Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 14, No. 29
Thursday, July 22, 2021
UPSON.
BEACON
Shining Light & Keeping Watch on Our Community
upsonbeacon.com
219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, Ga. 30286 • 706.646.2382
50 Cents
Commissioners Approve Millage Rate Reduction
IDA Director: Need Remains for Local Workers
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Commissioners voted
unanimously last week to
lower Upson County’s mil
lage rate from 8.6 to 8.28
following a recommenda
tion from County Manager
Jason Tinsley.
Tinsley said re-assess-
ment of property and new
construction in the county
both increased, accounting
for balanced growth of the
tax base and allowing the
rollback. The commission
is expected to set the mil
lage by the board’s Aug. 10
meeting, at which time
members could opt for an
even lower rate.
Commissioner James
Ellington reminded that
increasing homestead ex
emptions, either for eld
erly or across the board,
remains atop the board’s
priority list.
Tinsley noted that
there are multiple jobs
available to fill open posi
tions in the county, adding
to the need for workers at
businesses and industries
throughout the area.
“There are lots of jobs
and not enough workers,”
Industrial Development
Authority Executive Direc
tor Kyle Fletcher told com
missioners during a
presentation. Fletcher has
delivered the same mes-
County Millage, 5A
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Photo by Kinsley Riggins
Several county employees volunteered to serve food at the picnic, which is annually
prepared and cooked by members of the Upson County Sheriff's Office.
Upson County Hosts
Annual Employee Picnic
TPD Searching for
Burglary Suspect
Thomaston Police De
partment is currently investi
gating a commercial
burglary that occurred early
Sunday morning, according
to a TPD Release. TPD is ask
ing for information on the
identity of the pictured sub
ject at right. Anyone with in
formation can message the
PD Face book page or contact
Captain M. Snipes at 706-
647-5455 or msnipes@city-
ofthomaston.com.
Bikers Against
Abuse Leads to
TPD Investigation
By Debbie McClain
dlord@upsonbeacon.com
Thomaston Police Department is currently
investigating a non-profit organization called
Bikers Against Abuse International out of Grif
fin and its founder, Paul Michael Libri.
Libri posted a video on Bikers Against
Abuse’s Facebook page of an incident in Thom
aston where he allegedly came to “assist” law
enforcement with two teen female runaways
last week. That video and his actions in the
video are what spurred the investigation, ac-
BAA Investigation, 5A
County offices closed early on
Friday to provide employees and
their families time to enjoy the an
nual County Picnic at the Thomas-
ton-Upson Civic Center.
Although normally held at The
Rock Ranch, county employees were
able to enjoy the traditional lunch
and activities, such as the “Sweet
Stroll,” cornhole tournament, and
utilized the upgraded game room at
the civic center.
Raffle tickets and prizes were also
distributed at the picnic.
See additional Photos, 6B.
PD Chief Suggests
Addition of ‘Crime
Suppression Unit’
Focus on Drugs, Gang Activity
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Thomaston Police Chief Mike Richard
son proposed the addition of a local “crime
suppression unit” to Mayor J.D. Stallings
and members of the city council during a
work session last Friday.
Citing a rise in crime nationwide - and
in Thomaston - Chief Richardson said
funds for creation of a four-man special
ized unit will be part of his fiscal year 2022
budget request to council. The unit would
focus on drug and gang activity in problem
areas, according to Richardson, and would
be available for use in multiple roles.
“Crime and violent crime are on the rise
across the country. We are subject to that
in Thomaston and have seen it as well,
Richardson told council members. “Call
volumes have increased since the start of
the pandemic, causing our uniform patrol
division to be stretched thin.
“This has contributed to a general law
lessness and recklessness in some areas,”
he continued, “prompting numerous cit
izen complaints about loud music, drug ac
tivity, fighting, speeding through
Crime Suppression Unit, 5A
City Council Questions Quality
of Trash and Garbage Services
BOE Sets Lowered
Tentative Millage Rate
Resident Voices Concerns
During Public Participation
By Luke Haney
lhaney@upsonbeacon.com
The Thomaston-Upson
Board of Education met
last Tuesday and set the
tentative millage rate for
2021 at 13.21, lowering the
rate by 0.52 mills. Com
munity member Terrell
Jackson spoke on the state
of the national education
system during public par
ticipation.
During discussion of
the 2021 millage rate, Fi
nance Director Kathy Mat
thews verified that the new
millage rate ranks Upson
as one of the lowest rates,
not only in the Griffin
RESA District, but in the
State of Georgia.
The school system will
8 10499 02461 2
roll back the millage rate
from 13.73 in 2020 to
13.21 in 2021. With a gross
gigest of $812 million and
exemptions of $120 mil
lion, the 2021 net digest
increased to $692 million
from 2020, resulting in a
net tax dollar increase of
$280,221, according to
system officials.
Several board
members mentioned re
ceiving comments from
their constituents, compli
menting the millage rate.
Final adoption of the
new millage rate will take
place at the August board
meeting, according to
Matthews, who notes that
Upson County Tax Com
missioner Andy Chastain
will advertise a five-year
tax digest in the mean
time.
During public partici
pation, community
member Terrell Jackson
addressed the board, shar
ing his concerns for the
education system of the
country.
“I come as an advocate
for public education and
the students of Upson
County,” Jackson began.
“You all volunteered dur-
BOE, 6A
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Members of the Thom
aston City Council ques
tioned a representative of
GFL Environmental at
length during a work ses
sion last Friday, regarding
the quality of local garbage
and trash service.
District 3 councilman
Ryan Tucker said it is the
By Bridge Turner
bturner@upsonbeacon.com
Following a presenta
tion by engineers, county
commissioners voted
unanimously last week to
approve a “master plan”
for the Upson-owned por
tion of Sprewell Bluff Park.
Initial focus will be
placed on six elements: a
pavilion; expanded park
ing; additional trail devel
opment; a primitive
camping site; expansion of
recreational vehicle sites;
and demolition and recon
struction of bathroom fa
cilities.
Among options, engi
neers suggested moving
the guard shack, currently
top grievance among his
constituents.
“We have some serious
issues. If I get complaints
about something, it’s going
to be this, and it’s been in
creasing the last 90 days,”
Tucker told GFL’s Bobby
Cunningham. “The biggest
question is why it’s hap
pening, and when are we
going to fix it?”
Tucker said collection
located at The Trading
Post, closer to the edge of
the property. Visitors
would pay to enter nearer
to the property line and
would have access to park-
trucks are using the “claw”
to pick up large items of
yard waste, scattering
smaller pieces during the
process. Many times, rem
nants are blown or washed
into sewer drains, causing
localized flooding, he
added.
“In the past, [workers]
would rake up the smaller
trash and dispose of it
properly,” Tucker told
ing along the way, where
the park’s “million-dollar
views” could be enjoyed,
according to engineers.
County officials said
more specific breakdowns
Cunningham. “To be hon
est, I’m not pleased with
what we’ve seen. So what’s
the plan moving forward?
What can residents ex
pect?”
According to Cunning
ham, GFL has adjusted
routes to streamline the
pickup process and is add
ing extra trucks to the local
Trash Services, jA
of project cost should be
available to commis
sioners during the next
county work session, ten-
Sprewell Bluff, 6A
County Gives Nod to ‘Master Plan’ for Sprewell Bluff
Six Elements Highlighted for Initial Upgrade
Photo by Luke Haney
The Flint River, shown from the Sprewell Bluff Overlook Deck.
(0 Griffin Ob-Gyn
NOW SEEING PATIENTS IN THOMASTON
403 WEST MAIN STREET
TUESDAY-THURSDAY 8:30-4:30
CALL TO MAKE AN
APPOINTMENT TODAY:
(770)227.5505
(706)646.2888
Leigh Ann Story, CNV; Bryan Krepps, HO; Jim Dunaway, MD; Lou Hameli, MO; Holly Harrison, PA-C;
Nadine Nolting, CNH; Enid Lofters-Jones, MD; Megan Potter. MD; Katya Brickman. CNM; Ashley Johnson, PA