WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — After several weeks of meeting and discussion over the topic, mayor and council came to a final decision on the city’s millage rate Monday night, and by consequence, the future tax rate of their citizens. Electing to maintain their current millage rate, the city will see a $2.7 million increase in property tax revenue as a result of countywide property revaluations earlier this year. Many Warner Robins citizens will pay increased property tax as a consequence.
Also on the agenda: mayor and council apply for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Grant, seeking funding for new park along SR 247; and following years of back-and-forth litigation, the council approved for the city to drop counter claims against A2D and eCBI, the fiber optics company who previously developed a fiber optic Wide Access Network, a portion of the city’s communication infrastructure.
Early in their meeting, mayor and council held a second reading for an ordinance that would maintain the city’s current millage rate. Councilman Clifford Holmes motioned for the item’s approval, and Councilman Kevin Lashley seconded the motion.
Houston County Tax Assessors moved to complete a property revaluation process earlier this year, for the second year in a row, after a continuing shift in the Fair Market Value of homes within the county. The process left several homeowners with increased property values, though many claim the increase is artificial.
As a result of the revaluations, the City of Warner Robins, and other entities that benefit from property taxes such as Houston County Government and the Board of Education, were required to reassess their millage rates.
Provided by state law, the city was provided a “rollback millage rate,” a millage that would allow the city to draw in the same amount of funding as they did the year before with a millage rate of 9.98, even with property values shifting earlier this spring. According to experts in the field, approving the rollback rate would not certify that those effected by property revaluations would see the same property rate they had previously; it would only mean the city would not benefit from the revaluations.
The city has held two additional hearings on the millage rate, hearing concerns from citizens, and has run notice in the county’s legal organ. Before the item was voted on by council, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick attempted to clarify the process.
“The City of Warner Robins is not hiking our property tax, we’re also not raising our property tax — the proposal that was just read is for our millage rate, which is our tax rate, to remain the same,” Patrick claimed. “If there is any change in your property tax bills, it’s not going to be because the City of Warner Robins tax rate. The tax rate [will be] the exact same as it was last year if this proposal is approved tonight. If your tax rate does increase, and you’re in the city limits of Warner Robins, we’re only talking about your bill for the Warner Robins property tax, it is only because the Fair Market Value of your property has also increased.”
Shortly after the mayor’s comments, the millage rate was approved.The City of Warner Robins will continue to maintain a millage rate of 9.98 mills.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Lashley moved to approve a resolution that would allow the city to apply for the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Grant, mirroring a move made by the county commissioners two weeks prior.
The grant, a competitive program administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, “[establishing] funding for recreational opportunities and improvements in the State of Georgia.”
Applied for in conjunction with Houston County Government and Keep Warner Robins Beautiful, this grant would allow these three entities to create the Echeconnee Creek Park. The project would turn a 12-acre parcel of land located on SR 247 into a public park featuring a walking trail, a boat, canoe and kayak launch as well as a picnic area and pavilions.
Receiving a unanimous vote, this resolution was approved by council.
Finally, mayor and council moved to drop the city’s counter claims against the fiber optic infrastructure developer eCBI and its parent company A2D.
The developer worked for several months to build an underground Wide Access Network, made of fiber optics, that was intended to give the city increased internet speeds and communication capabilities, touted by many as the city’s start at becoming a “smart city.” Following the project’s completion, the company attempted to reach what they claimed was their own property — an additionally Wide Access Network, running parallel to that owned by the city for private use — when the city would not provide it, eventually claiming that all fibers in the ground were the property of the City of Warner Robins.
After a lengthy process in Houston County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Katherine Lumsden moved for the civil case to go to summary judgement and later dismissed the case.
During the suit, the City of Warner Robins filed counter claims against the companies, claiming the Wide Access Network was not to the requested standard — these were the focus of mayor and council’s 16th agenda item. Councilman Holmes presented the item:
“We have before a motion to approve a resolution by the City Council of the City of Warner Robins, that the city herby authorize its attorney, attorney or legal counsel of record in the lawsuit prepared and filed, recommend Dismissal Without Prejudice as soon as is reasonable practicable, as to all the city’s counter claims that are presently pending against the plaintiff in the lawsuit.”
Holmes moved for the resolution’s adoption, and Councilman Larry Curtis seconded the motion.
Before the item could move to the vote, Councilman Charlie Bibb provided a comment:
“I just wanted to praise the city, the administration and this council for a well-fought, hard battle, for standing up against people that try to take advantage of our city — this is one company that did that,” Bibb said. “Even though what you read in the paper, or however you cut it, I want you know the city did the right thing standing up for you, the taxpayer, the citizens, to fight this contract.”
Holmes said much the same, thanking the city’s legal counsel for fighting against “frivolous” lawsuits.
In a previous interview, A2D and eCBI attorneys told The Journal they would be seeking an appeal on the case.
As a final note, mayor and council also approved two Mutual Aid Agreements, one with the City of Centerville, the other with the City of Perry, allowing Warner Robins Police and Fire to assist the two cities in their time of need and vice versa. They also accepted a .121-acre parcel of land from Stathams Landing Co., allowed the distribution of surplus property, approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Flint Energies and Peach County and approved a number of annexations and rezoning requests.
After brief comments from the public, the councilman and finally the mayor, the meeting was adjourned.
The agenda and supporting documents for this meeting can be found at the city’s website or by going to wrga.gov/agendacenter. Mayor and council’s meetings are typically scheduled on the first and third Monday of each month, exclusive of federally practiced holidays.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Pre-council will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Carolyn Robbins Room at City Hall. The regular council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the same building.
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