter will incur a $17 per month charge. 
In 2014 the smallest meter would incur a $9 per month charge while the largest meter would incur a $30 per month charge.
“This will bring some stability to our gas system,” he said, noting that the change also puts them right in line with other municipalities.
Nunn pointed out that their customers do not have a choice when it comes to choosing natural gas providers.
“We’re still trying to be competitive,” he said. “We’re in the lower one-third of rates, the lowest 5 percent of base charges.”
Councilman Joe DiLetto asked if the Gas Department will have provisions for hardship.
Nunn responded that they already have several.
“This will be a fairly modest increase for most of our customers,” he said.

Printed in the March 14, 2013 edition

Madison council still working through tourism in residential zones

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Madison Planning Director Monica Callahan updated those present at the March meeting of the Madison mayor and council regarding tourism in residential zones. 
This topic first came up during a November meeting when Councilman Michael Naples pointed out that a homeowner was giving tours of their historic residence when the ordinance only allowed for tour management.
Since then the city has heard from citizens regarding the issue as well as has had staff research how other cities such as Charleston and Savannah handle this type of tourism.

During the March meeting, Callahan said she had looked over notes from interviews with tour guides as well as heard from two residents.
She said staff has added a special license that offers exemptions for one-time tours, such as tours led by the Georgia Trust or ones that are offered by the Chamber of Commerce.

She noted that these tours do not make money and are quasi-public.
Recommendations also include removing the phrase ‘historic site,’ which Callahan said was vague and undefined. Instead, she suggested they use ‘historic house museum’ and ‘historic museum.’ 

She also suggested that this be a conditional use, not a permitted-by-right use.
Callahan shared comments from residents, such as having the tours be conditional use, no food nor alcohol served to keep it from turning into a special event facility, and no monetary gain for property owners.

Madison Police Dept. in contact with U.S. Secret Service about bleached, reprinted bills

By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Morgan County may be able to take in as much as $18,000 annually if a solar farm plan comes through later this year.
Morgan County commissioners agreed to sign a letter of intent with Atlanta-based Inman Solar of Georgia to enter into a long-term agreement in which Inman will lease land from the county to operate a solar farm.
Bob Hughes, president of the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce, presented the idea to commissioners during their March meeting.

Hughes said Inman contacted the county in January to share its interest in partnering up for the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative-Distributed Generation Program.
The competitive-bid program gives solar companies the opportunity to contribute power to the grid, he said. As he understands it, the county would not tap into that power source directly.
“There’s no reason in the world why we couldn’t talk to them about an installation that would help and serve the power needs of the Public Safety Complex,” he said.

As noted in the letter of intent, “Both parties acknowledge that acceptance into this program is prerequisite to this deal reaching completion.”

Inman is interested in a 20-year lease for a five-acre parcel of land behind the Public Safety Building, he said.
County Manager Michael Lamar explained that this land is not used for any other purpose.
Hughes said Inman has sought similar agreements with other counties.

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2, Morgan County Primary School students celebrated the famed children’s book writer and cartoonist by dressing as their favorite Seuss-inspired characters and bringing examples of those characters, in toy form, to school with them. To top it off, the school served green eggs and ham for breakfast. photo by jesse walker

Printed in the March 7, 2013 edition