Newspaper Page Text
Page 2— Wednesday, September 28, 2022, The True Citizen
Burke County Retired Educators Association
will meet Thursday, October 6, 2022, 3 p.m.
at Burke County Senior Citizens Center. Guest
Speaker will be Waynesboro Mayor Bill Tinley.
The Development Authority of Burke County discussed potential businesses moving to
the area during the monthly meeting Tuesday, September 27.
“Quite large” company
looks at Burke County
Southern
Bank
CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT SPECIAL
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Executive Director Jonathan
Lupo says the active projects
the Development Authority of
Burke County is looking at are
“really good.”
Burke County is in the run
ning as the top site for a least
three projects. Two medium
sized companies are looking
at the industrial park and one
“quite large” company is look
ing at 250 acres on the east side
of the Raymond Tract.
The DABC is tasked with
supplying the “quite large”
pursuer with a final incentive
offer in the next week.
However, the Raymond
Tract will require upgrades,
including water, sewer and gas.
“They are a large user of
(gas),” Lupo said. “So, it looks
good for the city.”
If the company locates in
Burke County, Lupo said they
intend to start construction
quickly.
“They want to be pouring
concrete by the middle of next
year,” he said.
Although the DABC is not
ready to disclose the com
pany’s name, Lupo said it is a
large enough business that state
representatives also want to see
them call Georgia home.
“It’s the type of project that
would make a large impact
here,” Lupo reported to the
board and mentioned that mar
keting other companies would
be minimal for the next two
years if the company decides
on Burke County.
The company will require a
rail spur and part of the agree
ment would include investment
and hiring from within the
community. “If we win that,
99% of our time is going to be
focused on that project.”
The availability of workforce
is the company’s main issue,
Lupo said. Regional transpor
tation to the company may be
a solution to finding employees
if the county lands the project.
“We are marketing the region
for workforce,” he said. “They
will be a key player in work
force training if they locate
here. They are going to need a
lot of employees.”
Lupo said the DABC is
hearing more from companies
who supply to Hyundai Motor
Group which is on track to
open its first electric vehicle
plant in Bryan County in 2025.
“We just sent out an incen
tive package to a company who
wants to be as close as they
can to Hyundai,” he said and
mentioned that they expressed
interest in the GE building plus
50 more acres.
Burke County is also a final
ist for an international manu
facturing company looking at
a 50 acre site at the industrial
park. The company would also
require a rail spur.
3.15
O/
/O
APY*
FOR 15 MONTHS
Effective Date: September 18,2022
Citizen shows concern
for Keysville finances
Special offer available at:
731 Charles Perry Ave., Sardis, GA 30456
855 Liberty St., Waynesboro, GA 30830
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21 College St., Gibson, GA 30810
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
President of the Concerned
Citizens group, James Neely,
is adamant about knowing
Keysville’s financial health.
However, his determination
to be apprised of how the city
spends their money may be
backfiring on him.
Mayor Linda Wilkes stopped
providing financial reports
during the monthly city coun
cil meetings a couple months
ago.
“I stopped it because of Mr.
Neely,” said Wilkes. “He was
just being hostile and it was
causing disruption during the
meetings.”
During the September coun
cil meeting, as the mayor was
getting ready to adjourn, Neely
stated he had an announcement
to make pertaining to Con
cerned Citizen updates.
“He said about two things
about the announcement and
then he goes into the finances,
so I adjourned the meeting,”
Wilkes said.
According to a Burke County
Sheriff’s Office incident report,
deputies responded to the City
Hall September 21, after City
Administrator Sherell Russ
reported that she felt harassed
by Neely’s multiple calls re
questing financial documents.
After Russ informed him that
he could fill out an online
open records request form, he
mentioned that he would come
to the City Hall and get them
himself. Neely told officers he
called numerous times because
he was continuously put on
hold.
Mayor Pro Tern Sharon
Neely called a special meeting
September 22 to address the
issue of presenting financial
records with the city’s attorney.
According to Wilkes, the city’s
charter requires the mayor to
present financial records to
the city council a minimum of
once a year.
“Submit to the council at
least once a year, a statement
covering the financial condi
tions of the city and from time-
to- time such other information
as the city council may re
quest,” Wilkes
read from the
charter.
Neely said
706-437-9977
thesouthern.bank
SEE
KEYSVILLE,
3
•The annual percentage yield (APY) assumes that interest remains on deposit until maturity. APY accurate as of
9/18/2022 and is subject to change at any time and without notice. Personal accounts only. Deposits limited to
$230,000. Penalty for early withdrawal. $1,000 minimum balance to open. This is a limited-time offer, fit roic
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