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About The Taylor County news and the Butler herald. (Butler, Ga.) 1962-current | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2024)
The Caulor County Neus and The Butler Herald "Your Newspaper Since 1876” (Publication Number USPS 534-720) 147th YEAR, NO. 30 THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES $1.00 PER COPY CITY OF REYNOLDS Georgia Recovery Campus Donates Tesla To RPD Georgia Recovery Campus celebrated its first anniver sary Friday, July 19th, with a community luncheon at the Reynolds Police Depart ment/Armory. Following lunch, a 2023 Tesla Model 3, which was donated to the police department by Georgia Recovery Campus, was unveiled. The elec tric vehicle will be used for training and at the schools. Georgia Recovery Campus See Tesla on page 6 • M Traffic Stops In Reynolds Lead To Felony Drug Arrests On July 16th, around 10:53 a.m., Reynolds Police Sgt. Brad Harrell was on patrol in Reynolds when he observed a red Dodge Journey with an ex pired tag. A traffic stop was conducted, and during the investigation, probable cause was developed to search the vehicle. The search led to the discovery of 462.6 grams (about 16.5 ounces) of mari juana and edibles. Sean Covington-Yancey, a 33 year old of Columbus, GA, was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of Marijua na, Possession of Drug Relat ed Objects, and Expired Reg istration. While patrolling, Sgt. Har rell also observed a vehicle speeding, 84 mph in a 45 mph zone, and conducted a traffic stop. While speaking with the >See Arrests on page 8 Fate Of Retail Consumption Of Distilled Spirits In Reynolds To Be Determined By Voters In November General Election By VALORI MOORE Editor Last Monday night, July 15th, the Reynolds Mayor and City Council held the monthly work session and city council meeting. Before the regular meeting began, the Council voted to in vite City Attorney Brian Cau sey to the meeting. Package sales of distilled spirits are already allowed in the City, but retail consump tion of distilled spirits is not legal in the City. During the work session, there was a dis cussion about calling for ref erendum to allow retail con sumption of distilled spirits in the City. In the regular meeting. Councilman Eddy Couch stat ed, "For the betterment of the City, I make a motion to put the referendum on the Novem ber ballot." Councilwoman Timishea Price seconded the motion. At the vote, Coun cil members Eddy Couch, Brandon Hunter, Timishea Price, and Hannah Sloan voted “yes," and Councilmen Tommy Beeland and Danny Peed voted "no." The motion passed, and the referendum will be placed on the Novem ber ballot. If passed by voters, the referendum will authorize the City to issue licenses to provide retail consumption of distilled spirits. Mayor Fred Waller not ¬ ed. “We are putting it in the hands of the citizens." Councilman Hunter said, "It’s budget time!" As a mem ber of the finance committee, Hunter noted that the budget has been studied extensive ly, adding that it is tight, but there are some positive things. He said the finance committee is looking for ways to cut, but there is not a lot to cut. Coun cilman Danny Peed, who is also on the Finance Commit tee, reminded that there are some cuts to the City’s income, as well. He said the proposed- budget needs to be approved, so hearings can be held. Included in the budget are raises for nine full-time city employees, in all depart ments. This does not include part-time employees or em ployees who are still in the probationary period of their employment. Hunter said this was done with great thought. Budget hearings will be held Tuesday, July 30th, at 11 a.m., and Thursday, Aug. 1st, at 6 p.m. Both hearings will be at the Depot, and the bud get is expected to be adopted at the next regular meeting on Aug. 19th. Also, the Council unanimous ly voted to accept a 2023 Tesla, donated to the Reynolds Police Department by the Georgia Recovery Campus. The Tesla will be used for transportation to training and at the schools. Police Chief Lonnie Holder in vited the Mayor and Council to the Georgia Recovery Cam pus' first anniversary celebra tion on Friday, Aug. 3rd, at 12 p.m., at the Armory, for the unveiling of the Tesla. The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting is scheduled for Fri day, Nov. 29th, at 6 p.m., at the gazebo. The Annual Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 7th, at 10 a.m. Councilwoman Hannah Sloan thanked Celeste Slaton and Gene Brunson of Georgia Farm Bureau, as well as Gina Summers, for their work on the butterfly garden at Reyn olds Community Library. Georgia Farm Bureau is pur chasing the plants that will be planted each quarter, so that the garden will become an offi cial Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Garden. Reynolds Fire Chief Sam McCrary reported that the Reynolds Fire Department re sponded to three calls during the past month: a power line issue, a false alarm, and a 2-car wreck with no injuries. He advised that one firefight ¬ er will complete training in about a month. Also, on Aug. 3rd. from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., the Po lice Department will hold a Community Day at the Ar- mory. Bookbags and school supplies will be issued. Chief Holder was scheduled to be a speaker at the Chiefs Conference on July 23rd. He was to speak on state accred itation and the new 6-month police academy. Public Works Director Scott Jones announced that there was no asbestos detected in the water in the latest test ing. Also, aerial mosquito spray ing has been done twice and is working well. The original quote was for $680 per month (for two sprays), but the City was invoiced for $500. Jones said the Georgia De partment of Transportation held an update meeting on the replacement of the bridges on Hwy. 128, north of Reynolds. He said the new bridges will be built next to the existing bridges, so the bridges will remain open during construc tion. The replacement project is expected to begin in 2027. Taylor County Commissioner Tameka Harris was present at the meeting. She advised that, in July, the Commission ers took responsibility for the recreation department and the Cities of Butler and Reyn olds are no longer asked to contribute to the county recre ation department. She asked if the City has any plans for the recreation money, which is around $10,000. The Council did not know that the County had taken re sponsibility for the recreation department and was no longer asking for the money, so no plans are in place. Public Works Director Jones said, “We already have recre ation plans and no money, so the money could go to that.” At this time, Councilman Couch asked if some of the rec reation games could be played in Reynolds. Councilman Hunter replied that the Recre ation Board tries to keep the games in a central location. Couch then asked if the funds could be used for transporta tion for practices/games, and Councilwoman Price noted that the County has not main tained the recreation field on Louisiana Court. Commissioner Harris said the County is trying to put some things in place for the Coun ty to help with equipment and uniforms, since there are many who can’t participate in recreation due to the cost. Dawn Kinsey-Ogburn ad dressed the Mayor and Coun cil concerning street repairs. She said the streets on the north side of the railroad tracks are in dire need of re pair. She asked if there is a road development plan, if money is allocated for street repairs, and if the City is eli gible for Community Develop ment Block Grants (CDBGs). Public Works Director Jones replied that the last (2019) CDBG project was a storm water project that was just finished. He said the City has applied for a CDBG for a paving and drainage project on N. Macon St., Morris St., and N. Collins St. This is a $1 million dollar grant, with a $60,000 match for the City, The City is waiting to see if this grant is awarded. Jones said the City is also applying for a Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) from GDOT, in the amount of $25,000. Ms. Kinsey-Ogburn asked for a committee to be formed to address street repairs and drainage issues. Mayor Waller replied, “We are at the mercy of the federal govern ment. I would like you to form a committee.” Ms. Kinsey-Ogburn said she will form the committee, but needs guidelines. She will re turn to the September meeting. Melinda Mathis Howell also addressed the Mayor and Council. She asked what con stitutes being in the City Lim it for tax purposes? Attorney Causey replied, “It’s the City Limit.” Then, Ms. Howell asked if it is possible for one person to consume 9.000 gal lons of water in a month? She said her mother is billed for 9.000 gallons of water every five to six months. She said there are no leaks, and she wants to understand. She will follow up at the next meeting. To conclude the meeting, Councilwoman Price ad dressed the Council. The presentation was titled “Mul tiversed, Multidimensional Class Action” on the agenda. Councilwoman Price voiced the following grievances: Dis criminatory hiring practic es for not hiring her son and nephew for summer employ ment, which she said violates O.C.G.A. 20-1-11 and 45-19- 29; The City moving a water meter for one citizen, but not for another; The City refusing to allow a citizen to be placed on the agenda for a recurring complaint; The good ol‘ boys hiring system, which she says operates in the City, in viola tion of O.C.G.A. 50-5-67; and the City failing to seek a solu tion for flooding for a family that has been asking for over a decade. Councilwoman Price ended, "I’m looking through the same lenses as the rest of the Afri can American Community, the same services that are rendered to the one side of the tracks that are not rendered to the other side. I'm sure the other people at the table will act like they don’t know, but I digress.” With no further business to discuss, the meeting ad journed. TAYLOR COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM TAYLOR COUNTY 3-12 SCHOOL 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM www.taylorcountyschools.org PLEASE JOIN US! Manage Your Utility Account Your way! GEORGIA Website Visit our web portal below or scan the QR Code to the left of it Phone or Text Message Call 1-888-653-4950and follow the prompts •Select option 4 to enroll for text payments, or enroll online* App Download our utility billing app to your smart device by scanning the QR Code below Try one of these convenient options today! No matter how you like to take care of business, City of Butler has a solution for you! You cin minage your account by: AppStore
