Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Vol. 16, No. 52 Wednesday, December 27, 2023 UPSON BEACON Shining Light & Keeping Watch on Our Community upsonbeacon.com 219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, Ga. 30286 • 706.646.2382 75 Cents Newsline Dec. 27. 2023 City, County Offices Close for New Year City of Thomaston and Upson County gov ernmental offices will be closed Monday, Jan. l for New Year’s Day. All gov ernment offices are scheduled to reopen Tuesday, Jan. 2 for nor mal hours of operation. The Upson Beacon of fice will close at noon Fri day, Dec. 29 and will be closed New Year’s Day. Deadlines will be at noon Thursday, Dec. 28 for the Jan. 3, 2024 edition. Help City to 'Get the Lead Out’ City of Thomaston of ficials request that res idents participate in a brief survey to determine which homes may have lead-containing plumb ing materials and need recommended testing. The Environmental Protection Agency has established the Lead and Copper Rule to protect public health and reduce exposure to lead and copper in drinking water, according to a statement from the city. It is estimated there are between six and 10 mil lion lead service lines in our country, many of which could be in Thom aston. “To help us deter mine whether your home might have lead-contain ing plumbing materials and if further testing is recommended, we need your help,” city officials emphasize. “Simply scan the QR code using your smartphone’s camera or QR code reader app to participate in a brief sur vey.” The QR code is fea tured in the city’s “Pipe Up and Help Us Get the Lead Out!” ad within this edition of The Upson Beacon. “We are committed to providing our citizens with a safe and reliable water supply,” according to city officials. “Your participation is greatly appreciated, and your input is vitally impor tant.” 8 10499 02461 2 $41.2 Million City Budget Approved for '24 Council Votes 3-2 for Combination of Property Tax, Electric Rate Increases Bridge Turner Editor in Chief bturner@upsonbeacon.com Council members voted unan imously last week to approve a $41,226,510 city budget for 2024, but were split 3-2 on its method of funding. Mayor Pro Tempore Doug Head, along with councilmen Don Greathouse and Jeff Middle- brooks, voted in favor of a one- mill property tax increase combined with an electric rate fee increase equivalent to one mill of tax revenue. Council members Ryan Tucker and Lakeitha Reeves voted against the revenue-gener ating combination - for different reasons. Tucker voiced his prefer ence for no property tax increase, while Reeves opposed any in crease in utility rates. “I think that we have in creased utilities long enough to cover and balance the budget...” Reeves said. “Therefore, I’m not in favor of the one and one.” Head explained his position. “I think we had a millage in crease in 2011 or 2012. Other than that, none in the last 25 years,” Head recalled. “Every now and then, you have to adjust the millage rate.” In previous meetings, Tucker expressed his preference for a consumption-based revenue source which he said would spread responsibility more evenly See City Budget, 4A m w 1 yr / 1 mmiM Seniors at the Thomaston-Upson Senior Center celebrate after receiving bags of holiday essentials and gifts. Andrew Carroll/Upson Beacon Senior Citizens Receive Holiday Blessing Bags Andrew Carroll Sports Editor acarroll@upsonbeacon.com Participants at the Thomaston- Upson Senior Center received bags of holiday essentials and gifts on Dec. 21, thanks to generous donations of multi ple area businesses, organizations, and individuals. In addition to blankets and essential items, Beyond the Bell Upson distrib uted gift bags with various supplies like dish detergent. See Seniors, 5A GA lottery Has Paid Upson’s Educational Programs $54 Million Since the inception of the Georgia Lottery in 1994, Upson County HOPE and pre-K students have received more than $54.1 million from the corporation, according to a statement from com munity relations director Joy Forth. To date, 8,601 Upson HOPE stu dents have received $34,245,964 and 5,463 Upson pre-K students have re ceived $19,939,302, according to lottery officials. “We believe that these education dol lars from the lottery will improve the lives of the recipients and their families and keep our best and brightest here in Georgia, enabling our communities to recruit and retain industry with an edu cated and trained workforce,” the re lease stated. According to the corporation, Upson has received the following: $174,532,787 in prizes paid; $19,854,539 in retailer commission; $1,866,659 i n capital out lay; $250,439,251 total returned to the county when combined with education proceeds. Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced the Georgia Lottery Corporation’s most profitable first quarter since its incep tion. Profits transferred to the state treasury’s Lottery for Education account will amount to $389.9 million, surpass ing last year’s first quarter transfer by $25.1 million. "As we celebrate another record quarter for the Georgia Lottery, we're especially mindful of the direct impact these funds will have on our students See Lottery, 5A Occupation Tax Payment Due by Jan. 1 The Upson Building and Zoning Department re minds business owners in the unincorporated portion of the county that occupa tion tax paperwork and pay ments are due by Jan. l, 2024. Anyone operating a business in unincorporated Upson County who has not previously paid occupation tax must come to the de partment, in the Drake Building at 305 S. High tower Street, Suite D-100, to pick up required paperwork. The office can be contacted at 706-647-1297. Currently registered businesses are requested to provide updated infor mation, where necessary. Copies of up-to-date profes sional licenses, permits, bonds, and other regulatory documents must also be provided. Receipts showing that the business location prop erty taxes and equipment and inventory taxes have been paid for 2023 are re quired to be submitted. Every renewing business must report its E-verify status on the declaration form included in the mailed notice. State of Georgia-re- See Occupation Tax, 5A Developments Met with Mixed City Feedback Annexation Public Hearing Bridge Turner Editor in Chief bturner@upsonbeacon.com Thomaston City Coun cil held its first public hearing and reading of an nexation requests last week for proposed housing developments at North- side and on Yatesville Highway to mixed com ments from residents in attendance. Karim Dodhia of Peachtree City told council members the first phase of his plan at 1072 Highway 19 North includes multiple townhomes for sale, and the now non-gated com plex will include extensive amenities. Townhomes are estimated as follows: •One bedroom - 760 square feet selling from $165,000 to $190,000. •Two bedroom - Ap proximately 1,000 square feet starting at $250,000. •Three bedroom - Al most 1,300 square feet in the $300,000 range. Jane Burdette spoke in favor of Dodhia’s North- side development, which See Developments, 4A Smith Advocates for Georgia Downtowns Thomaston Economic Development Director Tay lor Smith, left, chairman of the Georgia Downtown As sociation’s Legislative Com mittee, joined Hartwell Economic and Community Development Director Jason Ford, right, commit tee vice chair, earlier this month at the Georgia State Capitol to represent members and advocate for GDA and the Georgia De partment of Community Af fairs’ Rural Zone Program while speaking to the House Rural Development Council. In reference to Thomas ton, Smith shared statistics relating to the Rural Zone Program, as well as rec ommendations for the pro gram, and detailed businesses opened and buildings renovated in the downtown area. “This tremendous op portunity allowed me to spread the message of downtown Thomaston’s continuing transformation, thanks in large part to the Rural Zone Program, which is set to sunset in 2026, so we also advocated for the continuance of the program and several modifications to the program,” Smith told The Upson Beacon. Courtesy of City of Thomaston Taylor Smith and Jason Ford at the Georgia State Capitol A -a.-. Holly Harrison PA-C m urirrin UD^byn CAll (706)646-2888 or (770) 227-5505 for an appointment. 403 West Main Street* Thomaston