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Bryant
Speaks Out
Me..
Industrial Tax Levy
Mulled By Commission
That one mill industrial lax
contemplated by the Houston
County Commission back in
January rose to the surface
again Tuesday morning when
the commissioners and
Warner Robins Mayor Ed
Bryant discussed ways of
increasing industry within the
(jaunty. The commissioners
imeged that Warner Robins
and Perry Chambers of
Commerce were not “working
together” in securing in
dustry, but were in a state of
rivalry.
The discussion was initiated
by a letter from Development
Authority Chairman Malcolm
Reese to the board requesting
the $12,000 appropriated by
the county to the Authority to
seek industry (see another
HHJ article). Commissioner
Steve Byrd said, “We need a
county wide effort.”
Commissioner Alton Tucker
agreed, slating, ‘‘They’re
pulling in opposite direc
tions.”
Commission Chairman
iJI-'mk Rozar reminded the
other board members that the
industrial tax, when proposed
in January, drew “a lot of
flak from all parts of the
county”. Tucker added,
"They got to squabbling about
how to divide it. It shouldn't be
divided at all.
Commissioner Charles
Baptists Loyalty
Day Set Sunday
This Sunday is Loyalty Day
at First Baptist Church, a
time when the church
members come together for
worship, food, fellowship, and
the renewing of past lies.
Everyone is invited to at
tirld Sunday School; the
church is expecting 575 per
sons to attend for Bible study.
The goal for the special
offering is $10,000.00 to be
applied against the in
debtedness on the church
Cent. From Page One
Shrine Parade..,.
when he stoops to help a
crippled child”. More than
160,000 crippled and burned
children have been cured or
materially helped by the 22
Shriners Hospitals for Crip
pled Children - the world’s
greatest philanthropy. The
country’s children are the
most important asset we
p.«ess. And Shriners believe
that an investment in them is
the most important in
vestment we can make. All
proceeds by the Shriners from
this day will go to the
Hospitals and to local
charities.
At approximately 4:00 P.M.,
on the steps of the local
Courthouse, a 1000 lb. Live
Black Angus Steer will be
given to some person holding
Warner Robins Mayor Ed Bryant (second from
left) discusses industrial growth in the county, as
well as a million dollar land sale, with the Houston
County Commission. Left to right, are: Clerk
Sonny Watson (partially hidden), Bryant, and
Commissioners Charles Carter and Frank Rozar.
Carter said, “The ultimate
goal is an industrial tax.” He
added that the proposal was to
levy “up to one mill, and to
reduce that amount if not
needed.”
County Attorney Walker
Burke told the board, “The
Industrial Authority has the
power to issue revenue bonds
(which go to private com
panies). You’re interested in
the entire group, not Warner
Robins or Perry alone. You
assist the Industrial
Authority. But if you put large
sums of money in a project,
you’ll get challenged first
thing,”
Bryant and Rozar described
a recent meeting they at
tended of WRING (Warner
Robins Industry Now Group).
Both got the idea that WRING
wanted the County to fund
purchase of a $300,000 tract of
land for an Industrial Park.
Bryant said that with the
Conchemco plant and Midland
Glass, the present Park has no
large tracts left.
Burke stated, “I'm going to
throw out something for y’all.
There are questions about a
lot of these things. If you start
taking over the functions of
the Industrial Authority and
putting in large sums of
money, you'll run into legal
problems.”
Bryant said, “WRING
buildings.
Every family is asked to
bring a well-stocked picnic
basket. The food will be
served in the Fellowship Hall
and tables will be provided on
the front lawn for alfresco
dining. Drinks will be fur
nished by the church.
Rev. Dan Ariail said, “We
are expecting this to be a
great day for the Lord and a
fine time of fellowship. Come
and join us, won’t you.”
the lucky ticket. Tickets are
available from any local
Perry Shriner - Donation SI.OO
(Winner does not have to be
present).
Taylor County Shrine Club
was asked to bring their 26
inch shoe which was donated
to them this summer and
accepted by Congressman
Jack Brinkley and by their
President, Jim Russell. This,
the “world’s largest sneaker”
will be on display.
The members of the Perry
Shrine Club invite all
Perryans to come to the
parade, and they further
thank the citizens of Perry for
helping with past donations
towards projects (the Perry
Shrine Club Flea Market).
needs a big tract of land. The
Industrial Authority has been
a success. If you don’t provide
places, you won’t get in
dustries.”
Commissioner McEver
said he “would be willing to
submit the industrial tax
proposal to a vote” to
determine if the taxpayers
wanted such a tax. He said
that not enough positive
publicity had been given to
advantages of new industry.
He added, “In the end (even
with a tax) the county gets
things back, with a profit.” He
was referring to taxes paid by
companies, together with
employment opportunities.
Commissioner Carter put in,
“They don’lhavean industrial
tax in Bibb County. The just
set aside so much a year and
bought up land.” Another
commissioner added that
most of the Industrial Park
near Lewis B. Wilson Airport
was owned by the county.
Attorney Burke interjected,
“The primary basis of funding
is to issue revenue bonds,
through the Industrial
Authority. The county has no
liability, and cannot incur a
liability.”
Commissioner Steve Byrd
suggested a “super summit”
of WRING, the Industrial
Authority, the two Chambers
of Commerce, and the
Commission" to see “where
we re at”.
Commissioner V.W.
McEver stated, “Everyone is
leaving the county, due to
insufficient job opportunities.
Everybody cannot work at the
base, or be a farmer. We’re
supposed to be leaders. Let’s
invite them all, and discuss
avenues of industrial growth."
987-1105
Memorize the number 987-1105. It could be the most im
portant number of your life. This is the number you should
call at the Perry-Houston County Hospital for emergency
ambulance service. The telephone line is open 24 hours a day
and attendants are on duty at all times.
So, pul 987-1105 in a prominent place in your home and
office. It is an important number, one that could save lives.
City Beauty Shop
License Protested
A number of Perry beauty
shop owners and operators
appeared at the regular
meeting of City Council
Tuesday night to protest
recent action by Mrs. Irva
Bridges, owner of “Irva’s
Beauty Shop” on the Mar
shallville Road.
They were complaining that
Mrs. Bridges had not com
plied with the city's business
license code by renting out
booths to other operators.
Mrs. Bridges’ shop comes
under a special license
because the shop is operated
in her home.
Mayor James McKinley told
the beauty shop owners and
operators present that he has
Right-Of-Way Problems
City-County Land Sale B
Voided; Put On Market I
The land “sold" some
months ago by the city of
Warner Robins and Houston
County to a group of investors
led by Gene Wall is now
“unsold". Allegedly due to the
county’s inability to deliver
access to the property, the
investors reneged on the
$1,020,000 sale in a letter to the
County Commission and
Warner Robins Mayor Ed
Bryant dated October 7.
The letter reads: "We write
you in regard to your new
offer on the City-County land
you submitted by letter dated
September 30, 1974. Since the
City and County were unable
to deliver under our prior
proposal and since new facts
have entered the picture
because of the lapse of time,
we do not wish to accept your
offer. We would appreciate
you returning the $5,000
earnest money deposit we
made under the prior proposal
and consider us out of the
picture in regards to the
Perry Street Dept.
To Use Prisoners
Houston County’s three mu
nicipalities (Perry, Warner
Robins, and Centerville) will
soon be utilizing on a more or
less permanent basis Houston
County prison camp prisoners
as street department workers.
The news came at Tuesday’s
Houston County Commission
meeting in Warner Robins.
Under current plans, the
city of Perry will receive ten
prisoners, Warner Robins
twenty inmates, and Cen
terville four. The cities will
pick up the prisoners, tran
sport them to work sites,
provide guards, and pay for
the inmates’ lunches. In
return, Houston County will
house and clothe the convicts.
Warner Robins Mayor Ed
Bryant publicly thanked the
Commission, saying that his
Streets Department had only
28 employees and was
financially hamstrung. He
confirmed that Warner Robins
will obtain a bus to transport
the prisoners, maintain
guards, and pay for lunches.
Commissioner V.W.
McEver moved to furnish the
20, 10 and four inmates
requested, providng the cities
do their part in the agreement.
His motion was seconded and
passed without dissent.
With the opening of the new
denied a license request for
1975 for Irva’s Beauty Shop.
Councilman Henry Casey
asked Council to let the Middle
Georgia Area Planning
Commission look into the
matter so that the city will
know what to do in any future
cases like this.
Councilman D.K. Houghton
accused Casey of “sticking
your head in the sand and just
putting off what’s going to
happen sooner or later.”
The Council decided to wait
and listen at the next Council
meeting to a representative of
the MGAFDC
Mrs. Bridges' shop,
however, is in a zone already
zoned commercial.
land... (signed) Gene Wall.”
At Tuesday’s County
Commission meeting in
Warner Robins the land sale
came under discussion.
Warner Robins Mayor Ed
Bryant was present at the
meeting, along with the five
commissioners.
County Commissioner Alton
Tucker disputed the claim
that "the City and County
were unable to deliver".
Tucker observed that the City-
No Natural Gas Shortage
Seen For Perry This Year
Perry’s consulting gas
engineer, Robert Grey of
Athens, Ga., appeared before
Perry City Council Tuesday
night at their regular meeting
to discuss the natural gas
Houston County Correctional-
Detentional Institution on
Kings Chapel Road in Perry,
the camp will have facilities
for about 100 prisoners. At
present there are 72 inmates
at the facility. Normal
practice is to “borrow” an
inmate with a particular skill
from other Georgia counties.
With the overcrowding
problem faced by most
camps, Stone will probably
have no difficulty in finding 28
more inmates.
In other action, Old Perry
Road resident Sara Peterman
appeared before the board for
the third straight week to
request paving of her road. A
hang up in acquiring rights-of
way had caused the two mile
By Sogadera Club
‘Holiday Happenings’
A Big Success Here
“Holiday Happenings” with
Larry Lucas, held at the Perry
United Methodist Church, was
a big success, This was the sth
annual fund raising event
sponsored by the Sogadera
Club.
Mr. Lucas shared with his
audience of over 200 many
interesting hints and basic
rules for flower arranging and
holiday decorating. He
brought with him from his
shop in Sandy Springs many
unique and beautiful items to
make our fall and winter
holidays more exciting. Many
of the products Lucas brought
were purchased at the show.
During the show Lucas
made several beautiful
arrangements for Halloween
and Christmas entertaining.
One incorporated Jack-O-
Lanterns, fall flowers and
wheat. He also had on display
many lovely fall wreaths for
entrances or fireplaces made
of fall leaves, wood roses and
even an artificial feathered
pheasant.
Since the audience was so
large Lucas donated five ten
dollar gift certificates as door
prizes during intermission.
They could either be used that
night or at his shop in Sandy
Springs.
The Sogadera Club would
like to thank everyone who
helped to make this year’s
show a success. Proceeds
County was asked to stop
negotiations on acquiring
rights-of-way from Ga. 247 to
the 482 acre site, “1 don’t think
we should be blamed when
they asked us to stop - they
said they would get together."
Tucker was referring to
Wall's group and the owners of
land fronting Highway 247 -
the Georgia Timberlands
Corporation. The Timberlands
property lies in front of the
City-County property, and
situation for (his winter.
Grey assured the Council
that Perry will have an ample
supply of natural gas from the
city’s sunulier Southern
Natural Gas Corp. of Bir-
road to be dropped from
priority lists. Mrs. Peterman
said she was confident that
rights-of-way could now be
obtained, and implored the
men to consider the road.
Commissioner Charles
Carter was sympathetic and
said, "1 wish we could pave
every road in Houston
County.”
Commissioner Alton Tucker
reminded the board that only
about seven miles of paving
contracts are awarded by the
state per county each year.
County Attorney Walker
Burke told Mrs. Peterman,
“Getting rights-of-way is the
key. That is the board’s
problem on every road they
try to pave."
from the show will be used by
the club in their efforts to aid
'■*■**** mud, " '"i ''■"//?,
Larry Lucas Show
Larry Lucas, renowned Atlanta florist and decorator, displays some of the
lovely fall decorations featured at his “Holiday Happenings ” show sponsored
by the Sogadera Club here last week. Gloria Brannen (left) and Ann Matt,
Sogadera Club co-chairmen, are shown here with Lucas and they were pleased ■
with the success of the show. &S
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., OCT. 17. 1974,
thus the 482 acre tract has no
access to a road, being lan
dlocked. Timberlands is
planning a “planned unit
development’’ allegedly
similar to Robins West on
their Highway 247 property.
Negotiations had been un
derway to attain the much
needed rights-of-way.
The property was obtained
by the city of Warner Robins
and Houston County in a
mingham, Ala., this winter.
He said there may be some
shortages and curtailments
among the city’s industrial
users but only if ‘‘there is
severe cold weather for an
extended period of time.”
Grey said under no cir
cumstances will residences in
the city be cut back even if
there is a severe, cold winter
ahead. He noted that
residential customers,
schools, the hospital and small
businesses are fully covered
for this winter.
Grey also told Council that
the city’s wholesale price for
natural gas will probably hold
until next August, so that
there will be no increases in
the retail price of gas to local
customers in the near future.
Mayor James McKinley
said, “1 want the people of
Perry to understand that in
the face of an energy crisis we
are in fairly good shape in
Perry and we will be able to
take care of our customers
this winter.”
The City Council has
previously voted not to take
any new gas customers that
would require the installation
of a main trunk line. The
Council adopted the policy of
“taking care of the customers
now on natural gas.”
the many charitable projects
in the community and to Uie
PAGE 3-A
heralded land-swap with
Robins Air Force Base over a
year ago. Also obtained were
several tracts in Warner
Robins, which in reality
constitute the major part of
value.
Commissioner V.W.
McEver Tuesday asked
Bryant, “Y’all got the money
($5,000)?”
Bryant smilingly replied,
“Uh-huh.”
County Attorney Walker
Burke reminded the com
mission that legally they have
no power to sell land, so in
reality the city of Warner
Robins is sales agent on the
properties. ‘‘You all just
endorsed the city handling the
deal,” he added,
Steve Byrd asked, ‘‘Should
we just forward this letter to
the city for action?” Bryant
replied that he already had a
copy.
A reminiscing Frank Rozar,
who is chairman of the
Houston Commission, said,
“At the time we turned down
Bill Speir’s proposal to buy the
land, we were told by several
Robins councilmen the price
was too cheap. How about it,
Ed?”
Bryant said, “At that time
it was too low. But now with
our tight money situation...”
Byrd affirmed, “we’ve still
got it, and need to get rid of
it.”
Bryant agreed, "We’ve got
to move out on it. I suggest we
hold onto the swamp property
and sell the rest of the
property (in Warner Robins).
It’s just too complicated to
work out.”
Commissioner Charles
Carter moved to consent to the
city returning the $5,000.
McEver seconded the motion.
It passed unanimously.
The board and Bryant then
decided to put all land except
the 482 acres on the open
market for sale at a price of
$940,000. McEver moved to
“co-operate with the city of
Warner Robins to let them sell
all but the 482 acres.” He was
seconded by Alton Tucker.
Again the vote was
unanimous.
Georgia Foundation for the
Blind.