Property Assessments Freeze

Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed a bill that would stop home assessments from rising for two years. The bill sponsored by state Rep. Ed Lindsey, an Atlanta Republican, is designed to provide relief to Georgians struggling with rising property taxes. The new law prevents property assessments fro rising for the taxable years beginning Jan. 1, 2009 and ending January 2011. Critics complain that the freeze will hurt the ability of local governments to provide services to residents.

(Associated Press)

Sanctuary Cities Outlawed

Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed a bill that outlaws sanctuary cities - where officials are prohibited from reporting illegal immigrants. Supporters of the new law say that while there are no sanctuary cities in Georgia, there are some 60 across the country. They say the law is a pre-emptive strike to make sure none crop up in the state. It would withhold state funding from any local government that adopts a sanctuary policy. Critics have called the measure a solution for a problem that doesn't exist and said it sends an increasingly hostile message to the international community.

(Associated Press)

Governor Perdue Requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration

Governor Sonny Perdue today requested a Presidential disaster declaration which would lead to federal aid for severe weather and flood damages in 33 Georgia counties.

“The recent floods in south Georgia have adversely impacted the lives of many Georgians,” said Governor Perdue. “The requested disaster funding will help residents, businesses and local governments recover from this disaster and rebuild their lives.”

Governor Perdue also issued an Executive Order today declaring a state of emergency in 17 additional counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that have passed through Georgia since March 27. The counties are: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Clinch, Dodge, Dougherty, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, Upson, Ware, Wheeler and Wilcox.

Previously, 16 counties were included in the State of Emergency orders, including Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Tift, Turner and Worth. When joint state-federal damage assessments began on April 7, officials determined that more counties needed to be added emergency declaration. The additional counties reported disruptions to a large number of roads, bridges, drainage systems, waste treatment facilities and other crucial infrastructure.

Some examples of the impact of the severe weather and flooding on these counties include: 36 local road closures; 16 federal and state route closures; five damaged wastewater treatment facilities; five damaged neighborhood or community sanitary sewer lift stations; three damaged public drinking water systems; six damaged bridges; and 20 reported school system closures.

Governor Perdue's request follows joint surveys conducted over the past several days by local, state and federal damage assessment teams, which is a requirement of the disaster declaration process. Initial damage assessments conducted over a widespread area revealed that more than 600 homes were damaged.

Governor Perdue requested Public Assistance (PA) programs for 30 of the counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Calhoun, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Dodge, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Upson, Ware, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth. PA programs provide funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreational facilities.

In addition, the Governor requested Individual Assistance (IA) programs for 18 of the counties: Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler and Worth. IA programs include funding for the Individuals and Households Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

“Damage assessments completed to date confirm that damage from the flooding left hundreds of Georgians in need of assistance,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English. “Our agency will continue working with local emergency officials to provide needed state resources and pursue available federal assistance.”

Joint state and federal damage assessment teams will continue to work to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, residences and public facilities in all counties reporting damage to ensure that all who qualify for assistance will be included.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov . For more information on federal assistance programs please go to www.fema.gov.

(Governor's Office News Release)

Perdue to Support New Commuter Rail

Governor Sonny Perdue announced in a press conference today a plan to revamp Atlanta’s commuter rail. Perdue has committed his support for the pilot program and will ask next year’s legislature for funding. Plans also include a commuter train that will run from metro Atlanta to Lovejoy and Griffin. The Governor acknowledges that the current system has failed to keep up with Georgia’s growing business and population needs.
For immediate relief, 13 million dollars in already approved funds have been earmarked to add 28 new buses.

Kia Training Center Opens

Perdue, Kia and state officials inaugurate the training center at West Point. (Robin Trimarchi/Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)

Governor Sonny Perdue, Kia Motors President Euisun Chung, and state and local officials gathered at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for on Tuesday for the opening of Kia Motors' training center in West Point.

“This center is the linchpin in providing both an opportunity for Georgia’s citizens and a quality workforce for Kia that will guarantee the success of this project,” Perdue said.

“The state of Georgia and especially Georgia Quick Start have provided exceptional support for our project,” said President Chung.

The center, which houses robotics, welding and electronics labs, classrooms, and related equipment, will train teams for car making.

The Kia facility, its first in the U.S., will eventually produce 300,000 vehicles a year, and impact Georgia's economy to the tune of some $4 billion per year, according to a Georgia Tech study commissioned by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

The plant is set to open in 2009.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the KIA plant, and its effect on the area.

Perdue 'deeply saddened' over blast deaths (UPDATE)

Smoking ruins of the Imperial Sugar Company, after an explosion last night ripped apart the plant on the Savannah River Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, in Port Wentworth, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Governor Sonny Perdue, says he and Mrs. Perdue are "deeply saddened" over the explosion and loss of life at the Imperial Sugar Refinery plant in Savannah, Thursday night:

“I want the families of all of those lost, missing or injured to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Our emergency personnel responded to the scene, as they always do, with speed and skill and I thank them for their continued dedication as we work to determine what caused this tragic explosion,” Perdue said in a statement released by the Governor's office Friday afternoon.

Update: Crews found the three bodies in tunnels beneath the building, which was reduced to a mass of rubble, twisted beams and mangled metal, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said.

Local authorities said they had not heard of any recoveries.

"We have not had any confirmed deaths yet. I know that for a fact. They are still going through the rubble as we speak," Savanah-Chatham County Police Sgt. Mike Wilson said.

Police Chief Michael Berkow told families of missing workers that rescue efforts at the massive Imperial Sugar Company refinery had shifted to recovery operations hours after the explosion erupted late Thursday. Dozens of the nearly 100 people were working inside at the time of the blast were hurt, many critically burned.

Rescue crews load injured into ambulances for evacuation. (AP Photo)

18 of the injured are being treated at Doctor's Hospital in Augusta, according to latest reports.

Fire officials said they had begun clearing debris so they could move farther into the plant, and predicted the blaze could be extinguished by Friday afternoon. Fire Chief Greg Long said he wasn't giving up hope some of the missing might still be found alive in rooms blocked by debris.

"I have friends that work at this plant," Long said. "I don't want to see a casualty list."

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the disaster.

(With the Associated Press)