Hogansville Council Told About Data Center Pollution

By TODD PIKE
The Hogansville City Council held their second regularly scheduled meeting for the month on February 16th, with the mayor and all councilmembers present. After approval of the consent agenda, Wanda Lowe made a presentation to promote a free event at the Royal Theater. This is the 29th year of the Azalea Storytelling Festival, scheduled for March 6-8 in LaGrange, and one of this year’s speakers will be in Hogansville on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 pm. Rev. Robert Jones, a preacher, musician and master storyteller will be speaking at the Royal and all citizens are encouraged to attend.
Next, Hogansville citizen Paula Darden spoke about PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) pollution that is emitted by data centers. She said these are “forever chemicals” which can last for hundreds of years and are often found in water supplies, which leads to traces being found in humans and animals. In humans, these chemicals can cause low birth weights for children, infertility in men and women and can cause several types of cancer. She stated that if data center owners do not make a concerted effort to remove PFAS from the centers in an environmentally friendly method, these pollutants can end up in landfills, which are not designed to contain them. She urged the council to say no to the proposed data center on Hightower Road.
In new business, City Manager Lisa Kelly and Public Works Director Andy Jones talked about repairs that are desperately needed on Duck Walk Way. The road, manhole cover and storm drain in the area were put in incorrectly by a builder years ago and there is no provision to force him to make repairs. Therefore, the city must make repairs before cars are severely damaged by the manhole cover which is much higher than the road surface. The best bid for the project was $20,268, but after much discussion, the council voted to seek other bids, while agreeing to a top price of $25,000 for the repairs, which will come from SPLOST funds. The bids should be in before the next council meeting. 
There was discussion about new appointments for four city committees, with final decisions to be made at a later date. There are two seats to be filled, along with one vacancy, on the Hogansville Planning Commission, with incumbents Andrew Smith and Adrain Porter seeking reappointment. There are three vacant seats on the Hogansville Downtown Development Authority, one of which has to be filled by a business owner or operator of a business in the downtown development area. Chairperson John McKibben’s seat is expiring on the Hogansville Development Authority, though he does want to retain his seat. 
There are two seats, for three-year terms, opening on the Hogansville Historic Preservation Commission, with incumbents Carol Smith and Nicholas Murphy seeking reappointment. 
The final bit of new business was the announcement that the Hogansville Charitable Trust, which oversees money raised by the annual Hummingbird Festival, was paying to install an 8- person swing (with six regular seats and two toddler seats) at the Green Patch Park on Green Avenue. The swing set will include two benches and cost close to $12,000. The city was asked to provide landscaping in the form of robber playground mulch which will cost approximately $3,000 and be paid for with SPLOST Parks, Recreation and Trails Project funds.
City Manager Kelly reported that the Grammy winning group the Rebirth Brass Band will be at the Royal Theater on February 28th. She also said the city was experiencing problems with the jet machine for sewer lines and the sidearm mower. A new mower has been purchased and should be available before the cutting season begins. 
Police Chief Jeffrey Sheppard stated that the next blood drive will be Friday, April 24 from 1-5 pm at the City Annex Building. This year’s HPD Easter Egg Hunt will be Thursday evening, March 26 at the football field at Hogansville Elementary. Between the start of the present school year and January 1, there has been a 68% reduction in speeding violations on Main Street in front of Hogansville Elementary School.