21 minute read
See RAFFENSPERGER WINS
by Star News
by Janice Daniel
The Mayor and City Council of Villa Rica met on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 for their 10:00 a.m. Work Session. All were present with the exception of Council member/ Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Momtahan.
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There was a presentation by Karen Handel, President/CEO of Carroll Tomorrow, who said that Mayor Gil McDougal will be joining the Board in October. She also presented information about the capital campaign focus on existing industries in the county. She said that 80% of new jobs come from existing industries and 35% of Carroll County residents work in Carroll County. She further stated that five of the top 500 businessmen in Georgia are from Carroll County.
Council began the process of preparing the Consent Agenda for the 6:00 p.m. meeting that evening, and agreed upon the following: 1.City Attorney David Mecklin presented an Amendment to the Special Requirements for Package Distilled Spirits Licenses since the mechanism for award of licenses beyond the initial round of license issuances is not clear. The proposed amendment would involve the city setting a deadline by which all applications for the open license must be submitted, and require that the applications must be complete to be considered for issuance. 2.Mecklin also presented the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Special Purpose Local Sales Tax Distribution in Douglas County. If approved in the November election, the Agreement calls for Villa Rica to receive 5.04%, an increase from the 4.89% they had received in the prior SPLOST Agreement. Villa Rica’s portion would be $8,064,000 of which 37.2% is to be used for transportation and streets; 49.8% for infrastructure; and 13.0% for public safety. 3.Request for approval of a modification to Allied Plan Document which was approved by council at the August 9, 2022 meeting, for a change of the age at which employees could obtain a colonoscopy to 35. However, new information has found that the Allied Plan cannot lower the age for initial screening colonoscopy from 45 to 35, so this request is to put that age back at age 45. Human Resources Director, Lena Taylor did say that in cases of genetic history of colon cancer, employees can come to her office or go directly to Allied for information on how to obtain a colonoscopy prior to age 45 for higher-risk individuals.
Taylor also stated that since Villa Rica’s medical insurance program is self-funded, employees can also obtain from Allied a list of the approved facilities that offer mammograms and colonoscopies and the comparison of prices for each procedure. By choosing lowercost facilities of vetted competence, employees can help their medical insurance rates while receiving wellness tests at equally competent facilities.
She also wanted to point out that the age to obtain mammograms does remain at 35 rather than the previous age of 45. It was only the colonoscopy age that was changed back to 45. 4. Request to upgrade the current sidewalk section on South Dogwood Street from in front of the Villa Rica Elementary down to the pedestrian bridge across the creek. This current section of sidewalk is not ADA compliant, so the request is to demo the current sidewalk (approximately 315 linear feet) and pour back a six-foot-wide sidewalk. The work is to be done by HNC Construction for a labor cost of $14,150.45 andcity will furnish the ready-mix cement at an estimated cost of $5,000.00. 5.Request to purchase two Electronic Message Boards to be placed at either end of the Punkintown Road/Mirror Lake Blvd. corridor in order to further deter tractor-trailers from using this section of road, since the smaller “NO TRUCKS” signs have been ignored. The proposed message boards are programmable and are solar-powered, and are cheaper to buy than to rent by the month. The pair will cost $36,600 with a five-year warranty and training on programming them, and if the need arises, are also portable. They are to be provided by Transafe Transportation Safety Products. 6. Request for consideration of adding speed humps as traffic “calming” devices on Cleghorn and South Dogwood streets, south of Highway 78. Council decided that one speed hump for each street would be the best plan. 7. Request to upgrade all existing SCADA units in the Distribution System to Cellular Service at a cost of $65,852.00. 8. Request to engage with the Vaughan Company for West Plant Station Pump Repair at a cost of $17,742.76. 9. Request to engage with Zile Technology for the purchase and installation of the third round of six lift station SCADA upgrades, at a cost of $57,832.00. Wastewater Plant Manager Erick Broz reported to council that SCADA upgrades already installed have resulted in a reduced number of night and week-end call-ins and the overtime associated with them, due to the new SCADA and its more in-depth reporting of problems. 10.Request for renewal of an agreement between Villa Rica and the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services for the LowIncome Household Water Assistance Program Agreement. Approved households will receive a rate reduction of $300 or $500, based on the household’s income. The bill must be current and dated no older than 30 days prior to the intake appointment. Douglas County residents should contact Tallatoona Community Action, and Carroll County residents should contact the Community Action for Improvement, and these entities will submit payments directly to Villa Rica. Funds will assist with: arrearages of disconnected households; arrearages of households at risk of disconnection; reconnection and late fees; reduction of rate charges. 11. Request to approve proposed FY2022 Budget Amendments #305 - #311, mainly to record Hotel/Motel Tax Revenue increases. 12.Request by Dr. Nancy Mims to display temporary signage for “A Taste of Villa Rica” event, for six large signs, 4x4 each, and 25 18”x24” yard signs, which the Lions Club members will obtain permission to put in the yards of residences around the City. 13.Request to set dates for the Villa Rica 2022 Cleanup Week, timed to occur after the Keep Carroll Beautiful events. City’s cleanup week will begin October 17th, and on Wednesday, October 19th is the date to help seniors cleanup from their porches. A notice of the dates will be sent out in the monthly utility bills, as well as on the City’s newsletter. Seniors must call to be put on the list. 14.Request for a Resolution of Support for city to apply for a Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program Grant application and 20% Match Commitment. City has a number of transportation infrastructure projects, including the Mirror Lake Connector, The Cleghorn/North Carroll Connector, upgrades to Anderson Road, Cleghorn Street, Darden Street, and a new 10-inch waterline on Anderson Road. The grant would be in the amount of $5,120,120, with Villa Rica’s match of $1,280,030, for a total project amount of $6,400,150. 15.Request for Resolution of Support for the City to apply for a Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Application with a 20% City match, to benefit the Villa Rica Railroad Crossing Safety Enhancement Program. This program includes pedestrian rail crossings in various locations around the City, and would be for $584,458, with a City match of $146,114, for a total project cost of $730,572.
Councilperson McPherson thanked Chris Montesinos, Director of Special Projects, for his efforts in obtaining such grants, and said it would be “just wonderful” if the City could receive the money to complete such needed infrastructure work.
In Public Comments, Mr. Michael Young expressed disappointment that the IGA with Douglas County for the SPLOST didn’t set aside any quality of life programs, such as parks and recreation, for the Douglas County portion of Villa Rica, to which City Manager Barber replied that the IGA with Douglas County has some flexibility for infrastructure money, and he sees no reason that some of it could not be used for parks, etc. in the Douglas County portion. Councilperson McPherson agreed that they need some parks and playgrounds for public use in the Douglas County part of Villa Rica.
TAD REJECTED from page 7
someone who didn’t want to sell, and that this is what the mayor has been up against this whole time, “Villa Rica had a deadline, and the county did not.”
Barber spoke about the city’s next steps. He stated, “at a pivotal time in development as a city, operating in an environment of different and conflicting descriptions, there is a threat of growth that could overwhelm us. We have an economy that could choke it, a housing shortage that could fuel it”, and neither of those are a good thing. The city is at the point of needing to either replace a water treatment plant at a cost of over $20 million, or purchase water at a high cost from somewhere else with no control over the price.
Barber said, “We’ve got to do it smart, or look back with regret. Time is not on our side.” He said that even before COVID, such things as easement acquisitions take 12 to 24 months, “very time-consuming, very expensive”.
Barber said the city is trying to grow their services differently than it was done in 2008, with small lift stations scattered all around, and having to be interconnected, “Small lift stations in a position where developers need sewer is simply not going to work.”
He said the building of the new water treatment plant and the outcome of the TAD will shape the future of Villa Rica.
Under Public Comments, Courtney Schnubbling requested a traffic study for South Carroll Road in the wake of several traffic accidents in front of Wildwood Apartments.
Under Council Updates, Council memberMcPherson presented some economic news regarding housing costs. She said that in the second quarter of 2022, household net worth fell over six trillion dollars nationwide, and that the average home price in Villa Rica went from $234,000 to $335,000, a 22% increase. She also noted that the food banks are needing help with donations.
Jennifer Hallman gave Public Hearing #2 for the 2023 Budget, which will be approved by the Mayor and Council at a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, September 20th.
Consent Agenda (grouped items prepared for a single vote) that had been prepared earlier in the day at the 10:00 a.m. work session was then read and approved unanimously by council. (See Villa Rica work session story this page.)
In other business, there was approval of an amendment to Article 3 Code of Ordinance raising Heavy Motor Vehicle fines to $250 for first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses; approval of an Extension of Rezoning for the Avemore Development, and approval of a variance to permit Residential Units on the ground level of the building at 105 West Church Street; and approval of three new 2023 trucks for the water distribution and wastewater treatment plant. The Financial Report was then given by Jennifer Hallman who reported that the city is doing well in all areas for the period ended July 31, 2022.
Barber said, in the Highway 61 corridor south of I-20, there are 28 or 29 parcels which represent properties with large acreage. This acreage does not have city water or sewer. Zoning in that area allows one house per every four acres. But Barber presented thoughts on how to develop the land with higher density. Higher density would reap more tax revenue for the city, but create growth costs for the county commission and school board.
Barber said the possibility that the Eastside TAD will become a reality is now a “very, very unlikely outcome”. He said the City of Villa Rica could simply do nothing and terminate developments other than what is already approved, or attempt to create a collaboration of developers and landowners on the 61 corridor and have all contribute to a fund to build the infrastructure needed, perhaps many millions of dollars. Barber said this would only work on the west side of Highway 61 and would necessitate another I-20 crossing, “It doesn’t benefit the city to fix the problems from Summergate to the railroad.” RAFFENSPERGER WINS from front
Stacey Abrams-founded Fair Fight Action and other plaintiffs filed an initial complaint in November 2018, shortly after Abrams lost her bid to become Georgia’s governor, alleging illegal and unconstitutional practices had denied the right to vote to thousands of Georgians. The allegations attempted to raise issues regarding Georgia’s absentee ballot procedures, voter registration, and voter list management practices. The court has denied every allegation on each issue.
Raffensperger argued that Georgia’s elections systems and procedures were accessible and secure, and acknowledged the challenge in balancing voter access with election integrity while strictly abiding by voting laws and the Constitution. In its decision, the court agreed, noting the impossibility of perfect elections given the millions of voters and tens of thousands of poll workers necessary to run an election, “[a]lthough Georgia’s election system is not perfect, the challenged practices violate neither the constitution nor the Voting Rights Act (VRA.)”
Raffensperger said he is grateful the matter is settled, adding “this allows our local election officials to fully focus on the task at hand this year - running a safe, secure, and accessible election. “This decision should quiet all those who sow fear and public distrust by denying the results of Georgia’s elections, so that Georgians know they can cast a vote, and that it will be counted in elections that are free and fair.”
by Janice Daniel
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners met Thursday, September 1, 2022 for their regular work session, with all commissioners present except Commissioner Steve Fuller.
Financial Recap for the month ending July 31, 2022 was presented by Finance Director, Alecia Searcy, who reported that revenues of $3,218,102 were down slightly compared to the same period last year at $3,294,678, but that key components, such as Motor Vehicle Tax and LOST were up by approximately $161,000 compared to last year. Expenditures for July 2022 were $4,209,301 compared to last year at $4,729,373. The total fund balance for July, 2022 was $39,962,879 versus July 2021 of $30,504,617.
Business portion of the meeting began with preparing a Consent Agenda, combining numermous items for a single vote during the regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 6, 2022, as follows: 1.confirmation of Morgan’s hiring of Lynda Bingham as county clerk. 2.consideration of recommendations by selection committee for Jericho Design Group, LLC to provide design professional services for finishing and renovation of Carroll County Courthouse 5th Floor. 3.consideration of a Master Software Agreement with Nitorco, Inc. dba Assurance, for property tax collections for the Carroll County Tax Commissioner for an initial cost of $35,000 and monthly fee of $2,525. Tax Commissioner Vickie Bearden stated confidence that Assurance is the right company to provide and maintain the software, and that the current provider has not been adequately responsive to problems she has had. 4.consideration of the Sheriff’s Office request to purchase fourteen (14) vehicles at a total cost of $532,659, [average cost of $38,000 per] a capital project for FY 2022-23. Ten of the vehicles will be for patrol, two for shift supervisors, and two for transport deputies. 5.consideration to authorize payment not to exceed $49,500 to the City of Carrollton for fifty percent (50%) of the cost of a new security camera system for the Tanner Street parking deck. Major Craig Dodson said the sheriff’s department paid for the camera in the parking deck now, and they are outdated. In response to questions by Commissioners Clint Chance and Tommy Lee, Dodson assured the board that the new cameras will be compatible with the new judicial center and any other areas that require security cameras; that the life cycle of the cameras is ten to twelve years; and they will provide facial recognition in low light situations, and all other security camera needs. 6.consideration of the purchase from Jasper Engine Exchange, Inc., of a 6.0L remanufactured diesel engine replacement for a 2003 Ford F250 2WD Service truck, with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty. Cost will be $17,373 with a $3,000 refund when the old engine block is returned to Jasper. 7.consideration of a Resolution to apply for a grant under the State Fiscal Recovery Fund in an amount of $31,886,000 ($31.8M)to fund construction costs for the Indian Creek Reservoir dam and raw water intake, and enter into a Subrecipient Grant Agreement with the Carroll County Water Authority (CCWA) for said project. 8.consideration to partner with the City of Carrollton on a Georgia Outdoors Stewardship Program grant, including an equal split of a local match. The county’s (commission) match portion will not exceed $366,125, to connect and construct new trails in Carrollton and unin-
corporated Carroll County along the Tallapoosa River connecting Hobbs Farm Park and Little Tallapoosa Park. Reynolds asked if this application would hinder in any way his district’s plans for a grant for McIntosh Reserve, and County Attorney Stacy Blackmon said there was no limit on the number of grants that could be applied for. 9.consideration of Amended and Restated Solid Waste Services agreement with Waste Industries Atlanta, LLC. County agrees to pay the contractor for the collection and disposal of garbage the sum of $1,500,000 annual fee to be made in equal monthly installments. 10.consideration of Amended and Restated Solid Waster Transport and Disposal Agreement with ETC of Georgia, LLC. These ten items will be voted on in a single vote at the Regular meeting. In the Business Session, Chance asked for consideration of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Carroll County and the City of Villa Rica relating to the Eastside Tax Allocation District (TAD), which will be discussed at the regular meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Three district commissioners voice concerns with TAD proposal with Villa Rica
by Janice Daniel
Carroll County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 for their regular monthly meeting. All were in attendance.
Board unanimously approved the consent agenda of 10 items that had been prepared at the previous Thursday’s 4:00 p.m. work session, then entered into a discussion about Villa Rica Eastside Tax Allocation District (TAD).
District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance, who has volunteered to help negotiations between the board and the City of Villa Rica, said the mayor and council of Villa Rica, in a Special Called Meeting on August 30th, 2022, had approved what they hope is the final draft of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Carroll County. However, the commission had issue with at least three conditions of the Villa Rica document: 1. commission will not agree to extend the 30-year bond limit which Villa Rica had requested. 2. commission will not agree to specific numbers on staff and equipment at the fire station that is part of the TAD, and for which Villa Rica will pay $500,000 of the operational cost for such fire station to the county. 3. if Villa Rica wants to annex anything south of the furthermost southern property zoned in the City of Villa Rica, they would need to come before the commission to obtain permission for such annexation, and also incur the costs of any impact to county roads within the TAD.
Chance said that Villa Rica and Carroll County are at an impasse for other items listed in the TAD proposal, and these three new conditions mentioned will be sent back to Villa Rica with no other changesin the proposal
Chance said that Villa Rica will continue to grow, even if the county does not participate in the Eastside TAD, and that he feels that participation by the county would give the board at least some control over costs and benefits of such TAD. He also stated that the retail component of the TAD will bring immediate sales tax income into the county, and that county services will have to be extended to any areas outside of the TAD with no revenues to offset them in the absence of a TAD agreement.
Chance made a motion to approve the nonbinding agreement, contingent on all other pertinent events and agreements that must take place before a final agreement can be reached.
The motion was seconded by District 1 Commissioner Montrell McClendon, followed by comments by Disrtict 5 Commissioner Ernie Reynolds. Reynolds said it seems like the Reynolds said it seems like the county is being placed in the position county is being with Villa Rica of “the tail’s wagging the placed in the dog” with the county as the dog. . . this position with decision will determine the future fate of Villa Rica of “the tail’s wag- Carroll County: whether the county ging the dog” wants to be headed toward becoming with the county an urban county - “part of the urban as the dog. He sprawl” - opening the floodgates of the stated that this decision will determine the I-20 corridor, or will continue to be the “last bastion of rural tranquility”. future fate of Carroll County: whether the county wants to be headed toward becoming an urban county - “part of the urban sprawl” opening the floodgates of the I-20 corridor, or will continue to be the “last bastion of rural tranquility”. He said that actual numbers are not addressed in the agreement, and the actual total cost is not named. He said the timing of the TAD is very bad, with interest rates going up, inflation going up, while the economy is going down. He presented home sales statistics for the Atlanta area showing that fewer and fewer people are buying homes.
Reynolds also said that there is no return on investment for residential for the local government; that only industry brings a real return in investment, and the TAD does not mention any industry that will participate in this plan. He also said a great portion of the residential property will be renters, who have no vested interest in the county. “Is it affordable housing for our own Carroll County residents?” or is it affordable housing for people wanting to get out of the counties closer to Atlanta? He said property taxes in Carroll County would be adversely affected by the TAD agreement, and that the lifestyle of the county would also see adverse effects, including increases in crime.
“We represent a respite of safety and tranquility,” Commisisioner Reynolds said.
Commissioner Chance said that the county “will continue to receive the current property tax base that we’re currently receiving now” from Villa Rica. The incremental increase is what the county will be giving up, because it will go toward the development of the TAD. He also pointed out that the bonds in question are not backed by any governmental entity for repayment. They are sent out to the free market, and the ones who buy them are the ones who are “on the hook” for the bond repayment. Dsitrict 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee pointed out that the agreement also has to be accepted by the county school board. Vote taken on the motion made by Chance was approved 43. Approving were Chance, McLendon, Chairman Michelle Morgan, and District 6 Commissioner George Chambers Chambers. Opposing were Reynolds, Lee, and District 4 Commissioner Steve Fuller opposing. (Note: This returned TAD proposal was rejected by The City of Villa Rica. See story front page.) During public comments, three citizens spoke. Kenneth Smith of Barber Road (a dirt road) said he’d like to see the county replace a good gravel base then keep regular maintenance. Kelly Hyatt, Spring Street, Villa Rica, expressed concerns about the overload at the animal shelter and said she wishes that more help would be given in advertising animal adoption events through social media, newspapers, etc.
Kevin Hemphill, Bethlehem Church Road, said speeders are a problem: speed limit is 40 mph and vehicles travel at 50-60 mph, and that he rarely sees a sheriff’s car patrolling Bethlehem Church Road for speeders.
Chairman Morgan read three proclamations: 1. official recognition of October 22, 2022 as University of West Georgia Day, listing ways that UWG has impacted the county, including an economic contribution of $626.7M in 2021 fiscal year. Dr. Brendan Kelly, UWG president, thanked the board for the recognition, and expressed his thanks to the county for their support. He also said that this fall’s return of students to the university was “magical” showing that covid did not prevail over the spirit of UWG. 2. September, 2022, as National Recovery Month: “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.” 3. recognized 10th Anniversary of the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum located in a remodeled portion of a former cotton warehouse, 306 Bradley Street, Suite C, downtown Carrollton.
Board then went into executive session and adjourned the regular meeting. by Janice Daniel
On Tuesday, October 4th of 2022, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting 6:00 p.m., with Commissioner McClendon, Vice Chairman, presiding in Michelle Morgan’s absence. There were no public comments.
Zoning Ordinance amendments presented by Ben Skipper, director of the Department for Community Development. Each items had a Public Hearing, but no one spoke: 1.Amendments to the Zoning Regulations to add “new farm equipment, farm tractor, and farm implement dealerships” as a permitted use in the Commercial Zoning district, and to add “used farm equipment, farm tractor, and farm implement sales, service and repair” as a condi-
Vice Chair Montrell McClendon presides over Oct. 4th commission regular meeting
Board defines “Residential Occupancy” to prohibit use of tents/RVs, etc. as fixed living quarters; also defines “RV” for temporary living quarters purposes tional use in the Commercial Zoning District. This amendment was approved by the Board unanimously. 2.To add a new section to the “General Provisions” of the Zoning Regulations, Section 5.19, as follows: Residential occupancy is prohibited in any structure, vehicle or other shelter which is not a conventional home, a manufactured home, or an industrialized dwelling as each are defined in Section 4 of the Carroll County Zoning Regulations. Such prohibited residential occupancies include but are not limited to: recreational vehicles; shipping containers; accessory buildings or structures; “tiny homes” which do not fall under the definition of a conventional home, manufactured home, See COMMISSION BOARD page 24
