Blog Archives
Why I shop Hawkinsville first
A big shout out to Jodi’s of Hawkinsville. They wrapped over a dozen presents for my office Christmas party right at closing time. I used to hate customers that did that to me when we had the Radio Shack. But they did it with a smile. They have a great selection and shopping local helps your town, your neighbors and ultimately yourself. Shop Hawkinsville first!
Share this:
Preconceived notions / annexation.
“The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge”
Daniel Boorstin, 1984 Librarian of Congress
The city commission recently was reviewing some water improvement grant work that was actually performed in an area outside the city limits. There are several areas that are physically outside the city limits but they still receive some city services such as water and /or sewage. However since they reside outside of the incorporated areas and therefore do not pay city taxes, we charge a premium fee ( $10.00 per month extra).
We determined that due to the medium valuation of the houses in this particular neighborhood, the residents would actually save a few dollars by being incorporated (annexed) into the city and paying city taxes but not paying the ($10/mo) premium. By being in the city, these residents would also obtain a better fire code rating which would result in additional savings via lower homeowners insurance premiums. So by being annexed, the property owners in this subdivision would save money each and every year. Read the rest of this entry
Share this:
City / County Consolidation
There are many citizens that have expressed an interest in the city and county governments consolidating into one entity. This was previously tried in 1999 but the county citizens voted the proposal down. It passed in the city but lost in EVERY precinct in the county. In this post, I am going to try to detail some thoughts, concerns, and suggestions on consolidation.
Personally, I have not made up my mind. I see some benefits and some concerns with this proposal. I will attempt to break down both my concerns and the potential benefits in this post.
Benefit: SIZE Since we are only 4,000+ in the city and 8,000+ in the county (excluding the city), it probably makes since for a community our size to consolidate. There is no need to fight over resources when there are so few resources to go around. I can see an advantage when applying for grants or when presenting ourselves to a potential industry when we can present ourselves as 12,000 strong rather than 4,000 strong. For example, when we apply with DCA for a grant, one of the “blanks” is how many people will this impact. Indicating 12,000 rather than 4,000 has got to carry weight.
Benefit: Cooperation Again, when presenting ourselves to potential industries, I think consolidation will show a spirit of cooperation that would please a prospect. And, although the city and county currently get along fabulously, there is no guarantee in the future if this will be the case. We all hear of communities (read MACON) that continually fight over LOST (Local Option Sales Tax), SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax), and other shared revenues. They also continually bicker over shared expenses. Read the rest of this entry
Share this:
The Hawkinsville Dual Bridges
Hawkinsville is a great, small, community located in Middle Georgia. The Golden Isles parkway goes right through the middle of our wonderful town. While most cities on Highway 341 have been bypassed, due to the location of our dual bridges, Hwy 341 comes right through the middle of our town.
Share this:
A Step in the right direction…
Hawkinville just received ANOTHER grant. It is for $100,000 to help develop the first part of the river walk located at our city boat landing. Eventually, we hope to have a pathway that extends from the city boat landing (located north of the incoming 341 Bridge) to the county boat landing. That’s about a mile stretch. Needless to say, this will take many many year to accomplish but all journey’s begin with a step. And this grant is certainly a “step” in the right direction. The Ocmulgee River is one of our greatest assests and we have been negligent in not exploiting its potential.
If I am counting right, the city of Hawkinsville can now boast of receiving almost 2 million dollars (that $2,000,000) in grants over the last few years. These grants are helping us improve our quality of life (enhancing our river area, improving the lighting at the Opera House), and improving our aging infrastructure (water and sewage grants along sixth street and Orchard Subdivision), to helping develop affordable workforce housing (which will help us attract industry – which means JOBS)!!!.
A portion of these grants is helping to develop the Cotton Mill Lofts (the old Leshner/PillowTex Mill by the River) into affordable housing as well as a community farmer’s market to help our AG community. A group of us are going to Fitzgerald on Tuesday to see how they have managed and marketed their very successful community market there!
A portion of these grants is helping to finish the infrastructure at our industrial park (and at our Spec Building). While this land/building has certainly cost the city money, I applaud the forward thinking commissioners that decided to invest in our future. Ask any realtor, It’s hard to sell a house without a FOR SALE sign out front. Well, it’s tough to sell a community with out a SPEC BUILDING and LAND available also.
With this economy, our steps are often baby steps, but I honestly believe that we are making steps in the right direction…..
Shelly
Share this:
How do you balance a budget?
In these tough economic times, the City of Hawkinsville is trying to do all that it can to generate revenue and cut expenses. However, we are attempting to generate revenue WITHOUT raising taxes. Our millage rate has not changed (other than rollback rates) since 1987. One would have to travel over 150 miles to find a municipality with a lower millage rate than Hawkinsville (with the exception of Rhine, Ga.). However, costs keep rising. Everyone is aware of the huge increases that everyone has seen in Health Care Insurance Costs. In fact, all types of insurance continue to increase. Other costs are also rising. Plus there are things that really need to be done (Infrastructure, housing issues, etc.). The city’s infrastructure is really getting old. The pipes carrying water to your house are in need of upgrading. We continue to have issues with stormwater pipes not being big enough when there is a big rain.
So what is your city doing? Well, we have cut cut cut cut cut. In fact, we have probably cut our manpower to levels that are not sustainable. I fussed in a previous post about the grass not being maintained at the city owned cemetery, but if we (the city commission) do not give our departments enough manpower to do their jobs, then really, the blame belongs on us. (However, it is up to the city administration to let us know the results of too much cutting so that we can make informed cuts).
We are utilizing prison labor whenever possible. We have details from both the area men’s and women’s prisons that help us cut grass, clean up, etc. While we do pay for (the men’s detail), the costs are ALOT cheaper than we could do alone.
We have over the last few years raised some service fees (on things like trash pickup, water rates, etc.). We expect each department’s service fees to 100% fund that department at a minimum. In other words, the collections from the water bills should cover our annual costs of delivering that water to your house. The garbage fees should cover the costs of weekly pickup. At best, each department services themselves AND provides income into the general fund to offset property taxes. I am proud to say that – on average – each department DOES pay their own way. In fact, our gas department, adds a substantial figure to the general budget every year, while still keeping its rates competitive with other customer alternatives.
We have consolidated services with the county whenever possible. The city and the county get along well and by consolidating services, we can avoid duplication of efforts. We are simply too small a community to do otherwise. In the last several years, we have consolidated tax collections (the county bills and collects our city taxes along with the county taxes). We have consolidated our recreation departments, 911 services, animal control departments, and code enforcement (building inspector) departments. This saves both the city and county on employees and related costs such as providing space/furniture/utilities, etc. And most recently, we have entered into a inter-governmental agreement with the county whereas the Sheriff now has full law enforcement duties in both the city and county. This reduces administration costs and allows the Sheriff to better manage the manpower issues. (In fact, service levels for the city residents have already INCREASED with two officers on patrol within the city at all times, previously there were times that we could only afford to have ONE officer on duty). While we do pay the county for these services, the cost is substaintially less than we were paying to go it alone – and the service has increased – WIN WIN!
While we have separate city/county fire departments, we share a chief. So those departments are “practically” consolidated and we may move to formalize that consolidation before long.
So these consolidation efforts are one way that we are working to keep our costs contained.
Utilizing SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) is another way that we have been able to maintain our property tax rates. SPLOST allows us to make much needed capital improvements that we quite simply could not afford otherwise. In the upcoming SPLOST (the one just passed), we have 1.5 million dollars allocated for infrastructure upgrades to our water, sewage, and gas lines. Plus roads, recreation dollars, and fire and police equipment.
But the purpose of this post is to tell you about another source of money that we have been very aggresive in obtaining. That is GRANTS. Now on a personal level, I wish the state and federal boys would cut out alot of these grants with a dollar for dollar lowering of our taxes. In theory, I don’t agree with most of these grants. However, if the state/federal agencies are handing out money – I want to be sure that the City of Hawkinsville’s hand is open and reaching for it. We want our share (or more) of these monies. And we have been very successful along these lines – more successful than I think most people realize.
One of our primary sources of grant income has been our successful CBDG grants (Community Block Development Grants). Cities can apply for up to $500,000 every other year. However, because we have taken the massive steps to become an opportunity zone / enterprise zone, we can actually now apply for these grants EVERY YEAR. That’s huge!!! We have recently completed the 6th street project. This project was funded by a $500,000 CBDG grant and replaced water lines and added a sidewalk along sixth street. Then we applied for another $500,000 CBDG grant to replace the water lines in Orchard Hill S/D. We received this grant, and when we bid out the job, the bids came back lower than expected and we subsequently expanded the scope of this project to include Forest Hill S/D. These CBDG can only be used in areas below certain income thresholds. So the SPLOST monies will be allocated to areas that are not CBDG areas.
We received a $500,000 ONE GEORGIA grant that will be used to build the community farmers market on part of the old Pillowtex mill property. We also received a $500,000 CBDG grant for environmental cleanup at the mill site that LandMark Development is developing into a housing complex.
We have also received a $18,500 grant for police department equipment, a $250,000 fire equipment grant, a $10,000 Historic Preservation Grant for replacing/repairing windows at the Opera House, and a $2,500 Home Depot Grant for building wheelchair ramps on houses within our community (of which I think about 8 have been built with donated labor from both the Deacons and Stewards Association and Darryl Brown Construction). And also a grant for landscaping and design work at our city entrances.
We received a 3 year GICH (Georgia Initiative for Community Housing) grant (no money) that allows us to partake of training and resources with other GICH designated communities twice a year. (only3 communities a year get this designation).
And the latest announcement is a HUD grant for $1,000,000. (incorrectly advertised by HUD as a $650,000 grant). We have just received notification that we have won a $1,000,000 grant that will be used to facilitate the development of Phase I of the cotton mill lofts – the housing portion of the development at the old Pillowtex mill.
We were recently named a Preserve America Community, a federal designation that while not having a check attached, will allow us to apply for additional grants due to having that designation.
And if all continues to go our way, we will receive another $500,000 CBDG grant for housing allocated to our McDuffie Street Housing project proposed by our H-GICH (Hawkinsville – Georgia Initiative for Community Housing) committee. AND a $300,000 CHIP (Community Housing Initiative Program) grant for housing issues on the North side of town. We hope (and think that we will) to be awarded BOTH of these grants by the end of August, 2010.
I am sure that I have left some recent grants out. Every department in the city is keenly aware that they need to help us fund their work. Each department actively seeks out grant funding that can be utilized in their department.
Did you have any idea that the City of Hawkinsville had received these grants?
The other way to grow revenue without raising property taxes is through controlled growth. But growth requires JOBS. We hope the pending sale of our spec building to the Korean companies will not only put that property back on the tax digest but will also provide hundreds of jobs. Jobs mean people. People mean houses and businesses to support those people. Houses and businesses mean an increased tax digest – more money – without raising the rates. Again, a WIN WIN for all involved.
Let me know your thoughts! What other areas to we need to be looking at? What are your thoughts on grants? consolidation? cutting expenses? improving infrastructure, etc. etc. Inquiring minds want to know. At best, comment on this post, at worst, shoot me a private email (shelly@gawebservices.com) and let me know your thoughts.
Shelly
Share this:
Multipreneur – So what do you actually do? – UPDATED 1/17/14
One of the most frequent questions that I get asked is, “So what do you actually do for a living?” Well, that answer can be quite long. But if you are reading my blog – then obviously, you don’t have anything better to do anyway. So, let’s start at the beginning.
After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1986, I went to work for PlantersFirst Bank. I was first the in-house computer guy and eventually became Operations Officer. While working there, the Real Estate Appraisal industry was in the process of becoming legislated and regulated. This meant that to become an appraiser, you must become licensed. I took the necessary tests and become a certified real estate appraiser. I thought that would be a great part-time job. However, competitive banks did not want to hire me while working at their competitor – understandable. Along this same time, my family had the opportunity to open up a second Radio Shack franchise in Eastman, Ga. So, I had to try out my entrepreneurial wings. It was my intention to run the Eastman store – and let that support me – while I built up my appraisal business. The exact opposite happened. The Radio Shack store never took off, but my appraisal business did. So eventually, we closed the Radio Shack and I started MidState Appraisal Company.
MidState Appraisal did very well. However, one large client that ordered multiple appraisals per day (and paid for them exactly 90 days later) one day stopped calling. When I inquired, they had closed shop overnight. They left me with a $30,000 plus money owed to me. I almost went under. I borrowed money and kept afloat. But about that time, Dr. John H. Bembry, assistant superintendent of Pulaski County Schools, approached me about joining the school system as a technology specialist full time. I had been doing some part time consultant work for them. I saw this as a way to get health insurance AND help me dig my way out the sudden problems with my appraisal company. So I took this job.
While I loved the school job I realized that my entrepreneurial leanings were still there. My appraisal company was doing okay, but needed full time supervision. So I eventually went into a partnership with a fellow appraiser and we each closed our independent shops and opened up VALUEFIRST Appraisal Company. As it grew, I considered leaving the school system, but again, the insurance was good and the people were great. So I negotiated moving to a part time with the school system.
During this time, Kristen, my (at the time) 14 year old daughter, expressed an interest in learning to develop a website. She is so gifted in art, photography, poetry, etc. I showed her how to create a site and a couple of days later she had created a GREAT website to showcase her work. I was really impressed. I encouraged her to start a little company and create websites for some mom & pop businesses downtown. She wanted my help, so together we started Ga WebServices.
Eventually, she tired of the websites and just wanted to be a full time teenager. But by then, we had several clients. So I kept growing the company. Eventually, the websites were growing at a much faster pace than the appraisal company. I wanted to spend more time on the website company, but wanted to be fair to my partner. So we negotiated a buyout and I left the company to devote full time to my website company. (which now has over 200 clients in over 20 counties). We also employ Cory Mader (web designer) and Renee Chester (web designer) and Kristen eventually came back on board as well. So I hired Valerie Martin to oversee this operation.
However, I was still getting lots and lots of appraisal calls, so I started Georgia Appraisal Services thinking I would just do a few along. Eventually, I hired a guy full time to help with the appraisals. He does the research, courthouse work, legwork, while I inspect and conclude values. It works great! Frankie Faircloth is a great asset to the company. Then as it continued to grow, I also add Angie McLeod to our office. She gets it done, no fuss, no hassle.
So at this point, I was part time appraiser, full time web developer, and part time technology specialist at the school. You’d think that would be enough….
I met Wayne McGuinty due to having created a few different websites for him. Like me, he was involved in several businesses. We had a natural friendship that flourished. We knew at some point, we wanted to do some business together, we just did not know what. We formed KAIZEN, LLC with no clue as to what it would become. (Kaizen is a japanese word for – always getting better).
Wayne runs the WILCOX MARKETER in Wilcox county and we eventually decided the same type of classified ad newspaper would work in Hawkinsville also – so… The Pulaski Progress was born. So add editor, copyrighter, reporter to my list of activities. We started the Progress in November, 2007 and ran it for about a year and a half. It was a profitable paper after only the first 4 editions. But one day an opportunity to sell that paper presented itself. The paper was in the black but was time consuming. So we cashed out and sold the paper in July of 2009.
Also in November of 2007, Kristen, through involvement in a film class at her school, became involved in filming football games to be rebroadcast at a later date on ComSouth. However, the next year, the class did not exist. Mike McClain of ComSouth asked me if I knew of anyone that could tackle that job. They wanted Hawkinsville, Cochran, and Perry Games filmed (their market area). They also wanted some Fullington and Westfield games filmed. Loving a new challenge, I presented ComSouth with a proposal to film these games. It went well. The relationship was good. So after football season, I presented them with the opportunity to keep the relationship going but in addition to high school sports, we add civic and governmental meetings, high school plays, parades, opera house events, etc. etc. And thus, ComSouth TV channel 1o0 was officially born. So now I was a TV producer! (and cameraman, and editor).
This went so well that we added ProgressiveTel (another cable TV provider in Rentz, Ga.) and began doing the same for them.
Eventually, ComSouth wanted more and more involvement in the direction of their channel. Certainly understandable – as the channel was getting lots of attention. But being a sole entrepreneur, I really do not like weekly meetings and lots of “foreign” involvement. So in January of 2010, I asked ComSouth to take over the channel and I would bow out. We parted ways but I continue to love the channel (my baby) .
However, I still ran (and run now) the ProgressiveTel cable channel. The software that I utilize is actually designed to create/schedule/ maintain remote digital signage. So as I explored how other people were using this software, a new opportunity presented itself. I have now launched Georgia Media Services. GMS is actively pursuing restaurants throughout Georgia that will allow us to install a 42″ – 60″ inch television in their establishment that will display current events, trivia, ads for their restaurant as well as ads that we sell to other businesses. We currently have about 27 displays around Georgia. For a complete list, go to www.gamediaservices.com
I have also always been fascinated with politics. I have never considered myself a politician, but have always considered myself a conservative political person. On the local level, I kept saying to myself, “I hope someone decent runs”. I finally decided, that while I may not have ALOT to offer, I was at least decent. So about 10 years ago, I ran, unopposed, for the Hawkinsville City Council. I have re-ran twice (again unopposed) and am currently vice-chairperson on the Council. I was also elected as district 6 president of the Georgia Municipal Association advisory board. (position elected from among area elected officials by the elected officials).
My most recent venture has been with a good friend (and relatively new comer to Hawkinsville), Charlie Harper. Charlie just retired as Chief Credit Analyst at SunMark Community Bank. In his position, he noticed that an issue that area banks were having is dealing with their foreclosed properties. Current appraisals need to be in the file when bank examiners arrive or the bank gets in trouble. Most REO (REAL ESTATE OWNED, foreclosed properties) files are pushed to the side and it is hard to keep these files current. So we started SOLUTIONS FOR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS together to offer banks a management tool for their REO properties. We kicked off in 4th quarter 2013 and got our first client, Citizens Bank and Trust of Eastman, Ga. in January of 2014. We already have appointments with other banks as well. So wish us luck on this new venture….
So… What do I do? Well, I am now back full time as a Technology Specialist with the Pulaski County School System. I own Ga WebServices, Georgia Appraisal Services and Ga Media Services. I am a partner in Solutions for Property Assessments. I am on the Hawkinsville City Council. I am vice chair of the Deacon Board at Broad Street Church where I teach Sunday School. I serve on the Executive Committee of the Pulaski County Archway Initiative (board to facilitate the resources of the state’s educational assets to help with problems /opportunities within our county). I serve on the Pulaski County Senior Council on Aging. I serve on the MGRDA (Middle Georgia Regional Development Authority – a tri-county economic development board). And I am a member of about 5 area chambers. I just joined a local tennis league in Perry, and just so that I would not get too bored, I just agreed to help coach our local High School’s tennis team.
I stay busy. I like juggling lots at a time. I like starting things and creating things. I’ll admit, I do get bored with the status quo. Let’s keep things improving, or let’s move in another direction. They say if you want something done give it to a busy person. Please don’t – I am busy enough! But now you know the answer to the question. What do I do? I am a serial entrepreneur that is also involved in local community affairs. I love my life and would not change a thing!
Shelly
Updated 1-17-14
Share this:
Abstain from a vote?
I have been on the city council for 5-6 years now. There have been several times that I have abstained from a vote. When should one abstain? Should I not have an opinion one way or the other? There are suitable times to abstain and even NOT voting can sometimes make a point.
Of course a commissioner should not vote if he/she feels that he/she has a conflict of interest. For example, maybe a family member is involved in a business that is up for a business license. In a small town such as Hawkinsville, there are bound to be conflicts that are unavoidable and it is best to simply abstain from voting rather than give the appearance of inappropriateness.
However, there is another time that I find myself abstaining frequently. The abstaining is meant to make a point while not derailing a legitiment process. The City Fathers, long ago, decided that beer and alcohol could be sold within the city limits. They set up certain proceedures, applications, and guidelines that must be adhered to before a license to sell these items can be obtained. The applicant must past a background check, fees must be paid, and zoning conditions must be met among other stipulations.
Due to personal moral reasonings, I personally would prefer that we do not allow the selling of alcohol within the city limits. But the current law says that one can. The current laws stipulate that if certain conditions are met then a license must be granted. Therefore, if a business jumps through all the hoops, meets the criteria, pays the fees and does all that is required, I cannot in good conscience vote AGAINST granting that license. However, a vote FOR might be construed as supporting the sale of alcohol. Therefore, I normally simply abstain during that vote. The license is normally granted by four yes votes, one abstaining.
Now, suppose I was one of only three commissioners present. In that case a non-vote would actually have the effect of being a NO vote. Should this ever occur, I would, in that case, vote FOR the license. If the business person has done all that is required, then they should get their license.
So, if you ever wonder why I abstain on such votes, it is simply my way of giving my opinion on the subject while NOT derailing the process.
I would love your comments on this post….. Do you agree or disagree? Am I being silly or principled? Should my votes on the council represent my personal beliefs or those of the people that I represent? I am called to always vote with the majority of the people that I represent or did a majority of the people put me in this post because they felt like the majority of my beliefs (if not all) match closely with theirs? Whatcha think?
Shelly
Share this:
Cemetery Grass Cutting Update
I brought up my disappointment with the condition of the grass at Orange Hill Cemetery tonight at the City of Hawkinsville Commission meeting. I had not been the only person to notice. The Commission has instructed city administration to do the following:
1. Get the grass cut immediately
2. Report back to us the estimated yearly cost of keeping the cemetery in top condition.
3. Solicit some bids from local landscaping companies in order to ascertain the feasibility of privatizing this function of the city.
I am not sure exactly where the fault lies on this one. Did some one not perform as asked? Did the administration not put the correct priority on the condition of the cemetery? Did the city commission not allocate enough budgetary support, ie, are we too short handed due to staffing reductions to handle this item correctly? If the answer is one of the first two options, then someone needs yelling at. If the answer is the third, then we request that city administration yell at us. If we are not providing the funds necessary to accomplish adequate maintenance, then we either need to increase the funds or reallocate money from elsewhere.
Shelly
Share this:
Board Appointments – July, 2010
Wow, It really worked. My previous posts asking for persons willing to serve on our boards paid off. I got two responses and BOTH of them were appointed to boards during tonights City of Hawkinsville Commission meeting. Clif Pritchett was appointed to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and Milton Sutherlin was appointed to the Hawkinsville Urban Redevelopment Board. It is great to have citizens WANTING to serve this great community. My hats off to you guys!!!
Shelly Berryhill 