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Published Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Local
Would-be speakers silenced at county meeting
The Newnan Times-Herald
The Coweta County Commission's new rules governing public comment got their first real test at Tuesday's meeting.
In the past, the commissioners had allowed public comment during discussion of conditional use permits even though the official public hearing is held before the Board of Zoning Appeals.
At the commission's Jan. 19 meeting, there was extensive public comment on conditional use permits for the BelAir facility and for All Souls Church of God in Christ.
Shortly thereafter, the commissioners changed some of the rules governing meetings.
County Administrator Theron Gay stated at Tuesday's meeting the public hearings on five requests had been closed and that, while the commissioners might ask questions of the applicants, there would be no public comment.
Korean Church of Newnan requested a conditional use permit for a 6,055-square-foot church building on 4.28 acres on Lora Smith Road near the intersection with Ga. Hwy. 34 East. The plan includes a 2,540-square-foot sanctuary, five staff members, 128 parking spaces and a maximum membership of 200.
During the public hearing held before the board of zoning appeals on March 2, three nearby residents spoke against the request, citing concerns about traffic.
On Tuesday, the commissioners questioned the applicants and the land owner about buffers and conditions.
When a woman spoke and said she represented residents of Lora Smith Road, she was told she could not speak because the public hearing had already been held.
"I just want to state that the residents ... do not have a voice in front of this commission," said commission meeting attendee Jonathan Adair. Adair complained that, at the public hearing, opponents of the conditional use permit were "told to be here today in order to state any objections we might have in front of the commission."
Commissioner Randolph Collins said the county needs to put together educational pamphlets that plainly state how various county processes work and to give residents the information they need in such instances. If someone goes to the planning department with questions, "you could talk to as many as five different people," Collins said.
"I think we have addressed this particular situation," said Chairman Paul Poole.
"I don't think we have," said Collins.
"Anything we can do to clarify what the rules are so that individuals don't have a false sense of what they can and can't do, I think, would be beneficial," said Commissioner Tim Lassetter.
The commissioners voted 4-1, with Al Smith opposed, to approve the church permit, with the added condition that the 25-foot buffer be increased to 50 feet on the southern border.
During public comment at the end of the meeting, Adair told commissioners, "We feel like, right now, we have found ourselves in a position where we feel we didn't get heard ... when we felt like we would have an opportunity."
Comment On This Story
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Any official looking to retaliate against me for voicing a legitimate opinion had better pack a lunch because it's going to be a long day. Looks folks, the only way for bad politicians to do bad things is for good people to sit home and do nothing. How do you think some of our elected officials get elected ? I must admit that the headline for this topic got my attention with just the imagery of speakers being silenced by the KGB or gestapo; then I read the rest of the article. My opinion is that the commissioners need to get a spine and quit being so wishy-washy. Leigh Schlumper must be having the last laugh as she reads about the happenings of our county.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 2:06 AM
A word of caution to my friends who share their thoughts and opinions here and who actively contact their local politician(s). Some of our “elected officials” will retaliate against you.
Posted by Vote'em Out at 10:57 PM
This tower was never zoned to allow the tower to be built because it was the County's. The County does not have to abide by the Zoning. That is the only reason for that hearing. If the county had correctly zoned the tower there would not have been a hearing.
Posted by Not a Good Ole'boy at 11:02 AM
I don't blame Al Smith for voting no and you have to think that was payback for the 3-2 vote against the Black church in Collins district. Funny how one church can get zoning aproval but the other can't.....
Posted by pragmaticrepublican at 2:38 AM
We found out a couple of years ago when Wal-Mart was strong arming their way into north Coweta that the Co. Commission sometimes does not know and/or does not abide by their own rules. At that time, Wal Mart was granted a variance on a piece of land around the Northgate Water tower for parking, even though as we pointed out the county traffic engineer had not approved (though it should have been by the commission's own rules) the traffic plan, although it had been submitted. Rules are made to be...bent?
Posted by Roben Pinson at 9:25 PM
Im never amazed by some of the posts on here. People read a news story, which is edited to fit into a news column, and automatically believe they are aware of the situtation as if they were in attendance. The policy didnt change right before the meeting. Once again citizens complaining about the commission, yet many of you most likely did not vote in the election that put them in office. If people really have this many complaints, why dont you submit your name for the ballot...
Posted by Cowetan at 4:18 PM
They may not want our voices to be heard now, but wait till election time. Our voices will be blasted across the county. The headlines will read "All Incumbants LOSE"
Posted by A. Voter at 4:14 PM
You forgot the one rule that says the public may attend all public meetings posted except for the ones they decide on Sunday to hold on Monday and never give the Public proper notification which is REQUIRED to be posted at least 24 hrs in advance....You know the ones that are intended for the public but Not Really.....
Posted by Slinky at 2:35 PM
Like the wolf wearing the hides of lambs, religious discrimination is wearing the fleece of NIMBY.
New buildings, new jobs, new development are not the issues for Welfare Christians who feel entitled to allowing only new white congregation churches be built in their back yards. Most old buildings cost too much to operate and maintain. Treehugger may be a landlord.
Apparently the only thing Christians fear more than the devil is other religions.
NIMBY has died. Wearing the unoccupied fleece are discrimination, ignorance and fear blazing away with the six guns of freedom of speech with their eyes blinded by entitlement.
Exasperated is right, only Glenn Beck does anything right.
Posted by turfkiller at 2:10 PM
Not only is the public comment rule not "new," it is also well within the prerogatives of any body to determine the rules of their meetings. But they didn't pick a very good time to resume enforcing their rule -- the way people feel these days, elected officials can't do anything right.
Posted by exasperated at 1:15 PM
New rules for the Coweta County Commissioners.
1. We will handle all matters with out question.
2. Any questions are to be written and then burned immediateli
3.The public is invited but we expect you to act like Zombies.
4. You are to make no verbal comments. You can make no cat calls or derogatory or obnoxious sound to show displeasure..
5. We urge you to attend all public meetings. We just do not need any of your comments for us to make our Imperalistic choices. Thank You
This should be simple enough that it will not take a $30,000 dollar , six hundred page ordinance such as the Newnan City council came up with for their Proposed Historical Districting which was defeated by the citizens.
Posted by Disgusted at 1:14 PM
Once again Newnan is allowing another building to be built when many others stand vacant. Not to mention it appears to be against the residents wishes.
Posted by Tree hugger at 12:56 PM
PLEASE vote these people out of office.
Posted by RYAN at 12:51 PM
I live off Lora Smith Road, and love how some random resident is representing "residents of Lora Smith Road" - since obviously our commissioner isn't!
Posted by Confused at 12:24 PM
Freedom of speech is being abridged in Coweta county. When elected officials think they can silence taxpayers by simply making up new rules , then maybe the taxpayers will silence them come election day.
Posted by Twocrows at 12:15 PM
Well, since our elected representatives no longer want to hear from us at the meetings... I guess I will just call him at home or at work or on his cell phone when it is convienent to me. Oh, did I mention I work Swing shift, so I can only call at 10 pm and weekends???
Posted by BBNB at 12:01 PM
It has always been the rules that the hearing was at the Board of Zoning Appeals and not at the comission meeting. The commission just got off track and broke their rules when they started to allow comment.
Posted by Not a Good Ole'boy at 11:52 AM
Our new commission is a complete joke. I can not wait to vote them OUT!!!
Posted by Lisa at 11:03 AM
So now they commissioners choose when we do and do not have a say? I was under the impression that since OUR tax dollars fund this racket, we always had a say...how times change....
Posted by Darryl at 10:48 AM
... "so that individuals don't have a false sense of what they can & can't do ..."
Seriously?
This sounds like one more gov't unit that doesn't quite grasp that gov't authority is derived "from the consent of the governed" ...
Posted by Mary Shell at 10:35 AM
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Re: County Commission Rules
3/20/2010
Link To This Comment
Where is that Wal-mart? I think they could have built it by now if they had approval.
Posted by Wayne Witherspoon at 12:12 AM