The Spalding County Commissioners met Monday night November 2nd at the Courthouse Annex, During the meeting the Commissioners: Approved a recommendation from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission to establish a community neighborhood passive-park at the Quilly Street Property asking the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission to find out if the citizens in the community want a park and to come up with a plan on how to proceed to get partnerships to fund the project.
The Quilly Street Property is a part of a 130 acre parcel that includes and is contiguous to Dundee Park and Thomaston Mill Village Park located on North 9 th Street. This property also includes the “old rock quarry”, utilized by Dundee Mills. This facility as a whole is listed in the master plan as a passive recreation area to include but not limited to items such as walking trails, pavilions, playgrounds, a dog park, open-practice field space, essentially all recreational uses except for the construction of major athletic facilities.
The Commissioners approved 2016 Alcohol Beverage License Renewals for Retail Sale of Beer and Wine for the following:
362 Express located at 1600 Williamson Road, Griffin, GA.
Circle K Store #2723331 located at 3420 Jackson Road, Griffin, GA.
Coles Corner located at 7051 Newnan Road, Griffin, GA.
Copeland Grocery located at 1578 Highfalls Road, Griffin, GA.
Exxon Food Mart located at 2295 U.S. Hwy 41, Griffin, GA.
Fast Food Mart located at 1251 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA.
Food Station located at 1779 Zebulon Road, Griffin, GA.
Highfalls Country Store located at 2662 Highfalls Road, Griffin, GA.
Huckaby’s located at 7652 Hwy 16 West, Brooks, GA.
Ingles Market #457 located at 1735 Zebulon Road, Griffin, GA.
JK Foods Valero located at 390 Airport Road, Griffin, GA.
JV’s Corner located at 1700 Zebulon Road, Griffin, GA.
Lakeview Country Store located at 3970 North Expressway, Griffin, GA.
Petro South located at 1639 North Hill Street, Griffin, GA.
The Commissioners also Approved a New 2015 Alcohol Beverage License for Retail Sale of Beer and Wine for Super Food located at 2529 Old Atlanta Road, Griffin, GA.
Also approved was a request from Republic Services for a letter of approval for proposed major modifications to the Pine Ridge Landfill. The request was approved on condition that Butts County approve the same request. The landfill is in Butts County. The landfill receives waste from Griffin’s Transfer Station and Spalding County’s collection sites.
The Commissioners approved the final plat for Sun City Peachtree Subdivision – Pod 37 A. And 38 B. And the acceptance of Right-of-Way Deeds.
The Commissioners also approved the purchase of a used bucket truck for use by various departments. The cost of the truck is $39,710 to be lease purchased over a 3 year period.
The Commissioners approved on first reading an ordinance to amend the county Punishment Enforcement Penalty from $500 to $1000. The maximum penalty allowed by state law changed from $500 to $1,000 in 2010 and the change was never documented in the county Code of Local Ordinances.
The Commissioners discussed the possibility of allowing the Spalding County Parks and Recreation Department to continue as the facilitator for Youth Football in Spalding County for calendar year 2016. The Department believes that with a new PR-program and more sponsorships they can reduce the cost to players in the football program. The commissioners recommended the Recreation Advisory Board come back to the County Commissioners with a proposal before years end.
The Commissioners discussed the use of County Equipment for off duty private work by Law Enforcement Officials. Commissioner Flowers-Taylor indicated her concerns were they were driving Cars, buying gas, and wearing guns paid for by county taxes. Other county employees do not get to use county equipment on part time jobs. And the county gets no benefit from their part time jobs. She said, If someone is hurt by an officer on a part time job can the county be sued?
Sheriff Beam answered that this practice has been going on for a several years and not just in Griffin. It’s a practice almost state wide and in most larger agencies. And a off duty officer is still subject to call. When he answers a call he goes off the part time clock and on county time. He does not get paid twice. And while on a part time job can, and often does make arrests. And his/her presence, at ball games, parades, special events, and as security does benefit the county. He doesn’t have enough deputies to provide these services. If he had enough deputies and they were paid more they wouldn’t have to work part time jobs. There are now 6 or 7 job openings in the Sheriff Department. WKEU called several surrounding agencies indicated that they had the same problem keeping Deputes when they became qualified. You cant blame them as they go to agencies that have more pay and benefits.
This has been a problem for the past 20 years WKEU was first to identify the pay differences with our Sheriffs and Police Departments. The other agencies sate wide, even smaller than Griffin, have learned this lesson and they pay more to keep their personnel and give them benefits like a take home car, as well as paid heath insurance in some cases. The agencies that do this usually rarely have vacancies. They have learned that pay, benefits, and appreciation of their law enforcement and fire personnel have kept morale very high, in that officers do not have to consider a part time job to help their family and they are at home more.