Stockbridge City Manager Michael Harris issued a statement containing the city’s opinion and the financial terms being discussed.
“The City of Stockbridge and Henry County are in the process of renegotiating their long-standing agreement for police coverage for residents of Stockbridge,” he wrote. “The Henry County Police Department has provided coverage for the City of Stockbridge since 1978. Stockbridge officials assure residents that there will be no lapse in police protection for the city as negotiations continue.”
Aside from paying a previously agreed-upon fee of $500,000 per year for police services, Harris stated that the city has provided additional funds that average $2,617,639 per year over the last five years, and the city also has provided a police precinct building valued at $253,876 annually.
The county has proposed raising the $500,000 fee to $2 million per year over the next ten years, according to Harris, while the city made a counterproposal of $750,000 per year and asked for supporting documentation from the county that would support any increase.
“We believe the County has understated the amount that the City of Stockbridge has been paying for police services,” Harris wrote. “In the meantime, we expect that Henry County will continue to provide police protection for our citizens as we negotiate in good faith.”
Mr. Britt here is a piece that I noticed tonight. Since the restaurant in Henry County that was raising the roof because they didn’t pass the strict health department rules had a retest and passed this time. The local newspaper has five links on the homepage referencing the new article which pretty much roles the health inspectors over the coals like they are villains. They are doing their job and they have taken the scoring to a new high to make sure the restaurants are safe for its patrons. That is what most people want. But instead the paper wants to help tout around the innuendo about the health inspectors. If someone gets food poisoning and dies, then the public will want the head of the inspector who looked the other way to satisfy a owner of a eatery who can’t take it. This is known as attack mode by them and even spreading the word around that the county doesn’t want restaurants. Any one looking around will see restaurants on every
corner. And there are some good ones who regularly have good inspections and if they happen to falter don’t go on attack mode with facts and figures from around the state. The people of Henry County better worry about Henry County and be thankful that these inspectors are doing an outstanding job.
Sean Putnam
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.
Watching the Henry County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday evening was very irritating for my family to watch. We have all known for years that the reason Henry County was hired to provided police services for the City of Stockbridge is because of the bad police department that existed in the middle 1970’s. Old Chief Collier and his men were always going after people with out of county tags. The State of Georgia came down hard on the City and when Rudy Kelley was elected Mayor in 1978 he dissolved the police department with the aid of the Stockbridge City Council and in the process hired Henry County to provide police service for the city. Now the Board of Commissioners feel that it is time for the city to pay much more money and the city cannot see tripling the price they pay for their service and then let them have a nice precinct building for a low price. Sounds like the $10 a year rent on that old bank building. We listened as the
Commissioners were ready to throw the citizens of Stockbridge out with the bath water. Commissioners Holmes and Prince were being very vocal about not wanting to work with the city anymore. Commissioner Barham felt that the police service should not be turned away from the people. My brother said that the citizens pay enough property taxes to the county to cover any police service that is offered. He said it sounds like double pay to him. Mr. Prince made a remark saying that it wasn’t fair to the people of Locust Grove not to have a police unit available because it is in Stockbridge. He needs to understand that Locust Grove has had it’s own police department all along with over 20 officers at any given time. And I have a good friend who lives in the Locust Grove area and he said that there are always police and sheriff’s vehicles going to the shooting range outside Locust Grove. My brother said that Prince needs to do another assessment
of the situation. If it weren’t for the begging of current sitting County Manager Cheri Mathews and County Attorney Jaugstetter the commissioners would have taken the police from Stockbridge last night. Instead they will meet again on July 7th and hopefully the people from the county manager’s office can meet further with the people from the city of Stockbridge and bring a resolution to this matter that will be the best for both parties. If the City of Stockbridge has to create its own police department then they will likely have to start having another city property tax for the citizens. This will make many growl because they haven’t had a property tax in years. The whole matter is using the citizens as pawns in the game that is being played with the lives of those who must be protected. My father said that our only hope lies with the talks between the County Manager and the City Manager Mr. Harris and hopefully Mayor Thompson. We live off
of Flippen Road and in the complex across the road from our home is where the gang killing happened several years ago. With the influx of people the police will be needed in Stockbridge. The people are waiting for answers and decisions instead of threats and bickering. That has gotten old. It is time for those who are elected to lead to become true statesmen and lay aside petty grievances.
H.B.
Stockbridge
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.
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.
“Freedom”
My friends if you ever wondered what freedom means just go by a local cemetery or military cemetery. Look at the graves that gave the colonies freedom from Great Britain. Look at those graves that protected her against Great Britain in the War of 1812. Those graves that were the resting places of those defenders of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas of 1836. The graves of the troops lost in the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-1848. Then the horrendous total of graves that came from the American Civil War between 1861-1865 which totaled over 700,000. There were places such as Bull Run, Shiloh, The Wilderness, Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, Chickamauga, Petersburg, The March to the Sea, just to name a few that people still remember and discuss to this day. Then there were the soldiers who died taming the West in the 1870’s with losses such as Custer’s Last Stand at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Then the Spanish American War of 1898 that started with the
sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Then the Philippine war of 1899-1900. A war began in Europe in 1914 that would begin costing the lives of Americans in ships going to Europe by the sinking of them by the German U-Boats. The United States entered the Great War in April 1917 until it ended in 1918. This was the World War One that took so many lives in the trenches of France. Then only a few short years later we entered another even bigger war that was global that began in 1939 by the crazed dreams of a madman named Adlof Hitler. We entered the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This war was a horrible war that lasted until 1945 with the dropping of the Atomic Bombs to end the war that was called World War Two. We fought in North Africa, Italy, from Normandy to Berlin, Germany. We fought from islands in the Pacific known as the Philippines where we were defeated at Bataan, Corregidor, and then
the Bataan death march that claimed thousands of men. We fought at places like Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and many others.
Then with the dawning of the Atomic Age we then went into what would be known as a Cold War that lasted till the Soviet Union broke up. But in between there were hot spots like the Korean War in the early 1950’s, Vietnam which was from the early sixties to we left Saigon in 1975. A long black wall in Washington bares the names of the over 58,000 who died there. Then we were involved with the war with the rebels in Nicaragua and El Salvador, and the Cubans in Grenada. There was also the Marine Barracks suicide truck bomb in Beirut, Lebannon. We then went to the Middle East to fight Saddam Hussein of Iraq who had invaded Kuwait in 1991 and we drove him back into his country. Then, our fighting men and women went to the Balkans to support the war in Kosovo. Suicide bombers killed several on the U.S.S. Cole in the Middle East. We were attacked by a power seeking monster on our own homeland in New York on September 11, 2001 by the suicide terrorists of
Osama Bin Laden. This launched us into the War on Terror which continues to this day. We have fought in Iraq to see the downfall of Saddam Hussein, we are fighting in Afghanistan, we sent a team into Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden, but more trouble is brewing with a new group known as ISIS. The entire Middle East region continues to be a powder keg.
This is from the Bible of wars and rumors of wars that will come. But this is also how we have kept our freedom. Freedom is not bought freely it is through the blood of the many thousands over the years who gave their lives so that America would be free. So, remember those graves on the hill over looking the beaches of Normandy, France; the graves all across the Pacific, and those graves here in the United States in places like Arlington Cemetery, Andersonville National Cemetery, Marietta National Cemetery and many more. Stand for a few moments today and give honor to those who have fallen to give you this right. We are the United States of America. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.” My Country ‘Tis of Thee Sweet land of liberty of thee I sing, Land where my Father died, Home of the Pilgrims Pride, From
every mountainside let Freedom Ring.
Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Pastor Dr. Mike Moon, 1st Lt. USAFSC Honorably Discharged.
I find it really hard to understand why people picked to be on the ZAB and the DDA by the current City Council would want to protest the very people they represent. It is a misnomer for them to even contemplate such an action while trying to be a part of the city government per se. There is a dual problem here. One the city council needs to handle their business accordingly. And two those who are representatives of the city on various boards need to find a way to communicate with those that chose them without going out in front of the City Hall looking like you are in Missouri. The leader of this rabble complains that there is too much media attention and now he rouses this event up in hopes of gathering media attention not for the right reasons though. He plans on running for city council and wants to try and drum up a base to have him elected. I personally would not be able to vote for this type of person because they are just enhancing their
own agenda. If you are in league with this person it might be wise to distance yourself from him because all he will bring you is trouble and more angst in the city.
Chris Goodman
Stockbridge, Georgia
Protesting in Stockbridge really doesn’t help anything because the message is tied to the run for office by a self appointed mouthpiece.
Donald
I believe it is totally unacceptable for a person to attack the city and try to call it a rally for jobs. He is just looking for a way to promote his agenda to run for office. It is a cheap way to do it on the backs of others.
Maurice James
Above all we need more jobs in the city. With that said we don’t need protests to bring more negative publicity in the press about Stockbridge. No one asked Alexander to be our public relations person.
Monica Morales
This protest/rally is another black eye on the City of Stockbridge by one that is supposed to support the City according to his past posts.
Margaret Juanita Emerson
I drove by the City Hall in Stockbridge and there were only 8 people at the protest rally. Looks like this petty little man’s influence only goes to a very few.
Alicia Thomas
The protest didn’t effect anything inside the building. 6 or 7 people can’t make much of an impression. Then there was what was happening inside the building with some drama included with former councilwoman Gilbert being ejected from the room by the Mayor for her continued growling. Then the proceedings continued until past 1:00am when the council decided to stop tonight and plan more discussion at another date to make a decision. Ms. Buschman called J.T. Williams and Houston Nelson of the DDA to be her witnesses. The lawyer bringing the charge told them at the end that the point was not what the DDA people had to say it is that Ms. Buschman broke the charter. She violated her oath of office and more.
Lindsey McKay
Ellenwood, Georgia
This protest at City Hall Sucked!!!
Josie Slick
R. G. Rudy Kelley
July 26, 1934 - May 3, 2015
R. G. Rudy Kelley, age 80, of Stockbridge, GA died Sunday, May 3, 2015. He was born in Kelleytown, GA to the late Clifton Cloud and Raleigh Vee Crumbley Kelley. Rudy was Presbyterian, a Veteran of the United States Army, Owner / Operator of Southside Tire Company. He served as Mayor of Stockbridge for 31 years. While serving as Mayor, he was a member of Atlanta Regional Commission. He was owner of Wireless ETC. Rudy’s favorite past time was a round of golf. He was a member of the Eagles Landing Country Club. He was a loving husband, father,and,grandfather.
Mr. Kelley is survived by his wife of 59 years Mary Jo Kelley; children, Rudy (Natalie) Kelley, Jr., Kim Kelley, Kristy (Chris) Harris; siblings, Billy Kelley
Mary Ann Brisendine; grandchildren, Anna and Lauren Harris; and Kassie Bella his four legged daughter.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at First United Methodist Church of Stockbridge. Interment will follow at Kelley Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 5, 2015 from 1:00 - 3:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Funeral Home.
I will truly miss Rudy (Mayor Kelley) as he was a long and good steward of the City of Stockbridge. I knew him before he ever became Mayor of the city. His family being from Kelleytown and his brothers and his sister knew my family as we lived in McDonough. My uncle grew up with them. He was the late Sam McCullough, Jr. or “Little Sam” as he was known. His parents Sam and Myrtice McCullough are buried at the Kelley Presbyterian Church on Airline Road. I remember Rudy having his tire store underneath the old Moseley Furniture Store Shopping Center on North Henry. Then, he built Southside Tire on the property next door. He saw a lot of changes come to Stockbridge during his tenure. The hwy through town was four laned and a bridge built over the railroad. He began in the old city hall on North Berry Street that was torn down to build the Ted Strickland Community Building. He was mayor in the City Hall at the corner of S. Lee Street and N. Henry Blvd. Then the new city hall is named for him. Rudy did a lot for people over the years to help them and those who know this do remember it. I know my late father was a friend to Rudy and knew that Rudy was a good man and tried his best to do what was right for everyone in business and city hall. I saw Rudy at the funeral of former Councilman G.W. “Jr.” Evans and then at the dedication of his painting at city hall recently. Lord I know that Rudy was always there when needed. I remember him shaking my hand when I shared that big award that time. He said that I put the county and city on the map. I told him he was being too gracious. I remember seeing Rudy and Miss Mary Jo a while back at the Walgreens Drugstore and he never failed to speak and have a few words with me. Time is passing quickly my friends and so many of those that I have known over the past 45 years are passing along quickly now and we are getting to the time when we will be stepping over to the other side. Some of us sooner than others but the time is getting near. I want to say to the family that I respected Rudy and I want them to know that the Lord is there for them at this time because it is a time of reflection and memories. May God Bless You All.
Pastor Dr. Mike and Linda Moon
