Newspaper Page Text
2A Clje l)pra(ti Tuesday, August 31,2021
City budget increases
two percent - public
hearing September 7
KAY S. PEDROTTI
kayspedrotti@gmail.com
The Barnesville City
Council held a hearing
last week to acquaint
council members with
the 2021-22 budget. Act
ing city manager Tim
Turner led a two-hour
discussion. The general
public will be introduced
to the budget at a hear
ing at 5 p.m., before the
regular council meeting
at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday,
Sept. 7.
Total budget amount
is $16,393,022, up two
percent from last year’s
$16,107,188, and in
cludes some provisions
for numerous road and
sewerage improvements,
to be done in order of se
rious need, Turner said.
Emphasis in the budget
is set for upgrades at E.P.
Roberts Center and Myl-
es-Wimberly Park. About
$10 million in capital im
provements throughout
the city is expected for
the future, as the city is
able to finance them.
One of the city’s goals,
Turner said, is to update
the center and park, with
input and help from the
community. Partnering
with non-profits to hold
programs at the center is
anticipated, as the com
munity comes together
to make its needs and
wishes known, he added.
He said, “We also need
the community to help
decide what is the best
use for the park.” The
city is conducting a
survey on the issues at
surveymonkey.com/E.P.
Roberts Center Survey.
Positive accomplish
ments for the city this
year included the new
vehicle for the fire chief
and the sale of the Cart
er’s building, which now
will go onto the city’s tax
rolls. The city also was
able to close Phase One
of the CDBG grant and is
applying for Phase Two.
The pandemic has
caused many city em
ployees to miss work;
needed equipment and
staple items are in short
supply, Civic Center fit
ness client memberships
are down, and the swim
ming pool is now closed
due to the spike in cases
here, said Turner.
The city is offering
a $2,000 “facade grant”
in the new budget to
all business owners on
Main and Market Streets,
to beautify their store
fronts and rear sides if
possible, Turner noted.
Also desired by the city,
as it is often divided in
emergency situations by
trains, is a discussion
with Lamar County Fire-
Rescue about locating an
engine on the north side
of the city. Fire vehicles
must be in garage-type
special buildings.
Streets up for work in
the new budget include
Atlanta, Cherry, Forsyth
and Redbud. This year
there will be improve
ments on Richardson and
Wilson Streets and a por
tion of Greenwood.
Turner also proposed
raising some of the
city’s fees for antici
pated items. The council
reached consensus on
dumpster rates and
house removal fees go
ing up, but will continue
to study Turner’s list.
Because of a refinance of
bonds, the city is saving
about $20,000 per month
in debt service payments
on the wastewater treat
ment plant.
Turner concluded,
“The best we can do
now, or in the future, is
to have a plan -now we
have one for next year -
and then get the money.”
He was commended for
the presentation.
THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER
Community prayer service for COVID relief
Approximately 60 people turned out October 26 for a COVID-19 prayer service at Summers Field Park. The event came
about after nurse manager Sherry Farr of the local health department texted several ministers asking for prayer as she and her
staff battle a surge of the virus that is devastating the community at present.
Shown at the prayer wall attaching fabric are (l-r) Rev. Waylon Knight, Rev. Woody Roberts and Dr. Richard Schmude.
Pageant still a go September 11 ;
Buggy Days in COVID limbo
The fate of the annual
Buggy Days festival will
likely be determined at
a meeting of stakehold
ers set for Thursday at
4 p.m. at the Barnesville
Library. Small businesses
and others which ben
efit from the event are
aligned on one side of
the fight with health and
public safety officials on
the other.
Other cities are mov
ing forward with similar
events, chamber of com-
24/7 news;
bamesville.com
March of Dimes event September 9
The Lamar County
Retired Educators Asso
ciation will be supporting
the GREA president, Dr.
Henrietta Gray’s Humani
tarian Project as they
host the March of Dimes.
The local chapter
will sponsor a ‘Walk for
Moms and Babies’ on
Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021,
beginning at 10 a.m. at
the Summer’s Field Park.
Sherry Farr will be the
speaker.
Registration will begin
at 9:30 a.m. There are
two levels of donations,
$25 for individuals or
$100 for a group. Par
ticipants do not have
to be LREA members to
participate. This event
is open to community
participation. Contact
LREA at 770-617-8074 for
more information. All
proceeds will be given to
the Atlanta Branch of the
March of Dimes.
“March of Dimes leads
the fight for the health of
all moms and babies. We
believe that every baby
deserves the best pos
sible start. Unfortunately,
not all babies get one. We
are changing that,” said
Stacey Stewart. “For 80
years, March of Dimes
has helped millions of ba
bies survive and thrive.
Now we’re building on
that legacy to level the
playing field for all moms
and babies, no matter
their age, socio-economic
background or demo
graphics. We support
moms throughout their
pregnancy, even when
everything doesn’t go ac
cording to plan. And we
pioneer research to find
solutions to the biggest
health threats to moms
and babies.”
a.m. with the first contes
tants hitting the stage at
9 a.m.
Masking and social
distancing are highly
encouraged. Contestants
must come dressed as
there will be no dressing
room access due to the
virus.
For more informa
tion, call Krystal Hane-
line at 678-972.4599 or
the chamber office at
770.358.5884.
merce president
Melissa Lee not
ed. The Yellow
Daisy Festival in
Stone Mountain
and the Doc Hol
liday Festival in
Griffin will go on
as scheduled in
September.
Buggy Days
was shut down
last year due to
the virus at considerable
cost to the chamber and
the local economy. If it
does proceed
this year, the
annual concert
will be held at
Summers Field
Park on Satur
day night with
fireworks. That
would be the
first concert
held at the park.
LEE The Miss
Buggy Days
Pageant at the Fine Arts
Center Sept. 11 is a go.
Registration begins at 8
EST.
2014
SEPTEMBER 11,2021
GRIFFIN C1T? PHRK
★ BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP * FOOD * DRINKS *
★ LIVE MUSIC * FAMILY ACTIVITIES *
+HRTS AND CRUFTS * VEDORS*
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WWW.DOCHOLLIDfiYFEST.COM
PUBLIC HEARINGS
BOARD OF APPEALS
FOR A PROPOSED ROCK QUARRY
LAMAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE
326 THOMASTON STREET, BARNESVILLE GA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 6, 2021, AT 900 A.M
THURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 6, 2021, AT 6:00 P.M
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21,2021, at 6:00 P.M
An application has been received from IDI Land Holdings. LLC to rezone property from
Agricultural-Residential to Manufacturing-2 and to request a Special Exception for the
removal of minerals (rock quarry). The property contains 331.24 acres and is located on
the corner of Crawford Road and Hwy 41 South, Tax Map 094, Parcel 013, as record
ed in Deed Book 1120 Pages 337-340. This application requires the following public
hearings: the Lamar County Planning Board will host a public hearing for the rezoning
of the property on September 16. 2021 at 9:00 am; the Lamar County Board of Appeals
will host a public hearing for the Special Exception request on September 16, 2021
at 6:00 pm: the Board of Commissioners will host a public hearing for the rezoning
and the special exception on September 21, 2021 at 6:00 pm. A final decision on this
application may be made by the Board of Commissioners during their regular business
meeting to be held after the public hearing on September 21, 2021.