The true citizen. (Waynesboro, Ga.) 1882-current, May 22, 2024, Image 1

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The true citizen., May 22, 2024, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextHONOR ☆REFLECT'&REMEMBER Memorial Day Memorial Day is a time to honor, reflect, and remember those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. o 04 ■'3- O 04 OJ Vol. 144, No. 14 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - $1.00 BOC conducts first reading despite objection SHELLIE SMITLEY thetuecitizen.shelliel@gmail.com Conflict reared its head as the Board of Commissioners conducted the first reading of proposed amendments to the Land Development Code Tuesday, May 14. Planning Commission member Lee Webster approached the panel stating he was representing the Planning Commission. He asked the BOC to consider postponing the first reading, giving the Planning Commission more time to rethink solar farm-related amendments. Claiming new information had come to light, Webster stated the proposed changes were inadequate. He predicted the amendments would completely shut down the solar farm industry in Burke County. "We feel there are small operations that some people would undertake, that with certainty, (would be) prevented from happening," Webster SEE stated. "Basically, this ggc ordinance creates a one- .. 6A size-tits-all and it just At right, Planning Commis sioner Ben Roberts waited for Planning Commissioner Lee Webster to finish speak ing before he informed the BOC that Webster was not at the meeting representing the entire board. Sardis man loses his life in Vietnam PFC Jerome Herrington of Sardis served with honor in the U.S. Army. On January 25,1966, three days prior to the start of Operation Masher, Colonel Harold Moore’s 3rd Brigade of the 1 st Cavalry Division prepared to strike at its objectives. Elements of the 1 st Cavalry Division were being redeployed by aircraft from the 311 th Air Commando Squadron. All 46 men, includ ing the plane crew, were killed when they slammed into a mountainside near An Khe. It was reported the airplane had suffered an engine fire just prior to impacting the hillside. Herrington was among the casualties. He is memorialized at Beech Branch Baptist Cemetery in Sardis. He is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C. His name is inscribed at WM Wall, Panel 04e, Line 90. See more Burke County men whose names are written on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C. on page 2A. Voters decide local seats The Board of Elections reported Burke County stats Tuesday, May 21, in some of this year's most contested races. In the Board of Education race, Jaymie Morris Miettunen overcame her opponent, Rennitta Stokes Johnson, for the District 3 Seat. The votes were split 478/236 respectively. District 4 wifi be represented in the BOE by Fernanda "Toni" Ward- Buxton. She beat Jeff Mallard with the votes split 389/307. In the District Attorney race locally, Incumbent Jared Williams won the Democratic candidate seat over Candidate Amber Brantley with the votes split 1,696/530 vote. Richmond County votes were not completely tallied at the time of publication, however based on their early voting numbers, Williams captured 74% of the 8,639 ballots cast early, compared to Brantley's 25.96%. Locally, Matt Matson won over both Judge Willie Saunders and Charles Lyons for Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Lyons received 1,193 votes, Saunders received 952 votes and Matson received 1,304 votes. Richmond County ballots were not completely tallied at the time of publication, however based on their early voting numbers,Lyons captured 49.05% of the early votes. Saunders received 26.74% of the early votes cast and Matson received 24.21%. The election for District 3 Commissioner will ultimately be decided in November. However, during the primary race Incumbent Evans Martin beat Candidate Pamelia Bartlett for the Republican spot. Martin won 312 votes and Bartlett won 149 votes. Martin wifi run against Democratic Candidate George Wimberly in November. The Burke County Sheriff election wifi be decided by voters in November as well. However, during the primary race, 2,147 voters cast the ballots for Democratic Incumbent Alfonzo Williams, and 1,079 voters cast their ballots for Republican Candidate Lewis Blanchard. New website updates Comcast broadband progress SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Representatives from Comcast recently updated the public on where their company stands concerning the construction of broadband infrastructure in Burke County. Comcast received a grant award of approximately $16 million from the State of Georgia Capital Project Fund. The funding, along with a match, wifi allow the company to expand its service to more than 5,000 Burke County homes. "We officially had the first shovel in the ground last Monday, May 6," said Paige Zuchegno, director of government & regulatory affairs. The state grant period ends during Director Paige Zuchegno updat ed the public during the Board of Commissioners meeting May 14 while Manager Hillary Hesseltine stood by her side. the third quarter of SEE 2026. However, BROADBAND, pending the time 3A Keysville personnel refuse to fill requests SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com The City of Keysville struggled to pass a budget after the council rejected a second reading of the proposed expenditures. Complicating matters further, city personnel failed to provide the council with records of last year’s expenditures when requested. Instead, City Manager Sherrell Russ provided the panel with a proposed budget she said City Attorney Doug Kidd approved. Councilman Freddie Harden specifically expressed his concerns that there was $8,000 budgeted last year for attorney fees. However, Kidd did not get paid $7,000 of it until March of 2024. He also explained during the May 13 meeting, that he wants to compare what was actually spent on line items in 2023 to what is proposed in the 2024 budget. Though the city personnel continue to stall when asked to provide information, Mayor Linda Wilkes defended them, indicating that it was not the council’s job to assist in developing a budget. She indicated the responsibility falls to Russ and the council’s only job is to approve it. However, Vice-mayor Sharon Neely pointed out that the figures didn’t add up accurately on the copy they received. The council still hasn’t received the information they requested pertaining to employees’ salaries. Councilwoman Maggie Terrell submitted an open records request in February. She was charged approximately $103 for copies that did not include the information she requested. She asked for payroll check registers from May 2023 through February 2024. Additionally, she asked for documentation showing each employee’s name and rate of pay. Lastly, she asked for employee ®EE timecards for KEYSVILLE, September 2023 7A Keysville Councilman Freddie Harden did not receive records of 2023 expenditures as requested.