Newspaper Page Text
Page 14 October 15, 2023 StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com
Carrollton mayor and council discuss pickle ball
court locations, mobile homes, golf cart accidents
story by Janice Daniel
The City of Carrollton Mayor and City
Council met Thursday, September 21st at 9:00
a.m. for their monthly work session.
There was one voting item: Budget
Amendments, FY23-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07,
08, 09, 10, and 11 and FY24-01, and 02. These
amendments were approved by council 3-0.
Other subjects discussed were as follows:
1. Community Mental Flealth Event
Tanner/Willowbrooke, presented by Lindsay
Allred, a nurse at Willowbrooke. The event is
called Climb Out of the Darkness, bringing
awareness to postpartum depression and other
maternal mental illnesses. The event: at Flobbs
Farm October 7,2023.
2. City Manager David Brooks updated the
mayor and council on proposed pickleball
courts. Fie said city staff are evaluating poten
tial locations that would require minimal site-
work and have available parking.
Council Member Bob Uglum stated that the
Mayor and Council do not yet know what
direction they want to take with the courts.
Council Member Brett Ledbetter said he would
prefer to move quickly on building the courts.
Mayor Betty Cason said that the city’s goal is to
meet the need for all citizens and she appreci
ates the residents of Longview Street letting
council know how much the park is already
used. She assured them, “We will look at all
options for locations for new courts.”
3. Community Development Director Erica
Studdard said Community Development staff
released an RFP for a Comprehensive Safety
Action Plan to develop a holistic, well-defined
strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and seri
ous injuries within the City of Carrollton. City
was awarded a $60,000 grant from DOT to go
towards the plan. Studdard said two proposals
were received and staff recommends that
Kimley Flom be awarded the project in the
amount of $71,500. Vote will be taken at the
regular mayor and council meeting.
4. Studdard also presented a request made
by West Georgia Flabitat for Flumanity to
amend the Tanyard Creek Subdivision
Residential Planned Development at 216 & 302
Avalon Drive, to allow for the installation of
two manufactured homes, and also advised the
mayor and council that Planning Commission
had voted to recommend denial of the request.
5. Brooks said that an RFP has been drafted
for the lot on Alabama Street and Flighway 27
that is owned by the city, and the deadline for
the proposals will be January 2, 2024.
6. Brooks gave an update on Oil Park, stat
ing that the city is still looking at potential prop
erty to purchase for greenspace in exchange for
the Oil Park property. Studdard advised that Oil
Park appraised for $380,000, and any land pur
chased for greenspace would have to have an
equal value.
7. Brooks showed renderings for the
Midtown Water Park renovations. Requests for
proposals should go out next month and con
struction should begin in early 2024.
8. Brooks stated that Leadership Georgia
participants will be touring Carrollton next
week on Thursday through Saturday, and 150 to
200 people are expected to be with the group as
they tour various locations in the City.
9. Brooks stated that there have been seri
ous injuries from golf cart accidents recently,
and the city is looking at possibly writing an
ordinance for mayor andcouncil to consider.
Police Chief Joel Richards will be sending out
letters and doing some social media posts to
make residents aware of laws pertaining to golf
carts. Brooks: “we want to be a golf cart friend
community, but need residents to follow the
laws to ensure safety for all.”
At this time mayor and council went into
executive session to discuss real estate or
peronnel, after which, there being no further
business, work session was adjourned.
Carrollton council tables decision for 30 days on
installation of two mobile homes in subdivision
story by Janice Daniel
Mayor and Council of the City of Carrollton
met for their Regular Monthly Meeting on
Monday, October 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. All
members were present.
Mayor Betty B. Cason gave the Oath of
Office to the five new members of the
Carrollton Youth Council: Mason Bass, Flenry
Carden, Deneli Amaya-Reyes, Kate Jackson
and Presley McLaren. Mayor reminded every
one that October 23rd through October 31 st is
Red Ribbon Week, fighting substance abuse in
school through education.
The mayor read a proclamation recognizing
the partnership between the City of Carrollton
and University of West Georgia (UWG). The
impact of the university, their contribution of
$633 million to the region’s economy during
the state’s 2022 fiscal year, and the pool of
labor provided by students who participate in
jobs and internships with many city businesses,
have a strong effect on the city’s economy. Dr.
Kelly, UWG president, mentioned the univer
sity’s move to Division 1 athletics this year.
UWG Day is October 21st, the day of the
University’s Flomecoming.
In the Zoning Session, Erica Studdard pre
sented the Site Plan Amendment of 216 and
302 Avalon Drive in the Tanyard Creek subdi
vision for applicant Habitat for Humanity.
Jennifer Shunn, executive director of Habitat
for Humanity, advised mayor and council that
Georgia Power and the Southern Company’s
Research and Development team had offered
to gift them two highly energy-efficient manu
factured (mobile) homes which they are asking
to place at the above addresses. The homes,
each valued at $170,000, will be sold to two
qualifying families at a cost of $108,000 with a
20-year no interest payment of $450.00 per
month. Shunn said, “This is what we call
affordable housing. These homes are for work
ing families of low to modest incomes ... a
way to help people achieve the American
dream.”
Austin Freeman of Clayton Homes, located
in Bowdon, Georgia, invited people to come by
and look at their manufactured homes to help
get rid of the “trailer” stigma so many people
still have. He reminded council that the aver
age home today costs $447,000 at 7.2% inter
est and a monthly payment of $3,500.00, and
that salaries are not keeping up with the high
cost of housing.
Curt Henley of Carrollton, a member of the
Habitat for Humanity Board, said he wanted to
reinforce the idea that these high quality,
energy efficient homes will be a better quality
than the homes around it. He thanked the coun
cil for the millage rollback that will help lower
income people pay their property taxes.
James Perch, the architect for Habitat for
Humanity emphasized that these houses are
manufactured in a clean, controlled environ
ment and are extremely energy efficient, state-
of-the-art homes.
Thomas Mills of 305 Avalon Street, across
See TWO MOBILE HOMES page 29
when nature strikes
"The President, Vice President, and all civil
Officers of the United States, shall be
removed from office on Impeachment for,
and Conviction of Treason, Bribery or other
High Crimes and Misdemeanors."
— Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution.
"The prosecution of them — will seldom
fail to agitate the passions of the whole
community, and to divide it into parties more
or less friendly or inimical to the accused."
— March 1788 Federalist Papers
"The Powers of the Senate Continued"
Alexander Hamilton
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