County to take action on 111 Brookhaven Dr.

The Houston County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday evening and unanimously approved to move forward with taking action on the property of 111 Brookhaven Dr. in Bonaire.

Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said the subject of blight is very difficult to deal with and takes time in resolving, but assured county residents that action is being taken.

“We receive calls just about everyday in regard to blighted properties,” Stalnaker said. “I can tell you some areas rise to the top and that is the case for this property at 111 Brookhaven Drive. The area this property is located at, surrounding homes that are very well maintained as well as their yards. Some neighbors have expressed their concerns in regard of their property devaluing because of the blight, but we plan to take action so that doesn’t happen.”

County Attorney Tom Hall said they have been working with this property since 2018. The owner lives in Newnan, Georgia. Hall said since 2018, they have found a phone number for the owner and multiple calls have been made.

“When we first reached the owner, he informed us that he had been working with someone to buy the property,” Hall said. “After we gave him some time and noticed nothing was changing, we would contact him back. But to no avail; we could not reach him. It’s time now to move forward with legal action as the property is in very bad shape. There are holes in the roof, graffiti spray painted, junk piled up and the grass and weeds have overgrown so much you can barely see the home. It is not only vandalized and an eye sore, but it is now very much a health and safety concern.”

Hall recommended to the commissioners to create a memo and begin the process of county code 42-2 in regard to property being a public nuisance. Hall said doing so would give the county an opportunity to take legal action on the property itself even though the owner doesn’t live in the county. Commissioner Tom McMichael made a motion to proceed with the code and process, and the board approved the matter unanimously.

“Again, the houses surrounding this property are well maintained, and the patience level of the neighbors has been very good,” Stalnaker said. “It’s time to take some action and tackle other blighted properties as well.”

Commissioners also announced its intention to increase the 2020 property taxes it will levy this year by 0.20 percentage (2/10 of one percent) over the rollback millage rate.

Stalnaker said each year, the Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county.

“When the trend of prices on properties that have been recently sold in the county indicates there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment,” Stalnaker said.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. The commissioners made the decision to maintain the 2020 Maintenance and Operation (M&O) millage rate at 9.935, which is the same as the 2019 millage rate. Stalnaker said by law, this must be advertised as a property tax increase.

Before commissioners set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase. Stalnaker said the first of which is to be held at the Houston County Annex building, 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, Georgia on July 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.; the second on August 4, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Houston County Courthouse, 201 Perry Parkway, Perry, Georgia; and the third on August 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Houston County Annex building, 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, Georgia, after which, the Board will vote to adopt the 2020 Digest.

Commissioners also recognized and awarded three county employees their 30-year service pins: Houston County Sheriff’s Office Major Tommy Jackson, Corporal Shay Little and Corporal John Westbrook. Stalnaker said 22 other county employees will be recognized within their departments for their service as seven will be recognized for 20 years and 15, for 15 years.

“The county has some of the most outstanding employees,” Stalnaker said. “It speaks volumes for their years of service, and we are extremely proud of each and everyone. We hope they will continue their great service.”

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