By Harley Gatlin
The Eastman City Council held a meeting Monday, November 28 at the Eastman City Hall with chairman Raymond Mullis presiding.
The first order of business addressed was the 2017 proposed general operations budget. The budget is proposed to be $6,746,105.00, that being operating and SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds. The general budget was said to be about $3.6 million, which is a nine percent decrease from last year’s due to removing and separating SPLOST and general funds. Cobb stated, “Other than this there are no big changes or major adjustments being made.”
Raymond Mullis excused himself for the discussion of item six seeing he was related to the subject and turned it over to vice chairman Buddy Pittman. Item six is the first reading for annexation of GLH Development Properties, LLC. The annexation is for the 9.64 acres located on Griffin Avenue and across from Wal-Mart. This space has been an ongoing topic for proposed commercial use, but the company specifically wants it to have access to city services including: sewer, water and trash services. All voted in favor of the first reading, pending the county’s approval.
The second addition to the agenda item seven is that of a proposed 5-K run put on by the Dodge County High School student council. The 5-K would begin at First Baptist Church and would not include state routes. The race will take place on December 17, 2016 with all the council voting in favor of the motion.
The minutes of the November 14, 2016 regular meeting were all approved.
Charles Williams, director of Eastman-Dodge Chamber of Commerce, had nothing new to bring to the council but stated,” Lots of good projects are in the works, but I have nothing to share with you this evening and I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.”
The bid for the workers compensation insurance for 2017 was analyzed. The council has only received one bid from the Georgia Municipal Association for a bid premium in the amount of $98,949.00. “This is a substantial increase from the amount before,” explained Jason Cobb, city manager, “however, we have had two substantial claims with those two being worker comp claims from police officers in the past few months.” The motion was approved for the workers compensation bid.
A decision had to be made on an engineer for the renovations on the vacant lot next to the Magnolia Theater on Main Street. The city sent out requests for qualifications for architecture firms and had received three back, including Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Carter Watkins and Associates and David Woodburn. Cobb recommended Goodwyn Mills Cawood stating, “We have already selected them to complete the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in 2017.” The council approved Goodwyn Mills Cawood as the engineer to renovate the vacant lot.
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Top Stories - Topics from November, 2016
Three arrested in shooting death
Three arrests have been made in connection with the shooting death of Abdul Lucas. Lucas was shot to death at his residence in Rhine on November 1 while in the presence of immediate family members. On November 18, Dodge County deputies arrested Lucas’ step-son Antoine Squire on one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Also arrested on one count each of false statements were Lucas’ step-daughter Destiny Rogers and widow Donna Lucas. These individuals originally told law enforcement that Donna Lucas was the one who shot and killed Abdul Lucas; however, the investigation has resulted in Squire being charged as the alleged shooter.
The arrests were made simultaneously at the Lucas residence at 52 Cleveland Lane in Rhine.
The investigation was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the GBI at 478-374-6988 or the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at 478-559-1130.
Also arrested on one count each of false statements were Lucas’ step-daughter Destiny Rogers and widow Donna Lucas. These individuals originally told law enforcement that Donna Lucas was the one who shot and killed Abdul Lucas; however, the investigation has resulted in Squire being charged as the alleged shooter.
The arrests were made simultaneously at the Lucas residence at 52 Cleveland Lane in Rhine.
The investigation was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the GBI at 478-374-6988 or the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at 478-559-1130.
Incumbent commissioners reelected to seats
The general election for the State of Georgia and United States President was held on Tuesday, November 8.
Two local races were on the ballot for Dodge County. The following are the results of several races in Dodge County only.
In the Dodge county commission chairman’s race, incumbent Dan McCranie won with 3,882 votes to political newcomer George Thompson’s 2,712 votes.
In the race for Dodge county commissioner in District 1, incumbent Jr. Howell won with 1,033 votes over Charles Dennis’ 977 votes.
In the presidential election, republican Donald Trump took Dodge County with 5,021 votes compared to democrat Hillary Clinton’s 1,839 votes and to libertarian Gary Johnson’s 138 votes. [Full Story »]
Two local races were on the ballot for Dodge County. The following are the results of several races in Dodge County only.
In the Dodge county commission chairman’s race, incumbent Dan McCranie won with 3,882 votes to political newcomer George Thompson’s 2,712 votes.
In the race for Dodge county commissioner in District 1, incumbent Jr. Howell won with 1,033 votes over Charles Dennis’ 977 votes.
In the presidential election, republican Donald Trump took Dodge County with 5,021 votes compared to democrat Hillary Clinton’s 1,839 votes and to libertarian Gary Johnson’s 138 votes. [Full Story »]
Wife allegedly shoots husband
The Eastman office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigtion (GBI) is looking into the shooting death of Abdul Lucas, age 48, of Rhine.
Dodge County deputies were called to the Lucas residence at 52 Cleveland Lane near Rhine on Tuesday, November 1 at approximately 10:04 p.m. Lucas’ wife, Donna, had called 911 and told them that her husband had been shot.
When deputies arrived, they found that Abdul was desceased. The sheriff’s office called for the GBI to investigate.
According to the GBI, Donna Lucas and two teenage children were present at the time of the shooting. Donna Lucas allegedly shot her husband with a handgun.
The shooting has been attributed to domestic violence that had been going on at the home.
No charges have been filed because the GBI is still actively investigating the shooting.
Dodge County deputies were called to the Lucas residence at 52 Cleveland Lane near Rhine on Tuesday, November 1 at approximately 10:04 p.m. Lucas’ wife, Donna, had called 911 and told them that her husband had been shot.
When deputies arrived, they found that Abdul was desceased. The sheriff’s office called for the GBI to investigate.
According to the GBI, Donna Lucas and two teenage children were present at the time of the shooting. Donna Lucas allegedly shot her husband with a handgun.
The shooting has been attributed to domestic violence that had been going on at the home.
No charges have been filed because the GBI is still actively investigating the shooting.
Clark receives life in Barlow murder
Arthur Lawton Clark has been found guilty of felony murder in the shooting death of Sonnie Barlow on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 by a Dodge County jury in October. Clark was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. He received the additional 20 years for aggravated assault.
Clark will be eligible for parole after 30 years in prison.
The incident occurred when, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Sonnie Barlow, age 59, of Eastman was shot twice in the chest after an alleged argument at 14 Fountain Road on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Barlow was supposedly arguing with Lawton Clark, age 64, of Eastman, and was trying to get him to leave the property when Clark allegedly took out a small caliber handgun and shot Barlow twice.
When deputies arrived, they found that Clark had left the scene in a green Camaro. Dodge County deputies Mike Patterson and Donald Helms began a search for the vehicle and located it near the intersection of New Union Church Road and Golden Road, where Clark was taken into custody.
Clark will be eligible for parole after 30 years in prison.
The incident occurred when, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Sonnie Barlow, age 59, of Eastman was shot twice in the chest after an alleged argument at 14 Fountain Road on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Barlow was supposedly arguing with Lawton Clark, age 64, of Eastman, and was trying to get him to leave the property when Clark allegedly took out a small caliber handgun and shot Barlow twice.
When deputies arrived, they found that Clark had left the scene in a green Camaro. Dodge County deputies Mike Patterson and Donald Helms began a search for the vehicle and located it near the intersection of New Union Church Road and Golden Road, where Clark was taken into custody.
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