by Janice Daniel
The Mayor and Council of the City of Villa Rica met on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Holt-Bishop Justice Center, Municipal Courtroom, 101 Main Street, Villa Rica, for a Regular Monthly Meeting. All councilmembers were present.
The Invocation was offered by Athletic Manager Angel Arrzuga and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by VRPD Officer Jason Miller. Miller also received recognition for 25 years of service with the city, coming to Villa Rica in 2000 after leaving the U.S. Marine Corps where he was in the Military Police. He came up through the ranks, serving on patrol, on the DUI Task Force, worked with 3 different K9s, the SWAT Team and gained advanced certifications in training law enforcement officers. Police Chief, Michael Mansour, stated that Miller has so many accomplishments it’s hard to name them all. Officer Miller received a standing ovation from the Mayor, Council and audience, but he said he couldn’t have made it without his fellow officers.
VRPD Evidence Tech Alexis Perry, CID, received recognition for five years of service, starting in reception at the police department. She is currently working on her Forensic Investigation Degree at Jacksonville State University. In addition to keeping the evidence room organized, Perry also handles crime scenes and is pursuing her Crime Scene Technology certification.
PUBLIC COMMENT from citizens:
- Peg Taylor began with positive comments about the Mayor and Council, and the City of Villa Rica as a whole. She talked about the many wonderful events at the MILL Amphitheater, the Community Market from 4:00 to 7:00 each Monday, and advised that they offer double SNAP benefits. Taylor thanked the Police Department and all the city workers for the summer concerts and the great July 4th celebration. She also said how great the library is and the new restaurant, Captivating Camino as well as Gabe’s who has recently returned to Villa Rica. She said she hopes her remarks might help offset some of the negativity with the Council and the citizens of Villa Rica as a whole.
- Pam Whyte did not continue with Taylor’s positivity. Whyte said the Mayor and Council’s excessive use of Executive Sessions is “legalizing visability” sic.{invisibility}, to hide transparency, to make people disappear from decision-making, “but we will not be silent.” Whyte said, “We have put in so many requests to be put on the agenda, but nobody ever responds. We have sent requests to multiple people, but no one will hear us.” Whyte also said in regard to Executive Sessions, “what you discuss is supposed to be secret, but it comes back to us. If you tell your buddies, you can be decent enough to tell us. Stop consolidating power to control.”
- Alita Farmer said, “Kudos to Community Development. I see street addresses and ward numbers in zoning change requests. We never had that before.” Farmer seemed to imply that people don’t attend zoning hearings because of lack of signage as well.
- John Hanabeck said that he is a combat veteran of the Korean War, and is also founder of the Villa Rica Military Veterans Organization. He asked the Council for support in building a Veterans Memorial Park in Villa Rica, and told them there are over 600 veterans in the city, and “they need support of the city to show respect for what they have done.” Hanabeck also mentioned that a Veterans Walk was in the city’s comprehensive plan six or seven years ago, and said that $100,000 was set aside for it, but nothing was ever done. “We are going to make this happen whatever we have to do, but we have to have designated land from the city.” He said he had met with some of the city’s city managers, and is looking for more commitment of support.” His comments were met with applause from the audience.
- Andrew Newton, a member of Planning & Zoning but at the meeting speaking as a citizen, said he felt that he was misunderstood at last month’s Mayor & Council meeting in that City Attorney Drummond did not think the court cases he cited were relevant to smoke and vape shops. He wanted to clarify that he cited cases that showed examples of what could be done with or without subpoenas, and were more about administration decisions. “The percent of sales method is not the best one to use with smoke and vape shops,” he asserted. “I have checked through Open Records and the percentage of sale method requires audits. The city has never once done an audit.”
- Robert Hernandez said he was there to push for the Veterans Park as well, and also to thank the Mayor. He said he usually doesn’t attend city meetings, but keeps up with everything by watching them on livestream. “You all need to work as a team,” he stated. “It’s embarrassing what I hear in my neighborhood what people say about y’all [the Council]. The Mayor has done a lot. She’s a good person.”
Mayor Leslie McPherson said the Renaissance Plan that citizen John Hanabeck referred to was conceptual, but she agreed that a veterans memorial is needed in Villa Rica, and said she doesn’t want that to be forgotten.
Ward 1 Councilmember Shirley Marchman invited everyone to come to a concert at Mt. Prospect Baptist Church on July 26th where a group from the National Convention is coming to Villa Rica to see some of the things Thomas Dorsey did in the city where he was born. The church is located at 133 Thomas Dorsey Drive.
Consent agenda from the work session of July 1st, 2025 was approved 5-0.
There was a spelling correction amendment to the June meeting where Vivian Lyons was written as “Vivenne,” and City Clerk Theresa Campbell said the correction has been made.
Attorney Kevin Drummond presented an Amicus Brief in support of a Georgia Supreme Court case regarding the City of Milton, Georgia, where the trial court and Appeals Court awarded $35 million due to a traffic accident that involved a mortar planter which was not in their roadway. Drummond said almost every city in Georgia was joining this case due to the fact that the planter was not a “defect” in the roadway, but rather had been there over 30 years and was not in the roadway. He said that an award of $35 million could bankrupt a city and the GMA, Georgia Power, and most Georgia cities want the Appeals Court decision to be overturned. Resolution was approved 4-1 with Momtahan abstaining.
Drummond also led a discussion about the possibility of making changes to the City Charter. He said the State of Georgia allows local governments to self-govern in areas not expressly prohibited by the state; however, there are significant limitations. Local ordinances must not conflict with general laws enacted by the Georgia General Assembly. If a state law addresses a specific subject, local governments cannot create ordinances that contradict it.
The Georgia Constitution also delineates areas where local governments are restricted from altering their government structure in ways that affect elections or appointments without state approval. Also, local governments are prohibited from enacting laws related to taxation, zoning, and land use that conflict with state statues. Drummond was of the opinion that it would probably be better for the city to hire a consultant, such as the Carl Vinson Institute who will compare the current charter with laws that have been passed since the last update, and he agreed to check on what the cost would be to have them do that and let the Council know in the August meeting.
Seven people were approved by Council to be appointed to the Villa Rica Development Authority:
Reappointments Matthew Momtahan, term 2/1/25 – 2/1/29
Dale Schwarzkof, term 2/1/25 – 2/1/29
Rusty Dean, term 2/1/25 – 2/1/29
Thomas Scott Wilson, term 2/1/25 – 2/1/29
New appointments Julie Cepin, term 2/1/25 – 2/1/29
Vivian Lyons, term 8/1/24 – 9/31/28
Shelby Rogers, term 7/8/24 – 9/31/28
Interim Community Development Director, Brecca Carter, presented VA-02-25 for applicant Stepfon Brown and Pro Building, on behalf of Peach State Trucking on the property located at 450 Edge Road within Ward 5 and zoned Commercial Medium Density (C2). Peach State Trucking is requesting variances on their wall signs, billboard signs and wayfinding signs. Four of the ten variances requested were recommended for approval by staff since they did not vary more than the 20% allowed for staff decisions. She said the reason the other six variances had to come before Council was due to the fact that Villa Rica’s sign ordinances weren’t written in anticipation of such a large building.
Applicant representative Craig Allhart said this 140,000 square-foot building will be the flagship property for Peach State Trucking, which is one of the largest tractor/truck dealerships in the county. They sell name brands such as Freightliner, Thomasbilt school buses, and emergency vehicles, providing a service depart and a parts department, which will be employing 60 people when they open with the plans to hire around 70 more diesel technicians. This is the biggest business building in the City of Villa Rica. Councilmember Carter said he lives on Edge Road and that the project looks like a first-class operation. There was also appreciation expressed for the stoplights the developer put on Edge Road.
In the Public Hearing two people spoke in favor of the variances and no one spoke against them. Council had a few questions which were all satisfactorily answered by the applicant or Brecca Carter. All the requested sign variances were approved by Council unanimously.
VA-03-25 was also presented for three landscape variances at 615 Industrial Blvd., Ward 2, zoned Commercial Medium Density (C2). Applicant Skylar Evans said that Scott Evans Crysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram and Nissan is expanding their Carrollton location to Villa Rica. He said the city seems to have a commitment to growth and they want to be a part of that. The dealership will offer sales, service and parts, and they need to optimize the space for displaying the many types of vehicles they sell. Mr. Evans said the lot is slightly below road level and they need these variances to make the business more visible.
The three variances requested are as follows:
1. Parking Area Landscaping required minimum of 10 feet from other adjacent parcels reduced to 5 feet and keep the current opaque fence in pace for screening.
2. Parking lots and parking spaces required minimum separations from all public or private street rights-of-way by landscape screen minimum of 20 feet wide, reduced to 10 feet wide.
3. Interior landscaping for off-street parking area 5% required, reduced to 2.18%.
No one spoke in favor or opposition in the Public Hearing. Councilmember McCoy (Ward 4) verified that the #2 variance was just for the front along Industrial Boulevard.
All three of these variances were approved unanimously by P&Z and the City Council unanimously.
The Financial Report for the month ended May, 2025 was presented by Interim Finance Director, Amanda Long.
Total Cash was at $49,903,902, which is 5% below 5/3l/24 due to some TAD bond proceeds being paid. All SPLOST accounts were down except the 2022 Douglas SPLOST which increased by 87%. Property taxes have been 100% collected in Carroll and 98% in Douglas.
The Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund net income was up from $57,864 in May of 2024 to $271,821 in May of 2025, mostly due to growth in water and sewage taps. Water tap income was up 50% and sewer tap income was up 33%.
Building permits were up 50% from same time last year.
Sales tax income was up 9% from Carroll County and 23% from Douglas County. This should start to be a more consistent number next month when Douglas will be required to start paying monthly rather than quarterly.
Sanitation/Solid Waste net income was up slightly from $88,621 to $96,290, and the self-funded insurance bank balance was $1,988,409. Savings in this fund for this year are at $345,771.
Interim City Manager Jennifer Hallman gave a City Manager’s report in a format similar to what former Interim City Manager Diana DeSanto had set up, showing projects completed, ongoing, and future for each city department. Hallman said the city phone service has been changed to AT&T. An RFP has been sent out for external audit services for FY25, and the Finance Department is currently working with all the departments on the FY26 Budget preparation.
The city is in negotiations with Carroll County for SPLOST funds, and still waiting for the County Digest in order to start working on the millage rate for 2025 property taxes. In response to a question from Council, Hallman said the Little Caesar’s Pizza is moving forward and will be paying $13,000 toward the Highway 78 pedestrian bridge as promised in their development agreement.
The Cowans Lake dam repairs have been completed and Utilities Department is currently working on getting water service lines changed over from lead to copper, among several other projects. The Church Street water main was completed 7/15, and grading will resume on Fortune Parkway toward the end of July.
There was some question about the sod which has been ordered for the Butterballs property since the city had hoped to get a coffee shop interested in opening a business there, but Hallman advised that the city was just trying to make the lot look good. Mayor McPherson said it is still possible the city may get a coffee vendor there.
The Council then went into Executive Session to discuss property, and when they returned to Regular Session, Councilman Carter made a motion that the Council approve the purchase contracts for five parcels of land as follows:
V05 0160004 206 North Carroll Street
V05 0150121 393 Darden Street
V05 0150044 Lot on Darden Street
V05 0150059 410 Darden Street
V05 0150046 105 McCauley Street
This motion was approved unanimously, after which the meeting was adjourned.
.