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WAYNESBORO, GEORGIA,
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Vol. 143, No. 45 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, December 27, 2023 - $1.00
BOC rejects $700k COPS grant again
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams ap
proached the Board of Commission
ers for a second time asking the panel
to accept a $711,171 grant aimed
at hiring six new deputies for three
years with a $237,039 match.
The grant would also require
the County to commit to footing
the entire salary bill during the six
deputies’ fourth year of employment.
Williams pointed out the Burke
County Sheriff’s Office was short
11 personnel Dec. 12, even after
hiring three more deputies since his
initial request for acceptance of the
COPS grant November 14. However,
that number likely changed since he
bred at least three deputies within
the last week.
“We have written to you in the last
few weeks to tell you about a huge
uptick in gang activity,” he said. “I
am sounding the alarm that this is
not the time to turn down $711,000
to put more officers on the street.”
However, Commissioner Evans
Martin sounded his own warning.
“When we start talking about
budget and sounding the alarm, we
are sounding the alarm now that just
with the employees you have now,
if you don’t add another employee
after today,.. .between $778,200 and
$1,053,800 right now is what you
are going to go over just in salaries.”
Martin said the BCSO did not
figure overtime, increased insur
ance premiums and cost of living
adjustment when
calculating the
County’s portion B0C REJECTS ’
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The Sheriff and many BCSO personnel attended the BOC meeting
December 12
SHELLIE SMITLEY
Five- year-old r?a@ann and her 3-year-old sister
Sawyer Kate Joined their 7- yecr-oid neighbor
Kellyn for a photo during the Christmas on Liberty
Square event December l.
County’s vote puts new
solar farm plans on hold
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Burke County Board of
Commissioners voted unanimously
last month to adopt a resolution that
places a 90-day moratorium on the
issuance of building permits for the
construction of solar farm projects.
In November, the Planning
Commission conducted a work
session to discuss the current solar
energy farm ordinance. Member
Lee Webster pointed out he has
received complaints regarding the
unsightliness of current projects. He
also questioned the panel about the
plans for existing solar farms after
they are no longer viable.
Currently, the County’s ordinance
only mandates buffer zones after a
project is completed, and does not
address construction phases. County
Attorney Adam Nelson commented
that Burke County’s ordinance
is one of the most expansive in
comparison to surrounding counties.
He recommended the commission
consider creating a special zone
for solar energy farms, requiring
an annual compliance report and
recommending a possible limit on
what percentage of land might be
allowed for solar energy production.
Further discussion included the
possibility of requiring a bond for
property clean-up purposes if an
owner or lessee are unable to remove
the project at its conclusion.
He Board of Commissioners
approved a 90-day moratorium
December 12, giving the Planning
Commission some time to readdress
the current ordinance.
Waynesboro approves natural
gas appliance program
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Waynesboro City Council
approved the Main Street On-Bill
Finance Program, designed to assist
residential homeowners in securing
loans to purchase and install natural
gas appliances.
Homeowners who have good
utility payment histories, may be
eligible to borrow up to $7,500
toward gas appliances and then
have the payments tacked onto
their monthly bills for up to 60
months, along with a $3 per month
administrative fee. Property owners
may receive the loans on up to three
residential rental properties for a
total of $22,500.
The program is facilitated through
the Municipal Gas Authority of
Georgia. Customers interested in
the program will apply with the City
of Waynesboro. If an application is
approved, contractors will complete
the work and the city will pay
them. Municipal Gas Authority will
reimburse Waynesboro and then
the city will tack on the payments
due from the customers’ monthly
bills. The City will then reimburse
Municipal Gas Authority.
Choir masters debut
performance
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The newly formed Keysville
Children’s Choir quickly rose to the
occasion, with a short-notice per
formance that inspired a traditional
holiday spirit.
The children’s ensemble, orga
nized and sponsored by the Con
cerned Citizens of Keysville, gath
ered for their first practice Thurs
day, December 7 with the goal of
performing during the Keysville
Christmas dinner, scheduled just one
week later.
President James Neely said the
choir gives area kids a way to stay
engaged, particularly during breaks
from their school schedules. He
hopes the choir will support future
city-wide festivals and events with
public performances. The choir
gives the children the opportunity
to participate in a safe activity that
promotes unity, he said.
Twelve children between the ages
of 6 and 12 years old, showed up
for the first rehearsal, however 25
children up to the age 17 have shown
interest. Neely, along with Sheryl
Harden and the Junior Concerned
Citizen of Keysville President An
drea Birt chaperone the practices.
Alton West is the director of the
choir. There is no cost to the children
to participate.
The Keysville Children’s Choir
got off to a good start, Friday, De
cember 15 with a performance that
included Gospel Christmas pieces
“When was Jesus Bom” and “Wasn’t
that a Mighty Day.”
The Keysville Children’s Choir performed during a Christmas dinner at
the Charles Walker Building December 15. It was the choir’s first public
performance.