The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current, January 27, 2022, Image 1

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The Georgia post., January 27, 2022, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextIssue 4 Thursday, JANUARY 27, 2022 1 Section 10 Pages, 2 Inserts One Dollar The Voice of Crawford County Since 1921 also serving Byron and Peach County CC Fire Department to get second truck BY KATELYN JENNINGS The Georgia Post United States Daughters of 1812’s Georgia Society President, Becky West, made an appearance in front of the Crawford County Commissioners last week to discuss the improvements to the Benjamin Hawkins gravesite. The burial site will be getting a new 20x20 fence, along with a gate and new plaque. West mentioned needing the county to remove the chainlink fence that is currently there, but they are not requesting any money to fund this project. The association is han dling all the details, and will host a ceremony on April 23rd at 2 pm. Com missioners voted and approved for the improvements to be completed. County Manager, Fabian Hollis, made sever announcements that in cluded Crawford County Fire Depart ment getting another firetruck. There were enough funds remaining after purchasing the first firetruck, along with the donation received from Olin, for Chief Pate to purchase a second firetruck. It was also stated three fire fighter grants were applied for, which included a grant for new turnout gear, SCBA’s, and a firetruck. A Safer Grant was applied for as well to pay the sal ary for an assistant fire chief for three years, part time or full time, then after the three years the county would have to cover the salary. Redistricting was discussed again during the meeting to review the updated map. At the last meeting, Commissioner Dale Jump requested the line be redrawn for his district. After the changes were made, the map was presented to the Board for a vote. Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve, with Commissioner Justin Spillers being opposed, the latest map Com missioner Jump had adjusted. This map will now go to State Rep. Robert Dickey and Legislators to be voted on. LMIG paving recommendations were considered, with the Rumph Road al ready being first in line to be complet ed in 2023. Several roads were rec ommended by the Roads Dept., which were Collins Road, Zenith Mill Road, Whitaker Road, and the remaining part of Union Church Road. Commis sioner Justin Spillers mentioned Row ell Road, Commissioner Omar Dickey mentioned Tribble Road, Rowland Road was mentioned by Commission er John Thomas, and Whitaker Road mentioned by Commissioner Jackie McCowen. No roads were decided on yet, and they will discuss this topic further at a later date. The TBS Contract for the Tax Asses sor Office was voted on and approved by the Board. This contract allows for a third party to come assess proper ties and businesses to update the tax records, since there is not a qualified person within the tax assessors office. The Community Action Agency Water Assistance Program through DFACS was presented to the Board by Hollis. This program would allow seniors, low income households, and people with financial troubles to apply for assistance on their power bill. The applications would go through DFACS to be approved, then the funds would go to the county’s General Fund account to be applied to the resident’s account. The county would act as a vendor for DFACS. The Board voted to approve unanimously. CBDG Grant projects for 2022-2023 were considered. A new project will need to be selected, the project would have to benefit low to moderate in come residents. Hollis mentioned do ing a Youth Center at the Recreation Department, where the current county shop is located. The county shop will be moving to Jackson Road where the inert landfill is within the next year, so that space will become available. There will be a 10-30% county match on funds for whichever project is se lected. This topic will be discussed and voted on at a later date. The Board then went into a closed executive session to discuss litiga tion. Locals to be treated to national camellia convention Massee Lane Gardens and the Middle Georgia Camellia Society will be the host for the 2022 American Camellia Soci ety National Convention Show in February. The convention was to be held in Florida, but they canceled the location about six months ago putting Massey Lane in the running. According to Sandee Khoury, the team was able to put everything to gether in just six months that usually takes two years to prepare. The Middle Georgia Camellia Society is excited to have the event locally and has worked hard to provide a wonderful experience for all visitors and exhibitors from all over the world. The national conven tion will bring people from all over the world to the Fort Valley area. Garden tours, music history tour and sight seeing of downtown Macon will be part of the itinerary for the conven tion. The convention will run February 23 - 27th with the ACS/MGCS National Camellia Show at Massee Lane Gardens and sponsored by Flint Energies. The camel lia show will include a presentation on the Origin of Massee Lane, A Camellia Waxing Work shop, and self-guided tours of Massee Lane Gardens with a lunch buffet at Massee Lane Gardens. Here are some of the ex citing events happening at the national conven tion for visitors: • President’s Recep tion, Lois & Leon Silver Camellia Center, Massee Lane Gardens, Thurs day, Feb. 24, 2022. The President’s Reception will be held at the newly constructed Lois & Leon Silver Camellia Center at Massee Lane Gardens. The Middle Georgia Camellia Society will be providing the food and beverage. You will also get to see the many camellias blooming at Massee Lane Gardens! • Plant Auction & this year Fellowship BBQ, Li brary Ballroom, Macon, Georgia, Friday, Feb.25, 2022. Several hard to find varieties will be auctioned at the dinner event. A Camellia seed ling will also be available for bids. The winner can register the plant through the American Camellia Society with a name of their choice. A list of available plants for auction will be posted on the ACS website. • Private Step-on Music History Riding Tour, Macon, Georgia. • Sam M. Wellborn Camellia Garden, Colum bus Botanical Gardens, Columbus Georgia. • The Camellia Garden Old Town, Columbus, Georgia. • Massee Lane Gardens, Fort Valley, Georgia. The public will be able to view on Sunday, Feb ruary 27th from 1 - 4:30 p.m. If you plan to regis ter your camellia for the national convention, visit their website at https:// www.americancamellias. com. Post is business of quarter Celebrating the centennial of our hometown newspaper, The Georgia Post, there is over 100 years of history recorded in the pages of newsprint spanning those 100 years. Owners have been laughed at, cheered, admired and often times compliment ed on the production of the weekly news presentation for the century in operation. Victoria Simmons and her employees Kristie Watkins and Katelyn Jennings, are working to provide the current events, children and their stories of education, sports events, organizational events and so much more. It is easy to say, if it is in the paper it is going to be news and it will add to the history of the county, city, and interest to our citizens. They cover the city, the county and education to assure the interest of many are served. It is the best little read West of the Echeeconee River because it has what is important for this community to know. As all smaller papers are beginning to feel the pinch this one was able to produce a magazine thanking our many health, law enforcement, firefighters or Fire Department to show what is most important about this county and city... its people and their pets too. They have won several awards, many first place, through the Georgia Press Association and though it gets harder and harder to produce each week with rising costs, ets. these ladies continue to do the best they can each week to bring community news. Artificial turf for field up in air BY KRISTI WATKINS The Georgia Post Crawford County School System received a confirmation letter from ThunderBay Children’s Charities Foundation for an agreement of monetary split for a new artificial turf sports field for the high school. Originally, the school agreed to up to $300,000 towards the installation of the new football/ soccer field which was a 50/50 split with Thun derBay. ThunderBay is now asking for the school system to up that to $500,000 with Thun derBay offering more money, $700,000, to add padding under the turf. The cost has increased from the original esti mate of $600,000 and increased approximately 100%. The school system has until March 31st to respond to ThunderBay. Superintendent Brent Lowe stated he would look at the finances to see if the school system is able to meet the obliga tion. Tim Johnson stated this is a great deal, better quality with the padding and better for the ath letes. More information will be coming in the next meeting. The board also ap proved for ABM to conduct an energy savings audit on the older buildings in the system. The audit will cover how the system could possibly save on all utilities. The school system will then have a choice of going with the changes ABM chooses for energy savings or if they decide not to go with changes, the system will incur a $17,000 charge for the audit. If they do choose the energy saving changes, the savings on a monthly basis will pay for the equipment; therefore, the school system is not out of any money. If ABM cannot warranty an energy savings for the school system on all the buildings but the middle/ high school, the system does not have to pay for the audit. All in favor except Raymond Dickey opposing because he doesn’t like the obliga tion. Vehicle surplus sale was also presented with all vehicles selling for a total of $4,286. Most were sold to Charles Westberry along with Harold Spillers and George Walker purchas ing one each. The old green house at the high school was also sold to the highest bidder Jackson Lawn Care of $2,500. They have 14 days to remove the building or it goes to Clay Moncrief the runner up at $1,000. The building has to be removed so that the old school and green house can be removed to go forward with the new parking lot in front of the new middle/high school. Discussion of the assistant principal sup plements were brought again before the board with Al Thatcher and Raymond Dickey stating it was brought before the board in November and December meetings but nothing was ever done about giving the assistant principals an increase of supplements. Dickey stated it is already in the budget and they should receive the full amount of money. The discussion contin ued with Dickey stating there shouldn’t be a range set but an actual amount. Johnson agreed with removing the range and set an amount for the supplement. The board will discuss reviewing the supplements again.