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The True Citizen, Wednesday, February 16, 2022 — Page 3
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Tiny homes: Keysville takes the lead
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Keysville Mayor Linda Wil
kes Davis received harsh feed
back from the county regarding
its tiny house ordinance, not
yet passed.
The council tabled the is
sue again during the Feb. 14
meeting while City Attorney
Douglas Kidd reworks some of
the specifics. Fie is not worried
about what the County thinks.
“We don’t have to do what
the county says,” Kidd stated
and pointed out that the city is
a municipality with the ability
to establish its own ordinances.
The panel is still working on
its tiny house ordinance, origi
nally geared toward tiny house
community developments.
Under Kidd’s legal expertise,
the panel is working on word
ing that addresses tiny houses
situated on private property
as well. The panel wants an
ordinance that allows hom
eowners to set up a tiny house
on the same property where
an original house sits as long
as it is at least 50 feet from the
property line.
Wilkes pointed out that tiny
house owners will still be
subject to the county’s tax
assessments. Documentation
from Community Affairs also
pointed to criteria homeowners
must meet pertaining to plumb
ing and electric requirements.
Kidd stated that building codes
must be met.
The panel seeks to provide
for a grandfather clause that
protects anyone currently liv
ing in tiny homes that do not
meet the future ordinance’s re
quirements. Whether the ordi
nance will pertain to site-built
homes only or will also allow
for conversion of storage sheds
into tiny homes remains to be
seen, Kidd stated. Currently,
the county does not allow for
people to reside in converted
storage sheds, however the
Planning Commission is pres
ently addressing the issue.
</)
LU
LU
X
C/3
City Attorney Doug Kidd is working on Keysville’s controver
sial tiny house ordinance.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
I am the mother of the 7-year-
old who was almost kidnapped
while the Waynesboro Police
Department officers Stroud
and Bartlett were arresting my
husband on 1/22/2022 at the El
Cheapo here in Waynesboro,
Georgia.
I feel as though my voice has
not been heard by the Waynes
boro Police Department, the
City Council, the Vice Mayor
and the City Manager. All of
these parties were made aware
of this issue that occurred on
1/22/2022 immediately on
1/24/2022.
This has been a mis-handling
of justice. I have been given
nothing but doors slammed
in my face while everyone is
hiding behind the veil of "this
is a pending investigation" as
well as being referred to their
was not audible but he is laugh
ing as he replies to the officer’s
question.
“I understand that,” the of
ficer said. “But you are not
supposed to do that. They can
charge you with kidnapping.
Especially when it comes to a
child, that is a big no-no.”
Stroud is then recorded telh
ing the driver he is not in
trouble and it is understood
that he was just trying to help.
The child was still sitting in
the car when her mother ar
rived. Stroud is heard stating
that the child is being kept in a
warm car. When the mother is
instructed to remove the child
civil attorney for any further
assistance on my complaint.
Really!!!! Why do I need to
speak with your civil attorney
with regard to this?
I watched the body cam
with the Chief of Police, the
Vice Mayor Chic Jones, and
Major Danny Rodriguez on
1/24/2022. While we watched
this video everyone in the room
was appalled to the point that
the Vice Mayor's jaw dropped.
I was led to believe that these
officers would be placed on
administrative leave until the
investigation was complete
and this did not happen. Both
officers were allowed to con
tinue to patrol our streets. Who
feels safe with officers who are
negligent in such a manner that
they couldn't follow simple
procedures such as securing
my child after they detained
my husband in the back of the
from the vehicle, the “stranger”
is seen attempting to open the
back door from the inside, but
after he is unable to, he gets
out and opens the door from
the outside.
As Chundra walks away with
her child, an officer thanks the
driver for his help and tells him
to “be safe.”
In line with the strange twist
of events, Stroud’s body cam
footage shows an employee/
witness admitting he has an
outstanding bench warrant in
South Carolina. However, he
walks away freely after hand
ing the officer his written state
ment and showing his driver’s
police car?
The statement that Inves
tigator Collins provided to
the news outlet, WRDW, is
inaccurate. The statement that
she provided stating that my
husband spoke with the guy
as he was being placed in the
police car is untrue, the body
cam shows differently. The
statement she provided that the
unknown man said something
to me, is inaccurate the body
cam shows that this is untrue
and the fact that officer Stroud
immediately went to the truck
to check on her after Bartlett
advised him that my child was
in the car with this strange man
is also inaccurate, the body
cam will prove that this is also
inaccurate.
I have been brushed off and
treated like I am the one that
has committed a crime. In this
entire situation everyone has
Continued from front
license.
After a departmental inves
tigation Bartlett received the
8-day suspension for failing to
obtain the black man’s identi
fication.
“He also got demoted from
his corporal status, a promotion
he just received a day before
this incident,” according to an
article on WRDW.com. “ He’s
also on a six-month probation
and must be retrained in calls
dealing with juveniles.”
The case is under review
by the DA’s Office for recom
mendations regarding possible
other charges, according to
Corporal Gary Jenkins.
Abduction
Keysville
explained the difference be
tween resolutions and ordi
nances. A resolution is an ac
tion done by the city. State law
does not require that a resolu
tion is actually written down. It
can be an oral motion made at
a meeting and then voted on to
give the mayor the ability to act
on it. Resolutions are similar to
ordinances, but different. Or
dinances pertain to issues that
require more permanent law
to govern certain behaviors.
In contrast, resolutions cover
more time-specific issues. He
pointed to the parking reso
lution which sets a price the
mayor can charge but doesn’t
pertain to any specific day. It
is open to special events at the
city’s discretion. Ordinances
govern everyone in the city.
Keysville’s city charter does
not require three readings of a
resolution; however, it does
require multiple readings for
ordinances. The panel is not
required to read proposed
ordinances out loud word-for-
word, he said. He suggested
that the city post the proposed
ordinances on the city hall's
bulletin board at least one week
before the monthly meetings.
“That way everyone will
know if they want to come to
city hall at least a week ahead
of time, then they will have an
opportunity to look at whatever
documents the city is going to
discuss,” he said.
Neely’s questions may have
opened a can of worms for the
Concerned Citizens nonprofit
group. The city council had to
table a request for a monetary
donation to assist with food
during its Black History Month
event scheduled for Feb. 26
after it was pointed out by City
Attorney Doug Kidd that the
panel could not donate money
to the entity without a public
Continued from 2
vote. However, since two of the
councilmembers were mem
bers of the Concerned Citi
zens and one councilwoman
was part of the Black History
Month committee, voting on
the donation presented a con
flict of interest. Kidd said he
had never encountered that
situation before and stated
that he would get back to the
city about how to approach
the matter. Former State Rep
resentative Alberta Anderson is
scheduled to speak at the event.
Additionally, the mayor
pointed out that since the city
regularly donates money to the
nonprofit, the city would like
to see the Concerned Citizens’
financial reports.
“Since we are giving you
money, we have a right to see
where our money is going,”
she said.
been focused on my husband
and his arrest but not once has
anyone, outside of Sheriff WiF
liams, apologized to my daugh
ter. My daughter is the victim
in this situation. My daughter
has had sleepless nights. My
daughter has been afraid to go
outside. My daughter has been
scared to go to school because,
in her words, she thinks that
they would let someone take
her again and this time they
won’t give her back. How do I
deal with this as a mother? So,
to have one officer receive one
week suspension and 6 months’
probation and the other officer
to receive no accountability is
a slap to my face. You have
basically told my daughter that
they could care less about her
welTbeing and safety.
If this is what the citizens
of Waynesboro continue to
tolerate, the lies, cover ups,
and corruption, then this city
will never get better. As for
me, I will continue to fight for
justice for my daughter. She
did not deserve this. I will not
be silenced.
Sincerely,
Chundra Hendrix,
a very angry mother
Call today and
ask about our
Promotions!
JtAT
Ifr
706.554.5205
201 Ward Stnwt, Waynesboro, GA 30830
Certain age and Inotvne rt-alrict oia apply.
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: Sti.irtmi
CROSSWORD
i" FreeDailyCrosswords.com
ACROSS
1) Jason's ship
5) Scarecrow's stuffing
10) Sound of a hoofbeat
14) Saturday service site
15) English Channel harbor
town
16) Fury
17) Fish measurement
19) Cay
20) Talked, talked and talked
21) Scrabble unit
23) Attention-attracting sound
24) Twisted lock?
25) Fastens anew
28) Half-moon
31) Avoid capture by
32) Skirt fold
33) Bluejacket
34) Gentlemen
35) Turned sharply
36) Birthday party centerpiece
37) 2,000 pounds
38) Acted the farrier
39) Minds your own business?
40) Goulash containers
42) Answers skillfully
43) Sweeties
44) No longer working (Abbr.)
45) Eighth of a circle
47) They play by themselves
51) Sheep calls
52) Hare ball?
54) Lake near Niagara Falls
55) Teamsters, for one
56) Sandwich cookie
57) Bellow
58) Absorbent cloth
59) Go by bus
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16th February
DOWN
1) Like a post-volcanic landscape
2) Ostrich cousin
3) Island discovered by Magellan
4) Unmarried ladies, once
5) Germ cells
6) Carved pole
7) Highway or street alternative
8) "Aladdin" prince
9) Knowledgeable, via books
10) Film reviewer
11) Perfectionist's concern
12) Look up and down
13) Jury member
18) Slightly amused reaction
22)" _ of Eden"
24) Raise Labradors, e.g.
25) Bandstand breaks
26) "Adam Bede" novelist
27) Was a coward
28) Parts of a crossword puzzle
29) In one's birthday suit
30) Highlight holder?
32) Conspires
35) Timesaver
36) IOU holder
38) Bridge measurement
39) Scaler's spike
41) Animal that goes "pop"
42) Arson or robbery, e.g.
44) Helicopter blade
45) Follow, as orders
46) Be concerned
47) Cookbook direction
48) Delhi dress
49) Drew even with
50) gin fizz
53) Best-selling number?
ANSWERS ON 7