Commission Considers Controversial Hearings
Two of the five public hearings that the Jasper County Commission hosted at its regular meeting Monday drew some heated discussion.
A public hearing on closing out a 1996 Community Development Block Grant drew some heated remarks and a rezoning request by Robert and Nannette Manning had some neighbors up in arms.
The Mannings wanted a zoning change from agricultural to C-1, neighborhood commercial, to place a convenience store on their property at Hwys. 11 and 380. The lot is just under an acre—.99 of an acre.
The Planning and Zoning Commission heard from supporters and those objecting at its regular meeting last month, and made a recommendation to approve the rezoning. It is in conformity with the Future Land Use Map, said Peggy Billerman, Zoning Director.
{{more}}
Mrs. Manning presented their proposal to the commission. In the proposal, she tried to address some of the concerns that had been made at the Planning & Zoning hearing.
One objections was lot size. Mrs. Manning pointed out that Larry’s 4-Way at the intersection of Hwys. 212 and Jackson Lake Road, is on .91 acres, and Circle K in Monticello, at the fork where Hwys. 16 and 212 converge is on 1.2 acres.
She explained her desire, also, to protect the area. For example, with the gasoline, she said their plans allow for putting in tanks with monitoring systems, although that is not required. In addition, they plan to put in a leak detection system, she said.
Johnna Pope, who lives five doors down from the proposed store and is building across the road from it, said that if she and her husband, Donnie, had known a convenience store was coming, they may not have chosen to build there.
She went on to say that for someone to build a home it requires a substantial investment—they must have five acres. It does not seem right to be able to build a convenience store on less than one, she said.
As for Larry’s’ 4-Way, she said there are no homes near it. And, Circle K is in the city, where people choose to live to have goods and services nearby.
Roxie Cargile said she strongly opposed the rezoning. She said she had lived there for 23 years and plans to be there 23 more. She said it would affect her quality of life. Her husband, Stephen, said he was concerned about the safety and security of the neighborhood. He also expressed concern about the water table.
Mrs. Manning said she had been assured their development would not adversely affect bored wells in the area.
Linda Sadler said that she strongly opposed the rezoning, that it would not be conducive to her lifestyle. She also said that Hwy. 11 is served by Ron’s Grocery, a convenience store in Hillsboro.
Rubye Griggs, who lives three doors down from the proposed site, said she could see both sides. She said she could see why they thought it would be a good spot for a store. But, as a homeowner, she feels it will lower her property values.
Then, she said that she was there primarily on behalf of the adjacent property owners. She said they had recently put $15,000 into their home in addition to the cost of the home.
After the public input, Commission Chairman Russell Bennett said that Commissioner Carl Pennamon had telephoned him the night before to say that he would not be at the meeting. However, Mr. Pennamon told Mr. Bennett that he was opposed to the rezoning, said Mr. Bennett.
(Traditionally, the commissioner whose district the rezoning is in makes the motion for or against rezoning. With Commissioner Pennamon absent, it fell on the other commissioners to make the decision.)
Commissioner Jerry Crow said that he thinks the right place for a convenience store is where two highways intersect.
Chairman Bennett asked what the zoning guidelines were for commercial, and Mrs. Billerman told him 1.2 acres. But the site the Mannings have was a lot of record before zoning came about, she explained.
Commissioner Charles Hill said the lot size was his objection. He said they had denied a similar request on Hwy. 212 a few months ago, and “I think it would be a bad idea to approve this.”
Mr. Bennett made the motion to deny the rezoning request. It passed 3-1 with Mr. Crow voting no.
An application from Phillip Brown to rezone three acres on Funderburg Drive from Agricultural to C-1, neighborhood commercial was approved with little comment. The proposed use is a funeral home. Again it was in Mr. Pennamon’s district, and he told Mr. Bennett he was opposed. But, the commission unanimously approved it.
In addition, an application by Mary Sanders for a special exception because of medical hardship was approved routinely.
A proposed text amendment that would increase minimum square footage was recommended for denial by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mrs. Melba Bridges submitted written comments opposing the text amendment. She was concerned the increase would make home ownership impossible for some.
Rusty Bullard, who was at the County Commission meeting said that he felt increasing the minimum would help regulate growth, and “bring us up to par with adjoining counties.”
After some discussion the commissioners approved the text amendment 3-1, with commissioner Hill voting no.
1996 CDBG
Carol Southard, grant writer, and Brent Allen with the Department of Community Affairs were at the meeting to receive public input on closing out a controversial Community Development Block Grant.
Ms. Southard gave an overview of the $800,000 grant that was for street and drainage improvements and rehabilitation of several houses in the Blue Ruin area.
Work on the grant request began in early 1996. At the time, Lonnie Edenfield was city manager. Ms. Southard approached the city and county both about helping them get grants. The grants that Ms. Southard said were attainable would have to serve low to moderate income residents.
After some searching, the county did not determine a need that was likely to be funded. The city, however, saw an opportunity to rehabilitate an area, and chose the Blue Ruin area, partly because of the need for improvements and partly because it fit the economic guidelines.
Meanwhile, Mr. Edenfield left his position, and a new city manager was needed. Walter Smith was subsequently hired—in September, 1996, according to records. The grant application was not actually submitted until two days after Mr. Smith was hired. The 11 houses that were cited in the grant to be rehabilitated belonged to Mr. Smith and his brother, Charlie Fred “Pop” Smith.
Sometime after the city got word that the grant had been approved, the conflict of interest was perceived. DCA gave the city several options to avoid the conflict, one of which was to return the grant. City of Monticello officials asked Jasper County officials if the county could administer the grant. The county agreed.
However, the entire project has been ripe with controversy since.
The grant has still not been closed out because DCA has not been provided with all the documentation it needs, for example. In Monday’s meeting, Ms. Southard recapped the grant, and said that slightly more than $3,000 of the grant was being returned to the state because it was not used.
In recent months, members of the Taxpayer’s Watchdog Group (TWG) and others have documented the chain of events surrounding the grant award and expenditure, and they maintain Mr. Smith should not have received any grant money.
At Monday’s meeting, Mrs. Mary Patrick, chairman of the TWG asked Ms. Southard how it was that money was being returned. She said she had copies of an audit report that showed the grant had been overspent 28 cents. Ms. Southard said those figures were incorrect, and agreed to show the corrected figures to Mrs. Patrick.
Mrs. Patrick expressed her concern that grant money was subsidizing the fixing up of rental houses for the Smiths. She said she had been told that the rent was raised on the houses as soon as the work was complete.
She said, “these are not poor minorities here. Mr. Smith makes $60,000 plus working for the city of Monticello.” She said she feels the grant money has been misused and something should be done.
Mrs. Judy Claborn said that the use of the grant funds was a disgrace “to this county, our community, individual taxpayers.”
Mrs. Jane McGinnis asked Mr. Allen if the county was free to get grants now. The DCA had sent the county a letter some time ago saying that until the deficiencies in this grant were cleared up, Jasper County could not be in contention for any other DCA grants.
Mr. Allen indicated he was not aware, but that this is part of the closing process. He said he’d turn in a close-out review.
He further said that when the infrastructure was put in, DCA counts the benefit to the people affected, not the dollars made by a local contractor or rental property owner.
Mrs. Claborn asked if they (the Smith brothers) would have to pay it back. Mr. Allen said being wealthy does not disqualify an applicant for these grants. He said cities and counties determine the most needed projects.
Mr. Allen indicated that the possible conflict of interest would be looked at again before the grant is closed out.
