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WATERS
LEADING
THE WAY
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• MILLEN • PERKINS • RED HILL • SCARBORO • BUTTS • EMMALANE • THRIFT • BIRDSVILLE • FOUR POINTS •
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Vol l No 27 September 6, 2023 Quality News That Affects You Millen, Georgia $1.25
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
ntv
Services has officially withdrawn its application for the
construction of a new solid waste handling facility in
Jenkins County. The decision was announced by Ben
Wall, the owner of Atlantic Waste Services, in a
recent interview.
"We value the relationships we have made
with Jenkins County and our neighbors. I ,
decided the best course of action was to 1
withdraw the application," said Mr. Wall,
expressing a desire to maintain positive
relations with the local community.
The controversy surrounding the
proposed landfill had been brewing
since July, with both residents ana
county commissioners engaging in
heated discussions. The core of the
issue revolved around a revised Solid
Waste Management Plan, which had
reignited debates surrounding a plan
dating back to 1990.
A pivotal moment occurred on July 18
during a county commissioners meeting,
where tensions ran high as residents
and officials clashed over the potential
expansion of the construction and demolition
landfill into a solid waste landfill. In response,
concerned citizens convened at The Bam on July
25 to strategize on how to block Atlantic Waste's
expansion plans.
One of tne primary concerns raised by citizens was the
potential negative impact on the county's future growth and the
hazards it could pose to future generations. In an effort to address
these concerns and explain the potential benefits to the
community, Ben Wall hosted two public forums. However,
both events saw limited attendance from residents. The
Jenkins County Times even made live video coverage
available to ensure transparency in presenting both
sides of the debate.
As tensions simmered, citizens gathered
at the Jenkins County Courthouse for the
August meeting of the county commissioners,
where both proponents and opponents of
the landfill project engaged in a spirited
debate. Ben Wall, who was present at
the meeting, reiterated his willingness to
engage in discussions with his neighbors
and emphasized that, as a property owner
in the county, he too was impacted by the
outcome of the decision.
Finally, on September 1, Grady Saxon,
County Administrator, officially received
notice from Atlantic Waste that their
application for the new solid waste landfill
was being withdrawn.
The withdrawal of the application marks
a significant development in this ongoing
saga, leaving the residents of Jenkins County to
contemplate the future of solid waste management in
the community. It remains to be seen what alternative
solutions will be proposed and whether the county can find
common ground on this pressing issue.
City Council Initiates
Special Election to Fill
Vacant District 1 Seat
Council collectively sought the engagement
of the City's Election Superintendent,
Wanda P. Burke. In the spirit of preserving
the democratic integrity of District l's
representation, Burke has been requested
to initiate the process for a special election
to fill the now-vacant seat.
A Path Forward: Special Election
The adopted resolution underscores the
Council's commitment to upholding the
principles of fair representation and civic
engagement. With the calling of a special
election, the citizens of District 1 will have
the opportunity to voice their preferences
and contribute to the selection of their
new representative on November 7, 2023,
during the general election. The qualifying
period has been scheduled for September
18-20 from 8:30 - 4:30 and ending on the
20th at noon. This exercise in participatory
democracy is expected to invigorate
Millen's local „ , _
1V . . See COUNCIL page 7
political scene
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
Millen - In
response to the recent
qualification of former
Council Member Dr.
Giovanni R. Shumake
as a mayoral candidate
for the city, the Millen
City Council convened
a specially called
meeting on Tuesday,
August 29th. During
the meeting, a pivotal
resolution was adopted
to address the resulting
vacancy in District 1 of
the City Council.
Mayoral Aspirations
Lead to Council Vacancy:
The dynamics of Millen's local
governance took an intriguing turn when
Dr. Giovanni R. Shumake, a Council
Member of District 1, formally declared his
intention to vie for the esteemed position of
Mayor of the City. Shumake's qualification
as a mayoral candidate, a milestone reached
on Friday, August 25th, prompted the City
Council to take immediate action.
Resolution Drafted and Approved:
City Attorney Hubert Reeves assumed
the responsibility of drafting the resolution,
tailored to navigate the city's response to
the unique situation. The City Council
members, recognizing the significance
of addressing the void left by Shumake's
mayoral campaign, swiftly approved the
resolution during the specially called
meeting.
Contained within the resolution is the
assertion that both the Mayor and the
Jenkins County School
System Sets Millage Rate
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
Jenkins County - After a series
of public hearings and concerns
from residents, the Jenkins County
Board of Education announced
last week to set the millage rate
to 14 mills. This decision comes
as a response to property value
reassessment and state legal
requirements, raising concerns
among residents and educational
stakeholders.
As reported in the August
8, 2023 issue of the Times, the
suggested rollback millage rate
due to the property value reassessment was
calculated at 13.259 mills. The intention
behind this figure was to offset the impact
of rising property values on local residents.
However, this rate falls short of the
minimum equivalent millage rate mandated
by Georgia law.
Under OCGA 20-2-165, school systems
in Georgia are required to maintain a
minimum equivalent millage rate of 14 mills
for maintenance and operations property
tax to secure Equalization Funding from
the state. This funding plays a crucial role
in the financial stability of school systems
and ensures equitable access to resources.
Failure to meet this legal requirement
could have significant consequences for
the Jenkins County School System. Since
2018, the system has received over $2.8
million in Equalization Funds, which
are an integral part of the state funding
formula for schools. Losing this critical
funding could result in an annual shortfall
of nearly $600,000 for the school system.
Such a financial setback would potentially
impact educational programs and resources
provided to students.
To comply with the legal obligations and
secure Equalization Funding, the Jenkins
County Board of Education has devised
a plan to roll back the millage rate to 14
mills. While this rate represents the lowest
millage rate set by the Board of Education
since 2014, it will still lead to a modest tax
increase for local residents.
For instance, homeowners with an
average property fair market value of
$125,000 can anticipate an increase of
approximately $56 in the school tax portion
of their property tax bill. While this increase
may not be substantial for individual
residents, it will collectively contribute to
bridging the financial gap required to meet
the state's minimum millage rate and secure
vital Equalization Funding.
The decision to raise the millage rate has
sparked discussions within the community,
with some residents expressing concerns
about the financial burden on taxpayers.
On the other hand, supporters argue that
maintaining the minimum millage rate is
essential to ensure the continued provision
of quality education in Jenkins County.
What is a millage rate?
The mill rate is the amount of tax
payable per dollar of the assessed value of
a property. The mill rate is based on "mills."
It is a figure that represents the amount per
$ 1,000 of the assessed value of the property,
which is used to calculate the amount of
property tax.
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