To the Editor:
On August 20, I attended the public meeting of the City Council in the RE Lee Building. The small meeting room was packed with people.
It seemed to me that City Manager Russell Thompson had complete control over what was happening in Thomaston. The mayor was there and at least three council members were present. At least two were absent – Doug Head was one of those who didn’t show up.
The mayor and the rest of the council left Thompson in charge.
I expressed my concerns about the $20 million, 100-room hotel project. I asked Thompson to tell everyone in attendance that night what we have in Thomaston that would attract enough people to stay at the hotel to justify a project of this nature. He wouldn’t say, only that they were considering the project.
I asked why we as taxpayers were not given an opportunity to vote on how to spend $20 million of our tax dollars. Thompson said he would make sure that vote was held in November. This vote should be a standalone vote and not an “attachment” to a SPLOST vote like the county did with the Justice Center.
I asked Thompson why we want to move our police department back to the location it moved from (not too long ago). The reason it is there now is because our city leaders wanted the police department in a high crime area. What has changed?
Thompson simply said, “It’s not going to cost us any money. This move is funded by grants.” Well, grants are funded by taxpayers’ money; it’s not really free money, is it? Is that the reason for the move?
I mentioned that we are all here because our new fire department caused a huge tax increase. The city, county and school board should be open about any projects that are funded with tax money. We as taxpayers should know how much it will cost and how they plan to pay for it.
Thompson asked what we thought Thomaston should look like – how it is now or what it could look like in the future. My thoughts as he said this – liquor stores, street gangs, homeless, pickleball courts, dog park, justice center, $20 million hotel (possible tax increase), possibility of moving the county jail to the justice center (possible tax increase).
I replied that I wish the town would go back to what it was not so long ago – a small town with low crime, where people can raise their children and retirees can live out their retirement in peace and not have to worry about taxes driving them out of their homes, as is the case today.
Ken Whaley
Editor’s note: The justice center is a county project and is not related to the city tax increase. For more information on public hearings and Whaley’s comments to the council, see the front page.
