Discovering Carroll County Annual Report 2022

Discovering Carroll County

A Message from Commission Chair Michelle Morgan

Ifirst met Alan when I was co-owner of A Likely Story Book Center.

Alan had become very much in demand for painting every business in Carrollton’s store front windows for Christmas and Easter.

Crossroads Shopping Center looked so festive with all our windows brightly decorated for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Over the years, Alan and I volunteered together on many art events.

He has helped with many productions by designing backdrops or props for many of the local schools and art center’s shows. For several years, Alan helped my family business, Morgan Oil, with decorating a float for the Christmas and 4th of July parades. It was always fun to see what theme Alan would come up with.

He has taught my children how to carve pumpkins while weaving wild Halloween tales. My boys, Patrick and Michael, both have Kuykendall original paintings of UGA and the Falcons for their college dorm rooms. Alan is so resourceful with the materials he uses. At one of the Carrollton Arts Festival weekends, I was lucky to purchase from Alan a large wall mural of a three-dimensional elephant that has two chair legs for the tusks!

What better way to honor the work done by Carroll County Employees every day than to have Alan Kuykendall produce an extraordinary three-dimensional wall mural representing all departments and allthings Carroll County? I hope you will take time to visit and feel the wonder of this great county we live in as captured by the one and only – and one of us – Alan Kuykendall.

Thank you for letting me serve you! I’d like to thank you, the citizens, for your continued support. I am so proud of how financially stable we are and all the wonderful things we have been able to offer our communities over the past few years. I am proud to work alongside the Sheriff and all the elected officials within Carroll County to ensure the future remains bright for us all!

Making a difference. TM

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Finding our voice. Knowing our value.

Tim Padgett is currently the Emergency Management Director of Carroll County, Ga. He serves in this capacity under Chairman Michelle Morgan. His total public safety career span is 40 years, all with Carroll County, Ga.

Employee Spotlight

Tim Padgett

Director

Carroll County

Emergency Management 40 years of service

At the age of 16, he became a Junior Firefighter with the Carroll County Fire Department and Civil Defense. After graduating from Villa Rica High School in 1982, he became a career firefighter and quickly advanced in his career by being promoted up through the ranks of the Fire Service and Emergency Management.

In 1990, he was transferred into the administrative office to serve as Fire Inspector/Deputy Director of Emergency Management. By 1993, he was promoted to a Division Fire Chief and the Director of Emergency Management. He earned his next promotion in 2000, when he was named Deputy Fire Chief, while retaining the role of Director of Emergency Management. In 2018, he accepted the role of interim Fire Chief, which he held until 2021.

His tenure in leadership hasn't been easy. Since 1990, Carroll County has been declared a Federal Disaster area 19 times.

Tim received the Master Certified Emergency Manager (MCEM) in 1999. He was one of the first in Georgia to receive this certification. He is enrolled in the Associate Degree Program for Emergency Manager at Clackamas Community College. His public safety education was earned at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Ga., the National Fire Academy and Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Tim has served as the President of the Emergency Management Association of Georgia. He has also served on multiple committees for the State of Georgia. He is an active member of several of the local Civic Clubs in Carroll County. Tim attends Temple First Methodist Church. He and his wife of 36 years, Penny, reside in Temple, Ga.

Training: Firefighter

EMS First Responder First Class Firefighter Apparatus Engineer

Milestone

Fire Inspector Certification NPQ Company Officer NPQ

Chief Officer Certification NPQ

Fire Chief Certification NPQ

EMA Basic Manager EMA Advanced Manager Master Manager (MCEM) 1st in the State of Georgia

Awards:

Rookie of Year, 1982 Firefighter of the Year, 1983 EMA Neal Holton Training Award, 1987 EMA Neal Holton Training Award ,1998 President of EMA Association of Georgia, 1998-2000 EMA Director of the Year for the State of Georgia Governor’s Public Safety Award, 2000 Citizen of the Year from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, 2010

Committees/Association:

Fire Inspector Association Firefighter’s Association Emergency Management Association

Georgia Emergency Management Advisor Legislative Committees International Association Emergency Management Association National Communication Committee for Emergency Communication

All Hazard Council Chairman Area 6

WARRS Chairman West Georgia LEPC Co-Chair 911 Users Board – Past Chairman Regional Advisory Committee to the Region 4 FEMA Director WGW

Employee Spotlight

Charles Pope Director

Carroll County Public Works 19 years of service

Public Works Director

Charles Pope has been serving the citizens of Carroll County in some capacity within the Public Works Department since 1973.

He began his career at the City of Carrollton and worked his way from the bottom up, from an equipment operator to the Director over Roads and Solid Waste.

In 2003, Charles retired from the City of Carrollton, but his passion to serve his community brought him to Carroll County.

In July 2008 he was promoted to the Director of Public Works and Solid Waste. He helped the County create a larger and more efficient solid waste program under his leadership.

When Charles started his career with Carroll County, there were 248 dirt roads. Today, there are 170. He has literally helped pave the way for Carroll County to become the premier place to live, work, open a business and raise a family – always making sure the roads and bridges are well maintained, responding to citizens who have concerns about roads and answering other questions regarding Public Works, such as tall grass and road signage.

Over the years, the cost of resurfacing and paving has continued to increase, and many citizens may be surprised to know it costs approximately $160,000 to grade and pave one mile of road, and $133,000 to resurface one mile of roadway to maintain it.

In addition to overseeing the Public Works Department, Charles is responsible for the vehicle maintenance facility, building maintenance for all County facilities, and assists Carroll County Coroner Keith Hancock with burials of people without family to claim them after death.

Charles has received commendations, awards and recognition from local, state and national government entities such as Congress, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), GEMA (Georgia Emergency Management Agency) and GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation).

He has numerous hours in specialized training

that makes him one of the most prepared Public Works

Directors in the state when it comes to emergency response.

One specific event he remembers during his time in Public Works was the impact of Hurricane Opal on Carroll County in 1995. Charles recalls there were trees down and damage throughout the City of Carrollton and Carroll County.

He worked 18 days straight cleaning and clearing debris, never once stopping to clean up his own yard that was hit hard as well. Eighty-four roads were closed during Opal, and it took around-theclock emergency personnel several weeks to get the county and city back to some type of normalcy.

Charles Pope is known for his leadership, his friendship and his ability to always get the job done. He is the “go-to” person for everyone at Carroll County.

Always a man of his word, when he tells you he will take care of something, he follows through. He takes prides in what he does, and you will always see him with a smile.

The citizens of Carroll County have greatly benefited from his willingness to work hard, his reliability and his calm presence when the unimaginable happens.

When it comes to disaster, his commitment and speedy response helps get us back to the way of life we love here in Carroll County. WGW

2023 Board of Commissioners Schedule

January Meeting: Jan. 3, 6:00 p.m. February Meeting: Feb. 7, 6:00 p.m. Work Session: Feb. 2, 4:00 p.m.

March Meeting: March 7, 6:00 p.m. Work Session: March 2 and 30, 4:00 p.m. April

Special Called Meeting: April 11, 6:00 p.m. Work Session: April 27, 4:00 p.m. May Meeting: May 2, 6:00 p.m.

June Meeting: June 6, 6:00 p.m.

Work Session: June 1 and 29, 4:00 p.m.

Special Called Meeting: TBD – Budget Adoption July

Special Called Meeting: July 11, 6:00 p.m. Work Session: July 27, 4:00 p.m.

August Meeting: Aug. 1, 6:00 p.m. Work Session: Aug. 31, 4:00 p.m.

Special Called Meeting: TBD – Tax Digest Adoption

September Meeting: Sept. 5, 6:00 p.m.

Work Session: Sept. 28, 4:00 p.m.

October Meeting: Oct. 3, 6:00 p.m.

November Meeting: Nov. 7, 6:00 p.m.

Work Session: Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, 4:00 p.m. December Meeting: Dec. 5, 6:00 p.m.

A Public Safety Message from Sheriff Terry Langley

It is an honor to serve the citizens of Carroll County, and I am proud that over the last year we have been able to bring back so many of our beloved programs that were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the citizens' firearms class, citizens' academy, neighborhood watches, and our favorite, the summer youth camps.

Being able to interact with our community on a regular basis has been such a joy for all of us here at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

As many within our community will remember, September 3rd was the 20th anniversary of Lt. Billy Jiles tragic passing. In memory of him and his passion for assisting the youth within Carroll County, several community members have come together to create the Lt. Billy Jiles Memorial Youth Fund

.

This charitable fund is set up with the intent of providing monetary assistance to local youth within the Carroll County community.

Those who knew Lt. Billy Jiles know that helping young people in our community was very dear to his heart. He would be so proud knowing that his legacy lives on and that the benefits from the memorial fund will go to help those he cared about so much.

Donations can be made to the fund at Community Foundation of West Georgia (CFWG) through the following options:

1. Online direct link. https://cfwg.fcsuite.com/erp/ donate/create/fund?funit_id=1759

2. CFWG website at www.cfwg.net. Click Donors, Donate Now at the top of the website and scroll down to the Lt. Billy Jiles Memorial Youth Fund button.

3. By check. Mail a check to CFWG, 807 S. Park Street, Carrollton, Ga., 30117. Either note on the check or enclose a note specifying the Lt. Billy Jiles Fund.

4. Stock. If you would like to donate stock, call the CFWG office at 770.832.1462 or email info@cfwg.net for wiring instructions.

I am proud to be a part of a community that remembers and honors our fallen heroes and ensures their legacy lives on through memorial funds such as this. If you or anyone you know are interested in attending any of the community programs offered by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office please call Sgt. Corey Allen at 770.830.5916 or email callen@carrollsheriff.com. WGW

Photo: Carroll County, Ga.

Carroll County Parks

From

You don't have to travel far to find adventure, enjoy nature or make memories. With investments made by the Board of Commissioners, time and talents by Public Works and Parks staff that is second to none, Carroll County offers numerous destinations and countless activities for residents and visitors alike.

In fact, less than 15 minutes from downtown Carrollton are four of our county's parks.

Little Tallapoosa, which is part of the original Hobbs Family land, is 256 acres. With 2.5 miles of paved trails and 7 miles of natural trails, Little Tallapoosa is the ideal spot for a picnic or a fishing trip with the family, or to let the kids cool off and be entertained with our award-winning Splash Park. It is also a choice destination for camping, horseback riding and bird watching.

On the Chattahoochee River is Moore's Bridge Park. Boasting 437 acres, Moore's Bridge is a short drive down Highway 16, complete with boat ramp access. If you are looking for something more relaxing, a 45-minute float takes you down to Whitesburg.

Want more time on the water? Check out McIntosh Reserve! Steeped in history, McIntosh Reserve is the site of Chief McIntosh's plantation known as Lochau Talofau, or Acorn Bluff. Also adjacent to the Chattahoochee River, this 527-acre park is a favorite for local hikers and equestrian riders.

With four pavilions for family reunions, company picnics, and wedding receptions, McIntosh Reserve offers scenic camping areas along the river.

There is also a rustic outdoor amphitheater used by local schools and the Carroll County Historical

Society for meetings and instruction.

Finally, John Tanner Park is a landmark of Carroll County. The 138-acre park is a recreational haven for those looking to get out on the water or reel in some fish on the weekend.

Enjoy the beach, putt-putt golf course and pedal boats, along with scenic views.

Tanner Park has camping facilities and a paved walking trail around the lake. Just a few miles away from downtown Carrollton, you can sun on the beach without crossing the county line.

If you want to stay in town, visit the Buffalo Creek Outdoor Education Center. This 26-acre property, which is accessible from the Carrollton Greenbelt and the Ag Center, is a cooperative effort between Carroll County, UGA Cooperative Extension and the West Georgia Native Plant Society.

Thanks to the investments made by the Carroll County Extension Master Gardeners and the Native Plant Society, Buffalo Creek boasts the largest pleasure garden in Carroll County. Along the trails you can see an old sawmill, gristmill and the Bolds Springs Schoolhouse built in 1892 that was located between Temple and Bowdon Junction.

The names on the chalkboard inside the schoolhouse are signatures from some of the last students who attended this one-room school. We're sure you'll recognize some of the last names.

Also in town is the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park, which honors military veterans who reside in Carroll County, are from Carroll County or have connections to our community. Located next to the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park is the Carroll County Public Safety Memorial that honors the sacrifices of those killed in the line of duty within our public safety community. Together, we can acknowledge the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform. WGW

Park Pass Information

To use Carroll County's parks, you must purchase a daily park pass ($5) or an annual pass ($40) at the park.

To see a list of upcoming events at our parks, visit www.CarrollCountyGA.com.

Buffalo Creek Outdoor Center and the Carroll County Veterans parks are free.

beautiful foliage and charming wildlife, to serene walking trails, camping, fishing and playgrounds, you never know what magical things you might see at one of Carroll County's parks. Above, a rare sighting of the Bigfoot Brothers, Hyde and Zeke, who offered a friendly wave during a surprise encounter near the walking bridge at John Tanner Park.

Victoria Presnal is the family and consumer science agent for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension-Carroll County and a graduate from the University of West Georgia with a bachelor of science majoring in health and community wellness and a minor in nutrition. She will graduate next month with a masters of health promotion from Georgia College and State University. Along with her degrees, she is a certified health coach and yoga instructor. Before she became the FACS agent in Carroll County, she worked at several fitness centers in the area providing exercise classes, yoga sessions, one-on-one coaching and nutritional coaching.

Victoria is a lifelong resident of Carroll County and is happily married to Justin Presnal. They just welcomed a new baby girl into the world in September. Victoria has a true passion for health and wellness and loves to help the residents in Carroll County become the best version of themselves –mentally and physically.

UGA Family and Consumer Sciences outreach, resources and programs help improve the quality of life for individuals and families in Georgia. It provides training, disseminates research-based publications, and links families, businesses and communities to university faculty and resources.

Coming into her role as the family and consumer science agent, she knew she was walking on new ground. Victoria is the first FACS agent Carroll County has ever had, and she knew that meant she had the opportunity to pave new ground.

FACS agents are human development and family life specialists who use the latest research to help children, teens, adults and families thrive.

Since stepping into this role in 2020, Victoria has created several programs in the community that target chronic disease prevention, physical inactivity and healthy weight loss.

Carroll County has one of the highest rates of physical inactivity and obesity in the state of Georgia. One highlighted program in particular that was brought to Carroll County is Yoga in the Parks –a collaboration with the Carroll County Park System that offers yoga sessions to the community in the local parks. Each month, the yoga sessions move to a different county park. When people sign up for Yoga in the Parks they are given a one year park pass to all of the County's parks.

Victoria’s goal with this program is to offer opportunities for exercise while getting people to enjoy our beautiful parks here in Carroll County.

Along with Yoga in the Parks, she also offers classes throughout the year that cover topics of chronic disease prevention, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention and research-based weight loss programs. All of the programs are handson, low-cost and ultimately teach citizens how to change their behaviors to give them a healthy, sustainable life. Her ultimate goal is to better the lives of residents through research-based education, through yoga sessions, walks in the park and cooking demonstrations.

To find out more about the classes offered through our Extension Office email Victoria at victoria.presnal1@uga.edu. WGW

Iam honored to serve the constituents of Carroll County as District 1 Commissioner. I am proud of the Board of Commissioners and the work done in the past year to support this County and manage its resources. I hold to the commitments that I made when running for office. I will continue to support public safety. Whether you are law enforcement, first responders or medical personnel, I am grateful to you for the work you do in keeping Carroll County safe and healthy.

I will continue to support the citizens of Carroll County. I want the county to continue to be the place where people come to live, work and play.

Lastly, I will continue to support smart growth. Our county is unique in that we blend rural and suburban life. We have excellent schools, industries and medical facilities. We truly have a great county, and I will continue to work to keep that balance and support our way of life. Together we can keep our county moving in the right direction. WGW

Commissioner Montrell McClendon

Victoria Presnal Family and Consumer Science Agent Yoga Instructor for Carroll County Parks 2 Years of Service

Bethesda Church Road Bridge Opening and Memories of the Old Days

Baldwin Construction’s completion of the new bridge over Indian Creek on Bethesda Church Road is a historic event for some of the residents in the area. For those old enough to remember the way things were in times past, it is a modern marvel by comparison to the old rugged wooden bridge it was back in the 1930s and 40s.

92-year-old Ed Walker, pictured above (right) on the horse and wagon, remembers crossing that bridge in the 30s. He was raised on Bethesda Church Road in a small house with 10 brothers and sisters. Today, he is one of the oldest members of the community who remembers when the roads were made of dirt, the bridges were made of wood and mules were more reliable than a truck.

"They built the bridge in 1928, and it was made of oak boards," Ed recalls. "I remember crossing that

bridge with the mules, and there were sometimes rotten spots in the wood. We had to make sure the mules didn’t step on a rotten spot, because if they fell in a hole, they might not cross the bridge again. The County patched and fixed spots where the wood was rotting out so we could get across it.

“All the bridges were made of wood back then. We didn’t think nothing about it. That’s just the way it was. They were made from 2-by-10s and 2-by-12s. Eventually, they did put down steel runners for our wagon tracks. Commissioner Horrie Duncan had the first real bridge built with cement sometime in the 50s.”

Ed remembers when his family traded in their buggy for a Ford Model-T.

“I think we paid about $25 for it," he says. "Gas cost between 14 to 20 cents a gallon in those days. In 1935, we had to park it because we couldn’t afford the tires and tags. Cars were for rich people. Dad buried the Model-T in the swamp.”

Ed says most people just walked wherever they

Photo provided by Carroll County, Ga.

needed to go, but if they had a load of cotton or corn to sell, or if they needed supplies, they had no choice but to go into town.

“You had to have a wagon if you needed to go into town, and all the way to Carrollton was a long way back then," he says. "We went by way of Hays Mill Road. It was a dirt road. All these roads were dirt back in the 40s … or mud. Sometimes mud would be knee deep. If you had a load of cotton, you parked in the wagon yard off the square on Saturday and waited in line to get checked.

“In 1933, Highway 27 was still graded and scraped with mules. Tractors and road equipment did exist, but it was common sight to see horses and mules working the roads. I can remember taking a family photo when I was kid, right there on the concrete steps, across from the Southside BP gas station. This was right after the State put down concrete and Highway 27 became a real road!”

Ed recalls his family used oil lamps when he was little because there was no such thing as electricity

in the area. "You had to get the mules hitched up before daylight and you had to know how to feel your way around the barn to do it," he explains. Then, in 1937, he started seeing power poles dropped off on the side of the road. This was to get electricity run to Bethesda Baptist Church.

The future had finally arrived!

It is hard for us to imagine what life was like back then. We take so many conveniences for granted. Listening to the stories of the older generation reminds us of how good we really have things today. Next time we drive across the new bridge we will be grateful that we don’t have to ride a mule or carry a bridge repair patch kit!

Great job Baldwin Construction crew, thanks to Larry and Mary Montgomery for providing the wagon, Mark Morris for the horses, Grant Waldrop, Carroll County Public Works and everyone else who made this possible.

Hopefully our new bridge will never have to be rebuilt in our lifetime. WGW

Carroll County Animal Shelter

• Come over Rover: Take a dog out of the shelter for a day of fun

• Home to Home: A website we partner with for people to re-home their animals without bringing them into the shelter • Trap Neuter Release: Community Feral cats are spayed/neutered and rabies vaccinated and returned to community. No charge to Carroll County residents but they must call the Animal Shelter for an appointment

District 2

Commissioner Clint Chance

The all new Carroll County Fire Rescue Villa Rica Station #9 is making tremendous progress in the active design phase of this ongoing project. A few months ago, the Chairman and full Board of Commissioners authorized the formation of a committee composed of Fire Rescue administration, firefighter staff from the current station, Public Works personnel and myself as the District Commissioner.

Over the course of these months, our committee recommended the hiring of an architectural firm with which we have been working diligently with various professionals to bring about the formation of an aesthetically modern facility that advantageously will be both highly functional in service to our community and to the firefighters

Post-Covid construction

who will live within these walls.

The technologically advanced station will include three double-deep apparatus bays, fully functional living dorms with a Battalion Chief's Quarters, conference room, kitchen, living room, workout center, rooftop training anchors and much more!

We invite you to follow our progress on www.carrollcountyga.com as more project milestones are met in the coming weeks, including the hiring of a General Contractor inclusive of a Construction Manager with a hopeful, turn-key completion date in late 2023. As your District 2 Commissioner, I remain committed to prioritizing public safety in Carroll County inclusive of modernized facilities, advanced equipment, continual training and expressing the respect and gratitude our First Responders deserve in service to our Constituents! WGW

The Susan A. Mabry Second Annual Citizen's Academy

The Susan A. Mabry Citizen’s Academy is a five-week program designed to provide participants with an understanding of the day-to-day operations of County government. During the five sessions, participants will learn about the functions, responsibilities and services provided by County departments. Each session begins with a light meal, then employees from the County departments will share their expertise. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and reside, or own a business, in Carroll County. There is no charge for attending the Academy. For more information, contact Lynda Bingham at 770.830.5800 or by email at lbingham@carrollcountyga.com.

2023 Class Schedule:

Feb. 2: District Updates and County History, Parliamentary Procedure, Finance Feb. 9: Animal Services, Public Works, Solid Waste, Recreation, Human Resources

Feb. 16: Tax Assessor, Planning and Zoning, Codes Enforcement, Parks

Feb. 23: Clerk of Court, Juvenile Court, Drug Court, Probate Court, Mental Health Advocacy

March 2: Emergency Management Agency, Fire and Rescue, E-911 Communications, Prison-Correctional Institute and Graduation WGW

Scan here to apply

Unofficial, current design rendering for the new Villa Rica Fire Rescue Station #9.

uncertainties including material shortages, overall supply chain disruptions, skilled labor shortages and unstable market cost increases could affect the final, approved design inclusive of aesthetics, finish materials and facility square footage.

Carroll County Captain Ken Reeves began his career in law enforcement at the Sheriff’s Office in 1982 and attended the Police Academy at Floyd Junior College in Rome, Ga., to become a mandated Peace Officer in 1983.

Throughout his time at the Sheriff’s Office, Captain Reeves has served in many capacities from the rank of Corporal and Sergeant in the Uniformed Patrol Division to being promoted to Lieutenant over the patrol division in 2001. He was promoted to Captain in 2002.

In May 2009, former Chairman Bill Chappell appointed Captain Reeves to oversee the operation at Carroll County E-911. In 2010, he was named the administrative captain at the Sheriff’s Office – the position he currently holds.

Captain Reeves is a staple at the Sheriff’s Office and is one of the first faces new recruits become familiar with when they come to work for Carroll County. He helps recruits navigate through human resource paperwork, uniforms and equipment. His duties are to oversee the vehicle fleet, assist

Employee Spotlight

Ken Reeves Sheriff's Office

with the budget, the hiring process and other personnel matters, among other duties. He is always available to assist with any human resource questions and leads by example in all that he does. He provides advice to employees on important issues such as finances, available benefits and retirement goals.

Captain Reeves' leadership and dedication to his position, the employees and the Sheriff’s Office has been invaluable to those who rely on him and his expertise to help run the day-to-day operations and help make the Sheriff’s Office the success it is. WGW

Iam honored to serve as the County Commissioner for District 3 in Carroll County since 2013. I realize that to be a good and responsible commissioner, I must respond to my constituents by returning their telephone calls, understanding their needs and acting upon those needs. Every telephone call from every individual is important to someone! Since my tenure as commissioner at Carroll County, I have been truly fortunate to work with two Chairmen who have always understood and assisted with the needs of each district throughout Carroll

District 3

Through my last 2 ½ terms, I am gratified to be a part of the building of two new fire stations, a new stateof-the-art E-911 telecommunication center, the Ruth Holder public library in Temple, the new gymnasium at the Carroll County Recreation Department, the pavilions and splash park at Little Tallapoosa Park, not to mention the many roads throughout Carroll County that have been re-surfaced and stripped.

I appreciate all Carroll County government employees for their dedication to our County. I stand strong with our First Responders and support them during these very troublesome times. WGW

Captain

Commissioner Tommy Lee

Carroll County Fire Rescue

Carroll County Fire Rescue honors those who lost their lives on 9/11 every year by waving American Flags on the bridges of overpasses throughout the County. Pictured: Battalion Chief David Harmon.

Fire Rescue Statistics

07/01/21 – 06/30/22

Total Incidents: 10,553

Structure Fires: 114 Vehicle Fires: 90 Grass/Woods Fires: 146 Trash/Rubbish Fires: 72 Medical Calls: 5,804 Motor Vehicle Accidents: 693 Hazardous Condition: 252

Service Calls: 1,532 Weather Calls: 11 Auth/Non-Auth Controlled Burns: 131 Cancelled/False/Nothing Found: 914 Extrications: 7 Missing Person/Search: 6 Other Calls: 781

It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of the Fourth District for the last three years, and I look forward to continuing that service in the upcoming term.

While my focus is on the interests of the fourth district, I have the fortune of fostering strong relationships with our other commissioners to take a comprehensive view of our County.

Growth is the main concern that I hear from constituents. How we grow over the next few years will determine if Carroll remains a county of opportunity or if we become just another cookiecutter metro county.

I cannot close without thanking the employees of Carroll County for all the hard work that you do to make this a “golden place to live.” WGW

District 4

Commissioner Steve Fuller

Officer Dwate Strickland was chosen for the surprise employee spotlight due to his unwavering commitment and dedication to his job because no matter what, he shows up with a smile, and is an asset to Carroll County.

Dwate begin his career as a Corrections Officer in August 2000 at the Carroll County Correctional Institute.

Since that time, he has received 813 hours of training and has become a well-respected member of the Correctional Institute.

“Officer Strickland has set an excellent example of employee dedication and service to Carroll County since his hiring," says Warden Otis Wilson. "Officer Strickland’s appearance, demeanor and character has been such that it stands as a model for all current and future employees to follow. In my 24 years of service to the

Surprise Employee Spotlight

Officer Dwate Strickland Carroll County Corrections

Officer Strickland, center, with his family. Photo provided by Carroll County, Ga.

County I have discovered that there is no other officer that has received more respect of character, from inmates and officers, current or past, for his reliability and honesty than Officer Strickland.”

Dwate is an active and valued member in his community and is known for his coaching skills, always being a shoulder to lean on and having a listening ear.

Thank you, Dwate, for your service to Carroll County and for all your hard work! WGW

District 5

Our district faces a constant challenge of balancing two demands: 1. Maintaining our peaceful, rural lifestyle. 2. Allowing proper growth for residents to flourish.

I have been working with district commissioners and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) toward adding 429 acres along the Chattahoochee River to our existing McIntosh Reserve County Park. The County has applied for a grant from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program.

The Glock gun company has purchased approximately 4,000 acres near Whitesburg and will be developing less than 10 percent of it into training facilities for military and law enforcement personnel, keeping over 90 percent of it as agricultural land. As always, my focus is on being transparent, accountable and responsive to you. WGW

Commissioner Ernie Reynolds

The idea for the memorial came from a group of public safety personnel, representatives of the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park and private citizens within Carroll County who initially met in April 2018 to discuss having an annual event to recognize public safety personnel in our county.

As a result of that meeting, Carroll County celebrates public safety the second Friday of September each year.

The committee wanted to create a lasting memorial to recognize all public safety personnel in Carroll County who died in the line of duty.

The memorial was dedicated on Sept. 13, 2019.

The shaft has four sides, one for each public safety discipline: E-911, Emergency Medical Service, Fire Service and Law Enforcement. Each side of the base has an etched graphic display for that specific discipline and the corresponding shaft lists each discipline and the names associated with that discipline in date order beginning at the base of the shaft.

A unique feature of the memorial is a row of granite posts to the left. These posts support bronze plaques that contain the names of each person listed on the shaft with a brief description of the incident in which they lost their lives. WGW

Right: Sept. 9, 2022.

Lt. Billy Jiles' family and Sheriff Terry Langley (back, third from left) along with Drs. Tom and Brenda Fitzgerald (center) stand in front of the public safety memorial.

They gathered at the memorial to pay tribute to Lt. Jiles and officially announce the Lt. Billy Jiles Memorial Youth Fund.

Drs. Tom and Brenda Fitzgerald assisted in starting the foundation in honor of Lt. Jiles.

Little Free Pantry

Carroll County is proud to announce we have joined in the Little Free Pantry (LFP) movement, and we can't wait to see what an amazing impact this will have throughout our community.

The Little Free Pantry provides food and hygiene products that may not be readily available to those in need. Anyone can donate, and because there is no qualification process, anyone can take items they need, too! Anyone can access the LFP seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Suggested pantry donations include nonperishable grocery items like canned vegetables or canned proteins such as tuna, as well as feminine hygiene products, baby items (baby food, diapers, lotion, soap and wipes), paper goods and kidfriendly non-perishable items such as crayons, pencils and school supplies.

Please ensure all donated items are not expired, dented or damaged. (Note: in the summer, we ask that you only donate dry goods, personal hygiene products, paper products and kid-friendly items.)

Each LFP is sponsored by an individual, group or organization. However, anyone can donate items to the LFPs at any time.

Our pantries are placed in unincorporated locations in Carroll County.

To see locations or to learn how you can sponsor a LFP and participate in this easy way to give back to your community, visit the website at www.carrollcountyga.com/798/Little-Free-Pantry. WGW

As 2022 draws to a close, so, too, does my tenure on the Carroll County Board of Commissioners.

Sixteen years ago, I asked the citizens of District 6 to allow me to represent them, and I hope I have done so to the best of my ability.

Are there things I would do differently given the opportunity? Absolutely. But I am very proud of what we as a board have accomplished over the years, such as the Justice Center, the renovation of the Historic Courthouse, the acquisition of Little Tallapoosa Park, John Tanner Park, a stateof-the-art gymnastics center and upgrades to the recreation department.

The new Public Works building and garage

was erected and provided savings to taxpayers by becoming more efficient in the maintenance of our roads, bridges and right-of-ways.

I was proud to see two new bridges go into my district on Bethesda Church Road and Tyus Carroll Road, and all the roads that have been paved, resurfaced and restriped to ensure citizens have safe travels throughout our county.

I’ve had the honor to serve alongside three different Chairmen and with seven different commissioners. I’ve learned from them all, as we all have the best interests of Carroll County at heart.

The Constitutional Officers, Department Heads and employees of Carroll County are the best there is, period. I have enjoyed working with each of them, and they all have my upmost respect.

While I look forward to continuing to serve Carroll County in whatever capacity I can, the Bible tells us there is a time for all things, and it is my time to not say goodbye, but rather say, “I’ll see you later.”

To the citizens of Carroll County, THANK YOU for allowing me the honor of serving you.

May God bless each one of you, Carroll County, and God Bless America! WGW

Commissioner George Chambers

District 6

Carroll County Recreation

The staff at the Recreation Department prides themselves on being able to offer activities that appeal to citizens of all ages such as baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer and much more! For more information about our programs or to register, please visit the website at www.carrollcountyga.com/345/Sports.com. WGW

Recreation Program Revenue

Fiscal Year 2021 – 2022

Baseball/Softball: $49,182.50 Basketball: $15,565 Birthday Parties: $43,791.50 Cheerleading: $5,100 Concessions: $94,992.77 Football: $5,735 Gate: $40,470.90 Gymnastics: $291,894.76 Other: $10,197.51 Programs: $2,170 Rentals: $11,992.92 Soccer: $30,710 Tournaments: $3,700 Travel Ball Tournaments: $14,700 Volleyball: $7,540

Program Participation

Baseball: 785 Basketball: 314 Cheerleading: 70 Football: 117 Gymnastics: 6,762 Soccer: 628 Softball: 223 Volleyball: 152

Carroll County

The County of Opportunity