Warner Robins makes proclamations, discusses millage rate, grass ordinance

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Coming off the heels of Labor Day, the city of Warner Robins held their regularly scheduled pre-council and council meeting a day later than typical on Tuesday night, weighing in on the city’s millage rate, remedying concerns about grass maintenance and making community proclamations.

The Central Georgia Mustang Club was honored during proclamations ahead of a community car show set to take place on Sep. 16 at Southside Baptist Church.

According to the proclamation, the club has hosted their Hometown Heroes Car Show since 2014, raising money for military and first responders. To celebrate the cause, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick declared Sep. 16 as “Central Georgia Mustang Club Hometown Heroes Car Show Day.”

“I encourage all residents to join me in this special observance,” Patrick said, then speaking to representatives of the club, “Congratulations and thank you for all that you do and all you have done in our community for our veterans and first responders.”

In response, Jose Rodriguez, Mustang Club secretary, presented a trophy to the mayor. She will choose the winner of that trophy at the car show, a category called “The Mayor’s Award.”

Additionally, Mayor Patrick designated the week of Sep. 25 through Oct. 1 as Stormwater Awareness Week, encouraging the Stormwater department in their work as well as promoting education to the public on how to make a positive impact on stormwater systems.

Moving on to the agenda, the final item before public comments was an announcement of the millage rate. Council did not vote on the final millage rate but the first reading stated the tentative millage rate as 9.98 mills, the same rate as years prior.

Since this rate is higher than the rollback millage rate, the property taxes levied by the city have a net increase of $2.5 million due to higher revaluations on property done by the county, as explained by Mayor Patrick.

“Even though our tax rate, as it currently is proposed, is remaining at 9.98, as it had the past six, seven years, we are collecting more, solely based on the heightened property values assessed by the county. The city has nothing to do with it and we never can have anything to do with that,” Patrick explained.

She also explained that city is growing, meaning more responsibility to residents and the economy has a higher cost of doing business, adding the city is exploring ways to reduce spending.

Several council members spoke out in favor of the current millage rate during pre-council and shared in the public’s experience of value increases on property.

“This is a more fair way of taxing than raising the millage rate. Because when you’re raising the millage rate, you’re raising it for everybody,” Councilman Keith Lauritsen said. “You’re very possibly only raising taxes now, for those who have the ability to pay or those who have increased the value of their own property.”

“I think it’s a good call on the city to stay the same and not roll it back, just because of where we’re at. I think [the mayor] explained that tremendously about the price, and the economy, and everything that’s going on,” Councilman Charlie Bibb said.

Councilman Kevin Lashley added that property taxes also go to the county and the Board of Education, and the city is working around an absence of funding from the local sales tax, which as explained, during pre-council, was set decades ago to improve local schools. Later, they added that this means a top-notch school system for the county had developed as a result.

“Not only does the Board of Education get a large chunk of that property tax, they also get all of our, what’s referred to as a LOST, a Local Option Sales Tax. 3% is what’s relegated to our area. They get all 3%,” Lashley said.

Additional public meetings hearings related to the millage rate are set for Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. and Sept. 18 at noon, both at Warner Robins City Hall.

Finally, during public comments, multiple citizens took to the podium to express concerns related to overgrown grass, citing areas such as Pleasant Hill Road and Russell Parkway. Citizens said the grass causes blight and can be a danger to those walking alongside.

In response, Mayor Patrick explained the current grass-cutting ordinance and promised solutions to concerns.

Originally brought to the table by Keep Warner Robins Beautiful, the ordinance requires property owners and tenants to maintain all grass on their property, including right-of-way areas where utilities are installed from the city. Explained during council meeting, the city can access utilities under the ground; owners and tenants are responsible for maintenance above ground.

Patrick promised that areas would be addressed where it is unsure who owns the property, while assuring the public that the city is working to address the concerns and confusion surrounding the ordinance.

“We are doing our due diligence to change it and make it work, so that we are still having people cut their per-sonal property, but then we have other areas that may not appear to be a personal property that we have to maintain. So please know that we are working on this; you’re going to start some of those areas cut,” Patrick said.

She added that the new app soon to be rolled out by the city will have a feature where citizens can submit service requests.

After public comments, council moved to executive session, but had no motions requiring actions upon their return and adjourned.

For those who missed the meeting, the livestream can be found on the city’s Facebook page: “City of Warner Robins Government.” The council agenda and supporting documents can be found at https://www.wrga.gov/AgendaCenter.

The next meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m. at city hall, located at 700 Watson Boulevard.

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