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About The Taylor County news and the Butler herald. (Butler, Ga.) 1962-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2024)
®he (Bmlat (Eauntu News ana ®hc Sutler Herald I ii\7 AT L 1 : ^ T07/J) » 147th YEAR, NO. 29 Your Newspaper Since 1876 (Publication Number USPS 534-720) THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES $1.00 PER COPY Fall Line Golf Club Offers To Work With Neighbors To Allay Concerns The Cotton Gin Cafe And Inn At Fort Wayne Is Chamber’s Business By VALOR I MOORE Editor The Taylor County Board of Commissioners usually does not meet in July; however, with so many items to be dis cussed, the monthly meeting was held on Thursday. July Uth, Mr. Anthony Gerke was in attendance to voice concerns about the impact of the Fall Line Golf Cluh on his prop erty, located nearby on Black Creek Trail. Gerke advised that his 170- ft. well was drilled in 2017, At that time, the well was pulling 15 gallons of water per minute. The golf course is constructing lakes and ponds, digging wells, and irrigating, which, Gerke says, is pulling an astronomical amount of water from the ground, and his well has gone dry. In ad dition, Gerke said the traffic is excessive, and he is also con cerned about sewer issues. Commission Chairman Mil- ton Harris asked Gerke what he expects the commission ers to do. He added that the County only issued a permit. Commissioner Randy Nel son noted that the golf course owns their property. Then, there w r as a discussion about pumping water and aquifers. Commissioner Nelson con cluded. "You have the liberty to do what you want to do on your property, and they have the liberty to do what they want on theirs.' 1 Commissioner Robert Pea cock clarified that the State is sues permits to dig wells. He asked County Attorney Eddie Davis if this is a civil matter. Attorney Davis addressed Gerke, "1 don't want you to feel like you’ve wasted your time, but if there is a dispute, it would be between you and the golf club. There’s nothing legally that the County can do. 1 ' Gerke responded, “It went from living in the country to like living in the city.,,It’s a huge commercial monstrosi ty-’’ Burt Guy, a representative with Fall Line Golf Club, was present and listened to Gerke’s concerns Me, Guy began by saying, ‘‘We will be good neighbors!" He said he will have the golf club’s engineers look at and test Gerke’s well. He con firmed that the golf club ob tains licenses for wells from the State of Georgia. Also, the club has monitoring wells that provide data on the fluctua tion of the water table, which recovers within tw r o hours from when water is pumped. Guy explained that there will be more traffic during con struction, but then, the traf fic w r ill drop off. He said. “We want it to stay beautiful Tay lor County/ 1 and reassured that the club is not building a bunch of houses. As lor sewer concerns, Guy said the $4.5 million sew r er system at the dub is not a spray application system, but rather, a drip release, after the sewage is treated. The system is heavily regulated by the Environmental Protection Division and monthly reports are sent to EPD. There is no odor. Also. Guy explained that the water table is sloped north to south, so the club would be polluting their own ground water, not Gerke’s, if it is not done correctly, Guy assured Mr, Gerke that he will meet with him to seek solutions to his concerns. Amber Swan, Planning and Zoning Director, reported for the P&Z Board, A condition al use application, by Michael Miller, for a life coaching re treat camp on 26.9 acres on J.W. Miller lid, was deferred for more information. Stephen -Jones with Perdue Foods applied for conditional use of 188,5 acres on William Woodall Farm Road in Mauk for auto mobile grazing, which is the modern way to raise chickens. The auto mobile grazing technique includes 50x150 ft. shade structures on >See Commissioners on p. 7 Butler Council Discusses Flock Cameras By VALOR 1 MOORE The Butler Mayor and City Council met last Tues day, July 9th for the regular monthly meeting. During the meeting. Coun cilman Jake Hopkins asked Police Chief Matt Woodard if the police department ever contacts the Reynolds Police Department about vehicles seen on the Flock cameras. Chief Woodard answered af firmatively. Council woman Deborah Wil liams asked if the Flock cam eras are productive? Chief Woodard said they are very effective for investigative pur poses and have many benefits, but they are costly. City Administrator Vicki Wain weight said the camer as would cost around $15,000 per year. The cost has already been researched. Chief Woodard will bring quotes and more information to the next meeting. Also, the Butler Police De partment participated in the Second Annual Going the Dis tance Motorcycle Ride Satur day. July 13th. Proceeds will be used to purchase school supplies. In other business, the Council accepted a bid in the amount of $151,222,75 from Robinson Paving Co. for the Local Main tenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) project. This project will resurface Peach, Plum, Hemlock, and Elm streets. The City’s portion of the LMIG is $64,000. The Council unanimously approved using $35,000 from the old street Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds, and the remainder will come from TSPLOST {Transporta tion SPLOST) funds. Mayor Pro tem Ed Guinn was absent for the vote. Fire Coordinator Eddie Moul ton advised that the Firefight er I class will conclude the first week of August. With no further business to discuss, the regular meeting adjourned, and the Mayor and Council went into executive session to discuss personnel. Of The Quarter The Cotton Gin Cafe and Inn at Fort Wayne in Reynolds has been named the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2024. The convenience store was opened by Wayne Me Invale in November 1994, while the Cotton Gin Cafe and Inn were still under constructioni They joined the Chamber about two years later. The Chamber appreciates the continued support of The Cotton Gin Cafe and Inn at Fort Wayne in the community and in the Chamber. Pictured is Deana Mdnvale with specialty products available at the conve- nience store. The store is also currently expanding to pro vide more space to continue serving the community. Traverse Jurors Drawn For August Athletic Fields At New 3-12 School To Be Bid By VALOR1 MOORE The Taylor County Board of Education held the regular monthly meeting last Mon day, July 8th. The meeting was opened with the Invoca tion by Joshua “Silverback Gorilla' Kelley. -Josh is a Dea con at Community Fellowship in Reynolds. Term Of Taylor County Superior Court According to Taylor County Clerk of Superior Court Lisa D. McDonald, traverse jurors have been drawn for the Au gust term of Taylor County Superior Court. Jurors are reminded that no purses or weapons are allowed in the cour thou sc/court mom. Also, all jurors are asked to contact the Clerk’s Office at (478) 862- 5594, with a working phone number, so you may be con tacted with any changes to your jury service. The following traverse jurors should report to the Taylor County Courthouse Court room on Aug. 12th, at 9:30 a.m,: Jason William Abies, II, Angela Ahnstcdt. Grego ry Tanner Allen, Mohamed Mohamed Alzanam. Brick Cooper Barnes, Michael Clint Barrow, Benjamin Michael Binkley, Columbus Monroe Bridges, Charles Fitzgerald Brown, Linda Bunklcv, Na talia Roman Burgess. Jeffrey (Hen Busbee, Sheryl Lynn Cameron. Thomas C. Carpen ter, Tonya Jean Carroll, An drew Joseph Chambers, Stacy Elaine Chatman, Ronald W. Clark, Jacqueline S. Climp- son, Steven Romez Colbert, Brenda Sue Corbin, Cynthia Dawn Coursey, Alice Marie Davis, Jay Allen Davis, Far ia ndri a Deann Dixon, Ricky Lindarius Dixon, Bobby Joe Edmonson, Trayvion Deunce Ellison, Janice Stacia Parker Ennis, Dudley Scott Eubanks. Maurkia Arianna Fletcher, Eric Brooks Fryer, Kay King Giles, Angela Waddell Goo din. Samantha Combs Gray, Brittany Nia Greene, Tammy Cenell Griffin, Brandon Cole Guy, Juanita Harrell Hand- ley. Dave Wilson Hardeman, Jr., Randall U. Harris, III, Quantavious Dona van Heath. Phyllis L, Herron. Richard Young Highs mith, Jr., Rob ert Neil Hinton, Ill. Hunt er Allen Holla day, Aneesha Tamara Howell, Quintavius Howell, Nancy Pauline Hud gens, Bradly Dylan Hutches on, Barry Cameron Hynson, Gary Clifford James, Kim berly Albritton Jarrell. Mar- tez Quidale Jenkins, Jeremy Luke Johnson, Scnquavius Johnson, Carol W. Johnstone, Dolphus Joiner, Jatyvin Kavid Kelley, Little Virginia M. Kel ley. Julia Annell Kordenbrock, Samantha Carol Lanier. Bet ty Jean Lawhorn, Cheyanna Makayla Lawson, Sabrina Renee Leggett. Wykevia M. Mahone, Amber Wainwright Manning, Katie La Dell May- field, James William Mims. Nicole S, Montgomery, Quin- titia Shanac Montgomery, Melissa Moore, Michael Hen ry Morin, Teres sa Demesne Morris, Brenda Moulton, and William Scott Murphy. Others are: Benice Nelson, Esther H. Nolt. William Dor- >See Traverse Jurors on p. 4 With the new 3-12 school completed and open, the Board is now working on ath letic fields. Bids for softball and track fields will go out in around 30 days. The Board is using a “hard' bid, rather than construction management bid, for better pricing. Harriet Felts and Linda Henry of the Golden Rule, an alcohol and drug treatment facility for women in Mauk, were present at the meeting. Harriet thanked the Board for giving the Golden Rule the opportunity to clean the pri mary school, since it opened. She said, “Sadly, we have to give it up.” The Golden Rule is downsizing, and there is no longer the manpower to clean the school on a regular basis. Harriet said this opportunity helped the girls at the Golden Rule to grow, Linda Henry added that the Golden Rule is a free program for ladies, and they received training while cleaning the school. Superintendent Jennifer Albritton said, “We appreciate all you’ve done over the years,” Superintendent Albritton also advised that HB 581 passed this year in the legisla tive session and will be voted on in the November election. HB 581 pertains to property taxes and will cap the amount an assessed property value can increase in the year. The cap will he based on the infla tion rate. She said this could have an impact on local gov ernments, A called meeting will be held to approve the General Ob ligation Bonds, Series 2024. The bonds have a face value of $5 million. There is a change in the PreK Grant, which is set by >See School Board on p. 5 Supervision Of Kids At Sporting Events Of The Taylor County School District The primary concern for children attending sporting events is their safety. These venues can be crowded with enthusiastic Ians, partici pants, and various personnel. Supervision helps to mitigate risks such as getting lost, wandering into restricted areas, or encountering strangers. A responsible adult ensures that children nav igate these environments safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents or unwanted incidents. For parents and guardians, ensuring their chil dren's safety during drop-off and pick-up times at athletic events is paramount. Effective imme diately, students can no longer be dropped off at ANY sporting events of the TCSD without adult supervision. Students of the TCSD or surround ing counties that, are in the 8th grade or lower will have to he accompanied by an adult 18 or older. The adult will have to enter the game with that child or children. If a child is not accompa nied by an adult, they will not enter the stadium, and the parents will be called to pick them up. Thank you for understanding. Captain I,. Ellison (TCSD) TAYLOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT www .toglorcountyschoQl j.org
