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Vol. 143, No. 41 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, November 29, 2023 - $1.00 Officials discuss pros and cons of hiring grant SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com On the surface, one might think a $711,117 COPS Hiring Grant sounds too good to pass up, but County Manager Merv Waldrop and As sistant Manager Adam Flakes warn the decision of whether to accept the grant money requires deeper analysis. During the November 14 meeting, the commissioners split on whether to accept the money awarded to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office. However, it is likely to come before the panel again. If accepted, the grant requires the BCSO to hire six new deputies and retain them for four years. The County would be obli gated to match $237,039 for the hrst three years of employment and then foot the entire bill for the fourth year. During the November meeting, Commissioner Tommy Nix suggest ed the county’s match could come out of the BCSO FY 2024 budget. He also suggested Sheriff Alfonzo Williams might agree to keep the department’s number of employees to a maximum of 140. However, as Waldrop pointed out recently, the BCSO is no longer under the county’s pay plan. The BCSO and the county’s cur rent arrangement presents a situation atypical of most County/Sheriff relationships. Simply put, in Burke County the BOC gives the sheriff a budgeted amount of money, but he is free to hire who he wants and pays them as he sees ht. Theoretically, he should promote, give raises and hire employees in a way that ensures he stays within the budget allotted to his department. However, the Sheriff has gone overbudget nearly every year since taking office in 2017. “The primary problem with go ing over budget the last few years is adding more and more employees,” Waldrop stated. The Sheriff has expressed many times publicly that the department is struggling with retaining officers. Possibly, the six new deputies hired now could ht into the budget after four years, rilling the vacancies of some who have left. However, de spite the Sheriff’s claims, the number of personnel continues to grow. In August 2021, the BCSO consisted of 120 positions. Now, they have close to 140. Hiring six more depu ties would put the department over Nix’s suggested maximum amount. There’s another dilemma attached to Nix’s recommendation. Flakes pointed out that a funding source must be determined for how the sher iff’s office would pay the additional $237,039 that is not accounted for in the department’s current budget. Additionally, the $237,039 does not include other expenses attached to the deputy positions, like overtime and vehicles. Realistically, the county would be looking at closer to $500,000 to employ the six new deputies even after the $700k grant, Flakes estimated. “They have to have SEE tasers and body cam- GRANT eras,” he pointed out. g Additionally, the grant EBASpariushuiito Sleds Chompiomllp guns SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Excitement is brewing as a win Friday, November 24, guaran teed the Edmund Burke Acad emy Spartans a spot in the State Championship game this week. The #1 ranked EBA defeated #5 ranked Southwest Georgia Academy 35-6 in the GIAA AA State Semifinals at Rogers Field. The win advances the Spartans to play for the State Championship at Mercer University Friday, De cember 1 against the Gatewood Gators from Eatonton. During the semifinals game, the Spartans overcame an early 6-0 deficit with a long offensive drive that saw Grant Mobley find Owen Redd for a 37- yard pass completion resulting in a first down and goal. Mobley scored the first Spartan touchdown on a 4-yard run. The Spartans scored on a short field on their next drive when Matthew Hood intercepted a Warrior pass and set up another Mobley touchdown run from nine yards out. The Spartans’ next score was set up on a 33- yard catch by Maddox Lee who jumped over a Warrior defender to hall in the pass from Mobley. Then, Mobley threw a short touchdown pass from nine yards out to Redd. The Spartans took a 21-6 halftime lead. However, the Spartans scored again early in the third quarter. The final Spartan touchdown came on a Redd interception returned 50 yards for the score. Many Spartans showcased their talents in the playoff vic tory. Mobley ran 20 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns, he also completed seven passes on nine attempts for 90 yards and one touchdown. Ay den Phillips rushed 10 times for 32 yards. Lee had one catch for 33 yards. Aden Hickman had one catch for five yards and eight tackles. Redd had five catches for 52 yards and one touchdown. He also added 10 tackles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions while returning one for a touchdown. Hood completed 13 tackles and one interception. Bray den Tindell made six tackles and two touchbacks on kickoffs. Connor Syms achieved eight tackles and one tackle for a loss. Kade McGill made 10 tackles. William EBA, Gelderman had seven 9 Power outage affects much of Waynesboro SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com A worn-out insulator at the top of a pole caused a disruption of electric service the day before Thanksgiving for many in Waynesboro According to a Georgia Power spokesperson, the power outage af fected a total of 678 customers and lasted about 75 minutes while crews replaced the equipment. During the process, Georgia Power isolated the issue, bringing the number of af fected customers down to 158 before completing the repair and restoring power to the remaining customers. However, while the outage was over for most people, KJs Market still found part of their building without power. Initially, only half of the lights came on and only two of the cash registers. The 12 large motors that power the refrigerated cases did not operate until about 10 p.m. Georgia Power had to return and repair a power line behind the grocery store, said Store Manager John Marsh. Despite the complication, the store held up pretty well and was able to put most of their products into the freezers. The biggest effect the out age had on the store was their sales. “We couldn’t sell anything out of the refrigerated cases because every time the doors would open it would warm up,” Marsh said. RUNOFF FOR WAYNESBORO MAYOR IS TUESDAY Early voting for the Waynesboro mayor runoff election ends Decem ber 1. Voters will choose between incumbent Bill Tinley or former councilman James Chick Jones. Tuesday, December 5 is Election Day. Voting will be held at the Burke County Office Park from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. There will be no voting at the historic courthouse that day. Outreach initiatives guarantee holiday feasts SHELLIE SMITLEY thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com Despite inflated food costs, Burke Countians did not have to go without Thanksgiving dinner. Around the county, there were a host of holiday options. The Concerned Citizens of Keysville gave away more than 50 turkeys and 10 hams November 19. Probate Judge Ashley Moore and Sheriff Candidate Lewis Blanchard hosted a turkey giveaway Tuesday, November 21 at the Waynesboro Judicial Center. They handed out ap proximately 250 turkeys and turkey breasts. Councilwoman Vickey Bates was on-hand to assist. Community members contributed to the success of the event by generously donating gift cards. All monies for the event came from the sponsors and those who chose to provide a gift card. "Today's event truly showcases the incredible unity within our com munity," remarked Lewis Blanchard. "It's an honor to see the kindness and compassion that exists within Burke County. I extend my deepest appreciation to everyone who lent their support, making this initiative possible." The Burke County Sheriff’s Of fice didn’t hold their annual turkey giveaway this year. Instead, they consulted with Burke County Public Schools, the Department of Family and Children Services, Department of Juvenile Justice and the WATCH Program, to identify families in need of Thanksgiving services. The meals were delivered to the families ’ homes by BCSO Community Services. No other information was available from Public Information Officer Clarissa Allen, however, a photo on the agency’s Facebook page No vember 22 showed the BCSO Com munity Outreach Team giving away 25 Thanksgiving meals prepared by Cracker Barrel restaurant. Waynesboro First Methodist Church offered the community a sit- down dinner with an abundance of food and dessert choices Thanksgiv ing Day. Patrons were also allowed to take home leftovers. Residents who didn’t attend missed out on what may have been the most flavorful, moist dressing ever prepared. SEE PHOTOS ON PAGE 10