State Rep J Collins

is a budgeted item including set-up fee, then annual cost will be $31,850.40.

13.Request for Resolution of Support of the application for the 2023 RAISE Grant Program with a 20% match commitment from the City.

If awarded, funds will be used for Punkintown Road,. Grant amount is $15,128,206; city’s match: $3,782,051.

14.Request to authorize mayor to approve Master Services agreement with Lowe Engineers to provide transportation engineering services.

15.Request to authorize mayor to approve Work Order 22.12.05 with Lowe Engineers for an amount not to exceed $54,635, funded by Carroll SPLOST.

Under Public Comments, Michael Young of Villa Rica said that he thinks the RAISE grant, if awarded, will be a sort of “back-up” run at the East By-Pass, and he doesn’t recommend doing that.

With no further business for work session, the meeting was adjourned.

story by Wayne J. Reynolds

Residents in Carroll County and West Georgia have seen businesses come and go, but for the past 61 years Smith Brothers Supply Company, a family business in Carrollton has stood the test of time and that tradition and legacy continues today.

Smith Brothers has certainly evolved over the decades. It was started in 1962 by brothers Ronald and Stuart Smith as a home improvement company and evolved into a supply and appliance company. In 1965, nephew Ray joined the company. Stuart passed away in 1982 and Ronald passed in 2020. Ronald’s daughter, Ashley Smith Hendrix, joined the company in 2014 and manages it today.

StarNews sat down with Ashley, Ray, and Ronald’s widow, Elaine, to find out what has made Smith Brothers so successful over the past 61 years. Ray said, “We started in 1962 and I joined in 1965. About ten years later, we bought the back lot because we were running out of room. It is used as our pipe yard. We have always had the tradition of a deep inventory and supply. We always knew that the customer is our paycheck. That $10 sale of a faucet stem might turn into a $100 sale later on.”

“Personnel wise we have never had much turnover,” Ashley added. “Our strength is our customer service. We have customers not only from Carrollton, but all over West Georgia and East Alabama - and now more and more from Atlanta. People check the internet, but they find we have it. Keeping that deep inventory makes a difference.” county commissioners who were in attendance, Clint Chance, this year’s Vice Chair Steve Fuller, Ernie Reynolds, and Danny Bailey as well as other county officials in attendance. She thanked Carroll EMC for bringing broadband to Carroll County.

“We represent people not land,” Morgan stated. “After numerous meetings, a hearing, and after eighteen months, the board updated the land ordinance on land division, reflecting the current needs on land division and still protecting rural living, that we all enjoy.

“People come in all the time and say ‘I have looked all over town and they tell us to go to Smith Brothers’,” Ray said. “Inventory and customer service! I have people come in who we helped build their homes and now we are helping their children build a home. And we carry quality products like Moen in faucets.”

“We have evolved as the industry has evolved,” Ashley reflected. “We started out in cast iron but now offer Pegs and pro press fittings. There have been a lot of changes and we have changed with them. For example, Cooper is not just soldered anymore. The plumbers use a pro press which saves them time, and time is money. And with steel pipe, as well.”

“People need to know we are not just here for plumbers and the government, “Elaine remarked. “We are here and open for everyone. And many people don’t realize we have the upstairs with name brand appliances.”

“We have grown as Carrollton has grown,” Ray said. “And people like to know the folks behind the counter. It’s about building relationships.”

Ashley said that covid made for challenges for the seven employee staff, “But, we did not miss a day. We are so grateful for our employees. We treat them like family - no, they ARE family. Ray, Mom, and I really have been lucky to have such great employees! Like everyone elase, we have had supply challenges, but it gets better every day.”

Addressing the challenges of dealing with chains like Home Depot and Lowes, Ashley observed, “For example, our products are not vative stewardship in business and at home and I bring that outlook to my job as

Carrollton | 119 Maple Street | 770-838-9608

Douglasville | 6670 Church Street | 770-942-5681

“We are thrilled that Glock is building a state of the art training facility for public safety officials from all over the world on 3600 hundred acres of land. 300 acres will be for the training facility, bringing in new increased property tax dollars while 3300 acres will still remain rural.”

Morgan shared that Morgan Oil is celebrating 90 years in business and that her husband, Jimmy, has been leading the company for 40 of those years. “We believe in practicing conser- meet that need and to help the local economy as well. like theirs, while our faucets are metal, whereas Home Depot’s is plastic. There are differences in the quality of products.”

Ray said, “They may carry Moen and we carry Moen, but like most manufactures, they make different levels of quality. They are not the same. A lot of difference!”

“Something new we now have is the steel press - like the pro press - on steel pipe. It cuts down the time for plumbers. And we pride ourselves on getting the workers in and out which their foreman really appreciates getting them back on the job.”

“We have Pex, a popular type of pipe, which we have the fitting so homeowners don’t have to have to buy a tool and they can just use tools in their tool box to finish the job,” Ashley said. “We have women come in about a leaking toilet, and we can offer the knowledge and encouragement to fix the valve themselves.”

Smith Brothers Supply Company, the tradition continues whether you need pipe, plumbing, irrigation, electric, ac/dc, appliances, or tools, its in supply.

Smith Brothers is located at 10 City Hall Avenue in downtown Carrollton. Visit www.smithbrothersupply.com or call 770-8326341 for more information.