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Sutler Heralfo
“Your Newspaper Since 1876”
(Publication Number USPS 534-720)
144th YEAR, NO. 49 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY
All Is Calm, All Is Bright
Wednesday evening, Dec. 1st, the City of Reynolds held its Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Julian Knight Park. After the lights came on, Mayor Walter “Butch” Turner welcomed
the crowd, and Rev. Dan MacMinn, pastor of Reynolds United Methodist Church, offered a prayer. A Christmas devotion was provided by Rev. Bobby Bentley, and Danny Peed led
in the singing of Christmas carols, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem 0 , “Silent Night**, and fi We Wish You A Many Christmas’.
Commissioners Commit To New Solar Project In The County
By VALORI MOORE
Editor
The Taylor County Board of
Commissioners held the regu
lar December meeting Tuesday
night, before a group of land-
owners seeking approval for a
new solar project on approxi
mately 1,500 acres, west of
Mizell.
At last month’s meeting, fol
lowing an executive session,
the Board unanimously voted
to deny the solar project. Due
to a conflict of interest, Com
missioner Robert Peacock was
not involved in the solar discus
sion or vote.
At this month's meeting, Ed
Guinn addressed the Board, on
behalf of the landowners in
volved with the solar project.
He reported that over a 17 year
period, the solar project will
bring in around $5.8 million to
thecounty, Of this, $1,879 mil
lion will go to the County, $3.6
million to the school district,
and $260,000 to the Taylor
County Development Author
ity.
Guinn also noted that in 2020,
the existing solar projects in
the county valued $1,649 mil
lion in PI LOT (Payment in Lieu
of Taxes) funds. This is more
than the county’s top ten tax
payers combined.
Guinn urged the commission
ers to vote favorably for the
new solar project, reminding
that a new 3-12 school is being
built, He said, "It’s money in
the taxpayers’ pockets.”
Board Chairman Randy
Nelson stated, “This Board is
not against solar coming in
here. All the projects that are
here, are here because of the
Commissioners. The problem
is not solar--it’s a permit fee!
The solar company [Leeward
Renewable Energy | has not
come to talk to us. It’s a big
m i sund erstan di ng... Inform ation
was held back.” He continued,
“As a governing body, w r e need
to know the facts.”
Commissioner Tameka Harris
said, “Communication is key.
We are one community, and we
need to w r ork together ”
Chairman Nelson reiterated,
“We didn't have the informa
tion.”
Guinn replied that he is
equally concerned as to why the
Board did not have the infor
mation.
Chairman Nelson said he
hopes that future boards don’t
start relying solely on solar
funds. He said the solar fund
ing is on a time schedule and
will depreciate over the years.
Guinn responded, “Time is of
the essence. It’s a competitive
thing.” [Many counties are
seeking solar projects,!
The discussion was continued
in an executive session that fol
lowed the regular meeting.
When the meeting reconvened
after the executive session,
County Attorney Eddie Davis
announced that the Board of
Commissioners will commit to
accept the permit fee based
upon the value of the solar
project, and PILOT payments
will be reduced by $100,000 for
the first four years, to account
for the permit fee. Davis will
be in contact with the attorney
for the solar project in the
morning (Wednesday). Final
approval of the solar project is
expected at. the next meeting,
A called meeting is tentatively
set for Dec. 16th.
* * *
During the regular meeting,
the Board approved a beer and
wine license for Northside Food
Store, which has a new owner.
Jamason Byrd, Taylor County
Fire Coordinator, reported that
the Taylor County Fire Depart
ment responded to 13 calls in
November: one motorist assist,
two accidents, one smoke in the
area, one structure fire (fire in
the chimney), one fire alarm,
and seven wildland fires.
During the final meeting of
the year for the fire depart
ment, new firefighter recruits
will sign the roster for the
firefighter class that will begin
in January. Also, all county
firefighters have earned the
required 24 hours of training
for the year,
Byrd said 14 new firefighters
have joined the county fire de
partment. Six are certified,
four are Firefighter I certified,
and two are certified volun
teers.
Anthony Persico was selected
to serve as a non voting mem
ber on the County’s Fire Safety
Council.
Taylor County EMS Director
Brandon Everett advised that
EMS responded to 150 calls in
November. There were 83
transports to eight different
facilities and 67 non-trans-
ports.
Assistant County Manager
Jar rod McCarthy reported that
a letter and an application have
been submitted to the Georgia
Department of Transportation
for funding to upgrade the rail
road crossing on Lofton Road.
An application will also he sub-
TCHS Automotive Technologies Students
Tour Blue Bird Bus Company
On Thursday, Nov. 18th, future technicians who are enrolled in Taylor County High School's Career, Technical and
Agricultural Educatioji (CTAE) Automotive Technologies Pathway had the opportunity to tour the Blue Bird Bus Com
pany factory in Fort Valley as part of the Blue Bird Academy Technician Training Program. While at the plant, students
were able to see all the steps required in manufacturing a school bus. They were also informed about the opportunities
included in the successful completion of the Technician Certification Program. CTAE Director Michele Kimble and
Automotive Instructor Chris Cox would like to thank Blue Bird Bus Company for this a wesome opportunity for Taylor
County students.
niitted to upgrade the railroad
crossing on Brown Road in
Howard.
The Commissioners approved
an updated alcohol and drug
policy for Taylor County Tran
sit,
McCarthy said that there will
be another application window
in 2022 for the landfill grant for
door to door trash pickup in the
county.
Also discussed in the execu
tive session was a hotel/motel
tax. When the meeting recon
vened after the executive ses
sion, the Board passed a 5%
hotel/motel tax for the unincor
porated areas of the county.
Following the regular meeting
and the executive session, the
Board held a work session to
discuss the budget
Reynolds Man Arrested
On Firearm Charges
According to Reynolds Police
Chief Lonnie J. Holder, on Dec.
lst, the Reynolds Police De
partment was dispatched to
105 S. Boundary St. by Central
911, in reference to a dispute
involving a gun being pointed
at people.
Once the Reynolds Police De
partment arrived, the gunman,
Draper Santell Woodard, a 41
year old male of Reynolds, had
left the scene. The victim
stated that an argument oc
curred, and Woodard pulled out
a gun, saying he would shoot
the victim in the face. Two
other people witnessed the in
cident.
The Reynolds Police Depart
ment launched an investiga
tion. Chief Holder was patrol
ling the north side of town and
observed Woodard at his
former residence. Woodard
was arrested without incident
and transported to the Taylor
County Jail. He was charged
w ith Aggravated Assault, Ter
roristic Threats and Acts, and
Possession of a Firearm by a
Convicted Felon.
City Of Butler
Holiday Trash Pickup
Christmas:
Trash will be normally scheduled this
week and the following week.
New Year’s Day:
Trash will be normally scheduled this
week and the following week.
Taylor County Board Of Assessors
Notification
Notice is hereby given that a member of the appraisal
staff will review and inspect properties which are the
subjects of an active building permit for changes and
improvements which have been made to the property.
Also, site visits and reviews will be made, if determined
needed, in all of Taylor County of residential, agricul
tural, and commercial properties to determine if im
provements have been made or verifications need to be
made in our data.
These appraisal reviews will include measuring struc
tures, listing construction information, and photograph
ing the subject property. The majority of these field
reviews will take place in the coming weeks, from the
hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Ap
praisal staff will be in a vehicle clearly marked Taylor
County Tax Assessors or GMASS Contractor/Appraiser.
For more information or concerns on this notification,
please contact the Assessors Office at (478) 862-3802 or
by email taylortax(?<pstel.net.