Dodge County Attorney John Harrington reported to the board that he had conferred with attorney Ross Schell, and that an agreement had been entered into for Mosquito Creek Properties to pay taxes, penalties and interest, which was negotiated between Harrington, Schell and Dodge County Tax Collector Rob Stanley, in the full amount of $186,198.78.
Harrington added that they were planning, at another time, to come before the board to consider an abatement of penalties and interest. According to the law, the board of commissioners cannot change the property tax amount, but they can consider the abatement of penalties and interest.
Stanley told commissioners that he had entered into hundreds of contracts with taxpayers and this agreement with Mosquito Creek Properties did not go against any policies in his office.
Commissioner Jr. Howell asked Stanley if entering into contracts saved the county money. Stanley told commissioners that it did save the county cost of advertising, running individuals down, going through the legal process and it helps the taxpayer in the long run. Howell confirmed that interest would continue to be added on the unpaid amount.
Commissioner Brian Watkins asked Stanley what would happen if a payment was not made according to the contract. Stanley told commissioners they would see the property in the newspaper (for foreclosure). People who fail on their agreements show up in the newspaper for sale at the courthouse.
Commissioners updated on Mosquito Creek property tax, penalties and interest
Board chairman Dan McCranie informed the commissioners that the City of Eastman was requesting a 10-acre parcel where Aremac is being built that belonged to the Eastman/Dodge County Development Authority be annexed into the city.
Commissioner Watkins stated that since he was on the development authority, that this was a new business coming to town. Watkins added that the city was requesting it be annexed in, in order to provide water and sewer to the new business and that it was a good idea. County attorney Harrington added that the annexation would not change anything as far as the county was concerned.
Commissioner Niblett made the motion to approve the annexation request, seconded by Howell. The motion passed unanimously.
Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission representative James Pope went before the board requesting approval of the updated Hazard Litigation Plan for Dodge County. According to Pope, the plan is updated every five years. The Hazard Litigation Plan identifies natural weather hazards that the county and city are prone to be effected by.
Updated data included new weather occurrences that have happened since 2008 and were added that into the plan.
Pope informed commissioners that they needed to adopt a resolution in order to stay in compliance with FEMA and be eligible for grants and assistance when natural weather hazards occurred.
Commissioner Howell made the motion to approve the proposed plan, seconded by Watkins. The motion passed unanimously.
Interim county manager Bobby Peacock told commissioners that he had received a letter from Eastman/Dodge County Recreation Director Travis Niblett that Keshia Jones’ term as a board member was about to expire and Jones did not want to serve on the board any more. Niblett recommended Clifton Gooch to replace Jones. According to Peacock, Niblett stated that Gooch was currently very active at the recreation department and his children were involved in the programs.
Commissioner Watkins commented that he understood that Gooch was already volunteering and helping at the recreation department, has children out there and for that reason he would nominate him to replace Jones, seconded by Howell. Commissioners Cheek, Howell, McCranie and Watkins voted in favor of the nomination. Commissioner Terry Niblett abstained from voting.
The next regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Watkins stated that since he was on the development authority, that this was a new business coming to town. Watkins added that the city was requesting it be annexed in, in order to provide water and sewer to the new business and that it was a good idea. County attorney Harrington added that the annexation would not change anything as far as the county was concerned.
Commissioner Niblett made the motion to approve the annexation request, seconded by Howell. The motion passed unanimously.
Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission representative James Pope went before the board requesting approval of the updated Hazard Litigation Plan for Dodge County. According to Pope, the plan is updated every five years. The Hazard Litigation Plan identifies natural weather hazards that the county and city are prone to be effected by.
Updated data included new weather occurrences that have happened since 2008 and were added that into the plan.
Pope informed commissioners that they needed to adopt a resolution in order to stay in compliance with FEMA and be eligible for grants and assistance when natural weather hazards occurred.
Commissioner Howell made the motion to approve the proposed plan, seconded by Watkins. The motion passed unanimously.
Interim county manager Bobby Peacock told commissioners that he had received a letter from Eastman/Dodge County Recreation Director Travis Niblett that Keshia Jones’ term as a board member was about to expire and Jones did not want to serve on the board any more. Niblett recommended Clifton Gooch to replace Jones. According to Peacock, Niblett stated that Gooch was currently very active at the recreation department and his children were involved in the programs.
Commissioner Watkins commented that he understood that Gooch was already volunteering and helping at the recreation department, has children out there and for that reason he would nominate him to replace Jones, seconded by Howell. Commissioners Cheek, Howell, McCranie and Watkins voted in favor of the nomination. Commissioner Terry Niblett abstained from voting.
The next regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m.
If there were meetings to work out payment plans for back taxes, why is everyone still complaining? Are these people at these town meetings that are ignoring the back taxes? Sounds like everything has been worked out, or am I missing something?
Glad to see some mutual respect in last post. Thanks
Pruitt and his lawyers are going to ask for the late feels and penalties be dropped with the county commissioners say they can allow this (that isn't right he should pay all including late fees and penalties. Not saying he should be given 2 years to catch up others are allowed to pay at later time - just saying the county should have done more to make him pay sooner not when it got to the point of 2005-2011 back owed with a large sum of over S180,000 owed. County employees lost jobs last year - their jobs might could have been saved if he was paying timely.
When there are young people who are seeking mentors and are offered those who appear unworthy then it becomes a very sad state of affairs, whether these are elected officials or police officers. The latter equally relevant, when there are cases of misconduct and if there are attempts at perjury by appeal to those who both look to them for guidance and actually pay them so to contrive a situation other than precisely what it is.
We are at a point in time where nothing at all lives in isolation, whether it is desired that way or not and especially with regard to public corruption and associated illegality, whether subsequently represented by lawyers or not. Of course, guilt has to be ascertained and in the process so is any contrived practice by the ones in question and their cohorts which is gross contravention of the law, - law everyone irrespective, has to abide.
Maybe the county could have raced to get the property in the next tax sale and maybe there would have been someone with the $180,000 to buy the tax deed. Maybe Mosquito Creek could have paid it off plus the 20% interest or maybe they couldn't and the person would have acquired herself a big building for cheap. Those are a lot of maybes.
Luckily the threat of the property finally going towards the tax sale caused them to get a plan worked out on how to get the money repaid.
This also shows that Brian Kemp, our Secretary of State shows poor judgment by allowing Pruitt to hold office. Kemp has been provided with all the proof he needs to remove Pruitt from office, but because they are personal friends he refuses to do so. He will not get my vote come November. He has proven to me that he is incapable of making wise decisions because friendship and party lines cloud his vision.
The point is Mr. J. Pruett as our represent should have had the guts to stand up to his mistake an make it right in the eyes of the people of our county and not hide and do the right thing and the ones that help him hide the facts should have brought it forward sooner and made him pay sooner not when it got to such a hugh amount and I do not agree that they vote at a later date to allow him to be able to drop the late fees and penalties. They are due and should be paid.
Romans 13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Jimmy Pruett and the Dodge County Commissioners as well as any person in a role of authority should do some serious thinking about what God's Word says!