The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@windstream.net
Editor’s Note: This is not a scientific poll, so the results are not guaranteed to reflect the beliefs of the community at large. Each computer connected to the Internet has an address known as an Internet Protocol address (IP address). To prevent multiple voting, our poll only accepts one vote per IP address, which unfortunately in most cases also limits each household to one vote.
By RICHARD HARRIS
From the Feb. 7, 2007 issue
The Coalition for the Betterment of Marion County is pressing on with its campaign to recall Marion County Commissioner Frank Powell.
The petition, signed by 150 registered
Now, the coalition, via recall petition chairman Jere Smith, has filed a document asking the court to dismiss Powell’s request to stop the recall effort. The “first defense” stated is, “The complaint fails to state a claim against the defendant upon which relief should be granted.”
In case the wording of that “first defense” has a little too much legalese for folks to follow, the coalition also used language that is very easy to understand, saying that they deny “each and every paragraph” of Powell statements. They also “specifically dispute the allegations that the recall petition is based on false claims.”
The coalition also requests that the court order “the cost of this action be cast upon the plaintiff (Commissioner Powell).”
The recall application listed 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.
Commissioner Powell, as previously noted, says the claims in the application are untrue.
Now it will be up to a Superior Court Judge to decide whether or not to allow the recall petition to move forward. If so, a hearing on the matter is expected to be scheduled in Marion County Superior Court.
If the recall petition does move forward, a special countywide election will be held in which voters will be asked if they wish to remove Commissioner Powell from office. If the majority vote “yes,” then there would be a designated period for candidates to qualify to seek the vacant position, which would be followed by another special election to elect a new commissioner for the remainder of Powell’s term of office.
While Powell is the only commissioner currently facing a recall petition, according to a letter-to-the-editor in this week’s issue of the newspaper the Coalition is also encouraging the recall of the other two veteran commissioners, Chairman George Neal Jr. and Ronald Graham.
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Below are headlines of articles that only appeared
in this week's print edition of the newspaper.
Letters to the Editor
* River Bend ‘Field of Dreams’ not a reality
* Claws & Paws volunteer says they could use some help
* Neighbor’s trash is not another’s treasure
* Coalition says commissioners failed their performance evaluation
Local News
* Lady Eagles are coming on strong
* Taiwanese visitors get a taste of Ellaville
* Preston Council moves forward with tweaking of traffic laws
* ‘ChattCo’ Panthers near top of Region 4-A
* Formal Valentine Ball planned in Ellaville
* Cusseta students, volunteers clean up highway
* Marion 4-H’ers have great results at DPA
* Art of Romance Exhibit arrives in time for Valentines
* Marion Commission chairman is largely ceremonial post
* Schley High gets ready to swing into baseball season
* Rainbow Garden Club enjoys ‘Retreat’ to the lake
* Barnes graduates from basic training
* Kasihta members enjoy guest speaker from To-Mar
* Webster Hog Show coming Feb. 20th
* CCHS girls score two victories
* Medical Reserve Corps looking for area volunteers
* Sweet treats for your sweetie
* SCHS downs Brookstone in boys’ basketball
* Box Top collection very beneficial to LK Moss
* LK Moss accepting Pre-K reservations
* Protecting modern day wildlife
* Lady Cats fall to CCHS and Taylor County
* Marion County High to host huge Forestry Field Day
* Schley Pre-K registration is Feb. 12-16
* Healthy Cooking Class to meet Feb. 12th
* Johnson is Marion High Student of the Week
* Smith wins SCES Arbor Day Poster Contest
* Tyson is LK Moss Student of the Week
* Webster County Elementary School News
* Help with addition is available
* Flu shot still advised
* MCHS Band selling ‘Heritage Candles’
* Law Enforcement officers scheduled to attend workshops on littering
* Schley students create models of Indian shelters
* LK Moss Primary School News
* PLUS opinion columns, obituaries, church news, and advertisements!
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