Some Euharlee Residents Question New Park

THREE EUHARLEE RESIDENTS ADDRESSED THE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT REGARDING THE NEW JOE COWAN PARK, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED TWO YEARS AGO AND GRADING WORK ALREADY HAS BEGUN ON THE SITE.

BRIAN STOKES, WHOSE PROPERTY ON EUHARLEE FIVE FORKS ROAD BACKS UP TO THE FOUR BASEBALL FIELDS SLATED FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, SAYS THAT WHILE HE’S IN FAVOR OF A PARK, HE’S CONCERNED ABOUT NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION, AS WELL AS PEOPLE WALKING ONTO HIS PROPERTY. HE SAYS THAT HE’LL BE ABLE TO WATCH GAMES ON THE FIELDS FROM HIS BACK DECK.

ART BOOKER LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM STOKES AND SAYS HE’S RATHER SEE A RECREATIONAL PARK SIMILAR TO CARTERSVILLE’S DELLINGER PARK WITH A POOL, TENNIS COURTS AND BASKETBALL COURTS RATHER THAN A SOFTBALL COMPLEX.

HOSTING TRAVEL TOURNAMENTS IS THE ONLY WAY THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO MAINTAIN THE PARK, ACCORDING TO FORMER COUNCILMAN DAVID STOUT, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE COUNCIL’S MEETING.

STOUT TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE ORIGINAL PLAN WHEN THE PARK WAS FIRST DISCUSSED IN 2008 WAS TO HAVE THE BASEBALL FIELDS IN THE UPPER EAST CORNER. HOWEVER, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR RON GOSS SAYS THAT WASN’T THE PLAN HE WAS GIVEN WHEN HE WAS HIRED IN FEBRUARY 2009. AND, HE SAYS THE FIELDS WOULD NEVER FIT IN THAT CORNER BECAUSE OF STATE WATERWAYS THAT CANNOT BE DISTURBED.

THE PLAN FOR THE 53-ACRE PARK WAS APPROVED IN 2009, AND GRADING FOR THE BASEBALL FIELDS IS NEARLY COMPLETE. PHASE ONE WILL INCLUDE THE BASEBALL FIELDS AND A POSSIBLE PHASE TWO WILL INCLUDE MULTI-USE SPACE FOR FOOTBALL AND SOCCER, AMONG OTHER SPORTS. THE PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.

Euharlee gets Two Bids for Sidewalk Replacement

EUHARLEE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TWO WEEKS TO DECIDE ON A BID TO ACCEPT FOR WORK AT FERGUSON FIELDS.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR LEEROY SHEPHERD PRESENTED THE COUNCIL WITH TWO BIDS FOR SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT. SHEPHERD SAYS THERE ARE 18 PLACES WHERE THE SIDEWALK WILL BE TAKEN OUT AND REPOURED. THE BIDS FOR THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC UNTIL AFTER THE COUNCIL’S VOTE NEXT MONTH.

THE COUNCIL ALSO WAS PRESENTED WITH AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE THAT WILL COMBINE THE BYLAWS FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE. ADDITIONS TO THE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ADDRESS AN ANNUAL MEETING DURING THE COMMISSION’S SEPTEMBER MEETING TO REVIEW THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND ELECT OFFICERS FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND VACANCIES OF CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN. THOSE POSITIONS CAN BE FILLED AT ANY REGULAR MEETING.

Cedartown Man Charged with Child Sex Crimes

A CEDARTOWN MAN ARRESTED LAST FRIDAY AFTER AN INTERNET STING IN EUHARLEE WAS OUT ON BOND FROM AN ARREST IN POLK COUNTY AT THE TIME.

JOHN JEFFERSON THURMAN, 34, WAS ARRESTED WHEN HE ARRIVED AT OSBORNE PARK TO MEET WHO HE THOUGHT WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL HE HAD MET ON FACEBOOK. THAT “GIRL” ACTUALLY WAS A EUHARLEE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERNET CRIMES INVESTIGATOR. EUHARLEE POLICE CHIEF DUANE SMITH SAYS THE ARREST COMES JUST ABOUT A MONTH TO THE DAY AFTER THE MOTHER OF A GIRL “VERY MUCH UNDER 16” FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

“THIS STARTED OFF WITH A MOTHER WHO WAS DOING HER JOB,” SMITH SAID. “SHE WAS CHECKING HER DAUGHTER’S FACEBOOK FROM TIME TO TIME. SHE FOUND SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT HER ATTENTION ON FACEBOOK AND HER TEXT MESSAGES ON HER PHONE, AND SHE STARTED QUESTIONING, ‘WHO IS THIS GUY?'”

DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THURMAN SENT THE INVESTIGATOR TEXT MESSAGES AND IMAGES, AND ACTED LIKE HE WAS YOUNGER THAN HIS AGE.

“HE DIDN’T SAY HE WAS 34, BUT HE SAID HE WAS AN ADULT,” SMITH SAID.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES COULD BE FILED AFTER A FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION. SMITH SAYS INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING INTO THURMAN’S COMPUTERS, CELL PHONES AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER VICTIMS.

“WE DON’T BELIEVE SO, BUT BEFORE WE THERE AREN’T, WE WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK,” SMITH SAID.

THURMAN IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SODOMY, AND ONE COUNT EACH OF ENTICING A CHILD FOR INDECENT PURPOSES, CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT AGGRAVATED CHILD MOLESTATION AND ELECTRONICALLY FURNISHING OBSCENE MATERIAL TO A MINOR. SMITH SAYS THURMAN HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF THESE CRIMES IN THE PAST.

ACCORDING TO POLK COUNTY JAIL RECORDS, THURMAN WAS ARRESTED AUGUST 29, 2010 ON AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGE. ROCKMART POLICE CHIEF KEITH SORRELLS SAYS THURMAN WENT TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON PEARL STREET AROUND 3 A.M. TO SEE AN EX-WIFE AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE. WHEN A NEIGHBOR WENT OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE COMMOTION, THURMAN HIT HIM WITH AN ASP BATON, SIMILAR TO THE WEAPON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CARRY. THAT CASE HAS NOT GONE TO TRIAL.

THURMAN ALSO WAS ARRESTED ON APRIL 19, 2010 FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR AND ON MAY 4, 2011 AFTER HIS BONDING COMPANY WENT OFF HIS BOND

THE CARTERSVILLE-BARTOW COUNTY SAFE STREETS DRUG TASK FORCE ASSISTED WITH THE EUHARLEE SURVEILLANCE AND THE ARREST.

No Property Tax in Euharlee

RESIDENTS IN EUHARLEE WILL ONCE AGAIN NOT SEE A PROPERTY TAX. THE EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL VOTED LAST NIGHT TO SET THE CITY’S MILLAGE RATE AT 5 MILLS AND THEN ROLL IT BACK TO ZERO. CITY ATTORNEY BOYD PETTIT SAYS THE CITY HAS ONLY SET A MILLAGE RATE ONCE IN ITS HISTORY, WHICH OCCURRED 3-4 YEARS AGO.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE COUNCIL:
• APPROVED A BID FROM T&T LANDSCAPING FOR $2,600 TO REMOVE THREE TREES IN THE SHAW WOODS SUBDIVISON AND ONE TREE ON MILAM BRIDGE ROAD;
• APPROVED A BID OF $800 FROM HARKIN ENTERPRISES FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON A 17-ACRE RIVERFRONT TRACT OWNED BY THE CITY;
• AND APPROVED A BID FROM C&C GUTTERS FOR $300 FOR WORK ON THE GUTTER AT THE COVERED BRIDGE STORE.

Euharlee Appoints Acting Clerk

THE CITY OF EUHARLEE IS LOOKING FOR A NEW CITY CLERK. THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TUESDAY NIGHT AT A CALLED MEETING TO APPOINT AMANDA SINEW AS ACTING CITY CLERK WHILE CITY OFFICIALS SEARCH FOR A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT FOR FORMER CITY CLERK LIZ DEMPSEY WHO RECENTLY RESIGNED.

AT THE COUNCIL’S WORK SESSION, ZONING ADMINISTATOR RON GOSS PRESENTED THE GROUP WITH A LOW BID OF $800 FROM HARKINS FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON 17 ACRES THE CITY OWNS ON THE RIVER FRONT. THAT PROPERTY RUNS PARALLEL TO A RESIDENT’S PROPERTY, AND GOSS SAYS RUNOFF FROM COVERED BRIDGE ROAD IS ENTERING THE RESIDENT’S PROPERTY AND BACKING UP. GOSS SAYS A DITCH ON THE CITY’S PROPERTY NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AND, TO FIX IT, CONTRACTORS WILL NEED TO CLEAN IT OUT, AND SEED AND STRAW IT, A PROCESS HE SAYS SHOULD ONLY TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE BID AT ITS MEETING NEXT MONTH.

Euharlee Approves Contractor to Fix Retaining Wall

THE EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT APPROVED A BID FROM A CARTERSVILLE CONTRACTOR FOR WORK ON THE RETAINING WALL IN FRONT OF THE COVERED BRIDGE STORE.

THE LOW BID OF $5,687.50 FROM FULL CIRCLE CONCRETE WAS $1,100 MORE THAN AN ESTIMATED FIGURE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, WHICH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR RON GOSS SAYS IS DUE TO ADDITIONAL CURBING, PARKING LOT AND SIDEWALK ENHANCEMENTS, AND GREENSCAPE.

PLANS FOR THE PROJECT INCLUDE REMOVING THE WALL, BRINGING THE SIDEWALK UP PAST THE STORE AND BRINGING UP 130 FEET OF CURB. THE ADDITIONAL CURBING WILL WRAP AROUND TO PREVENT GRAVEL FROM GETTING INTO THE GRASS.

Euharlee to Fix Drainage Problem

THE CITY OF EUHARLEE IS ADRESSING A DRAINING PROBLEM BEHIND THE GRANARY. THE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT APPROVED A BID OF $12,574.52 FROM METRO ATLANTA CONTRACTORS OF EMERSON TO PUT IN ALMOST 40 FEET OF 24-INCH CONCRETE PIPE TO ROUTE THE WATER.

THE CITY ALSO WILL ASK THE CARTERSVILLE-BARTOW COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM BOARD TO HELP WITH THE COST. CITY OFFICIALS SAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER BUILDS UP BEHIND THE GRANARY BECAUSE OF A SLOPE CREATED WHEN THE NEW LIBRARY WAS BUILT. COUNCILMAN STEVE WORTHINGTON SAYS THAT WHILE THE LIBRARY ISN’T THE ONLY SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO IT. RESIDENT JOHN MONTGOMERY, WHO OPERATES THE GRANARY, SAYS THE LIBRARY IS A BIG CONTRIBUTOR TO THE WATER BUILD UP.

THE COUNCIL ALSO ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF A CRUMBLING RETAINING WALL AT THE COVERED BRIDGE STORE. ZONING ADMINISTRATOR RON GOSS RECOMMENDED REMOVING THE WALL, BRINGING THE SIDEWALK UP PAST THE STORE AND BRINGING UP 130 FEET OF CURB. WHILE NO FORMAL BIDS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED, GOSS SAYS $4,500 SHOULD COVER THE PROJECT. THE COUNCIL COULD VOTE ON A BID FOR THE PROJECT AT A CALLED MEETING AT ITS WORK SESSION ON JUNE 21.

Barbecue Competition on Tap for Euharlee this Weekend

DOWNTOWN EUHARLEE IS DAYS AWAY FROM PLAYING HOST TO THIS WEEKEND’S COVERED BRIDGE QUE AS THE FESTIVAL OF GREAT FOOD, LIVE MUSIC AND FUN GETS READY TO TAKE OVER BARTOW COUNTY’S SECOND LARGEST CITY ON SATURDAY MORNING.

EVENT ORGANIZER TOM SHINALL SAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY’S LOSS OF THE GEORGIA BARBEQUE CLASSIC SHOULD ENABLE THE COVERED BRIDGE QUE TO GARNER WHAT SHOULD BE A LARGER THAN EXPECTED CROWD OF COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS ON SATURDAY.

SHINALL EXPECTS THE COVERED BRIDGE QUE TO DRAW CLOSE TO 3 DOZEN COMPETITION LEVEL TEAMS TO THE AREA TO DELIVER THEIR BEST RIBS, BRISKET AND PULLED PORK TO THE MASSES.

THE COVERED BRIDGE QUE RUNS FROM 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. GATE ADMISSION IS FREE.

Euharlee Council Discusses Opportunity Zones

OFFICIALS WITH THE CITY OF EUHARLEE ARE LOOKING AT CREATING OPPORTUNITY ZONES TO PROMOTE JOB GROWTH IN TWO SECTIONS OF THE CITY DESIGNATED AS SLUM AND BLIGHTED AREAS. ONE TRACT IS THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE OTHER IS THE SOUTH SIDE OF EUHARLEE ROAD.

THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE DESIGNATION WOULD MEAN THAT BUSINESSES THAT CREATE TWO OR MORE FULL TIME JOBS THAT ARE NOT FOR A HUSBAND OR WIFE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A $3,500 JOB TAX CREDIT PER JOB FOR FIVE YEARS TO BE USED AGAINST 100 PERCENT OF THE BUSINESS’ CORPORATE INCOME TAX LIABILITY. ANY EXTRA TAXES COULD BE USED AGAINST THE BUSINESS’ PAYROLL WITHHOLDING TAXES. CITY MANAGER TRISH SULLIVAN SAYS THIS WOULD BENEFIT BOTH EXISITING AND NEW BUSINESSES.

LAST YEAR, THE CITY OF CARTERSVILLE WAS GRANTED OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX CREDITS FOR TWO AREAS, ONE IN THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CITY WHERE THE FORMER MOHAWK PLANT WAS LOCATED AND THE OTHER IN THE NOTHERN END WHERE TRINITY RAIL GROUP WAS LOCATED.

Euharlee Considers Revising Comp Time Policy

COMP TIME CARRYOVER FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF EUHARLEE WOULD BE CAPPED AT 40 HOURS A YEAR, ACCORDING TO A REVISION TO THE CITY’S PERSONNEL POLICY.

CITY MANAGER TRISH SULLIVAN SAYS THERE CURRENTLY IS NO CAP AS TO HOW MANY HOURS EMPLOYEES CAN ROLL OVER FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR AND THAT SEVERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE “A LOT” OF COMP TIME. IN THE PAST, EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCRUED SEVERAL HUNDRED HOURS OF COMP TIME, AND MAYOR PRO TEM STEVE WORTHINGTON SAID THAT, AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE CITY PAID 160 HOURS OF COMP TIME TO A POLICE OFFICER.

UNDER THE PROPOSED REVISION TO THE CITY’S PERSONNEL POLICY, EMPLOYEES WITH MORE THAN 40 HOURS OF COMP TIME WILL HAVE TO USE THE EXCESS BY THE END OF THE YEAR OR LOSE IT. SULLIVAN SAYS THAT MOST OF THE COMP TIME WAS ACCRUED BY MAANGERS WHO HAD TO BE AT WORK AT CERTAIN TIMES OUTSIDE OF NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE POLICY REVISION AFTER SULLIVAN AND CITY ATTORNEY BOYD PETTIT TAKE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATION.