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MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION
County: We’re raising taxes,
please vote for Nov. sales tax
By Will Davis
publisher'- mymcrnet
Four times since 2012,
Monroe County voters have
rejected ballot measures to
raise the local sales tax from
7 to 8 percent for more road
funds. Monroe County com
missioners have decided to
ask again on Nov. 2.
“I don’t see an option,” said
county commissioner Eddie
Rowland. “If doing nothing
(about road problems) is the
answer, then I don’t need
to be here. A fundamental
thing we do is to take care of
our roads, if were not going
to take care of our roads,
then were not doing our
job.”
Commissioners agreed to
put the road tax referendum,
the T-SPLOST (Transporta
tion Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax), on a
county-wide ballot again on
Nov. 2. They also announced
they will raise property
taxes by 1.5 mills in August
with the extra funds being
dedicated to resurfacing
roads. Commissioners said if
voters pass the T-SPLOST in
November, that tax hike will
be rolled back next year.
Commissioners were
acting on a recommenda
tion from county manager
Jim Hedges. Hedges said
the county road department
spends about $3.7 million
per year maintaining 515
miles of county roads. That
includes 933 miles of ditches,
See TAXES . Page6A
Commissioners say 1-75 travellers will pay a big part of a sales
tax if it’s passed in November to repave roads. (File photo)
A Jackson woman was taken to the emergency room after being struck by a train on Thursday on Smith Road at the
back entrance to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Victoria Thurmond, 24, had crossed the railroad tracks in
her 2011 Honda Accord on Smith Road and stopped at Collier Road thinking she was clear of the tracks, said It. Chad
Beck. But her back end was still over the tracks. A witness, Kristen latimer, told Monroe County deputies she tried to
wave Thurmond to move off the tracks but she didn t see her in time. She didn’t know the length of her car,” said Beck.
The approaching train struck her back passenger side. Thurmond complained of minor injuries and was taken by Monroe
County EMS to Monroe County Hospital. (Photo/Steve Reece)
Ella layne Morgan, who
just turned 6, is recover
ing at Egleston after
being hit on her bike.
(Facebook photo)
County
prays
for girl
struck
on bike
‘Never seen it this bad’
By Will Davis
publisher@mymcnnet
Monroe County businesses, espe
cially restaurants, are struggling to stay
staffed, leading to slower service and
even closed dining rooms at some of
them.
“I don’t think anybody’s looking for
work,” said Eric Thomas, owner of
Jonah’s on Johnston. Thomas said he
would like to hire at least five more
people as his business has grown, but
said he just can’t find people who want
to work.
Lucio Castillo, owner of Sol Tacos and
Tequila on the Lorsyth square, is having
the same problem.
“It’s really bad,” said Castillo. There are
scores of help wanted ads each week in
the Reporter.
The state’s jobless numbers confirm
the county’s labor market has recovered
from last year’s COVID shutdown.
Monroe County’s unemployment rate
in Lebruary was 3.6 percent, lower
than the statewide 4.4 percent. Of a
labor force of 13,040,12,567 had jobs.
It shows the county’s labor market has
completely recovered from COVID.
The county’s jobless rate in Lebruary
2020, before the shutdown, was 3.4
percent.
But if complaints from local business
owners are accurate, that doesn’t mean
the entire county is working.
Castillo said he thinks the problem is
the government is handing out money
to people through increased unemploy
ment benefits and COVID stimulus
payments. It leaves them with no incen
tive to work, said Castillo.
Ciera Weathers and Whitney Snow,
employees of The Pickled Okra, are
working harder as restaurants around
the county and country struggle to
hire more help.
What’s the answer, a reporter asked.
“Quit paying people not to work,” said
Castillo.
Craig Craddock of Lorsyth owns two
Chick-fil-A franchises in Macon and
said in 30 years in the restaurant busi
ness, he’s never seen the employment
situation as bad as it is now.
“Every restaurant I know is dying for
employees,” said Craddock. “No one’s
looking for work.”
Craddock, who operates the Chick-
fil-As on Zebulon Road and Eisen
hower Parkway, said business has never
been better but rues the fact that they
don’t have enough workers to give the
service customers deserve. Craddock
said he had planned to reopen his
dining rooms in early April but can’t
because he doesn’t have enough staff.
Craddock said he’s had employees ask
to take a few months off after getting
their stimulus. Craddock noted that it’s
always harder to hire in Lebruary when
workers are getting tax refunds, calling
it the W-2 flu. But with the government
sending out thousands of dollars to
families on top of that due to COVID,
it’s that much harder.
“People who live paycheck to pay-
check, they’ve never seen that kind of
money” said Craddock. “I know people
who got $5,000 from the government
this year)’
Craddock said that’s why Walmart is
sold out of big-screen TVs.
What’s the solution?
“The solution is for government to get
out of the way ’ said Craddock. “When
government gives stimulus money
instead of people earning it, they don’t
work.”
Craddock said government is scar
ing people about the virus and paying
them not to work, teaching people to
be dependent on the government for a
meager income.
“There’s a price society is gonna pay
for this,” said Craddock.
State Rep. Robert Dickey, who owns
Dickey Parms, agreed that stimulus
payments and unemployment checks
are making it very hard for businesses
to hire people.
“It doesn’t take long when you start
getting free money, you come to expect
it,” said Dickey.
Dickey said the Georgia labor
department is supposed to ensure that
applicants are seeking jobs before they
approve unemployment. But he said the
department maybe too busy sending
payments to verify. So when will the
government stop paying people not to
work so that businesses can rebuild?
“With the Biden administration,” said
Dickey. “It might never run out.”
Monroe County is
rallying to support a
6-year-old girl who is
at Egleston Children’s
Hospital in Atlanta after
being struck by a pickup
truck on Sunday.
Ella Layne Morgan
was riding on her bicycle
near the entrance to
her family’s neighbor
hood, Bellewood, on
Bunn Road when she
was struck by a vehicle
around 7:45 pm. She
was knocked about 15
feet and landed in the
grass, while her bike was
demolished. She’s the
youngest daughter of
Nick and Amy Morgan.
Monroe County EMS
had originally taken
her to Navicent Health
Atrium. An MRI report
edly found some brain
bleeding and she was
taken to Egleston on
Monday. Her big sister
had fastened her helmet
on her head and a doctor
reportedly said it may
have saved her life.
The driver, James
Smith, 66, of Forsyth,
told deputy Jonathan
Joyner he was blinded
by the setting sun and
never saw the girl. He
was westbound on Bunn
Road toward Hwy. 41.
There were no skid
marks indicating that
is exactly what hap
pened and speeding isn’t
thought to be a factor.
Amy Morgan is a teacher
at T.G. Scott Elementary.
