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COLUMBUS, Ga. — From the city planning to demolish a family’s generational home to make way for a roundabout, to the Government Center’s $225 million replacement not having a project manager, to the city clandestinely using a property tax increase as collateral on the issuance of new Hospital Authority bonds, here’s all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Georgia area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead.
CCG PLANS TO DEMOLISH FAMILY’S GENERATIONAL HOME FOR A ROUNDABOUT
This story was originally published on July 31, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — A Columbus family is facing the demolition of their home through a city land grab to make room for a new roundabout on Steam Mill Road.
The city manager’s office didn’t even bother to personally inform the family before they found out on their own at a public meeting by chance.
City councilors were in absolute disbelief of the situation, with several of them visibly distraught by the utter failure of the city manager’s office.
The Johnson family, who worked their entire lives as upstanding citizens and proud members of the community, have lived in their home on Southern Pines Drive for over thirty years.
Now on the verge of finally enjoying retirement after careers in the United States Army and Civil Service, the family was eagerly hoping to bask in the fruits of their labor through their golden years, accompanied by the decades of memories they’ve made at their home over three generations with their son DeMarco and three grandchildren.
Despite doing everything right and paying their dues for thirty years, the family is now fighting against the city’s malfeasance to save the home they’ve worked so hard to build, maintain, and love through three generations.
Thanks to the city’s years-long plan to demolish their home without even bothering to tell them, the Johnson family is now faced with the hardship of having their entire lives uprooted and their retirement plans destroyed as a result of the city’s insincere callousness — all for a mere roundabout installation.
The project, which can be viewed on the city’s dedicated website of SteamMillRoadStudy.com, plans to widen the road to three lanes and install roundabouts at the cost of $22.5 million paid for by the city’s TSPLOST.
Explore the full story to see how city councilors were absolutely livid when they found out, along with the disgusting response from the city manager’s office.
CITY SPENDS $26K ON GOLF COURSE STUDY TO ADD MORE HOLES
This story was originally published on August 1, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — City councilors recently approved payment for a recently-completed study that evaluated adding additional holes to the Oxbow Creek Golf Course.
The study, which employed an outside firm of “qualified golf industry professional consultants” under the direct supervision of the Columbus Golf Authority (CGA), came with a $26,000 price tag to the taxpayer.
According to the city’s request for proposal for the project, RFP No. 23-0034, the study evaluated the potential of adding nine additional holes, bringing the course to the traditional full-sized course of 18 holes.
While the project’s original completion date was scheduled for May 15, an addendum shows the project was delayed by one month causing its completion date to be pushed back to June 15.
With its $26,000 price tag, the study alone carries a cost of $2,888 per hole just to look at the course and see if adding a back 9 would even make financial sense to do.
Explore the full story to see how CCG is doubling-down on its ‘master plan’ for golf course expansion while our city’s employment rate continues to plummet.
DOWNTOWN FUNDRAISER FOR PAWS HUMANE HELD AUGUST 5
This story was originally published on August 2, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Volunteers of the city’s local Paws Humane Society held a downtown fundraiser, bake sale, and donation collection event yesterday on Saturday, August 5 starting at 9:00 a.m.
The event took place in front of Frank’s Alley located at 1246 Broadway, just south of the intersection at 13th Street.
All proceeds from the event will go directly to the provision of desperately-needed supplies to Paws Humane Society of the Chattahoochee Valley, located at 4900 Milgen Road.
The event, organized by local animal lover and Paws supporter Misty Day, offered an assortment of baked goods for sale, including brownies, cookies, and other goodies — all available for just $1 each.
The event also welcomed donations of pet food and supplies from the public, which must be sealed in original packaging.
If you missed the event but would still like to donate, desperately-needed recommendations include:
Donations to Paws Humane can be made at 4900 Milgen Road seven days a week. You can learn more about how you can help Paws Humane through their website at PawsHumane.org or by calling 706-565-0035.
Explore the full story for the details!
CITY’S $225M GOV’T CENTER PROJECT LACKS DESIGNATED MANAGER
This story was originally published on August 3, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — The city’s plans to demolish the Government Center and replace it with a new judicial building lacks a dedicated professional project manager, according to recent dialogue during the city council meeting held on July 25.
The project currently has a budget of $225 million, which recently increased to exceed its originally-projected costs by 29%.
The project is funded entirely by taxpayer funds through the city’s SPLOST.
Currently, the colossally-expensive and intricate design project is being oversaught by CCG’s Director of Inspections and Codes, Ryan Pruett.
Pruett, according to several city councilors, should be doing his own job of directing the city’s inspections and codes department; the city shouldn’t be irresponsibly trying to skate by leaving Pruett no choice but to treat the $225 million project as a side hustle.
The intricate task of managing the development of the city's new $225 million judicial center, according to city councilors and common sense, should be left to a designated professional project manager whose sole job is to properly direct the project and ensure corners aren’t being cut.
It is unclear why such a monumental project funded by hundreds of millions in specially-raised taxpayer funds was not assigned a professional project manager from the start, though it does match the track record of both CCG’s approach to new building construction and fiscal management.
Explore the full story for a look at the details along with how the costs continue to grow.
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WOULD BAIL OUT CITY HOSPITAL BOND DEBT
This story was originally published on August 4, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — The city recently pledged a future four mill property tax increase to bail out the Hospital Authority should their revenue be incapable of paying back their issued bond debt.
The move stems from a lengthy plan that first publicly announced the use of tax levy as collateral back in May.
Every five years, the Hospital Authority — which is a subsidiary branch of the Columbus Consolidated Government — issues roughly $30 million in what are essential bonds. The ‘Refunding Revenue Anticipation Certificates’ are backed by the future gross revenue of the city’s healthcare system, which is supposed to be used to pay back the bond buyers when the certificates mature.
However, the Hospital Authority didn’t earn enough gross revenue to pay back the bonds they issued in 2013 and 2018. As a sub branch of CCG, the city government was left to either find a way out or to pick up the tab.
To do so, CCG simply authorized the Hospital Authority to issue new bonds for Series 2023, which would be able to raise funds to pay off the previous bonds from 2013 and 2018 — under one unmentionable condition: Should the Hospital Authority default again, CCG would simply raise property taxes to fund the bailout.
CCG listed you, the Columbus Taxpayer, as collateral on a Ponzi Scheme bailout structure.
That particular collateral use, however, was clandestinely kept very quiet and out-of-sight by CCG; it never publicly brought the matter up for discussion, but rather kept it carefully hidden in the finer details of a lengthy intergovernmental contract generated by City Attorney Clifton Fay.
You can view the 6-page resolution and 82-page contract on pages 66-152 of the agenda packet from the July 25 city council meeting.
Explore the full story to see how CCG just pledged a future four mill property tax increase to bail out the Hospital Authority if the problem happens again.
HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT TO HOLD HUGLEY'S HAND AFTER PROGRAM SCREWUP
This story was originally published on August 5, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. — City council recently gave their unanimous approval for a healthcare consultant to assist the city manager’s office with its second attempt to plan the city’s indigent care program.
The move comes after councilors became absolutely livid upon learning the program’s application process alone resulted in nearly none of the city’s healthcare providers even bothering to apply.
City Manager Isaiah Hugley had originally received specific instructions to meet city council’s intent of expanding offerings to increase the number of providers. Instead, they developed an application process so unrealistic that it created the opposite effect.
Now, as a result of striking out completely at the cost of wasting the time of nearly every healthcare provider in the region and that of every city employee who worked on the project’s initial development, Hugley will be assigned to follow the strict advice of a healthcare consultant who will hold his hand through the process of re-planning the program all over again from the ground-up.
Explore the full story for the details, along with the full text of the approved resolution.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The Columbus City Council is scheduled to meet this Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. on the second floor of the C. E. “Red” McDaniel City Services Center located at 3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, GA 31906.
The meeting is anticipated to include updated news on the city’s interstate take-home car program for its public safety officers, which had previously made the ridiculous assumption that private insurers would allow officers to place the city’s work vehicles on their own personal insurance policies. We’ve heard rumors that a solid fix might be underway.
Join Today. Protect Tomorrow
There has never been a better time to be a Columbus Police Officer! The Columbus Police Department is a state and nationally accredited law enforcement agency dedicated to protecting and serving the citizens of Columbus, Georgia. Become part of a highly trained law enforcement team focused on building and maintaining strong community partnerships that improve the safety and quality of life for every citizen. Join today and protect the promise of a better tomorrow. ProtectColumbus.ColumbusGa.gov
A Look At Personal Safety
As the Columbus Police Department continues to unify under its new leadership model, violent crime is still likely to exist at higher levels than we would all like — even in what have previously been thought of as the “safer parts” of our city.
We at the Muckraker want to encourage our readers and their loved ones to remain hyper-vigilant as they go about their daily lives.
Based on lifetimes of experience and the combined professional careers of us at the Muckraker and our associates, here are what we consider to be the most important ways Columbusites can make themselves “hard targets” to avoid becoming a crime victim:
Situational Awareness: Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep your head on a swivel. Don’t walk around with headphones in. Keep your eyes moving and scanning around you as you move about.
Trust Your Gut: If something inside of you is telling you that something isn’t right, trust that feeling. For example: If you’re parking your car at night and your gut tells you the dark shady spot next to the alley isn't the best place to park, don't park there. Your intuition is often more powerful and protective than you think.
Move With Confidence: Think about this one for a minute. Are criminals going to target the guy or gal who struts hard down the street like a freaking lion patrolling their own domain, or are they going to leave that hard target the heck alone? Keep your head up. Move from place to place with a purpose. Don't walk around with your face in your phone with your purse wide open. Don’t look weak. Look dangerous.
Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.
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