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144th YEAR, NO, 42 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY City of Reynolds, Georgia v. City Of Butler, Georgia... Butler’s Motion To Dismiss Is Granted According to the court order filed in the Superior Court of Taylor County, on Dec. 16, 2016, the City of Reynolds hired Monquavious Harvey as a police officer, Reynolds in curred $10,464 in training fees for Officer Harvey. On Oct. 30, 2017, Reynolds terminated Officer Harvey’s employment, for cause. Officer Harvey Was unemployed for approximately one week, before he was hired as a police officer for the City of Butler on Nov. 6, 2017. On Jan. 17, 2020, the City of Reynolds filed suit against the City of Butler for reimburse ment of Officer Harvey’s train ing expenses, based on O.C.G.A, § 35-8-22 and Officer Harvey's employment contract with the City of Rcynolds. The employment contract states, The City of Reynolds is “entitled to recoup a portion of said [training! costs in the event that Officer Harvey vol untarily terminates his employment...In the event Of ficer Harvey leaves City of Reynolds employment to go to another police agency in the State of Georgia during a pe riod of zero to 24 months after being hired, tbc reimburse ment shall be governed solely by the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 35-8-11." O.C.G.A. § 35-8-22 states, “Unless otherwise provided by an employment contract to the contrary, if the State of Geor gia or any county or municipal ity thereof employs a peace of ficer and said peace officer is hired by another agency within 15 months after completing mandated or formalized train ing requirements, then the to tal expense of training, includ ing salary paid during training, shall be reimbursed by the hir ing agency to the State of Geor gia or any county or municipal ity thereof which initially paid for such training,” On Feb, 20, 2020, the City of Butler filed its Answer and Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, arguing that “no reimburse ment is owed to Reynolds be cause Officer Harvey did not voluntarily terminate his em ployment with Reynolds and because Officer Harvey did not leave his employment with Reynolds to go to work for But ler." On July 22, 2021, the Court heard oral arguments in the case, and on Oct. 13, 2021. the Honorable Judge Bobby Peters, Superior Court Judge, granted Butler s Motion to Dismiss, and Reynolds’ Complaint was dis missed with prejudice. The Order reads, “Reynolds* Complaint fails to stale a claim upon which relief can be granted because Officer Harvey’s employment contract clearly states that no recoup ment of training expenses is allowed unless Officer Harvey voluntarily terminated or left his employment. Neither hap pened in this case. Instead, Officer Harvey was fired by Reynolds. The argument of Reynolds, the term “leaves” makes the reason for leaving irrelevant Just the fact that he is gone from their agency for any reason invokes their right of recovery. Htnvever, this ar gument is without merit.” “Further, the employment contract's attempted reliance on the statute does not work in this case because Officer Harvey did not leave his em ployment with Reynolds ‘to go to another agency.’ The undis puted facts show, Officer Harvey was fired by Reynolds, he was unemployed for ap proximately one week, and then he was hired by Butler...Thus, by its own terms, Reynolds’ employment contract does not allow reliance on O.C.G.A. § 35-8-22 in this case.” The Order notes, “While this may be a case of first impres sion in Georgia on the issue of reimbursement from a law en forcement agency which hires a police officer terminated for cause, this court also looks at the intent of the statute in question...The statute was not designed nor is it written to require a law enforcement agency hiring an officer w'ho w r as trained and terminated for cause by another agency to re imburse the agency which ter minated the officer for the costs of training upon hiring same. Any agency which terminates an officer for any reason does so with the knowledge they will lose their investment in that officer when he or she is termi nated, a unilateral decision which cannot be imputed to all law enforcement agencies which may hire said officer in the future within the 15 month window outlined in the law." The City of Reynolds has 30 days to appeal this ruling. School Board Works To Build Educational Partnerships Between Community And Schools By VALORI MOORE Editor The Taylor County Board of Education met last Monday night, for the regular monthly meeting, which was opened with the Invocation by Jamie Burgess, Deacon at Taylor Mill Baptist Church, Chattahoochee-Flint RESA Director Ricky McCorkle was present to discuss community engagement and building edu cational partnerships between the community and the schools. McCorkle emphasized using resources and getting the com munity involved with the schools. He provided tips for setting the culture in the school for happy students and teachers. These include developing a winning attitude, introducing students to state and local lead- On Oct. 11th, according to Reynolds Police Chief Lonnie J. Holder, Officer Danny Anthony, Jr. and Sgt. Vernon Humphrey w'ere dispatched by E911 to an address on Montague St. in Reynolds, in reference to a dis pute involving a gun. The incident was caused by read rage and occurred on GA Hwy. 96. The Reynolds Police Depart- ers, providing the best possible facilities, encouraging the com munity to buy into schools and activities, promoting and pub licizing schools weekly, and branding your name (making the school logo visible through out the community). Mr, McCorkle explained that positive community relation ships increase the graduation rate, test scores, extracurricu lar involvement, parental in volvement, business support, community support, volun teers, ownership, community unity, and community pride. In other business, last Mon day, Investigator D.J. Flores with the Dublin Police Depart ment and the Georgia Gang Association provided gang awareness training to the en tire school staff. This follows a community gang incident that ment launched an investiga tion and issued warrants for the arrest of Brandon Vershon Thomas, a 29 year old male of Reynolds, for Terroristic Threats, Reckless Conduct, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. Thomas turned himself in to the Taylor County Jail, without incident. occurred several weeks ago, involving several students* The incident did not occur at the school. Taylor County Alternative School Director Andrew' Britt has received an award from the Georgia Association of Alterna tive Education for his tireless efforts in alternative education. Mr, Britt lias been invited to the National Alternative Edu cation Conference in St. Louis, MO. This week, Oct. 18-22 is Na tional School Bus Safety Week. This year's theme is “1 Bus +- 1 Driver = Big Impact on Educa tion.” Local bus drivers were recognized during the meeting and are being honored during the week. School Superintendent Jenni fer Albritton asked the Board to consider a supplemental re tirement plan for bus drivers, lunchroom staff, and custodi ans through the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS), with a contribution toward the plan by the Board, The Board will consider the re quest and revisit the issue. The Board approved the con tinuation of work on the inter com system at the middle and high schools. This will lx? filed with insurance, since the prob lem is due to lightning. Also, Superintendent Albrit ton was authorized to use two federal grants (up to $45,000) to purchase a vehicle to trans port small groups of students (6-8 students) and conduct school business. One grant is for 831,067, and the other is for around $13,000. The Board amended the 2021 Board Training Plan to reflect training that was completed. Board members also approved the 2022 Board Training Plan and approved the 2021 Annual Training Report. Two policies were presented and tabled for a 30-day review period. Policy BCBK pertains to board members signing an affidavit at executive sessions, and Policy GAE deletes confus ing language in the policy gov erning complaints. Before going into executive session to discuss substitutes and personnel, Board Vice Chair Dr. Glenda Latimore re minded everyone that October is Breast Cancer Aw r areness Month. Superintendent Albritton ad vised that the system recently lost a beloved teacher, Mrs. Jeraldine Cooper. Mrs.Albrit- ton said, “She was a fixture at the schools. ..and she dedicated her life to this school system. She was an asset to the com munity and will be missed,” Reynolds Man Arrested For Burglary And Criminal Road Rage Leads To Arrest Of Reynolds Man Trespass According to Reynolds Police Chief Lonnie J, Holder, on Oct. 15th, he, Officer Danny An thony, Jr., Officer Jeffery Th ompson, and Sgt, Vernon Humphrey responded to 41 South Liberty Street, in refer ence to a burglary in progress. The caller provided a descrip tion of a male to E911, and Chief Holder identified the man, walking in the area. Sean Tyson Haynes, a 41 year old male of Reynolds, was taken into custody without in cident. He was transported to the Taylor County Jail and charged with Criminal Tres pass and Burglary, Chief Holder commends the officers for their quick re sponse, being proactive, and keeping the citizens of Reynolds safe. Join Us for our TCPS Annual Title 1 Meeting! Due to COVfD-19, Title I annual meeting will be held virtually. The purpose of this is to provide parents and other community stakeholders with an overview of the TCPS Title [ Program, the Parental Involvement Policy and the School-Parent Compact. October 19* -21 s1 Visit TCPS school website or TCPS Facebook Page for information. Butler Fire Department Receives Accolades From Standards & Training Council By VALORI MOORE Last Tuesday night, the But ler Mayor and City Council met for the October meeting, Butler Fire Coordinator Eddie Moulton advised that a site re view by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Coun cil (GFSTC) was recently con ducted, GFSTC Compliance and Evaluation Manager David Trussell noted, to Fire Chief David Windham, “You and your entire department are to be commended on their attention to detail, organization, and maintaining of the department's training records and documentation. Your sta tion and engine are compliant.,.Keep up the good work,” Fire Chief Windham thanked the Mayor and Council for their support. He said there are cur rently 20 members on the fire department roster. Fire Coor dinator Moulton reported that the Butler Fire Department responded to 21 calls in Sep tember. Public Works Director David Windham announced that the City has been awarded the 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for just over $1 million, for street, drainage, and housing revital ization in the Gloria St., Venus St., and Bell St. area. He thanked Grant Specialties for their help in acquiring the >See Butler Council on page 3 Change To Traverse Jury Service Traverse jurors summoned for Nov, Sth do not need to report until Nov. 29th, at 9:30 a.m. t at the Taylor County High School Auditorium. TCHS Annual Title I Meeting Please join Taylor County High School for the Annual Title I Meeting, October 21, 10:00 - 10:45 or 5:00 - 5:45. The meeting will be offered virtually. Please look for the link on the TCHS Facebook page and/or school website. SAVE THE DATE For more info: I78-8G2-9622 www.taylorccnxiliycofc.com NOVEMBER fit//. Free Admission 10 A.M.- 8 P.H. I I C n.'f. * < K1: If LH wiriuni* tf.i [*l, 3KKK HOTAIR BALLOON t'M IGI n 1 ijjjl Also*,* Arts & Crafts, Food Vendors, Parade, Live Music and Entertainment, and Lots More! :5Mf 5:10 MILE Goal to Raise $300 flGjusan G. Koi»|S^ Breast cancer Foundation Contact Chelsea McGhee mcqhee.chelsea@taylorboe.org