The Carrollton City Council held their regular meeting on Monday, June 7, 2021, where Mayor, Betty Cason, all Council members, and City Manager, Tim Grizzard, were in attendance. Mayor Cason called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Invocation was offered by Mayor Pro Tem, Jacqueline Bridges.

Financial Director, Jim Triplett, presented a public hearing of the proposed 2021/2022 Budget for the City of Carrollton. In total, the FY2022 Budget is a break-even amount to FY2021 in regard to revenues.  Triplett said that he is not aware of any large equipment or building purchases anticipated during the upcoming Fiscal Year, and that the City weathered the pandemic of 2020/21 very well, that all taxes held well, and the city is financially strong.

The City is receiving a lot more money due to tax law changes in Georgia regarding Title Ad Valorem tax, the sales tax continues to be solid, new businesses continue to come in, there is a solid growth in building, and intergovernmental revenues all continue to be good. He advised that grant money is available for lost revenues in the Cultural Arts area.

He announced a 4.5% cost-of-living increase for all full-time city employees, and there will be no millage rate increase for property taxes. He reported that the Hotel-Motel industry was hit hard by the pandemic, but is now bouncing back. Triplett also informed the Council that, since the city does not keep a large capital account in the general fund, any major equipment or property purchases will come out of the SPLOST funds. 

The final consideration for approving the budget will be at the July 12th Council meeting, since advertisement and web-site posting has to be completed first. Line-by-line increases and decreases in budgeted expenditures can be examined there or in person at City Hall.

City Manager, Tim Grizzard, expressed that the City of Carrollton has the lowest property taxes anywhere around, and that Carrollton has an extremely high level of services at an extremely low cost, in comparison with most other Georgia cities. He also expressed great pride in the Carrollton Police Department, which he said is years ahead of most others across the county. He stated that Joel Richards has long-since implemented practices in the Carrollton Police Department that are now showing needful in the national spotlight.

Mayor Cason also mentioned that part of the one-million-dollar increase in the police department budget also covers the cost of the police officer who is part of the Mental Health Advocates Mobile Response Unit, and also that the Police Department is a big part of community events, and do so much more than just arrest people.

She also reported that injured Police Officer, Rob Holloway, is doing well but has a long way to go, and she urged everyone to continue to remember Rob and his family in prayer. She also commended the City’s department heads’ management for getting work done and saving money at the same time, and staying within their budgets.

Public comments were offered by Annette Boykin, urging the city to come together to build on the great foundation laid in Carroll County to bring life better for all people in the community. Erill Nicks of Temple expressed concern about the increase of the police department budget. She asked the Council whether any progress had been made in the arena of affordable housing.

J. Nevin Smith, City Attorney, brought before the Council Resolution 04-2021, which is a Valdosta Housing Authority Bond Issue proposing renovation of the Club Apartments, a senior housing project on Cedar Street. The Bond Issue is part of a larger housing authority renovation project across the state, and will be done at no cost to the City or the City Housing Authority. The resolution was approved by the Council 5-0.

County Commission Chairman, Michelle Morgan, introduced the new Carroll County E-911 Director, Clay Patterson, to the City Council. Clay grew up in Haralson County and graduated from Haralson County High School, from which he went directly into law enforcement. He has been P.O.S.T.-certified since he was 18 years old, and worked for then Bartow County Sheriff’s Department as well as Police Chief for a small Police Department there. He got his Bachelor’s Degree from Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia, and is now one semester away from obtaining his Master’s Degree in Communication Studies at the University of Alabama. While working for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Clay applied to and received  the February 26th appointment to Carroll County E-911 Director.

Clay was one of 14 Georgia E-911 Directors invited to take part in the first 911 Director’s Academy in the last few weeks, where he was able to make connections to implement a cell-phone 911 Caller Location Accuracy Detection program that can locate a cell phone caller to within 4 meters of their physical location on Google maps. The previous distance was about a thousand meters, or as much as a half-mile, so this is a great advantage for people in a dangerous situation who want to call 911 without having to let others around them know they have called.

He has also started the process to start the implementation of Text 911 at an $18,000 cost savings to the county. He hopes to be live with that within 200 to 250 days, so he wanted to emphasize to the public, PLEASE DON’T TEXT to 911 yet. He will announce when the text program becomes available.

The Mayor presented two Proclamations of Recognition for groups from Parks and Recreation programs, Director, Jodie Ivey. The first was for the State Track Meet which took place in Carrollton during May 13, 14, and 15, and in which the Carrollton Parks and Recreation Track and Field Team were the GRPA State Champions. One Hundred athletes participated in this season, 19 individuals along with 6 relay teams earned medals by placing in the top 3 places. Carrollton had a record 15 GRPA State Champions, 11 individuals and 4 relay teams crowned.

The second Proclamation was for the Recognition of the Carrollton Parks and Recreation Flexettes Competitive Gymnastics Team, whose winning season chalked up numerous 1st place wins in state and regional competitions. Mayor Cason remarked upon the number of hours spent training by these athletes and the dedication of their parents to take them to events all over the state, and how the hard work paid off in spite of covid and all the difficulties it presented.

The Council then called on Patrick Eidson to present rezoning requests as follows:

–        David Henry of Cool Roofing Company, requested rezoning of 566 Newnan Road (Ward 3) from C3 (neighborhood commercial) to C-2 (general commercial) for the purpose of a small office for Cool Roofing Company, and to develop a small used auto sales business. This item was tabled until David Henry can be present to answer questions the Council presented.

–        Annexation, rezoning and waiver request for 1131 Bankhead Highway (Ward 3) by Richard Culpepper of CDI Development. He requested annexation from Carroll County for C-2 (general construction) to develop a multi-tenant commercial complex. He also requested a waiver to allow more than one parking space in the aisle between the roadway and building, and a waiver to allow two free-standing signs per lot. This request was approved with a vote of 5-0.

–        Rezoning request for Maple View Drive (Ward 4), tax parcel C08 0330197, 20.13 acres from ER-3 (Estate Residential, 3-acre minimum lot size) to a Residential Planned Development of 83 single-family homes. The Planning Commission approved this request with a vote of 8-0, contingent upon the site plan as presented, which includes:

4.1 units per acre

Open and recreational space with pool and playground

Set-backs: zero front side, and rear setback (minimum structure   separation) per building code

50-foot rear landscaped buffer adjacent to properties located in Heritage Hills subdivision

This group is represented by Josh Chapman and Ben Garrett, and Mayor Cason commented that it is a good thing for the City to have additional housing on the west side. Grizzard mentioned that an adjacent Senior Care Facility is also being considered, but won’t require rezoning. He asked that the developers, as a condition of rezoning, have a hydrology test run on this property because of silt spillage in the past, which he thinks was due to proper preventive measures not being taken,  rather than any problem with the land itself. The Council approved the request 4-0 since Councilmember Bob Uglum had recused himself from the presentation.

In other business the Council considered the purchase of two new vehicles for the Parks Department to replace two current vehicles that will come out of service.

1.      One-ton rear wheel extended cab truck with service/utility bed, four-wheel drive from low bidder, Thornton GMC, at $47,016.

2.      Mid-size SUV, GMC Terrain from low bidder, Thornton GMC, at $23,776

Tony Richardson stated that both purchases would come out of the Parks Department budget. Purchases approved 5-0.

A request was made by the Community Development Director to reappoint Kristi Garrett to the Historice Preservation Commission. Approved 5-0.

Another request was made by the Community Development Director to reappoint the following to the Arts Commission:  Laurie Fleck, Clint Samples, Michelle Conerly, and Andrea Chapman. Approved 5-0.

Comments by the Mayor and Councilmembers:

Councilmember Uglum, Ward 4, thanked the Mayor for noting the T-shirt he was wearing in honor of Police Officer Rob Holloway, and also mentioned that former Carrollton Police Sergeant, Stacy Williams, now Sheriff of Haralson County, was on the news for the huge arrest of five people for trafficking of kids. He congratulated Sheriff Williams for his good work.

Councilmember Ledbetter, Ward 2, was excited about improvements made to the amp, and all the activities that will be going on there. Check out their website.

Mayor Cason had so many people asking about the amp, so she also mentioned the events listed online for the amp, as well as the 4th of July parade, which will be Saturday, July 3rd. The Bike Ride Across Georgia is staying in Carrollton, the only city they’re spending two nights in, because Carrollton has so many things to offer, especially the Greenbelt. So the Mayor and Council urge everyone to be looking out for cyclists to prevent any accidents.

Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, Ward 1, announced she will be having a Clothing the Community event on June 12th from noon to 6:00pm at 215 4th Street West Legend Park. They will have non-perishable items for people that need help, they will be providing hot dogs and hamburgers, a wet jumpy house (so kids, wear your bathing suit) as well as a dry jumpy house, everything is free, and everyone is invited. They will be honoring Ora Bell Clark, who hosted a gospel radio station in Carrollton for 46 years.

City Manager Tim Grizzard stated that in these strange times, materials are hard to come by, and they are even having trouble getting the rubberized speed bumps for Ward 1, but the City has completed the sidewalk from Brown Street to tie it to Stewart Street so people can walk to the library. The first phase of the shore-line boat docks for Lake Carroll (Ward 2) is out to bid, and the bids will go out soon for the new construction at City Hall.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.