THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL AND UPSON'S CHIEF APPRAISER

 TUESDAY'S  MEETING  OF  THE  THOMASTON  MAYOR  AND  COUNCIL  WITH  A  PRESENTATION  FROM  UPSON  COUNTY'S  CHIEF  APPRAISER   CHARLES  MCKEEHAN   IS  NOT  GETTING  HIGH MARKS  FROM  ATTENDEES. CITY  OFFICIALS  WANTED  INFORMATION  ABOUT  THE  PROCESS  OF  DETERMINING  PROPERTY  VALUES  BUT MOST  OF  THE  DIALOGUE  BETWEEN  THE  CITY  MANAGER,  MAYOR  AND  COUNCIL  AND  MCKEEHAN  WAS  A  BIT  POINTED--ESPECIALLY  INVOLVING  COMMERCIAL  PROPERTY  ASSESSMENTS,  CITY  HALL  THOUGHT LOW.  MCKEEHAN  MADE IT  CLEAR  HE  ALWAYS  WANTS  ASSESSMENTS  TO  BE  AS  LOW  AS  POSSIBLE. ITS A  COMPLICATED  PROCESS,  AS  THE  ASSESSORS      GRIFFIN  ATTORNEY  STEPHANIE  WINDHAM  TOLD  COUNCIL  AND  STATED      THE  BOARD  HAS  TO  FOLLOW  STATE  GUIDELINES.

THE  TAX  ASSESSORS  BOARD  HIRES  THE  CHIEF  APPRAISER, AN  INDEPENDANT  BODY  FROM  THE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS, ALTHOUGH  THE  BOC  DOES  FUND  THE  DEPARTMENT.  ONE  COUNTY   COMMISSIONER   101  NEWS  SPOKE  WITH   FROWNED  ON  THE  CITY  MEETING  WITH  THE  CHIEF  APPRAISER. ITS  THE  FIRST  TIME  IN  MEMORY  A  GOVERNMENT  BODY  HAS  CALLED  ON  THE CHIEF APPRAISER  TO  ANSWER  QUESTIONS, BUT  COUNCILMAN  RYAN  TUCKER  TOLD  MCKEEHAN  CONSTITUENTS  WANT  ANSWERS  ABOUT  THEIR  TAX  BILLS.

$800 SCAM IN T-TOWN

 A  THOMASTON  FEMALE  WAS  SCAMMED  OUT  OF  $800  IN  APPLE  GIFT  CARDS THOMASTON  POLICE  REPORTED     AFTER  SHE  ENTERED  A   CONTEST  ON YOUTUBE  AND  WAS  INFORMED  SHE  HAD  WON  A  TESLA  AUTO  AND  $500  IN  CASH.  SHE  RECEIVED  A  PHONE  CALL  FROM  SOMEONE  IDENTIFIED    AS  DWAYNA  ROCK  JOHNSON  AND  HE  TOLD  HER  THE  FEDEX  TRUCK  BRINGING   HER  THE  MONEY  WAS  STOPPED  BY  POLICE  AND  SHE  WOULD  NEED  TO  SEND  ANOTHER  $300  GIFT  CARD  TO  GET  IT.  THE PD  REPORT  SAID   THAT'S  WHEN  SHE  REALIZED  SHE  HAD  BEEN  SCAMMED.

UPSON BOC FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON ZONING ORD CHANGES

 TUESDAY'S  FIRST  PUBLIC  HEARING   BY  THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  ON  TEXT  AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  ZONING  ORDIANCE  WAS  A  ROUSER.  THE  MAJOR  CHANGE  PROPOSED  IS  A  CHANGE  IN  THE  MINIMUM  LOT  SIZE  IN  AN  A-R  ZONE   FROM  2  ACRES  TO   12  ACRES  AS  ITS  BEEN  SINCE  UPSON COUNTY  ADOPTED   ZONING  IN   1995.  THE  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  CONTEND  WITH    THE  GROWTH  IN  THE  COUNTY   THE  ORIGINAL  ZONING  NO  LONGER WORKS FOR  THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  COUNTY  TO MAINTAIN  ITS  RURAL  NATURE.

OVER  HALF  A  DOZEN  CITIZENS  SPOKE  DURING  THE  HEARING   ALL  WERE  OPPOSED  TO  THE  CHANGES  INCLUDING  AGRI-BUSINESSMAN    MARCUS  SOUTH , EX-COMMISSION  CHAIR  RUSTY  BLACKSTON,  AND  COMMISSION  CHAIR  CANDIDATE  DAN  BREU.

COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIR  NORMAN  ALLEN  SAID    12  ACRES  IS  NOT  CARVED  IN  STONE  AND  THE  BOARD  SEEKS    PUBLIC  INPUT.  BUT  HE  SAID  THE  COUNTY  MUST  DEAL  WITH  GROWTH--AS  NOW  YOU  CAN'T  EVEN  TURN  LEFT  OUT OF  WAL  MART WITHOUT  THE  TRAFFIC  LIGHT. COMMISSIONER JAMES  ELLINGTON  TOLD  THE  CROWD  THINGS  CAN'T  STAY  THE  WAY  THEY  ARE  WITH  THE  GROWTH  OF  THE  COUNTY  AND  URGED  PUBLIC  INPUT.  CALL  OR  CONTACT  ME  AND  WE  WILL  TALK IT OUT--ELLINGTON  SAID.

THOMASTON ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS JMF TOWING

 THE    THOMASTON  ZONING  COMMISSION  HAS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDED  TO  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  A  SPECIAL  USE  PERMIT    FOR  7.45  ACRES  AT  105 YAMAHA  PARKWAY  IN  THE  THOMASTON-UPSON INDUSTRIAL  PARK  FOR  JMF  TOWING  AND   RECOVERY  WRECKER  SERVICES.  DURING  A  PUBLIC  HEARING  MONDAY,  NEWTON  GALLOWAY,  GRIFFIN  ZONING  ATTORNEY , PRESENTED  THE  CASE FOR  OWNER  JAMES  " BUBBA"-- FORTNER.  GALLOWAY  HAS  PREVIOUSLY  PRESENTED   THE  JMF  TOWING  STORY  TO  THE  IDA  WHICH    AGREED  TO  SELL  THE  PROPERTY  TO  FORTNER  FOR   $175,000  IF  IT  CLEARS  ALL  THE   CITY  HALL   LEGAL  HURDLES.

JMF  IS  CURRENTLY  LOCATED  ON  COUNTY  ROAD  BUT  LOST  A  LAW  SUIT AGAINST  UPSON  COUNTY  AND  MUST  RELOCATE.  FORTNER'S  COMPANY  HAD  TWO  OPTIONS  ON  THE  ZONING  COMMISSION  AGENDA,  THE  2ND, CALLED  PLAN  B.  BY  GALLOWAY  IS  PROPERTY  AT  904  NORTH  HIGHTOWER  OWNED  BY  CHARLES  AND  AMY  HARRIS.  ATTORNEY  GALLOWAY  SAID  THE  INDUSTRIAL  PARK  TRACT IS  MORE  DESIRABLE  BECAUSE  ITS  FURTHER  AWAY  FROM  RESIDENTIAL SITES.

ATTORNEY  GALLOWAY  DESCRIBED  JMF  TOWING  AS  A  VALUABLE  BUSINESS  TO  THE  COMMUNITY  WITH   7  FULL-TIME  EMPLOYEES  WITH  AN  ANNUAL  PAYROLL  OF   $550,000.  EMPLOYEES  ARE  ON  CALL   24/7  AS  THE  COMPANY  TOWS  BIG  RIGS  OFF  INTERSTATES  IN  GA.,  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  AND  FLORIDA.  APPARENTLY,  THE  COMPANY   WILL  BE  ALLOWED  TO  KEEP  WRECKAGE  ON  SITE  FOR  60   WHILE  ITS  REPAIRED  BY  JMF AND  CAN  TAKE  OWNERSHIP  AFTER   45  DAYS.

DONALD TRUMP IN ZEBULON WED.

 THOMASTON  MAYOR  J.D.  STALLINGS  HAS  CONFIRMED  DONALD  TRUMP  WILL  BE  AT  CHRIST  CHAPEL   IN  ZEBULON  WED. AT  3PM  FOR  A  FAITH-BASED  EVENT.  PASTOR  BILLY  SMITH  REACHED  OUT  TO  101  NEWS    MONDAY    MORNING AND  TOLD  US  THIS  EVENT  IS  NOT  AN  ENDORSEMENT OF  THE  TRUMP  CAMPAIGN,  THE  CHURCH  BUILDING IS  BEING  LEASE  OUT  FOR  THE  EVENT.  TICKET  INFORMATION  FOR  THE  PUBLIC  IS  ON  OUR  WEBSITE.

IN UPSON COUNTY WALLER ROAD HAS REOPENED

 IN  

T-U REC DIRECTOR SPEAKS TO KIWANIS

 SPEAKING  TO  THOMASTON  KIWANIS  TUESDAY,  BRYAN  KELLY DIRECTOR OF  THE  THOMASTON-UPSON  RECREATION  DEPARTMENT  SAID  PARTICPATION  IS  UP  POST-COVID.  THE  TWO MILLION  DOLLAR  SPLOST   PROJECT  TO  UPGRADE  THE  FOUR  BALLFIELDS IS  AIMED  AT  ELIMINATING  DRAINAGE  PROBLEMS,  CONSTRUCT  A  NEW  CONCESSION  STAND  AND  ADD  RESTROOMS  INCLUDING  HANDI-CAPPED  FACILITIES.

DIRECTOR  KELLY  PROMOTED  THE  TRUNK   OR   TREAT  EVENT  FOR  HALLOWEEN,  AND  THE  CIVIC  CENTER'S  NEW  MERCHANDISE  STORE.  THE FORMER  RACKETBALL  COURT  IS  IN  BAD  SHAPE--A  SPORT THAT HAS LOST  INTEREST   AND  TARGETED  TO  BE  REPURPOSED.  THE  SAME  FOR  THE  SKATE  PARK  NOW  CLOSED  BUT IT  COULD  BECOME  AN  ADAPTIVE  PLAYGROUND.  HE  SAID  THERE'S  LOTS  OF  WRESTLING INTEREST  SO  THE  CIVIC  CENTER   IS  FORMING     A   WRESTLING  CLUB.  PARENTS  NOW  HAVE  TO  TRANSPORT  WRESTLERS  TO  BARNESVILLE  TO COMPETE. 

UPSON SETS NEW RECORD EARLY VOTING

 ACCORDING   TO  UPSON  COUNTY  ELECTION  SUPERINTENDANT  PAM  RELEFORD  A  NEW  RECORD  FOR  EARLY  VOTING  WAS  SET  TUESDAY  WITH  1289  VOTES  CAST.  THE  STATE  OF  GA.  ALSO  SET  A  NEW  VOTING  RECORD.  POLL  WORKERS  TOLD  US  WHEN  THEY  OPENED  FOR  VOTING  TUESDAY  AROUND  20  PEOPLE  WERE  IN  LINE  TO  VOTE AT  THE  CIVIC  CENTER.   THERE  WERE  LINES  MOST  OF  THE  DAY  BUT   THEY MOVED SMOOTHLY.

UPSON BOC REVERSED TWO PLANNING COMMISSION DENIALS

 THE  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS  REVERSED  TWO  SPECIAL  EXCEPTION  APPLICATIONS  THE PLANNING  COMMISSION  RECOMMENDED  DENIAL AT  TUESDAY'S  MEETING.  MATT  SMITH  APPROVED  FOR MINI WAREHOUSES  ON   74  WEST  NEAR  THE  ENTRANCE TO SPREWELL  BLUFF PARK  AND  PASTOR  DONALD  HAMILTON  FOR  A  NEW  CHURCH  BUILDING  ON   19  SOUTH  NEAR  MARTIN  CHURCH  ROAD. 

DETAILS  ON  101.1  LOCAL  NEWS  AT 6;45AM, 7;45AM, 8;45AM,  12  NOON,  1PM  AND  5PM. 

GSP INVESTIGATING PEDESTRIAN FATALITY IN THOMASTON

 ACCORDING  TO  POST  26  GA.  STATE PATROL  THE  FEMALE  PEDESTRIAN  FATALITY  SUNDAY NIGHT  ON  TRIUNE  MILL  ROAD   IN  THOMASTON   WAS   30-YEAR OLD  MELISSA  HILL OF  274  TRIUNE  AVE.  A   ONE-YEAR  OLD  CHILD  WALKING  WITH  HER  WAS  INJURED  AND  LIFE FLIGHTED  TO  ARTHUR  BLANK  CHILDREN'S  HOSPITAL OF  ATLANTA  AND  IS  LISTED  IN  STABLE  CONDITION.

SGT. NATHAN  TRUITT, GSP , TOLD   101  NEWS  THE  MOTORIST  WAS  DAVID  ANDERSON  OF  TRIUNE  MILL  ROAD   DRIVING    A   2013  JEEP PATRIOT  SPORT  SUV. SGT. TRUITT  SAID   MS.  HILL  AND  THE  CHILD  WERE  THREE  FEET  IN  THE   ROADWAY  WALKING  IN  THE  SAME  DIRECTION  AS  THE VEHICLE,  NEAR   DALLAS  DRIVE AT 10.42 PM.  HE  SAID  THE  INVESTIGATION  CONTINUES,  BUT  AT  THIS  TIME  NO  CHARGES  HAVE  BEEN  FILED  AGAINST  THE  DRIVER. 

UPSON CO DONATES OVER $200,000 IN GOODS TO HELENE VICTIMS

 FORMER UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  RUSTY  BLACKSTON   TOLD  101  NEWS   VOLUNTEERS  DELIVERED  OVER   $200,000  WORTH OF  RELIEF  SUPPLIES  TO  HELENE  VICTIMS  IN  ECHOLS  COUNTY  IN  SOUTH  GEORGIA ,  SUNDAY-- COLLECTED  FROM  A    53  FOOT  TRAILER    THAT  HAD  BEEN  PARKED  AT  THOMASTON  WAL MART.  RUSTY  SAID  THE  TRAILER  WAS   90% FULL  AND  A  FARMER IN  STATENVILLE,GA.  VOLUNTEERED  HIS  MIGRANT  LABOR  TO  UNLOAD  IT.

THE  ECHOLS COUNTY  SHERIFF WAS  INVOLVED  IN  THE  EFFORT  IN  A  COUNTY  WHERE    MANY   SECTIONS    ARE  STILL WITHOUT  POWER -- BUT  POWER  CREWS  WERE  EVERYWHERE  AT  WORK.    ONE  LADY  WHO  FINALLY  GOT  POWER  TOLD  RUSTY  SHE   GOT  HER      FIRST  HOT  BATH  IN   9  DAYS.  HE DESCRIBED  THE  DEVASTATION TO  THAT  AREA   AS  UNBELIEVABLE.

RUSTY  WENT  ON  TO  THANK  ALL  THE  THOMASTON  CHURCHES,  VOLUNTEERS,  AND THOSE  WHO  DONATED  SUPPLIES.

UPSON TAX COMMISSIONER FAVORS HB 581

 Shedding light on HB 581:

HB 581, an amendment to property tax legislation, will be on the ballot in November’s election. It’s also known as the “Save Our Homes Act” and it addresses longstanding issues with local property taxes and would go into effect on Jan. 1st, 2025 should it pass. It’s part of an effort to lower property tax costs for Georgia families in response to the major increase in property values we saw in 2022 & 2023. It will particularly help homestead property owners by limiting increases in home value to 3% each year. Want to emphasize, this applies to homestead property only. However, the County & City governing authorities have a one- time opt-out clause in this amendment which they will have choose to do so by March 1st of next year. Why would they choose to do so? Because the 3% limit increase on homestead property value would cut into property tax revenue for their budget needs which could possibly result in a millage increase to make up for the loss of tax revenue. But another major component of this bill will give the governing authorities an option of not having to go up on the millage rate to make up for that loss. It will give them the opportunity to add a 1 cent sales tax for the purposes of rolling back on property tax, which in my opinion is a great thing. Last year, we rolled off just over $5 million between the County & City in sales tax revenue for property tax purposes. As it’s been explained to me, this would benefit all taxpayers that own any property here in Upson County whether it’s real or personal property. Adding the additional sales tax would require the governing authorities to approve it through referendum which most likely would take all of next year to do and taxpayers would not see the benefit of this relief until 2026 at the earliest. The only concern is that we need leadership in place that would not use this extra revenue as a reason to spend more and not use it for it’s intended purpose of helping the taxpayers. Regardless of your opinion on this bill, it’s important you let your local governing authorities know your feelings about this legislation. There are several other components in this bill that aid in simplifying local tax legislation and they all serve to better help our taxpayers. More detailed info about this bill may be found online at: HB 581 Summary and Guidance – accg.org Andy Chastain Upson County Tax Commissioner

CITY OF THOMASTON BUDGET WORK SESSION MEETINGS

 The City of Thomaston will be holding three City budget work session meetings. The meetings are open to the public and will be held on the following dates: Friday, October 25, 2024, at 9:30 p.m. Friday, November 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. And Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. All meetings will be held in the City Manager’s Conference room on the second floor of the Thomaston-Upson Government Complex (106 E Lee Street, Thomaston, Georgia 30286). Should you have any questions or need additional information, please call the City Manager’s Office at 706-647-4242 Ext. 4.

WALLER RD CLOSED IN UPSON CO

 UPSON  COUNTY HAS  ANNOUNCED  WALLER  ROAD  WILL  BE  CLOSED  FROM  HIGHWAY   19  NORTH  TO  HARRELL  ROAD  UNTIL  FURTHER  NOTICE.  NO  THRU  TRAFFIC.  RESIDENTS  WILL  HAVE  ACCESS  TO  THEIR  HOMES

UPSON CO COLLECTION POINTS FOR HELENE VICTIMS

 FORMER    UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  RUSTY  BLACKSTON  HAD  AN  UPDATE   ON  COLLECTION  OF  GOODS  FOR     HELENE  VICTIMS  LATE THURSDAY  AFTERNOON--THE  BIG  RIG  PARKED  AT  THOMASTON  WAL MART  WAS ABOUT   25%  FULL. VOLUNTEERS  ARE  NEEDED  TO   SORT  THROUGH  COLLECTIONS  AND  SATURDAY  IS  THE  TARGET  DATE  TO  TRANSPORT  THE  ITEMS  TO  SOUTH  GA.

ANOTHER  UPSON COUNTY  COLLECTION  POINT  IS  THE  KINETIC  FACILITY  IN  NORTHSIDE NEXT  TO  THOMASTON  PEST  CONTROL.

UPSON EMC AND SRE HELPING ANOTHER EMC

 UPSON  EMC  AND  SOUTHERN  RIVERS  ENERGY    DISPATCHED  CREWS  TO  HELP  RESTORE  POWER  TO  CUSTOMERS  OF  LITTLE  OCMULGEE EMC  BASED  IN  EASTMAN, GA.  UPSON  EMC  SENT  4  LINEMEN  AND  SRE  HAS  SENT  TWO  FOUR  MAN  CREWS.

UPSON SUPERIOR COURT JURY TRIAL

 IN  A  JURY  TRIAL   IN  UPSON  SUPERIOR  COURT    THAT  STARTED  SEPTEMBER  23RD  AND    CONTINUED  UNTIL  MONDAY  DUE  TO  HURRICANE  HELENE-- THE  DEFENDANT,  BRYAN  ADRIAN  CALHOUN WAS  FOUND  GUILTY      OF  CRUELTY  TO  CHILDREN  IN  THE  FIRST  DEGREE  AND  JUDGE  RHONDA B.  KREUZIGER  SENTENCED  CALHOUN  TO   40   YEARS  ,  SERVE   10  YEARS  IN  PRISON  --REMAINDER  ON  PROBATION.