Data Centers Still Of Concern To Hogansville Residents

By TODD PIKE
The Hogansville City Council held their first regularly scheduled monthly meeting on March 2, with all members present. After approval of the consent agenda, Nicole Ayers of the Hogansville Charitable Trust spoke about a new program the Trust has funded through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Foundation. Any child under the age of five, who has a Hogansville 30230 address, is eligible to receive a free book each month until they turn five years old. The program started in February and close to 90 local children have already been signed up. Parents can sign their children up for the program at the Hogansville Public Library, Hogansville Elementary School or West End Learning Center. 
Paula Darden then made another citizen appearance about data centers and emergency situations. She stated that data centers use numerous lithium- ion batteries as a part of their short-term backup energy source and they can cause fires if damaged or over-used. Batteries should be replaced immediately if damaged because fires caused by them can be hard to extinguish and have been known to reignite hours or days later. She quoted from an article that said damaged batteries are often stored in unsafe rooms if no safety codes are in place to regulate them. Darden urged the council to have proper fire codes and safety measures in place before contemplating data centers. Safety, not money, should be the first concern.
In new business, the council voted to fill positions on several local commissions. For the Hogansville Planning Commission, they voted to reappoint Andrew Smith and Adrain Porter, whose terms were expiring. They voted to appoint Alexandria Boyette and Jackson Fussel to seats on the Hogansville Downtown Development Authority, and to readvertise for applicants for an existing empty seat. John McKibben was reappointed to his seat on the Hogansville Development Authority and Carol Smith and Nicholas Murphy were reappointed to their seats on the Hogansville Historic Preservation Commission. 
In her City Manager’s Report, Lisa Kelly said that lead and copper pipe rules revision bid notices will soon go out, with funds for repairs covered by a GEFA grant. The city must check 144 more areas to see if pipes need to be replaced, with the majority of them on East Main Street. Since the Department Of Transportation will soon begin repaving Highway 54/Main Street from the Meriwether County line to Highway 27, the work must begin very soon. Kelly also said the Adopt-A-Street program had begun and anyone interested in doing the same for their street should contact City Hall. Lights on flag poles in Hipp Park and at Myrtle Hill Cemetery are out but should be replaced soon. Hogansville has applied for funding from an AARP grant which will add several benches to the downtown area. Lastly, Assistant City Manager Oasis Nichols stated city officials will have a half-day retreat at the City Annex on March 21 from 8:30 am to 12:30pm.
Police Chief Jeffrey Sheppard reported the HPD’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be at 6:00pm on Thursday, March 26 at the football field. The next blood drive will be Friday, April 24 from 1-5pm at the City Annex Building. He congratulated Lt. Rick Milliron and Sgt. Ken Little for recent instructor certifications they have earned. He also urged everyone to pray for our troops during this time of conflict.
In closing comments, Councilman Mark Ayers said the Georgia Untamed Zoo on Hightower Road will have Easter Egg Hunts for children on March 21 at 11:30 and March 22 at 1:30. Councilwoman Mandy Neese stated she will be applying to run for the Troup County Board of Commissioners, but will remain on the city council until that time.