The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
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Commissioner calls effort an 'assasination of character'
and requests court to dismiss the recall application
By RICHARD HARRIS
(From the January 24, 2007 issue)
The citizens group that calls itself the Coalition for the Betterment of Marion County has submitted a petition to recall
Powell said the reasons given for the recall request are “untrue and, in my opinion, are a direct assassination of my character.”
Jere Smith, a member of the coalition, is listed as the chairman of the recall application. He turned the application in to the Marion County Board of Elections & Registration on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
The application lists the following allegations as a summary of the reasons the recall is being requested:
* Failing to provide adequate oversight of government spending, leading to waste and an increase in taxes;
* Not establishing, maintaining and/or fostering an atmosphere which in conducive to open government and accessibility, being available to discuss concerns of constituency;
* Participating in meetings which are not in compliance with Georgia’s open meeting laws by failing to adequately inform the citizens of Marion County of the need to make change in handling solid waste disposal, which resulted in confusion, dissatisfaction in, and an overall increase in the total taxes collected from residential property owners.
Elections Supervisor Anthony Dixon and Deputy Registrar Eleanor Davis have verified that at least 100 of the 150 names on the application are people who were registered voters during the 2004 election in which Commissioner Powell won office, which is a requirement of the recall procedure.
Powell, however, answered the application with a request to have the recall proceedings stopped due to false claims. Jere Smith was then given a summons to file an answer to Powell’s request within 30 days (of Jan. 17). Assuming he indeed files an answer, Judge Ben Miller is expected to schedule a hearing on the matter.
Powell, as previously noted, says the claims in the application are untrue and that while he understands it is Smith’s responsibility to prove the claims, he is also willing to appear before the court “any time and any place to answer questions that might arise.”
In his written request to have the recall stopped, Powell answered
“It is hard for me to believe that one commissioner can be faulted for mismanagement as it (decisions made by the commission) requires at least three of the five commissioners,” wrote Powell.
Powell also said he has been available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He also noted improvements made in the clerk’s office and said the present commission inherited some expensive problems – like a “fleet of high mileage vehicles and one wore out front-end loader.” He also noted that the garbage pickup is not funded by property taxes.
Powell also said that since the claims are against him personally, he doesn’t feel local taxpayers should have to pay for legal fees and he requests to appear in court and answer questions on his own.
He summed up his statement by writing: “I contend I have committed no acts of wrongdoing as a Commissioner of Marion County. Therefore, I am petitioning the court to throw out this petition based on insufficient grounds and unsubstantiated, inaccurate facts.”
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Below are headlines of articles that only appeared
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Letters to the Editor
* Welch likes the effects of Marion’s garbage system
* Yates has overall positive feeling about NSA in Cusseta
Local News
* No election to be called for Schley Clerk of Court
* Marion looking at expanding airport, moving ball fields
* Chattahoochee students correspond with President Bush
* Schley students to demonstrate technology for lawmakers
* Marion Sheriff’s Office moves toward use of radar
* Ellaville garage wins ‘Budget Bike Build Off’
* Local headquarters of Baby’s Dream adapts after fire at overseas location
* Partners Propane freshens up Ellaville Office
* Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade held in Buena Vista
* Schley ‘Baby Boomers’ mark milestone of the ‘Big 6-0’
* Preston’s Tyrer receives scholarship at SGTC
* Marion plans meeting to discuss Outdoor Rec Camp Ordinance
* Ellaville has new convenience store
* Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Marion County Library
* Marion County High School Honor Roll
* Preston stops posting minutes on website
* MCHS Eagles reel off 3 wins in a row
* Lady Eagles down Pike and Manchester
* Marion Family Connection plans Strategic Planning Meeting
* ‘ChatCo’ boys win against Brookstone and Pacelli, lose to Greenville
* CCHS Lady Panthers make strides against region foes
* Marion Middle School Honor Roll
* Gill makes Dean’s List at University of Mobile
* Schley Lady Cats continue to struggle, but improve
* Marion County receives dividend from ACCG
* L.K. Moss Primary School Honor Roll
* CCMS falls to improved Brookstone team
* Head Start to accept applications soon
* Price makes Dean’s List at Washburn University
* Webster plans Pre-K registration
* Springer to celebrate McCluller’s 90th birthday with play
* SGTC’s new sign symbolizes technical college’s mission
* Lakeview offering free GED classes
* Lowell is MCHS Student of the Week
* Treadwell is MMS Student of the Week
* Vazquez is L.K. Moss Student of the Week
* Drive back into the 1850s at Westville
* PLUS opinion columns, obituaries, church news, and advertisements!
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