by Janice Daniel
The Mayor and Council of the City of Villa Rica met for their Regular Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., at the Holt-Bishop Justice Center, Municipal Courtroom, 101 Main Street, Villa Rica, with all members present. Mayor McPherson offered the Invocation and Officer Hamilton of the VRPD led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Police Chief, Michael Mansour, presented the recognition of 25 years of employment by Detective Carol Collett. Mansour said Collett was at the Police Dept. when he first came to Villa Rica, and that she has served in many different areas of the force, including SRO, trainer of other officers, and investigator, and that she is a vital part of the VRPD.
Interim City Manager and Utilities Director John Bain presented the recognition of 20 years of employment by Chris Todd. Bain said that Todd started in 2005, totally new to waste water treatment, but he took classes, training and state exams until he obtained the highest license in water operations (Class I), and also got the Water Loss Auditor Certification. He became the Lead Water Treatment Operator, and was recently promoted to Water Operations Manager.
In Public Comment, the following people spoke:
- John Hanabeck, representing the Villa Rica Military Veterans Association, and appealing to Council for support of a Villa Rica Veterans Memorial Park. “We have many vets in Villa Rica, and we need to recognize them,” he stated. He also advised that the small veterans monument in front of the court house needs to be moved to the park when it is built. “We can’t move forward without Council approval of the land for the park, and we urge your support for a parcel visible to the community, with easy accessibility and parking.” He acknowledged they will have to raise money for the park and also need community support.
- Tonya Ross said she had never been to a Council meeting of any kind, but when she saw Dick Chambers speak at the August 5th, 2025 Work Session, she had to let people know the conditions at the Housing Authority. “Me and my kids have to wear shower shoes to take a shower because the tubs are painted and paint chips come off and stop up the drain, and there is mildew on the walls. It’s hard to get repairs, and people were lied to about relocation.” Ross also said a health inspection is needed for mold due to health problems. “We live in terrible conditions. The Housing Authority is understaffed, and only has one man to do repairs on all the apartments.”
- Kelvin Owens was also seeking council support for the Veterans Memorial Park. On a different subject, Owens said police officers used to use his driveway to watch for vehicles on Shoreline Park and Bridgewater speeding and running stop signs. Addressing Chief Mansour he said, “I invite you to start doing that again.”
Consent Agenda was read and approved unanimously.
City Attorney Kevin Drummond spoke on the city’s Ethics Ordinance. “This item has been on the agenda several times this year, and the city staff and I need direction on where you’re going with this ordinance. “There are many avenues that can actually force action,” he said. “The current ethics ordinance needs to be repealed or fixed. The members on the committee are good, but they are appointed by the people who they’re going to be hearing complaints about.” Drummond also said there are issues with time limits being addressed in the ordinance, and that someone could bring a complaint about something from 20 years ago. “The time limit needs to be six months.” Drummond also said the members of the Ethics Committee realize the ordinance has problems, and that they have some ideas for change, and he thinks the Council should take suggestions about how it needs to be improved.
Mayor Pro Tem Anna McCoy said she prefers to “work on what we have” rather than appealing the ordinance, and Ward 3 Councilmember Stephanie Warmoth agreed, as well as Ward 2 Councilmember Matthew Momtahan, even though Mayor Leslie McPherson stated that she wants the current ordinance to be appealed, and gave a number of reasons for her view point. However, Drummond said that, since three (3) members of council had already stated they would prefer to keep the ordinance, he suggested that council should ask the Ethics Committee to bring their ideas to a workshop with council, and he urged them to schedule a time to work on the ordinance with the Ethics Board members.
City Manager’s Report was given by Interim City Manager/CFO Jennifer Hallman. She said, regarding the In-House Sanitation versus Contract Services, that Mauldin & Jenkins had emailed a draft feasibility report on August 8th, and on August 15th the city staff would be meeting with Mauldin & Jenkins to discuss the report and refine data/assumptions. She also advised that on July 30th, Integrated Science & Engineering emailed the results of information needed to set a rate structure for developing a stormwater utility.
Hallman also said the traffic study has been completed on the intersection at Cleghorn Street and the Villa Rica Parkway, indicating that a traffic signal will be required. Regarding the “Fortune” Park at Cleghorn, per the contractor, it will be the end of August before the park is graded. Hallman added that the city has a $50,000 grant for the park, and a developer has made a $30,000 contribution to add to that. She also advised the staff is in continuing discussion with veterans and reviewing and narrowing down a site location for that park.
The Butterball property which has long been an eyesore and a point of contention in the city, has now been completed with several hundred tons of dirt graded and over 21,000 square feet of sod installed by the Street and Grounds Departments. July 31st was the groundbreaking for the Gold Dust Pickleball Courts, and the Public Works team has completed the construction entrance and grading has begun.
Hallman also urged everyone to learn more about the Villa Rica Safety Action Plan, and to take the project survey at https://arcg.is/11SWy85 or by scanning the QR code on the city’s website.
Drummond then announced Executive Session to discuss settlement of litigation, purchase of property and personnel matters. When Council came back to Regular Session, Drummond outlined a motion to settle Christner Et Al. vs. the City of Villa Rica case SUCV2025000127 by issuance of a zoning verification letter for parcels 168 0090 and 169 0120, stating that these parcels are annexed into the City of Villa Rica and the Avemore PUD, with additional zoning requirements of the Technology Park Overlay with the same conditions that Council approved after the Public Hearings, those being:
A Development Agreement is required for city water, utilities and sewer capacity conveyance.
Adherence to the TPO
100-foot buffer from all residential zoning
200-foot setback for data center buildings from residential
Generators screened for noise control
Structures to be two (2) feet above flood zones
Travel study to be conducted by applicants
This motion was made by Ward 5 Councilmember Danny Carter, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Anna McCoy, and approved unanimously by Council.
The meeting was then adjourned.