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WAYNESBORO, GEORGIA, o 04 ^3* ■'3- O 04 OJ 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 ’ 12 (/) LLI LLI X C/3 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.