BEFORE
A STANDING-ROOM ONLY CROWD—TUESDAY EVENING—THE UPSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DENY A
REZONING FOR JAMES FORTNER AT 1409 COUNTY ROAD FOR HIS
TRUCKING, TOWING AND REPAIR BUSINESS—FROM A-R TO M-2
MANUFACTURING.
COMMISSIONER
BEN WATSON MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REZONING LIMITING
THE BUSINESS TO THOSE THREE ENTERPRISES BUT IT DIED FOR
LACK OF A 2ND.
COMMISSIONER
PAUL JONES MADE THE MOTION TO DENY BASED ON THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BUSINESS IS IN A FLOOD PLAIN AND
NEXT TO POTATO CREEK AND THE COUNTY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO
CITY AND COUNTY CITIZENS TO PROTECT THE CITY OF THOMASTON'S
WATER SUPPLY.
OVER
A DOZEN CITIZENS AND TRUCKING COMPANY OWNERS TESTIFIED
THAT FORTNER IS A ONE AND ONLY WHO WILL DO REPAIR WORK
REGARDLESS OF WHEN ITS NEEDED. SEVERAL OF HIS EMPLOYEES SAID
THEY NEED THEIR JOBS. TWO CITIZENS OPPOSED THE REZONING—BOTH
FROM THE NEAR-BY POTATO CREEK HEIGHTS COMMUNITY.
HIS
ATTORNEY STEVEN JONES OF GRIFFIN URGED THE COMMISSIONERS TO
APPROVE THE REZONING WITH CONDITIONS NOTING THE BIG
CLEAN-UP OPERATION UNDERTAKEN SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER
VOTED TO RECOMMEND DENIAL BACK IN JANUARY.
HOWEVER,
PLANNING DIRECTOR DOUG CURRIER SHOWED PHOTOS THAT HE SAID
POINTED TO THE CONTINUED USE OF THE PROPERTY AS A JUNK
YARD IN VIOLATION OF THE ZONING.
CURRIER
NOTED FORTNER NEGLECTED TO PAY HIS COUNTY OCCUPATIONAL
TAX/BUSINESS LICENSE FROM 2013 TO 2017 WHILE SHOWING A
SMALL OFFICE AT 185 EAST MOORE'S CROSSING AS THE ADDRESS
OF THE BUSINESS. IF HE HAD PAID HIS OCCUPATIONAL TAX ON
TIME—HE WOULD HAVE DISCOVERED HE WAS IN A-R ZONING BACK
THEN—HE SAID.
FORTNER
HAS 30 DAYS TO APPEAL THE DECISION TO SUPERIOR COURT—BUT
THE COMMISSIONERS INDICATED THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH
HIM TO ALLOW TIME FOR A RELOCATION OF HIS BUSINESS.
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