About Fayette County news. (Fayetteville, GA) 2009-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2023)
INSIDE: Fayetteville Funeral Flome Partners with ‘SharkFank’featured Company, A3 INSIDE: Words from theY2K Mom, A5 INSIDE: Introducing the 2023 All-County Girls’ Athletes of theYear, Bl THE TRUTH SINCE 1886 FAYETTE COUNTY (1) NEWS f ay ett e-news, net Vol. 151, No. 26 Wednesday, June 28, 2023 $1.00 Drug Treatment Facility Definition Amendment Dominates Commission Meeting Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com What began as a public hearing for consideration of an ordinance to amend Fay ette County’s definition of a drug abuse treatment facil ity within the zoning ordi nance, led to emotional, tear-filled discussions by members of the county commission and public. During the June 22 commission meeting, staff presented a definition, which was approved by the planning commission, but staff recommended a re vised version, which reads as follows: “Drug abuse treatment facility means a halfway house, drug rehabilitation center, or facility for treat ment of drug dependency staffed by professional and/or paraprofessional persons offering treatment and/or therapeutic pro grams for drug-dependent persons who are housed on the premises for the course of treatment. A drug abuse treatment facility must also be approved and licensed by the Georgia Department of Community Health.” To begin public com ment on the hearing, At lanta attorney Adam Kaye addressed the board, in forming those in attendance that he is working to open a drug addiction treatment/detox center and asked the board to amend the definition to clarify that drug abuse treatment facil ities shall be permitted in any zoning districts that allow for care homes, sub ject to the same zoning con- See Treatment Facility, A6 Marine to Marshal: 94-Year-Old WWll Vet to lead PTC July 4 Parade Parade organizers named 94-year-old Marine veteran James “Jim” Rogers as Grand Marshal for the 2023 Peachtree City Fourth of July Parade. Rogers served in World War II, the Korean War, and multiple tours in Vietnam. During his service to the country, Rogers re ceived multiple medals including the World War II Victory medal, United Nations Service medal, and the Bronze Star. He is currently a Life Member of Peach tree City’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9949- “Jim’s fellow VFW members nominated him for this honor,” Parade Director Maria Puckett said. “We are thrilled at the opportu nity to honor him and his service to our coun- See July 4 Parade, A6 94-year-old WWll vet James "Jim Rogers will lead the 2023 Peachtree City Fourth of July Parade as Grand Marshal. Courtesy of Ben Bauman/VFW Post 9949 Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic Executive Director Geneva Weaver, left, and members of the clinic stand with Rick Ross, right, as he presents a check for more than $30,000. Submitted Rapper Rick Ross Donates $30K-Plus to Help Fayette Clinic Remain Open The following story was written by Wendy Corona and published by WSBTV and Channel 2 Action News on June 20: A Fayette County clinic has the funds to stay open, thanks to rapper and Fay ette County resident Rick Ross. Channel 2 Action News was there as he presented Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic with a check Monday. The rapper said he is glad he could help and looks forward to doing more. Leaders of the clinic got to personally thank Ross for his donation. “Thank you very much for your donation of the $30,179,” Geneva Weaver, executive director of Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic, told Ross. The clinic provides free care to people 18 and older in Fayette County and was in danger of closing because it did not have enough funds. Ross said he knows clinics like this one matter and was not going to let that happen. “A clinic like this means a lot to me. I lost my father at an early age, and I felt like one of the reasons I lost him so early is because of his lack of healthcare,” Ross said. The clinic is especially useful to those who don’t See Fayette Clinic, A6 FCN Office Closes July 3-4 The Fayette County Neivs office ivill be closed on Monday, July 3, through Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. The office ivill reopen for regular hours on Wed nesday, July 5. Commission Approves $135 Million FY 2024 Budget County Staff Receive 12.5% Raise, Manager Contract Extended 1 Year PTC Holds Second Budget Workshop Luke Haney Editor lhaney@upsonbeacon.com Commissioners held a second public hearing and subsequent unanimous ap proval of the $135 million Fiscal Year 2024 annual budget during the June 22 meeting, which includes a 12.5 percent raise for all county employees. Before voting on the budget, commissioners voted to extend the raise to County Administrator Steve Rapson, as well as extend his contract to December 2025, one ad ditional year. Contrary to other county staff positions, the county ad ministrator’s pay can only be set by commissioners. Commissioners included constitutional officers and 19 “shared” employees of the Griffin Judicial Circuit into those receiving the raise, but GJC employee raises will not become official until approval is given by commissioners of all counties within the circuit. Chairman Lee Hearn stated, “There are lots of good, important projects in this budget,” noting projects and upgrades including the recreation building, fire training facility, law enforce ment training facilities, and the election building. No comments from at tendees were made during the public hearing. In other news, commis sioners approved a contract renewal for water system chemicals to be provided by Brenntag Mid-South Inc., Chemtrade Chemicals US LLC, and Southern States Chemical for a total, not-to- exceed amount of $406,012. Chemicals noted within the contract include chlorine, sodium silica fluoride, alum, sodium hypochlorite, and sulfuric acid. Copper sulfite is not offered by any of the three providers, but county staff says funds are available for the copper sulfite, which will be purchased on an as- needed basis. Leah Banks Investigative Reporter leah@fayette-news.net On June 20, the City Council of Peachtree City held its second workshop to discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which was presented by City Man ager Bob Curnow, Assistant City Manager Justin Strick land, and City Finance Di rector Paul Salvatore. Beginning the presenta tion, Curnow highlighted the mission statement of the city and posed a question to the council: “Can we afford to own what we own?” Curnow noted three challenges the city is cur rently facing, including a “lean staff,” the absence of a formalized project manage ment program, and the need to develop a meaning ful facilities maintenance plan. “Additionally, we have a city of almost 65 years that’s starting to show its age and a significant decline in some of its infrastructure,” Cur now continued. Curnow passed the pres entation to Salvatore to dis cuss the numbers within the See PTC Budget, A6 State Court Interns Recognized at Commission Meeting At the start of the July 22 Fayette County Commission meeting, commissioners turned the floor over to Fayette County State Court Judge Jason Thompson for a recognition of summer interns at the local state court. Judge Thompson presented a video, created by the state court's summer interns, about their favorite parts of the internship. Following the video, interns received certificates from Judge Thomp son. Interns included high school interns Kelsey Miller and Charli Thompson, college interns Robby Klitten, Nathaneal Smith, Caleb New, Daija Piper, and Tani Alofe, and law school interns Bassem Amercani and Jocelyn Zhao. ^pg Haney/Fayette News INSIDE: FAYETTE VIEWS SPORTS A4 LEGALS 31 CLASSIFIEDS B2 SCHOOL NEWS B6 B6 CONTACT US: support@fayette-news.net - (770) 461-6317 - fayette-news.net We Look Forward To Seeing You Soon! 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