About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2017)
Page A10 Lake Oconee News G Friday, February 17,2017 Madison Continued from A1 a wholesale ban on PRDs in the historic district, the so-called Murray-Bell-Orr (MBO) amend ment, immediately after approv ing a different and contradictory process for approving PRDs in the area. During this meeting, Hodges voted for a two-tiered process for obtaining approval for PRDs that required certificates of appropriateness from the historic preservation commission before voting, in her words by mistake, for the PRD ban. Hodges then called a meeting on Dec. 22 to apologize for the confusion her actions caused in the communi ty, an action which only fueled further controversy among resi dents. As previously reported in this paper, the crux of the problem is that due to legislative actions taken in December, the city of Madison now has two contradic tory legal requirements in place, as both the MBO amendment and Hodges’ two-tiered approval process were both approved by the city council. In the meeting on Feb. 13, Hodges suggested holding future work sessions to resolve these contradictions. Mayor Fred Perriman began by stating that it remains “up to the Mayor and Council to decide what makes sense for the city of Madison.” Second district coun cilman Bobby Crawford, whose district includes much of historic Madison, then stressed that the council should aim to keep the interests of residents in mind: “All I’ve heard is opposition [to PRDs] ... we work for the people. Show me where it will be an asset and I’ll be all for it.” Hodges then spoke of the im portance of maintaining an open dialogue with city residents, expressing concern about the public perception of the council in light of recent developments: “Somehow we lost trust, and we need to rebuild it. We need consis tency going forward.” Some in the audience chortled at Hodges’ words, but controversy began in earnest when it seemed as though the council was about to issue a directive to staff to address PRDs in future meetings. Local attorney Elizabeth Bell stood up to object, saying that any direc tions to staff should be subject to public comment, and that it was unfair of the council to refuse to hear public comments even at this early stage. Bell pointed out that public involvement is important throughout the debate, as fighting legislation becomes much more difficult later on: “Once some thing is drafted, then it has legs.” She went on to criticize the council’s attempt to revive the subject: “It is unfair to the public to regurgitate this over and over again. Hundreds of people are opposed to this and don’t want it coming back.” When city manager David Nunn pointed out that council was merely proposing a town hall or some other sort of public forum to discuss the issue, Bell asked, ‘Why even have a dis cussion about things your constit uency doesn’t even want?” Mayor Perriman then halted public comment on the issue, which prompted Bell to file an objection on the grounds that she and her cohorts had been denied public comment. The council then turned its attention to other matters, but during the public comment segment of the meeting, debate reignited. Hickey stood up first to express his discontent with coun cil’s direction. “The motivation to even discuss PRDs in the histor ical district is suspect,” he said. “The proposal is at best insulting and at worst suggests an ulterior motive on the part of council members.” Hickey’s implication provoked the ire of third district council man Joe Diletto, who insisted that Hodges had simply made a mistake at previous meetings that council was now trying to resolve. Hodges also denied having dishonest intentions and stressed that she was for a rigorous two-step process for PRD approval, to which Hickey retorted, “That presupposes we even want PRDs.” It appeared as though the council and audience were in for another protracted back-and- forth, but Mayor Perriman halted public comment after Hickey’s statement and called the council to an executive work session. For now, the future of PRDs in Mad ison’s historic district remains unresolved. Katherine Klimt/Staff Elizabeth Bell voices her opposition to renewed debate over PRDs. Arrest Continued from A1 When the vehicles left Greene county, Wilson, Rutledge and Taliaferro County deputies con tinued the pursuit. The truck crossed into the median just past mile post 152 and slammed into the patrol car driven by Deputy Rutledge. The truck reversed course and headed west bound with Wilson the lead pursuit vehicle. The suspect then struck a Tali aferro County deputy’s patrol car and began to lose control, crossing the median and eastbound lanes of traffic before striking a tree. Wilson approached the wrecked vehicle with his service weapon drawn along with Rutledge. Rutledge was able to secure the driver’s right hand and ordered him out of the vehicle. The suspect was identified as Andrew Jeremy Bryant of Walton County. He was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, felony DUI, failure to maintain lane, improper lane change and reckless driving. Once Bryant was secured in the back of Wilson’s patrol car he thanked the deputies “for getting me off the road. I shouldn’t have been that stupid.” He also said he was heading from Good Hope to Myrtle Beach. When asked how many alco holic beverages he had consumed, Bryant said “about 30 beers,” the last one consumed just five minutes before his arrest. Bryant’s problems were about to get much worse. At about the time deputies were putting Bryant into the back of a patrol car, the murdered bodies of Charles and Betty Gattis were being discovered in a Walton County home during a wellness check. Bryant told deputies the truck he was driving belonged to his grandfather. Deputies also found ids belonging to Charles and Betty Gattis. After Bryant was cleared by St. Mary’s Good Samaritan hospital, Wilson learned that Bryant was possibly a murder suspect in Walton County. Bryant was later turned over to investigators from the Walton County Sheriffs Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman told Atlanta’s WSB, that Sheriff Joe Chapman Bryant had lived in the basement of his grandparents’ home for about a year after a divorce. He said deputies were called to the house by the Bryants’ son after he had a conversation with Andy, which made the son concerned for the grandparents. CHOOSING THE RIGHT REAL ESTATE AGENT Alyce Vining Realtor/Appraiser Any time you buy or sell real estate, choosing the right agent will be one of the most crucial decisions you make through the process. As independent contractors, each agent runs his/ her business completely differently and offers varying levels of services and expertise. It’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right agent for you. It is paramount to work with a local agent. Your agent should have extensive, current knowledge of the local market. An out-of- area agent simply doesn’t have the knowledge to ensure his/her client is making a sound purchase. And, if you’re selling, why would you not use a local expert who is best at selling the area? In addition, only members have access to the local MLS. Bet your out-of-area agent didn’t tell you that! Some agents utilize multiple MLSs. Some only use one. Ask about this, too, as it will have an impact on the exposure of your property. What is his/her experience in the local marketplace? Is your agent full-time and focused on real estate? Thriving, not just surviving, speaks volumes to the success he/she will have in reaching your goals. Experience doesn’t only involve time; the number of transactions is important for real situational experience. Negotiating is an essential skill in real estate sales and is developed through being involved in multiple and varying situations. The agent you have in your corner can make the difference in the sale price, the terms involved and how long your property is on the market. How extensive is his/hermarketing campaign for listings? Does he/she employ a professional photographer? Provide aerials and videos? What print publications are used and what are their distribution? What is your agent’s internet presence? Today, over 90% of Buyers search for property online. Your agent needs to have extensive internet and social media presence to ensure his/her listings are reaching the most potential Buyers. Perform your own search to see how strong your agent's present is and how his/her listings are represented. Not only do you want your property marketed with the broadest reach, but in the most professional manner. This will make a lasting impression with Buyers and make your property stand out among its competition. With what type of brokerage firm is your agent affiliated? Using a firm with global, national, and regional recognition is important, especially in our market, because they provide a broader reach to find potential Buyers and have access to an international network of cooperating agents who are currently working with Buyers. The independent companies simply cannot offer that kind of exposure, nor the abundance of marketing tools, extensive education, and support for their agents so they can provide the highest level of service to their Clients. Does the agent list and sell properties throughout your market or is he/she tied to a single community? This is an important question in our marketplace and one which is often overlooked. If you are selling your property, you want an agent who is going to do just that... sell YOUR specific property— not just the community. Which do you think that agent is more motivated to sell—yours or the company’s? If you are buying, you may think you want to live in a certain community, but how can you be sure if you do not compare? Working with an agent who can show you properties in all communities and educate you on the pros and cons of each, from a neutral position, ensures you leave no stone unturned when searching for your perfect property. Lastly, what is your agent’s reputation? Speak to past clients; ask people in your community. If you are uncomfortable going this far, look at online reviews. An agent has no control over what their past clients say about them online. Reviews will give you a good idea of the experience you can expect to have with that agent. Selling or purchasing real estate is a big deal. For most, it’s the largest investment they’ll make in their lifetime. That’s why it’s so important to carefully consider who will represent you through the process... after all, who you choose to work with in real estate makes all the difference! 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