The Monticello news. (Monticello, Ga.) 1903-current, April 25, 2024, Image 7

The Monticello news., April 25, 2024, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextTHE MONTICELLO NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024—PAGE 7 Candidates for Magistrate, Commission, Coroner Speak Continued from Page 3 horrible scandal in his of fice. He said he works on the time and is on call 24- 7. He said not one time has he been needed as a judge and not been avail able. He said everything is working great in the Magistrate office. Mr. Lam was ques tioned about allowing a Butts County deputy who was accused of beating his wife go free. Mr. Lam said he did not let him go free, but that he did not want him to lose his job, and that his wife benefits from the deputy having a job. Mrs. Pitts said every decision she makes will be based on experience, training, education and background. Mr. Henderson said you do have to look at each case on its own merits. Ms. Patrick then asked the candidates how they would access fines. Mr. Lam spoke of ne gotiated pleas and said the solicitor often rec ommends the fee struc ture. He said the solicitor knows more about the case than he does and so many factors figure in, that unless you’ve been in the legal profession a third of a century you may not understand. Ms. Pitts said she would not start too low with fines. Mr. Henderson aid he would look at fines as be ing progressive. If the be havior continues, a stiffer fine is warranted. That was all the ques tions, and their closing remarks were saved until the end of the meeting. Each one thanked every one for coming out. Next, the County Com mission candidates were seated. District 1 Challenger David McGuire occupied a seat beside the empty seat left for Ms. Jones, then the three Dsitrict 3 candidates sat together at the next table. They rotat ed their turns answering questions. Mr. McGuire said his family has been a part of this county since 1811. He said he was born and raised here, and has served in several depart ments. He is currently a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission and has helped out at the Senior Center and substi tute taught for the Board of Education. He is a poll manager for the Monti- cello precinct. He said building rela tionships is necessary, and said he wants to move in a progressive manner while being conservative. Both District 1 candi dates are running on the Democratic ticket. The District 3 candidates are all running as Republi cans. Early voting for the May 21 primaries starts Monday, April 29. Vot ers must choose either a Republican or Demo cratic ballot, and the non partisan races will be on both ballots. There are no local races with Republi cans and Democrats both running so the May 21 primary is basically the election.. This is when Jasperites choose who will represent them for the next four years. District 3 candidate Chris Blakely went first. He said he has lived in the county for nine year, and he currently is president of the Turtle Cove Prop erty Owners Association (TCPOA) and is a senior superintendent for a com mercial contracting com pany. He said their clients include the Atlanta Braves and Delta airlines. He said he is familiar with codes, road con struction and that you need someone familiar with those to move the county forward. He said he listens to people and he wants stuff done correctly. Incumbent Don Jerni- gan said he serves on the Health Board, the Pub lic Facilities Authority ((PFA) and the Joint De velopment Authority. In the past he has served on the Recreation Board, and the Senior Citizens Board. He said he served on the committee to save Jasper Memorial Hospital, and he has substitute taught. An Army veteran, he said the commissioners work together to try to ac complish what the county needs. He said he believes every citizen deserves to see some form of service for their tax dollars. Rob Alexander said he was born and raised in Jasper County, and he is 48 years old with six chil dren, ages 3 1/2 to 20. A small business owner, he said he knows this county like the back of his hand. His family has been here since 1860, and he is a fourth generation farmer. He said he knows the struggles of this commu nity. He said every county has problems. He asked the voters to give him four years. One man asked the commission candidates a question about services, saying his taxes have gone up 27 percent but he has not gotten 27 per cent more of services. He asked who supports giv ing the sheriff money for a lake presence. Mr. McGuire said we need to be safe, and he is all for funding that pre cinct. Mr. Blakely said he 100 percent agrees. He can’t believe Jasper County doesn’t have watercraft. He supports anything the sheriff really needs. Mr. Jernigan said he backs the sheriff’s of fice and tries to give him whatever he needs. He said the sheriff is having a problem getting deputies so he didn’t see how add ing another duty would be beneficial. Mr. Alexander said he fully supports putting a boat in the lake. The next question con cerned short term rentals (STR). Mr. Alexander said he has seen firsthand what short term rentals can do. He agrees with what the commission has done to enforce the short term rentals needs. Mr. Jernigan said he is against STR, and they are against the law here. He said we won’t allow more without strict ordinances. Mr. Blakely said we can’t get code enforce ment to do the job they have now, and we can’t add more to that job. Mr. McGuire said he is against STR, and that the P&Z board has worked tirelessly on the ordinance and penalties for STR. The next question was intentionally broad, and asked the candidates for their thoughts on growth. Mr. Jernigan said that is a touchy subject. We don’t want any residen tial growth, but we need commercial and industrial growth, he said. He said services for the home- owner are not covered by what they pay for taxes. Mr. Blakely said it is a touchy situation and talk ed of the need for indus trial growth but wondered where it would go. He said growth is really kill ing our county right now. He moved here to live in a rural county, and he doesn’t want growth. Mr. McGuire said we need to shut off residen tial growth. We need job growth and indus trial growth. He said the schools are getting over run. He said we need to set policies to limit growth. Mr. Alexander said he is against the type of growth that Commissioner Jerni gan was trying to bring a year ago. He said we have to fix ourselves. He said the Planning & Zoning office has to get a handle Thursday, May 2 ^qnrof 7:00 pm I ROs s 1NG r ^7 Thomas Persons Hall 319 College St. Monticello Tickets: $20 Available at the door or in advance at the Thomas Persons Hall office Or online at: ThomasPersonsHall.com www.MonroeCrossing.com | Booking: Derek Johnson, 612-720-3746 derek@monroecrossing.com on things. He said we’re passing stuff that would not pass inspection. The next question was on property taxes. Mr. Blakely said he is not getting the service for his money. We don’t have the equipment that is needed. We keep putting band aids on the roads. Mr. McGuire recom mended a freeze on home values, saying the com mission only controls the millage rate. Mr. Alexander said he’d like to see home values frozen, as they do in some counties, until the prop erty is sold. We are tax ing the elderly out of their homes, he said. Mr. Jernigan said we scrub the budget and all five commissioners work hard to do that. He said the state looks at apprais als, so they have to be accurate. It’s necessary to fairly access proper ties, he said. Much of the problem is unfunded man dates, said Commissioner Jernigan. The commissioners were asked about pub lic safety, particularly fire/EMS, as the county only has two ambulances which is the same as 50 years ago. Mr. McGuire said he is in favor of funding public safety. Mr. Alexander said a former volunteer fireman he sees the need. He also said he is 100 percent against privatizing. He said we need to give the fire chief what he needs. Mr. Jernigan said a new ambulance is expected next month and that he’s in favor of going ahead and purchasing another as delivery takes nearly a year. He said they are hoping to get inmates to build out Station 7 to house another ambulance. Mr. Blakely said he is surprised it’s taken this long for the question to be raised. He said they should give the fire per sonnel whatever they need. And he said they need a boat. EXPERIENCED * *DEDIC ATED Dist. 3 Jasper Co. Commissioner INCUMBENT DON JERNIGAN Working for all Citizens for 7 Years Election MAY 21, 2024 Jasper County 2024 Alcohol License The following applications will go before the Board of Commission ers on May 6, 2024 at 6 pm. - Bear Creek Marina - Application number 2024-A-010 located at 62 Bear Creek Marina Rd, Mansfield, GA 30055. Name of applicant Don Wright- Retail license for beer and wine. - Re newal - Sac-O-Suds- Application number 2024-A-008 located at 54 Hwy 16 W Monticello, GA 31064. Name of applicant Urmi A Raikar- Retail License for beer and wine- New License Consideration of approval will be on the agenda for the monthly County Commissioners meeting on May 6, 2024 at 6 pm. The meet ing will be in the Commissioners meeting room on the basement floor of the courthouse. 25th Annual Greene County livestock Assoc. St Greene County 4H PRO RODEO FRIDAY, APRIL 26th SATURDAY, APRIL 27th 8:00 P.M. NIGHTLY -a*' w -“' Patios Fire Pits STONE Madis Walkways Fireplaces Outdoor Kitchens >11 Taylor (678) 414-0725 John Deere T VISIT ~Lake Oconee PENNINGTON SMITH FARM SUPPLY K D I Keeoco Developement Inc. BankSouth Lawn and Garden Products Greene C ounty AG Expo Center 1180 C. Weldon Smith Drive, Greensboro, GA