Emotions run high at Fort Valley Utility Meeting

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – During this month’s Fort Valley Utility Commission board meeting, an employee spoke on a wrongful termination and a resident of Fort Valley returned to speak on a recurring issue in her neighborhood. The meeting took place on Monday, May 8 at 6 p.m.

Mary Adamson, a former Fort Valley Utility Commission customer service employee, was in attendance to appeal her termination to the board. She had been an employee of the Utility Commission for almost 24 years. Adamson stated that this was a wrongful termination. She furthered her point saying that she had been written up for things she did not agree with and that Human Resources was not present when she was fired. She felt as though she had been specifically targeted and suffered abuse from her supervisor. 

Adamson spoke on how difficult customer service could be, and that some come in and make life more difficult. She also recounted the good moments of her job, having small chats with customers and helping make their day a little better. Adamson stated that while she does make the occasional mistake, she is good at her job. She stated she helps those who have trouble signing the documentation, whether from age or disabilities like cerebral palsy or arthritis. She had been told to stop, as that was not allowed and they could get someone else to sign. She argued that many of those who need help are those who live alone. 

According to Adamson, her supervisor was late in creating drafts and planned to collect late fees for those drafts that she did not produce to the bank on time. To which Adamson said no, citing that it was not only illegal but morally incorrect to do so. “Do not ask me to take a penny from someone, when the bill says something different,” she said.

Adamson said that her coworkers were afraid to speak out, that they might face retaliation or be fired. She stated that her supervisors were not doing their jobs and that it was affecting her coworkers’ performance. She further stated that they were unprofessional and she provided multiple instances of said behavior. 

Many were in attendance to further plead Adamson’s case. These people included her family members, close friends, co-workers, and customers. One customer, Alexis Ellis, knew Adamson only as a customer. She explained that she had lost her husband and the building she lived in was in his name, but Adamson helped Ellis to the best of her ability.

After the Board exited their executive session, Chairman Horton thanked Adamson for attending the meeting and told her she would receive a formal response within five business days.

Sabrina Thorpe, a local representative from Friendship Circle, was in attendance to speak about the increased noise pollution caused by the recently built water plant. Thorpe stated that after trees had been cut down for the water plant to be built, the noise pollution in the area increased. Thorpe has attended multiple board meetings to discuss the matter. Thorpe has asked for a noise barrier, specifically a fence, to be built. When Thorpe was at the last meeting, on April 10, Commissioner Rose Huff-Thompson had discussed relooking into the pricing of a noise barrier. The previous estimate was around $180,000.

General Manager Clay Walker stated that he was waiting for a report from a landscaper looking at the area to look at potentially planting trees to help bounce back the noise. However, he stated the landscaper is unsure if it will help. Thorpe doubted that the trees would help with the noise. She stated the trees might help in 20 years, but she wants a solution for those currently living in the area.

Commissioner Robert Dickey raised concerns that the fence might not work and instead potentially bounce the noise back into the neighborhood. 

Chairman Alre’ Horton drove to Friendship Circle after the last board meeting and used an app on his cellular phone to get the decibel reading of the area. He stated that there was not a significant amount of decibel increase when motor vehicles drove past. Chairman Horton went to multiple locations in the Friendship Circle neighborhood to get decibel readings. He was unable to be there when a train passed by. However, he reminded the room that he was using a cellular device, so there was room for error; but, his findings showed that there was not a significant increase in decibel readings in the area.

County Attorney Charles Jones stated that it seemed that the commissioners had already agreed, though not by a formal vote, that they were not inclined to spend $180,000 on a wall that may not work. He further stated that according to Chairman Horton, there is not an appreciable increase in the noise in the area. 

Commissioner Keytrick Jones suggested that the commission look more in-depth at Walker’s information and wait on the report from the landscaper. 

Chairman Horton moved that the board look into more estimates and speak to other departments about helping fund the project.

In regards to new business, the board was asked to approve the spending of a project that would tie the water lines of Sterling Place and John E Sullivan Rd. The goal of this project is to eliminate dead ends and give a secondary feed to both. The total cost would be $14,850. The commission unanimously approved the project.