Stockbridge VS City Of Eagles Landing

As we begin to write the following information we want to let everyone know that we are neither for or against Stockbridge or the idea of a new city of Eagles Landing.  This is an informative post.  For some time now there has been a lot of back and forth about the idea of a new city of Eagles Landing being created and Stockbridge is fighting it's creation saying they will be taking part of their city to do so.  Let's go back in history and talk a few facts:

1. The idea of a city being where Eagles Landing is today is nothing new.  It was proposed back in the late 1960's as a city to be called Henry City.  

2.  Later a developer came and created the community of Eagles Landing which was far removed from the City of Stockbridge.  The city limits at the time only went to the rock quarry.

3.  The former mayor the late Rudy Kelley lived in Stockbridge.  They wanted a home in the Windsong Plantation which they got, but in order for him to remain mayor, they had to annex part of that subdivision along with a strip of land down Rock Quarry Rd to it.  Then, they decided to move into the gated part of Eagles Landing and again had a certain area annexed so he could remain mayor.  It was all politics.

4.  It has been mentioned that the people of Stockbridge have never paid property taxes for the city.  That is not true.  The people the city paid city taxes until the State dismantled their police department and the fire department was turned over to the county.  They stopped city property taxes at that time.

5.  The city began talking about having a police department once again, but the only way to have said department will mean they will have to have a property tax to maintain it.  That is a logistical fact.

6.  Stockbridge over the years has allowed developers to come to them to have subdivisions built around the area and thus they would do creative annexations to let them in the city under less than adequate means of construction and smaller lots.  The recent annexation of the property on the west side of I-75 and south of Jodeco Road has been a questionable annexation.

7.  According to the bills before the General Assembly, if there is a City of Eagles Landing formed they will allow Stockbridge to annex other properties and add more people to their city.  There has been made mention that if they form a city of Eagles Landing that it would take over 50% of Stockbridge away and this is simply not true.

8.  The people in the Eagles Landing area are the more affluent and well to do citizens who have the means to take care of themselves.  Similar scenario of the small towns created north of Atlanta by the more affluent which has worked well since their creation.

9.  It has been said that Stockbridge cannot stand on it's own without Eagles Landing, but that shouldn't be the case.  They should not depend on one community to sustain their city.  Stockbridge was a city for a very long time before Eagles Landing was ever built.  They can do just fine if they do the right things in the city.

10.  According to the statistics,  if there is a new city of Eagles Landing created it will be populated with mostly minorities just like the city of Stockbridge.  So, the issue of race should be a moot point.  But of course like everything else this day and time it has raced it's ugly head in this matter as well.

11. Henry County continues to grow and is becoming a hot bed for many different things and another city being added will not make much difference.  There are infrastructure issues that Stockbridge and Henry County need to face and do something about now.  The problem is that when most of the infrastructure projects are due to be built or completed they are obsolete.  Henry County has been a county growing so rapidly, yet are playing catch-up on all the infrastructure issues.  And currently they are failing.  And putting buses on two lane roads are not going to help matters.

12. If they do create a city of Eagles Landing, hopefully the two cities can learn to be friendly to one another.  They don't need to be bitter rivalries because we have already seen too much of that.

In conclusion, there have been a lot of mistakes made along the way in this process that need to be fixed.  There has been a lot bad press and a lot of misinformation flowing about the whole matter.  But when people want to be deannexed and move into another town that means they should have that right with a vote of those involved in that section.  And real politicians learn to compromise to do what is best for the citizens and not what they want for themselves.

The Staff 

An Old Friend Passed Away

The following is about an old friend who passed away recently.  He was remembered by many as being a former mayor of McDonough, but he was much more than that.  He was Mr. Richard Craig who was born on July 1, 1934 and died on January 18, 2018.    Richard was the son of John Hugh Craig, Sr. and Mildred Cowan Craig.    He came from a large family that is well known throughout the area.  His late siblings were Hugh Craig, Jr., Lamar Craig, Robert Craig, Herbert Craig, Larry Craig, and Martha Craig Bolien Watts.   His loving wife Nancy survives him as well as many children.  He is also survived by his brothers Bobby Craig, Mike Craig and Sammy Craig.  I remember Richard talking about his being in the US Army.  He played a key role in the sports, and political area of the county over the years.  He was on the Henry County School Board for ten years.  He loved to play in sports such as baseball at Craig Field on McGarity Road.  He served as councilman of the City of McDonough before serving as mayor.  He was currently on the Henry County Elections Board.  He was a charter member of the Henry County Moose Lodge, past president of the Henry County Kiwanis Club.  He was president of the Henry County High School Booster Club and president of the Henry County Recreation Board.  He was inducted into the Henry County Sports Hall of Fame and the ASA Georgia Umpires and Coaches Hall of Fame. Richard Craig Field is at Alexander Park as well as Richard Craig Park off of Zack Hinton Pkwy.  I remember him coming to eat at the Little Diner on Hood Street in McDonough with my parents Emmett and Elaine Moon.  He worked for Southern Bell at that time out of the building on Griffin Street in McDonough.  He was very helpful to us when my dad had to have open heart surgery in 1974.  I can still see him talking at the Craig Brothers Phillips 66 station in town, which is the welcome center today, with his brothers Herbert and Larry.  We would all usually in up at the Country Kitchen Catfish Restaurant at Barnesville, GA on Saturday nights.  Great memories from my youth. Richard was a forward-thinking man who knew the possibilities of what can be for an area.  McDonough and Henry County lost a true friend when Richard passed away.

Dr. Michael Moon

A New Attack on Personal Freedom by a Local Municipality in Georgia

A New Attack on Personal Freedom by a Local Municipality in Georgia

To begin with I would like to stress that I am not a smoker and never have  been.  I never 

wanted to smoke and it is my right  and choice not to.  And in the same vein, I feel that if 

someone wishes to smoke in their own car or home,  and yard that is their right to do so.

I have heard that the City of Stockbridge in Henry County wishes to create an ordinance that 

says you cannot smoke in your car with a child aboard.  I see this as a governmental intrusion upon the private life of a citizen.  In the Declaration of Independence, it says that people have the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that show three examples of the unalienable rights which the Creator or God and which governments were created to protect. The City of Stockbridge should be protecting the individual right for a person to smoke in their car.  Georgia law says that the citizens car is an extension of their home.  I don't like seeing individual rights abated by the government in any form.  This is a road that has a slippery slope to it that will cause further governmental intrusion into your lives. The most obvious concern is perhaps the most troubling: a fear that these laws invite a new level of government intrusion into people’s private lives. Many people believe that they have a sphere of privacy in their cars, much like in their homes.  For example the following case law is a good point of reference:

In City of Zion v. Behrens,  the Supreme Court of Illinois invalidated a

city ordinance that made it unlawful to smoke tobacco in any public place because it was “apparently an attempt on the part of the municipality to regulate and control the habits and practices  of the citizen without any reasonable basis for so doing.”  The court further found that the ordinance could not be upheld on the grounds of preventing fire and protecting city property because it sought to control smoking in places other than those with highly combustible materials. This also would have carried over into the home and vehicle of the citizen and they found this unlawful. Another case law example is the following:

In Hershberg v. City of Barbourville,  for example, the Kentucky Court of

Appeals struck down a local ordinance that made it illegal to smoke within the city limits of Barbourville because the law was so broad as to make it illegal to smoke within one’s own home or other private premises and vehicles.  They found this unconstitutional. We must stress that we have to protect that which we don't like because if not then we are sacrificing our freedoms in the long run.

In summing up,  the right of privacy is a broad concept, used in diverse contexts to refer to a variety of claims or entitlements. One of the more significant branches of the right of privacy concerns the right of an individual to make personal decisions about his or her life free from government control; that is, the right of individual autonomy. The right of individual autonomy or privacy potentially may encompass matters such as the right to marry, the right to have a family, the right of reproductive freedom, the right of bodily integrity, the right to ingest substances such as alcohol and smoking,  the right to refuse medical treatment. and so on.  The concept of privacy or autonomy often is used interchangeably with the concept of liberty, both referring to a fundamental right of self-determination. The right of privacy is based on the principle that “a person belongs to himself and not others nor to society as a whole.” It embodies a sense of “personhood”—an “autonomy of self”—that should remain free from intrusion or coercion by society or the government. It comprehends that there are certain personal decisions concerning one’s life that an individual should be able to make for oneself free from interference by the state.  The right of privacy has developed primarily through decisions of the United States Supreme Court interpreting the Federal Constitution. It is the right of privacy for a person to smoke in a home or vehicle that is theirs.  If a child is in the vehicle the parent is usually the one who is driving and if they wish to smoke around their child it is their choice as  a parent.  When the government steps into your life in this manner to try and ban you from smoking in your car or home it is another step towards a dictatorial government that has it's fingers in too much of your life as it is today.  And for a city that has been embroiled in too many court cases for over a decade now, they shouldn't  go down this road of attacking a citizens rights.  They should go about the job they were elected to do and make sure the citizens have a police, fire, roads and utilities instead of getting into the cars and bedrooms of the community.

Dr. Mike Moon

Upsetting News From Stockbridge

Mr. Britt, if you would please print this information on your blog.  I am a resident of the City of Stockbridge and attended the June 8th meeting of the city council.  After they finished releasing Ms. Buschman from being investigated about wrong doing towards the charter and being an elected official on the DDA which she explained was the case and if she weren’t one of them would have to be according to the rules of the DDA.  I have also noticed that since a new DDA board was seated that nothing of any worth towards getting the property or money returned to the city that was given away by out going Mayor Alarcon on December 30, 2013.  This should have never occurred.  Then we learn that the old bank building that is known as the Stockbridge Multiplex was bought for $750,000 and renovations were completed at a cost of over $200,000 which gives it a price tag of about one million dollars of tax payer money involved.  Former mayor Alarcon and city
 manager Milliron  put the theater company in there from Avondale where Mr. Milliron is a resident.  Then, this property was given to the DDA.  The theater group is paying $10 dollars a year for a lease.  That’s right only $10 a year. That is roughly 83 cents a month.  Now if this sweet of a deal can be made for other residents let’s go for it.  I am in agreement with Mayor Thompson that the property should be returned before anymore tax money is spent on the building and that it should be as originally proposed as the senior and youth center for Stockbridge and named for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his honor since his father is from Stockbridge.  These are  the facts that we know presently and I am sure there are other revelations that will come forward.  And also one other thing if I might, Mr. Houston Nelson is the new head of the DDA placed in this position by the current council and mayor.  It would seem appropriate that any committee or
 board created and seated by a mayor and council these people should answer to them or be replaced.  The mayor told Mr. Nelson in open session that he is in his office 3 days a week and that he should be reaching out to the mayor not the other way around.  If this person cannot do the job effectively as seems the case then replace him and any other members that are placed there by this council or even dissolve the DDA and create a better program for the citizens of Stockbridge.  This is what I saw and anyone can view on the Stockbridge City website.  Thank you to Mayor Thompson and those who on the council are trying to do the right things for us the people.

W. G.
Stockbridge, Georgia

The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

5th Annual Bubbles of Love Event comes to Locust Grove for the 1st time!!!

Join me Jessica Patton as the 5th Annual Bubbles of Love Event comes to Locust Grove for the 1st time as I partner up with the City of Locust Grove and Locust Grove Day! A day filled with fun for all including great food, vendors, activities, arts and crafts, live music and so much more! Blowing bubbles of love is celebrated across the globe at noon to represent that all children deserve to love and receive love from all parents, great grandparents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles and their extended families. This event takes place as part of Parental Alienation Awareness Day which Sonny Perdue signed and declared for the State of GA in March 2008 to only have Governor Nathan Deal in January 2015 declare it for an entire week! Mayor Robert Price will announce the signing of the same Proclamation acknowledging April 25th as Parental Alienation Awareness Day in Locust Grove as well as present me with a framed copy! Don't miss out on this very important day for the City of Locust Grove, Bubbles of Love and Parental Alienation Awareness Day. Bubbles are provided free to everyone so just bring the kids and family :)

If you would like to donate to make this event as special as it can be for our children please send me a message. Every little bit helps!! Thanks!


This Bubbles of Love Event is sponsored by Jessica Patton with the help of Mayor Robert Price and the City of Locust Grove!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1553266344944264/

There Will Be No Bridge On Jonesboro Rd & The RR Track

There is a lot of talk about the need to build a bridge over the rail road tracks at Jonesboro Rd in McDonough.
Lets take a look at the problem. Traffic is heavy in that part of town. But a bridge is not the answer to the problem.
I have been told that some people that want this bridge are trying to force the issue. They have said that a bridge can be built across the tracks.
Well they are right, it can be built but something they do not understand and that is at what cost the bridge could be built? This is what separates
the Men from the boys. Many that have come into Henry County from other places have not taken the time to learn and understand the history and the people
of the County. The Georgia DOT has said that a bridge is not feasible for this intersection of track. Now lets look at the cost of doing this bridge. Millions of Dollars
will need to be spent on it and where is the money going to come from, you and I in the form of tax money. The DOT has stated that the run up to the bridge
from the square would need to start a few feet behind the welcome center's back wall. They need that so by the time you get to the tracks you will be high enough to
clear the trains. Also look at the lay of the land. Going out Jonesboro Rd from the square is a down hill path to just about 50 yards before the tracks. This will require
massive amounts of fill dirt. On the other side of the tracks you will need a long down slope to about the animal hospital area. Now lets look at even more cost. If you look at the map I have made.

You will see just how much destruction this bridge would cause. In the yellow shaded area is what would be needed to fill the run up. You are talking about taking a lot of homes
and historic houses of the City of McDonough. Plus it would disturb a Confederate Camp Site that is historic as well. The Georgia DOT is not going to plow up historic homes and Civil War
sites. There are other things that can be done to help the traffic. The one way pairs is a good start, as well as the by pass that needs to be finished.
At the end of the day we need to be on the look out for people that don't know what they are doing and trying to change the County. We need to remember we are Henry County
and the outsiders are just like a gnat that needs swatting and forget about. As for the people that want the bridge at any cost lets just say what my Dad would say "you are old enough for your wants not to hurt you". The bridge will not be built Georgia and Henry County has spoken.

Blog Staff.

Another Lawsuit For Stockbridge Georgia

Just when you think it is safe to cross the street in Stockbridge then this happens out of the blue: “Former Stockbridge City Clerk Rhonda Blackmon filed a complaint against the city last month, alleging retaliation and racial discrimination in her non-reappointment last year.
Blackmon, who is white, started as interim clerk Aug. 31, 2012, and became the city clerk Oct. 22 that year. The complaint alleges that she was informed “Jan. 3, 2014, that she had been terminated by the newly elected, majority African-American City Council.”
Named as defendants in the suit, filed Dec. 15 at the Atlanta Division of the United States District Court, are Mayor Tim Thompson, who is white, and African-American council members Lakeisha Gantt and Anthony Ford, whom she said were not lawfully sworn into office, according to the city’s charter.
The three were sworn in Dec. 20, 2013, according to the suit, but they should have been sworn in Jan. 13, 2014, at a regular scheduled meeting that is called to order by the city clerk, and at a meeting in January following their election.”
After all the lawsuits of the past few years in Stockbridge and the mud and gore that has gone on it is never safe to say its over.  There have been lawsuit on top of suit since the Eminent Domain Issue of a few years ago.  It seems to never end.  Stockbridge’s reputation as a quaint and quiet little Georgia town has gone south with the winter geese.
Concerned Citizen of Henry County

The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

After Years Of Getting It Wrong, Stockbridge Finally Gets It Right.

After Years Of Getting It Wrong, Stockbridge Finally Gets It Right.

R.G. Rudy Kelley

Many of my readers are familiar with the saga that has become Stockbridge. Of course I'm referring to the ineptitude of leadership on display at City Hall the past several years, beginning after the defeat of Mayor R. G. "Rudy" Kelley at the polls in 2009, and the death of (arguably) a visionary City Manager, Frank "Ted" Strickland shortly thereafter.

Frank "Ted" Strickland

Throughout the past several years, citizens have been on a roller coaster ride of what may best be described as an old "Twilight Zone" episode, in which the main character is continually caught off guard by strange and unusual events that cannot be explained logically. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the residents of the county as well, since they have also had to endure the sometimes laughingstock-nature of the politics that have become associated with the city of Stockbridge. Sighs of, “That’s Stankbridge fer-ya!” are quite commonly heard from our neighbors outside the city limits.

So without going into the sordid details and naming names or re-living the past, I just wanted to pen an article that gives readers a little bit of hope! Because I can see a tiny light on the horizon with the recent appointment of Vanessa Holiday, my friend and former opponent during the mayoral race last year.  She was confirmed and reappointed to a position she formerly held: City Clerk for the City of Stockbridge. In my humble opinion, Mayor Thompson and the current City Council members have all displayed an amazing amount of good political instincts, mature decision making and intelligent compromise.

Current City Council

For too long we've had to endure the pettier side of politics. Whether it’s the media's attention on the personal squabbles of individual city council members, or the lengths that a mayor will go through to be vindictive against those whom he feels have wronged him. And of course the only ones that are truly hurt in these exchanges are the citizens themselves; the very people that these elected officials were sworn to protect.

Well, during a recently called Special Meeting held on Thursday, December 18th, at 3:30 pm, the City Council, in its effort to replace the former City Clerk who had resigned, made a very difficult decision. Out of the two dozen or so candidates that applied for the position, only a handful were actually qualified. And even less had actually served as a clerk in some capacity. So when I say that the stakes were high, you can believe me, they were VERY high.

Stumbling out of the gates of last year’s historic election, one that saw more voters participate than had ever done so before, the City Council’s track record with appointments to some of the top government spots last year had been dismal. Interim City Manager Ron Finnell resigned back in mid-January before he could really get started. Mike Bush, the former Henry County Finance Director, now the City Treasurer, left after little more than a year on the job. Then, during this past holiday season, our (former) City Clerk, Stephanie Tigner, decided to leave as well. One of the bright spots in all of this has been the appointment of Michael Harris, the former Henry County Planning & Zoning Services Division Director and Interim County Manager. Talk about a “grinder!” That man, his staff and a full host of other municipal employees continue to faithfully execute the task of being about the City’s business.

So here are some of my thoughts regarding the pros and cons of re-hiring the former Clerk to serve again at this critical juncture, and why I think they made an excellent decision.

Vanessa Holiday

- Character: Vanessa’s character is tested, proven and unimpeachable. As long as it’s ethical, moral and legal, we will not have any difficulties in the way she executes the responsibilities of the clerk’s office. This is not to say that others seeking the position didn’t have the same quality of character, but at this critical time, the citizens can’t afford to have another issue with picking the wrong person for this very public, appointed position.


- Experience: Vanessa brings a wealth of experience to the appointed office of the City Clerk; experience that was forged under the bright lights of public scrutiny during one of the most volatile times in the city’s recent history.  During all of the various lawsuits, employee disciplinary problems, a contentious budget process, a much divided city council, and confusing directives -from both appointed and elected officials, including direct and indirect orders to break the law, she never once chose sides and remained a consummate professional.


- Commitment to the Citizens: She is not “hired gun!” She has displayed on numerous occasions her commitment to this community with both her work ethic and community involvement. Again, that is not to say that anyone working for the city as an employee or in an appointed position must live in Stockbridge or Henry County.  But one of the biggest complaints citizens have with the way our local municipalities handle human resource decisions and other appointments, is the tendency to look outside of the county for talent, when what we need is right under our noses! Add to that the fact that 70% of the residents of Henry County travel outside of the county to commute to their jobs and you realize that appointing a qualified applicant, who lives in the area, Stockbridge City Council would be helping to reduce that number, not adding to it. It also cuts down on a lot of unnecessary problems such as transportation issues that do arise from time to time. She could walk to work if she needed to, and I could think of about 524 people who would give her a lift in to work if she needed one.


- Rapport with Current Staff: It would be a very easy transition for Vanessa to integrate with both the (old) staff and the new team of professionals leading our city, because she has maintained great relationships with almost everyone involved. Simply put, her reputation precedes her.


- Community Involvement: The added benefit of choosing Vanessa is that she is also a resident homeowner living within the City of Stockbridge! Her participation over the years within the community with churches, civic organizations and civil rights groups raises her hiring stock to a level unmatched by any other candidate. Not only would it be impossible to require a potential candidate to commit the amount of time and energy necessary to be a “good will ambassador”, it would be illegal.


- Nearly Certified: She is only three hours short of the mandated 100 hours for her certification. On top of everything else she had to contend with, the fact that she was only three hours short of her certification yet again shows her dedication to the city and the citizens. It normally takes the average person four years to be certified.


-Fair Pay: Generally in life, good things don’t come cheap, and cheap things are rarely ever good –or long lasting. In other words, you get what you pay for. The citizens are fed up with the hiring of “hirelings” who are here today and gone tomorrow. Anyone advocating the hiring of someone solely based on how little they can be paid to start is missing the big picture with regard to loyalty and longevity. That’s not to say that we should break the bank, but it is to say that Vanessa has already proven that she not only deserves her former salary, but that the citizens get the better end of that bargain.  Most can testify to her spending late nights and most weekends to stay on top of all that was needed to attend to the incredible volume of work that was needed to keep up with the exhaustive volume of the city’s records-keeping business.

So congratulations are certainly in order for the Mayor, members of the Stockbridge City Council and most importantly, Vanessa Holiday. I’m sure she would have applied without me encouraging her, but I’ll take solace in the fact that after years of getting it wrong, Stockbridge got it right. Look out Henry County, because the City of Stockbridge is on the move!

Houston Nelson.

Houston is a former candidate for Mayor for the City of Stockbridge, Georgia and community leader. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Henry County branch of the N.A.A.C.P., as 2nd Vice-President and Chair, Political Action Committee, the Democratic Party of Henry County, as 2nd Vice Chair as well as the Progressive Citizens of Stockbridge, as Vice-President. He was also recently appointed by Commissioner Bruce Holmes to serve and represent the 5th District on the Board of Directors for the Henry County Council on Aging as an advocate for senior citizens. He can be reached by email at houstonenelson3@gmail.com

 The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following a link on this site.  Any article sent by citizens are their own property.

Pay Raises, Politicians and the People

Pay Raises, Politicians and the People


Pay Raises



If you’re not already in the “know”, the City of Stockbridge City Council will be voting on whether or not to give themselves a pay raise from their current salaries: $8,700 a year for council members and $10,700 a year for Mayor Tim Thompson. I wonder what the line would be on the likelihood of this measure passing if Las Vegas odds makers were to get involved. Would you take that bet?



Following in the most hallowed traditions of our U.S. Congress, Georgia State Legislature and the City of Atlanta, the newly elected members of the Stockbridge City Council have found themselves facing the incredibly difficult task of judging their intrinsic worth 11 months into their new term.



This seemingly innocuous agenda item will be voted on this coming Monday, November 11th, at 6:00 pm during the regular monthly session.



Since the City of Stockbridge so graciously allows citizens three (3)-minutes to speak to council members on any subject they wish, I was a little surprised to find that I was the only person to get up and speak to the mayor and council on this topic.



I started off by saying that theirs is one of the only professions that I know of where the “employees” get to vote on if they deserve to be paid more. We should all be so lucky!



Then I sincerely acknowledged the fact that I know all of them on a personal level; I know that each of them came to the “job” not motivated by how much money they could make, but by their dedication to the community and desire to serve.



You see, part of the reasoning that went into the decision to propose a pay increase, is the fact that, compared to the other 14 or so municipalities that have a similar population to the City of Stockbridge, our city council members on average are paid roughly about $900 a year less. And our mayor is paid about $1,300 less annually.



But since we are “comparing ourselves among ourselves”, the Stockbridge City Council got wind of what they pay Mayor Billy Copeland and his council members down in McDonough. Well, not to be “outdone”, they felt that since the City of Stockbridge has a slightly higher population, they should be paid at least as much as our neighbors to the south, which is $12,000 a year for each council member and $18,000 a year for Mayor Tim Thompson.



The problem with this, I pointed out with the two minutes I had left, was that this comparison wasn’t really apples to apples. First of all, the City of Stockbridge pays for the medical insurance premium of the mayor and city council members that gives them and their spouses’ full coverage, which is not included as part of their compensation package for salary calculations. “How ‘bout them apples?”



My second point was, what exactly have they done to deserve a pay raise? I’m not suggesting that they haven’t been working hard. However, from everything I know, it’s the city attorney, the city manager and other appointed lawyers who do most of the heavy lifting.



Also, let’s consider the four (4) lawsuits that the City of Stockbridge is embroiled in: 1) a suit brought by former City Clerk, Ronda Blackmon, for wrongful termination, 2) another suite brought by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), 3) a countersuit against the DDA by the city and 4) former Councilman Richard Steinberg’s lawsuit against the city for excluding him from executive session. You may begin to appreciate the price-tag the citizens will end up bearing: nearly $750,000 in legal fees this year alone with no end in sight. And city council is considering a pay raise?



Going back to the now infamous eminent domain case against the Meeks’ flower shop, to the removal of Mayor Stuart by City Council, to the more recent ceding of property and slightly over $26-million dollars given away to the DDA, and finally the forced resignation of a council member, the City of Stockbridge continues to engage in activities in which tax payers are not gaining any tangible benefits, but are certainly paying the price.



Politicians



Most would agree that the negative impact of these self-inflicted wounds that our city’s politicians have brought upon us over the past several years is incalculable. The brand that is Stockbridge has been severely tarnished.



So, with one minute to go I offered a suggestion. Since any council-approved vote on a pay increase doesn’t take effect until the next election cycle year (2016), why not pose the question to the public in the form of a referendum? In other words, what’s the rush? A community vote, if you will, on whether or not our elected officials have actually done enough in the minds of the citizens to warrant a pay raise would go a long way to re-establishing trust.



I finally ended my comments by stating my belief that if they voted on the measure without a referendum, then they were just like typical politicians in Washington, D. C. or Atlanta.



As you could probably imagine, my comments were received by a deafening silence (if only looks could kill). But if you don’t agree with your friend from time to time, isn’t the whole point of being a “real” friend that you tell them the truth, even when they may not want to hear it? And continue being their friend even when they don’t agree with you?



The council members may think a raise is merited given the incredible amount of time needed to “fix” the mess left by the last administration. Time spent away from family. Time spent going to Georgia Municipal Association and Atlanta Regional Commission meetings to learn how to be good government servants. But when you run for office, you should know the requirements of the job before you “apply”, and an “employee” shouldn’t have to self-promote for a raise. Their actions and tract record will warrant one.



Now, in all fairness to Mayor Tim L. Thompson, he doesn’t actually get a say in this matter, because he doesn’t vote unless there’s a tie. But he hasn’t spoken out against the measure either.  I mean, why speak out against a measure on which you have no say? The council might just spite you and increase their pay, but not the mayor’s. Oh, what a tangled web we weave!



The People



I respectfully challenge the mayor and city council members of Stockbridge to ask any citizen in the city limits, “Name one thing that the newly elected mayor and council have done to materially improve your situation?”



As a property owner, I see the value of my home being negatively affected by the general appearance of the Hwy 138/ North Henry Boulevard corridor. Homeless people inhabit the area off of the I-75 and I-675 exits. Trash and unkempt landscaping all dissuade real estate professionals from bringing clients to view the homes in the north end of the city. For all of his faults, Ted Strickland spent our tax dollars wisely and kept Stockbridge looking clean, which is one of the things that attracted so many transplants like me to move here in the first place. Incidentally, I raised these same issues over a year ago.







I’m going to go out on a limb and imagine what some of the residents of Stockbridge might articulate if asked:



If I’m jobless, help me to find a job by hosting a job fair. McDonough has one every year. Why don’t we? If we’re going to start comparing ourselves to McDonough, maybe we should start by doing some of the things they do in McDonough to make life better for citizens.



If I’m a parent, give me options! How about an early childhood development option, like allowing Head Start to use the old police station that’s sitting there on Burke Street collecting dust? Or allowing the Boys & Girls Club to use the old fire station on Berry Street to promote programs that provide at-risk teens after school alternatives?



If I’m an adult, with no high school diploma, how about using some of the un-used space at the Merle Manders Conference Center to provide access to G.E.D. classes taught by the Southern Crescent Technical College? I think many residents would be shocked to know that it’s been about three (3)-years now since they stopped providing this valuable resource to the community since the library started its furlough days.



Not one of these ideas actually “costs” us any more than what we’re already paying for in taxes. Each of the aforementioned buildings either has the space, or is already being maintained by the city -though they are not being utilized, or both. And if Rudy Kelly and Ted Strickland could figure out a way to amass a $20+ million dollar Reserve Fund and keep the city looking clean every day, then surely our politicians can figure it out, considering all the money we’ve seen walk out the front door lately!



Again ask the people, what exactly have they done to deserve a pay raise? If the people vote, “Yes”, then I’m all for a pay increase. If not, then it’s back to the people’s business.



You know what? Come to think of it, I should be getting paid for writing this article.







-by Houston E. Nelson, III
A resourceful, penny pinching, outside-of-the-box thinking, unconventional suggesting, fiscally conservative and socially progressive, tax-paying, family-focused, God-fearing, concerned citizen of Stockbridge, Henry County, Georgia



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