Citizen Questions Hogansville Mayor Again on Transparency

By Todd Pike

Prior to the March 17 Hogansville City Council meeting, two public hearings were held, with citizens being able to respond if they chose. In the first hearing, Paul Jarrell of the Three Rivers Regional Commission gave a five year update on the city’s Twenty Year Comprehensive Plan, which helps establish Hogansville’s vision for the future. It looks at a priority list for the city and determines what needs to be changed or addressed, on topics such as housing, land usage, tourism and transportation. Those involved in this plan are the city staff and planning commission, the Three Rivers Commission Staff, regular citizens, a steering committee made up of DDA and businesss leaders and the city council and mayor. The plan is free to the city through the Department of Community Affairs. The next public hearing on the plan will be in August or September. 

Next, Matt Brune from Seefried Properties spoke on proposed variances for Project Hummingbird, behind Ingles and bordered by East Main Street and Interstate 85. These variances included height restrictions for buildings being raised from 40 to 56 feet, 8 foot instead of 6 foot fences, a reduction of over 2,000 in the number of parking spaces required, wheel stops not being required at every parking location and a retaining wall height change. As with the first public hearing, no citizens chose to speak. 

After the council meeting was opened and the consent agenda approved, a public appearance was made by Mike Johnson for the third time in two months. Again he spoke about the council’s lack of transparency. He claimed the mayor was listed as secretary of the Pioneer Group which owned an abandoned house on the corner of Johnson and Marshall Streets, across from the library. He wanted to know if complaints had been made about the home and why it wasn’t scheduled for demolition. Johnson also made a claim that homes may get burned down if certain people wanted them gone and stated he hoped his home at 302 Pine Street didn’t get burned. He then attacked the mayor about Hogansville’s high utilities. He stated that it looks like one or two people want to control the city with policies. When his time was up, Johnson claimed he would be back in two weeks at the next meeting. 

City Manager Lisa Kelly then responded that the city had hoped to acquire the property on the corner of Johnson and Marshall, tear down the home and build the library there. However, it was full of lead and asbestos and the 2009 or 2010 estimate to demo the home was $700,000. Today, it would be well over $1 million. She said the city hopes the owner will one day choose to remedy the situation, but the city can not and will not spend that much taxpayer money to demo the building. 

In new business, two ordinances under UDO the city has adopted, were tabled because council members Neese and Ayers were absent. The variances for Project Hummingbird, discussed in the public hearing, were approved. Another buffer encroachment for Project Hummingbird, which the EPD and Corps of Engineers had approved, was also approved. Lastly, twelve sewer monitors to be installed and analyzed by Turnipseed Engineering ,to find and reduce rainwater getting into the sewer system, were approved at a cost of $27,600 per year. 

Kelly then stated resistration for the GMA Conference in Savannah opens March 26 and for council members interested in going to reserve their spot as soon as possible. She reported that Constant Contact, which gives updates (for the library, Active Life Center, Parks and Rec, etc.) and emergency notifications for Hogansville residents, has reached 450 subscribers, Anyone interested can sign up in the lobby of City Hall. CSX Railroad will soon be doing some upgrades and the Bass Road crossing will be affected, but those in town shouldn’t experience any delays. Also, check out what’s coming to the Royal Theater at 1937royaltheater.org.

Police Chief Jeffrey Sheppard said 20 people took refuge in the police station during the storms on March 15-16. The tornado sirens went off because a tornado was reported across the Alabama state line in Lee and Chambers counties. Use of the Red Speed Cameras by the elementary school has been delayed until the DOT can repair a sign. The next blood drive in Hogansville will be May 3 from 1-5 pm at the City Annex Building.