Aug 05, 2025 Board of Commissioners

[*Portions of this meeting are without audio/video*]

[I. OPENING]

[00:00:04]

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. LET ME WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 5TH, 2025 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING. WE'RE VERY HONORED TODAY TO HAVE PASTOR TOM FA FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE SQUARE. THAT'S GOING TO GIVE OUR INVOCATION. AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THAT, WE HAVE THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER SCOTT TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG AFTER THE INVOCATION. SO IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE. FOR THE BIGGEST CONVERSATION YOU EVER HAD. I PRE COME. WE ASK LORD THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO HUMBLE US AS WE SEEK YOUR WISDOM IN ALL OF THE DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, AND THE WAYS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY COUNTY. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR CALLING US TO. DONE AND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED WITH US. FATHER. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY TO DO THIS. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANKS, FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. TODAY. THE FAMILY YOUNG LADIES PROBABLY WOULD BE GREAT IF WE ALLOWED THEM TO GO BEFORE OUR TWO CITIZEN COMMENTS. YEAH. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT MORE. OKAY. SO IF YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE CAN REARRANGE THE AGENDA TO ALLOW THEM TO COME UP AND BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. OKAY. SO WE'LL GO BACK TO

[III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA/MINUTES]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE TROUP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION, WHICH WAS HELD ON JULY THE 15TH, 2025. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO BE APPROVED? SO MOVED. ALRIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIED. AND FINALLY, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE TROUP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOARD MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD ON JULY THE 15TH, 2025. DO I HEAR A MOTION? THEY BE APPROVED A MOTION. SO MOVED.

SECOND. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. SO AS AS WAS

[V. Special Business (Part 1 of 2)]

CONTINUE BRINGING THEM TO PRACTICE THE TRAVEL, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. A LOT OF IT GOES TO THE PARENTS. THANKS TO DEVIN AND LANCE, THEY, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZED WITH THE BRICK AND KEPT IT GOING FOR THE SEASON AND ORGANIZED THIS TO BE ABLE TO GO. SO THAT WAS A HUGE APPRECIATION ON THEIR PART. SO I WILL NOW INTRODUCE EACH GIRL THAT IS HERE. Y'ALL WANT TO JUST TO STAND RIGHT HERE PLEASE. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE MADELINE ELLIOTT. STELLA CAMPBELL GO IN LINE. THANK YOU. TO. WILLOW MCGEE. EZRA. STITCHER. EMERSON. BENNETT. ALI. KHAN.

[00:05:05]

SO, LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS OUR FLAG THAT WE RECEIVED FROM WINNING STATE. SO WE HOLD THIS UP AND WE REPRESENT GEORGIA THROUGHOUT. OR I THINK IT WAS IN OTHER STATES THAT WE PLAYED AGAINST. SO IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR THESE GIRLS. ALRIGHT. Y'ALL READY? YEAH. ALRIGHT. 123. NICE. WE APPRECIATE THAT. OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OKAY. THE REST OF THE BOARD. YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY. WE'LL TAKE HALF OF THESE OUT FOR Y'ALL. JUST. SO. ALRIGHT. NEXT UP, AGENDA. OUR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS BOARD. FIRST ON THE

[IV. Citizens to Address the Board]

YOU'RE WELCOME. SAID ALL YOU GUYS COMING OUT FROM GRAY HILL TO HEAR THIS. FIRST OFF, I BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS ARESSIBE PRAY IN JESUS NAME. AND I'D LIKE TO START BY ASKING YOU.

INDIVIDUALLY AND FOR WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND THE COURAGE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE BETTERMENT AND LONG TERM HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I GOT A STATEMENT HERE PREPARED. SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF. AND I'VE WHITTLED IT DOWN AND TRY TO GET TO ALL THE RELEVANT STUFF WITHOUT TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH STAMMERING AND HESITATION LIKE I'M DOING RIGHT NOW. SO ANYWAY, I'M DOUG ROBERTS. OUR FAMILY IS ON LAND IN GRAY HILL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 60 YEARS. TODAY WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO HOPEFULLY AGREE ON SOME THINGS THAT NOT ONLY IMPACT US, BUT AS RAY ANDERSON PUT IT, ALSO IMPACTS TOMORROW'S CHILDREN. LAST WEEK, OUR FAMILY, OUR FAMILY WELCOMED ANOTHER FIFTH GENERATION CHILD TO GRAY HILL. SO WE GOT ANOTHER GRANDBABY.

IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN AND PROTECT OUR RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. OUR COMMUNITY HAS SEEN CHANGES IN THE LAST 15 YEARS WITH THE KIA COMPLEX. MORE CHANGES ARE COMING AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE. WE'VE ALL BEEN IMPACTED. FOR THE MOST PART. WE'VE ABSORBED ALL THE CHANGES, BOTH GOOD AND BAD. OUR COMMUNITY HAS SLOWLY RECOVERED ITS COHESIVENESS AND IDENTITY. MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE PASSED ON OR MOVED AWAY, BUT A LOT OF THE OLD FAMILIES HAVE STAYED ON. AND NOW WE HAVE MANY NEW NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE INVESTED IN GRAY HILL BECAUSE OF ITS RURAL CHARACTER.

THEY TOO HAVE A STAKE IN OUR FUTURE. WE CAME TOGETHER AFTER THE TORNADOES. OUR CHURCHES ARE GROWING AND MORE AND MORE OF US ARE GROWING OUR OWN FOOD. AND THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE SHARING AN ABUNDANCE OF MEAT, EGGS, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. WE'RE PLANTING GENERATIONAL FOOD, FOREST, ORCHARDS AND GARDENS. GRAY HILL SCHOOL FARM IS A COMMUNITY NONPROFIT THAT'S BEEN GIVING AWAY SEEDS, HEIRLOOM PLANTS, COMPOST AND MULCH. THEY'VE BEEN EXPERIMENTING SUCCESSFULLY WITH TURNING OUR NUTRIENT RICH RED CLAY SOIL INTO A THRIVING, LIVING SOIL. THEY'VE ALSO SPONSORED COMMUNITY CLASSES FOR GARDENING, CANNING AND SEWING. TROUP COUNTY IS UNIQUELY BLESSED WITH MILD CLIMATE, LONG GROWING SEASON, AND EXCELLENT ABUNDANT WATER. VISITORS OFTEN COMMENT ON OUR WATER AND ALSO HOW QUIET IT IS IN GRAY HILL, AND WE ENJOY LISTENING TO THE BIRDS AND THE FROGS AND OTHER NATURE SOUNDS, THANKS IN PART TO THE RAY WHICH INVESTED IN PAVING OUR PORTION OF INTERSTATE 85 WITH A QUIETER PAVING MEDIUM, AND WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN ABLE TO HEAR THE DIFFERENCE. WE AS A COMMUNITY WANT TO KEEP OUR RURAL FEEL AND WAY OF LIFE, AND THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE TO INVEST OUR LIFE SAVINGS

[00:10:03]

IT MAY ALSO OVERBURDEN UTILITIES UNLESS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE USE. THE REQUESTED REZONING TO GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MAY EXCESSIVELY INCREASE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PROPOSED CHANGE COULD POSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, PARTICULARLY ON WATER RESOURCES, DUE TO THE SITE'S LOCATION WITHIN A DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AREA AND ITS HISTORY AS A CLOSED LANDFILL. ANY FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS MUST BE METICULOUSLY ENGINEERED, DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, AND MAINTAINED IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE BEST PRACTICES SPECIFIED BY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN LANDFILL REDEVELOPMENT. THERE ARE SOME LARGE ACREAGE UNDEVELOPED TRACTS THAT ARE IN DANGER OF BEING SUBJECT TO CONTINUED PATTERN OF URBAN SPRAWL, AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT DISTURBANCE OF PROPERTY COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, DISTURBING THE UNDERLYING CLOSED LANDFILL COULD COMPROMISE ITS CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS, THREATENING GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. TO ENSURE SAFETY, ANY SITE WORK MUST INCLUDE RIGOROUS MONITORING AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE DESIGNED AND OVERSEEN BY QUALIFIED ENGINEERS EXPERIENCED IN LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT, SO. NOW I HAVE TO FIND WHERE I WAS RIGHT NOW THAT YOU HAVE NOW THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S AT STAKE, WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE ASKING YOU

[00:15:03]

JINDAL. YEAH. THEY CALL IT A PROJECT MUST OWN. AND THE REASON I KNOW I'M IN THE CONCRETE BUSINESS AND THEY'RE REDOING JINDAL. THEY'RE CAPPING THE FLOOR. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD TWO ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS. RIGHT? YEAH. SO IT'S BEING BEDDED DOWN. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH.

YEAH. THAT ONE I'M WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROJECT. WE KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OTHER PROPONENTS FOR THE COUNTY. EVERYTHING IS VERY QUIET ON DATA CENTERS RIGHT NOW. BUT YES, THERE WAS ONE THAT IS LOW THAT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF LAGRANGE, AND THAT ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED AND IS MOVING FORWARD. YOU'RE CORRECT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER ONE THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, BEEN TALKED ABOUT. BUT YEAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY. I LEFT OUT ONE THING TOO, BUT I'LL WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. YEAH. NOW THE OTHER QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED TAX BILLS. AND SO THE ASSESSMENTS WERE MAILED OUT.

WHAT'S IT BEEN 23 WEEKS AGO? MAYBE EVERYONE WAS MAILED THEIR ASSESSMENT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THAT ON THAT BILL. AND THAT'S A CHANGE FROM THE PAST. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAW THAT SAID, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO. WELL, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DON'T MEAN YOU SHOULDN'T, RIGHT? THAT'S MY POINT ON THAT. ONE OTHER THING. WE DID HAVE A, A PETITION AGAINST THE REZONING AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET VERY QUICKLY 200 SIGNATURES ON IT, AND WE STOPPED IT WHEN THE ZONING THING WAS PULLED. BUT WE AGREED AND PUT IT IN WRITING. I MISSED THAT PART. I DON'T KNOW HOW WHEN I WHEN I, BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY CHERISH OUR RURAL LIFE AND WANT TO KEEP OUR STANDARD OF LIVING.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL LAND. THERE'S NO NEED BECAUSE INDUSTRIAL LAND HAS BEEN UP FOR SALE FOR TEN YEARS, A QUARTER MILE AWAY AT THE KEY INTERCHANGE IN MULTIPLE INDUSTRIAL PARKS ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN THE AREA. PROTECTING THE GRAY HILL AQUIFER IS A PRIORITY. NO IMPACT

[00:20:02]

WARNER ROAD IS VERY NARROW, WITH HAIRPIN TURNS AND DEEP DITCHES. IT WILL NOT STAND UP TO INCREASED TRAFFIC, AND OUR COMMUNITY IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING HUGE PROBLEMS WITH TRAFFIC AND HIGH SPEED OFFENDERS THAT TROUP COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BY ITS OWN ADMISSION, HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DEAL WITH SO FAR. THOSE STATEMENTS WERE IN THE PETITION AGAINST REZONING, BUT A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER 200 WITHIN A PERIOD OF DAYS SIGNED UP AND PUT THEIR SIGNATURES ON THOSE STATEMENTS SO THAT IT'S WE ARE CONCERNED AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED, AND WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU GUYS WILL SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN OUR AREA, AND PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE. AND ANYWAY, SO AND ON THE DATA CENTER, DID YOU SAY THAT DATA CENTER IS BEING BUILT? THE ONE THAT THE ONE THAT'S IN WHAT WE AROUND HERE CALLED THE OLD BUILDING? YES, THAT ONE IS IN PROCESS. OKAY. YOU MENTIONED PROJECT WEST IS THE ONE THAT WAS PROPOSED BY JOSHUA HARRELSON. WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, WHICH IS THE PROJECT FOR WHICH IS THE PROJECT THAT'S OFF OF FERGUSON PARKWAY. ARE THERE ANY BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE GRAY HILL AREA? NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF. OKAY. BECAUSE I SAW THIS. IT'S GEORGIA POWER. MAGAZINE, I GUESS SELECT GEORGIA, GEORGIA POWER MAGAZINE, AND IT HAS A BIG RED SQUARE. ON THE AND. I CAN BRING THIS UP OR I'VE GOT SEVERAL COPIES. PLEASE UNDERSTAND. AND EVERYONE THAT'S HERE IN THE PUBLIC DATA CENTERS HAVE BECOME A VERY HOT BUTTON IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA RECENTLY. THEY'RE THEY'RE TRYING TO LOCATE PLACES IN IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS MADE SOME AGGRESSIVE MOVES TO ATTRACT DATA CENTERS. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS. PEOPLE LOOKING THESE ARE GENERALLY DEVELOPERS THAT ARE THE FRONT PEOPLE. THEY'RE RUNNING AHEAD TRYING TO FIND SITES, COMMUNITIES THAT WILL ACCEPT THEM, WATER, POWER, LAND, ALL THAT THINGS THAT THEY LOOK FOR. AND SO YES, WE LIKE ALL OTHER COMMUNITIES, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE OF GEORGIA, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THEM. MATTER OF FACT, IN THE MEETING TODAY, SOMEONE TEXTED ME THAT THERE'S A LARGE ONE GOING IN LAMAR COUNTY. WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY, BUT I CAN I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT, YES, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE IN HERE LOOKING, BUT AT THIS TIME, THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING IN THE IN THE OLD JINDAL PROPERTY. SO TOMORROW I, WE COULD WAKE UP AND THERE'D BE TWO MORE PEOPLE KNOCKING ON OUR DOORS. THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS. BUT AT THIS TIME AND ALL OF THESE GROUPS HAVE TO DO A LOT OF STUDIES, WATER POWER STUDIES. SO I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY TO YOU THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY. BUT THE LAST 30 DAYS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY QUIET, OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT'S IN OUR INDUSTRIAL PARK. WELL, WE WOULD ASK YOU TO NOT APPROVE ANYTHING OVER THE AQUIFERS. YOU KNOW, START PROTECTING THE AQUIFERS FIRST. THAT'S A PRETTY HOT BUTTON IN THE LANDFILL. I ALSO I MISSED THE WHOLE PARAGRAPH, BUT I TALKED TO THE EPA AND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE EPA IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND, AND DIFFERENT. AND THEY SAID, IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS, YOU FIVE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE, WHETHER ANYTHING GETS BUILT OVER THAT LANDFILL BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED ABANDONED. BUT IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS, IF YOU IF YOU UNCOVER SOME THINGS, IF YOU THEN. YOU COULD GO TO THE NEW EPA STANDARDS AND YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO DIG IT ALL UP ONCE YOU DISTURB IT. AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE DON'T WANT TO DISTURB BECAUSE IT'S SITTING OVER THE AQUIFER. AND I HATED IT WAS DONE A LONG TIME AGO. AND TO BE HONEST, IT WAS ONE OF MY DISTANT KIN THAT SOLD IT TO YOU GUYS TO DO THAT WITH OVER THE AQUIFER, BUT THEY DIDN'T WEREN'T AWARE OF IT, I DON'T GUESS. BUT PAUL MITCHELL WAS SOME SORT OF KIN TO MY MOTHER. BUT WE DON'T WANT IT DISTURBED. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE WATER'S CLEAN AND PURE AND GOOD, AND, YOU KNOW, IT BUBBLES OUT OF THE GROUND RIGHT WHERE WE'RE AT, AND WE DON'T WANT IT POLLUTED. AND SO IT'S WITH THESE PEOPLE

[00:25:09]

IT YOU SEE SO MUCH OTHER GOING ON, AND IT'S TO SEE A GROUP LIKE THAT JUST DOES MY DOES MY HEART WARM. WHEN I GREW UP IN A DIFFERENT AGE, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD TO SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH WHITE HAIR HERE TODAY. SO ANYWAY, I WILL. I'LL GET TO THE POINT. IT'S I'M I'M ALMOST EMBARRASSED TO COME UP HERE AFTER SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT THE GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE OF, BUT I CONSIDER THIS SERIOUS, AND SO DID MY NEIGHBORS. AS A GEORGIA GRAD, I USED TO LISTEN TO LARRY MUNSON ON THE RADIO, AND HE USED TO SAY DURING THE GAME, HE SAID, LET ME PAINT THE PICTURE FOR YOU. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET ANY INFORMATION ON THE GAME. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR MY SITUATION IS JUST KIND OF PAINT A PICTURE FOR YOU IS WHAT IS GOING ON. IMAGINE YOURSELF ON JULY 4TH OUT AT PINE ROAD PARK, AND YOU ARE WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR CHILDREN ENJOYING THE FIREWORKS SHOW OUT OVER THE LAKE. AND THOSE ARE COMMERCIAL GRADE FIREWORKS USED BY SOMEBODY WITH A LICENSE. AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL, LOUD, BEAUTIFUL AND EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT. NOW IMAGINE YOURSELF SITTING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM AND THOSE SAME FIREWORKS, SAME INTENSITY, SAME COMMERCIAL FIREWORKS ARE GOING OFF AT TREETOP LEVEL IN YOUR BACKYARD.

AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 5 OR 6 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR OTHER FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY, I GUESS, WERE NERVOUS TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO YOU. BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 5 OR 6 YEARS, AND I HAVE I STARTED TO

[00:30:02]

SHERIFF TOLD ME, AND I CAN IMAGINE ON JULY 4TH, YOU GOT YOU GUYS ARE BUSY, MAN. AND THEY SAID, WE'RE BUSY. WE'LL BE OUT THERE AGAIN. I SAID, OKAY, I GAVE HIM MY ADDRESS. AND SO THEY CONTINUED DOING THEIR FIREWORKS. I WENT BACK HOME TO MY ADDRESS AND THEY CONTINUED TILL ABOUT 11:45, AND THEY QUIT. AND ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER THE DEPUTY SHOWS UP AT MY HOUSE. YOUNG, YOUNG DEPUTY, I'M I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE'S BEEN ON THE FORCE, BUT HE'S VERY NICE, VERY YOUNG, YOUNG, YOUNG GENTLEMAN. I TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND I SAYS, ARE THEY LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO THIS? AND HE SAID, YES. AND I HAD MY DOUBTS. SO I SAID, THANK YOU. AND HE SAID, NEXT TIME IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM, JUST CALL. I SAID, THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO. AND AFTER THAT I RESEARCHED FIREWORKS LAWS IN TROUP COUNTY AS WELL AS STATE OF GEORGIA, AND THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY PROPERTY, RIGHT OF WAY OF THE ROADWAY AND IN THE ROADWAY AT THE ENTRANCE TO OUR SUBDIVISION, EXACTLY 150FT FROM MY BACK DOOR. AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING OFF OVERHEAD. AND IT WAS LOUD AND IT WENT ON FOR HOURS. I MEAN, THEY THEY MUST HAVE HAD 1000 OR 1500 BUCKS IN FIREWORKS BECAUSE THOSE THINGS, THEY COST A LOT OF MONEY. SO ANYWAY, I'M HERE TODAY TO JUST SEE IF WE CAN. FINISH UP THAT STORY. THE GUY WENT OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY AND STARTED MEASURING TO SEE IF THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY WERE. AND SO THE NEXT DAY I WAS IN ATLANTA AIRPORT, ABOUT TO BOARD A FLIGHT, AND MY PHONE RANG. IT WAS HIM, THIS NEIGHBOR THAT DOES THIS, AND IT WAS HIM. AND HE STARTS GETTING INTO CONFRONTATIONAL LANGUAGE ON THE PHONE WITH ME. AND I JUST LISTENED TO HIM AND THEY CALLED MY FLIGHT FOR BOARDING. SO I HAD TO GO. AND HE SAID, WELL, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PERMISSION TO MOVE ACROSS MOODY BRIDGE ROAD, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE, BACK TO MY BACKYARD, INTO THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, AND SHOOT HIM FROM OVER THERE FROM WE GOT PERMISSION FROM THE LANDOWNER. WELL, GENTLEMEN, THE SAME THING. AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE FIREWORKS WILL BE THE SAME AND BE AIMED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND BE EXPLODING EXACTLY IN THE SAME PLACE. AND I SAID, WELL, THAT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. AND I SAID I WOULD, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING. SO I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO ONE SEE IF WE CAN'T PUT SOME MEAT INTO REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWING OR. YOU KNOW, AS

[00:35:03]

I'VE GOT DOCUMENTATION HERE OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND THE GOOGLE MAP OF WHERE IT IS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. I'VE GIVEN COMMISSIONER SCOTT A COPY AND MR. MOSLEY HAS A COPY, AND CHIEF MARSHALL HAS A COPY. SO THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. AND AGAIN, I'M ALMOST EMBARRASSED THAT IT'S SUCH A SMALL ISSUE COMPARED TO SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS. BUT BUT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE TAXPAYERS, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, AND TRY AND LIVE IN PEACE.

AND WE'VE JUST GOT ONE TROUBLEMAKER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WANTS TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE'S. SO I'M LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE. IS THIS UNDER OUR NOSE ORDINANCE? PROBABLY THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTY. DOESN'T DOESN'T HAVE A NOISE. HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENFORCEABLE BY THE COUNTY THOUGH. YEAH. NO, IT'S NOT RIGHT. YEAH. THEY COULD HAVE THEY COULD ASSOCIATION. IF THERE'S AN ACTIVE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION WITH COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS. OUR HOMEOWNERSATIT ACTIVE FOR SOME TIME. WE. THE SECRETARY WE DO HAVE A PRESIDENT AND A VICE PRESIDENT, BUT IT'S NOT A REAL ACTIVE THING. OKAY.

SO BUT IT DOES STATE IN THERE THAT YOU CAN'T USE FIREWORKS ON THE ON THE COMMON COMMON AREAS.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME LIMITATIONS ON WHAT THE COUNTY AND I SENT OUT SOME OF THE BOARD. TO SPEAK MUCH MORE INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT FIREWORKS THAN I CAN. IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT AND A PARK IS ALSO. THE COMMISSIONER MIGHT HAVE, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAVE FOR ME. I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOME HELP AND BEING PROACTIVE SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF PREVENT THIS FROE TALKING ABOUT NOW DOING IT ON THE. YEARS IN OUR ANNIVERSARY OL BE. A MULTI BRIDGE ROAD. IT'S A HAZARD TO PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING PUT IN PLACE TO STOP IT. WELL, I MEAN I THINK CERTAINLY WE CA LOOK INTO REGULATIONS THAT'S ALL BEEN FURNISHED T A LITTLE BIT LATER TONIGHT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU. YEAH. AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE TO HAPPEN TOMORROW, BUT I THOUGHT I'D GO AHEAD AND BRIIT HAPPENED. BUT YOU KNOW, THE

[00:40:07]

[V. Special Business (Part 2 of 2)]

THE ONLY THE ONLY POSSIBLE ROLE THAT THE BOARD COULD HAVE WITH. NOT AFFIRMING A MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE IF IT VIOLATED STATE LAW BY EXCEEDING THE CAP, WHICH THIS DOES NOT. DOES NOT. WAS THE REASON FOR A PERMANENT IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY COLLECTS THE TAXES FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALL RIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT. SO WE TAKE ACTION TONIGHT. YES, SIR. WE. LOOKING TO AFFIRM THE TROUP COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF 2025. MILLAGE RATE. SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM C CONSIDERATION. JUVENILE COURTS REQUEST TO RENEW THEQUENCY PREVENTION GRANT. WESTMORELAND. WE HAD.

ALRIGHT. IF NOT, THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE JUVENILE COURTS REQUEST TO RENEW THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION GRANT. ONE. SO. OKAY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTIO CARRIED. ITEM D IS THE CONSIDERATION JUVENILE?0F

[00:45:17]

POSITION, DISPOSITION WILL OVERSEE E911 THE COUNTY MARSHAL'S. SERVICE A LIAISON WITH OUR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY INCLUDING THE THREE CITIES SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHER OTHER ENTITIES. SO AGAIN THE WHOLE THE CONCEPT WAS TO REALLY KIND OF HELP SORT OF BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE SILOS AND ALLOW FOR SOME UNILATERAL TRAINING AND POLICIES AND WORK HAND IN HAND. IT IT IT WON'T BE AFFECTING THE BUDGET OR NO SALARY, NO EFFECT TO THE BUDGETS. WE HAVE AMPLE FUNDING WITHIN OUR CURRENT CONFINES OF OUR BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS NEW POSITION. IS THIS SORT OF REPLACING ONE OF THE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED BY THE BOARD? FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DISPOSITION WOULD WOULD ALSO ASSUME THE ROLE, AS HE MAY DIRECTOR AS PART OF THE DUTIES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR POSITION. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A SECOND. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED AND ITEM G IS CONSIDERATION OF A APPROVING OF SURPLUS VEHICLES THAT CAME WITH BOARD THIS MORNING. 17 VEHICLES AND OR EQUIPMENT. ALL ALL OF THESE SURPLUS WILL BE PLACED ON GOV DEALS AND WILL ALLOW FOR FOLKS TO BID ON THOSE VARIOUS ITEMS. I'M SURE GLENN IS HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THESE LISTED VEHICLES AS SURPLUS VEHICLES AND PLACE THEM ON GOV DEALS. FOR SALE. SO I HAVE A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM EIGHT IS CONSIDERATION OF THE DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR THE OLD REED ROAD FIRE STATION AND THE OLD EICHELBERGER FIRE STATION. WE WOULD ALSO ASK THAT AS PART OF THE DECLARATION THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW MARK AND I TO DO A DEED SEARCH OR A TITLE SEARCH ON THE PROPERTIES AND BEGIN THAT FORMALIZED PROCESS, WE WOULD SET THE MINIMUM BID FOR THE REED ROAD FIRE STATION BASED ON THE APPRAISED VALUE AT 102,000, AND THE EICHELBERGER FIRE STATION AT 68,000. WE ALSO DISCUSSED ABOUT GETTING BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE FAMILIES THAT OWN THIS, THAT DONATED THIS PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY. YES, SIR. AND I SPOKE TO THE ONE THAT I WAS AWARE OF. I SPOKE TO THE FOSTER FAMILY. I SEE LAUREN FOSTER THIS AFTERNOON FOLLOWING OUR MEETING, AND HE IS INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY PURCHASING THE PROPERTY. MARK AND I WILL WORK ON THE DETAILS

[00:50:04]

OKAY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED RIGHT BEFORE.

[00:55:03]

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE HAVE THE AGENDA. WE GOT A COUPLE MORE THINGS WE DO. YES. YES SIR. YEAH. I THINK WE HAVE WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS BEFORE WE EVEN MAKE IT TO THEM.

SO WE'LL BE PAST SIX AT THAT POINT. I IMAGINE WE'RE OKAY. YEAH, I THINK WE JUST WE'VE ADVERTISED IT AS A 6 P.M. MEETING MIGHT BE IF WE COULD. THE IDEAL THING WOULD BE TO FINISH UP BEFORE SIX. ADJOURN AND. OUR AGENDA. WANT TO THANK YOU. WE COME OUT OF REGULAR MEETING AND GO. OUT OF THE FIRE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. AND NOW WE'RE IN

[VI. Public Hearings]

OTHER QUESTIONS? A RIGHT. THIS IS. A PROPOSED REZONING. IF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT I'M SORRY, NOT REZONING. SO IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK IN OPPOSITI WELCOME TO COME FORWARD. FOR. ALRIGHT, HERE, I SAID, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. ALRIGHT. SO.

I'M HEARING THIS IS THE FIRST READING, BUT IT IS LIKE TONIGHT, RIGHT? YES SIR. OKAY, SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON APPROVAL OF THE AGRITOURISM PERMIT FOR MR. STEVE PULLUM AT 3002 JONES MILL ROAD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. IT IS CARRIED. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU GENTLEMEN THERE? YES. OKAY. USUALLY PEOPLE BRING US SAMPLES OF THESE BLUEBERRIES AN I GUESS YOU GOT BLUEBERRIES RIGHT NOW. COMING. I DO WANT TO SAY. IN THE PAST THAT THERE WAS. THANK YOU, SIR, IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2025 2045 SECOND READING. VOTE ELIGIBLE. YES, SIR. THERE'S NO CHANGES TO THE COMP PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ON JULY 15TH. SO WE WE'VE HELD OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS. WE DID SEVEN PHYSICAL, ONE VIRTUAL, AND ALSO WE DID A SURVEY THROUGH SURVEYMONKEY. SO WHATEVER WE COMPILED FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS

[01:00:08]

ANY QUESTIONS OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS. JAY'S HERE TO ASSIST. ALSO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS IT. ALL RIGHT. OPPOSITION. YOU'RE WELCOME. HEARING NONE. IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK IN SUPPORT WELCOME. ALRIGHT. HEA NONE, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DRAFT TO BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW. WE'RE APPROVING THE DRAFT. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW. YES, SIR. OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. RIGHT. WE'RE ABOUT THREE MINUTES, BUT I'M BEAUTIFUL. ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT ITEM IS OUR 2025 MILLAGE RATE HERE. SO I THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY TECHNICALLY JUST ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND CALL TO ORDER THE, THE SECOND ONE. WE'VE GOT A SEPARATE AGENDA FOR THE, FOR THE. SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME THAT WE COME OUT OF PUBLIC HEARING, GO BACK INTO REGULAR MEETING AND ADJOURN. SO. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION CARRIES. SO OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS OUR 2025 MILLAGE RATE HEARING. ONE SECOND. LET'S CATCH UP OUR TWO PATHS.

CONVERSATION FROM THE PAST ABOUT THE. AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT MEETING OUT IN. SO. THAT.

FORSYTH WITH A SALES SECTION STARTED AT THE TIME OF THE 50. YO. ALL RIGHT. THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO LET'S SEE. I MEAN THERE'S ONLY TWO IF YOU CLICK ON THAT ARROW IN THAT AREA THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BIG BOXES FOR SEVEN AND A. LITTLE. THANK YOU.

SO. THANK YOU. SO YOU TELL THEM GIVE ME A. LONG WALK. MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE

[01:05:19]

THE FY 25 OR CALENDAR YEAR 25 TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUE FOR RESIDENTIAL IS 38%. BUT WHEN WE ADD THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL TOGETHER, THAT'S 51% OF THE ASSESSED VALUE. THAT'S TAX. SO ONE MORE ONE MORE OKAY. SORRY. ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE MEMBTHE PROPERTY APPRAISAL OFFICE AND THE TAX COMMISSIONER. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM BEFORE. OKAY. SO HEARING NONE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNS IFDT OR IFE TO SPEAK. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THEN ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE OPPOSITION.'RE WELCOME TO COME FORTH. NONE. THEN I GUESS WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE 2025 MILLAGE RATE. AND BY DOING SO, MARK, MAKE SURE WE ARE APPROVING THE ONE FOR THE COUNTY. AND WE'RE ALSO AFFIRMING THE ONE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THAT SAME MOTION. YOU ACTUALLY YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION. I HAVE A RESOLUTION. CAN YOU PULL IT UP FOR OUR FOR OUR INTERNET, WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE MILLAGE, TWO SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS. WE AFFIRM THE ONE BEFORE I THINK THIS ONE JUST OFFERS US. OKAY. SO WE JUST BUT I DO HAVE THIS MOTION HERE. OKAY. ATTACHED. ALL RIGHT. SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE 2025 MILLAGE RATE. DO I HAVE A MOTION. SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND SECOND. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND LAST THING IT SAYS ALL VOTES HAVE BEEN CAST. BUT I DON'T SEE BUT DID NOT. OKAY, SO JUST DO A HAND COUNT. OKAY? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. MARK. MOTION TO COME OUT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION. COME OUT SAME WAY. COME OUT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION. WELL, ACTUALLY,

[01:10:04]

SECOND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.