flo.rankin@gaflnews.com



TIFTON – Tift County farmers worried about losing their water source appealed to the Tifton City Council during its July meeting. A power plant proposed by Duke Energy for the Whiddon Mill area would use wastewater now discharged by the city into the New River, which crosses southeastern Tift County.

Farmers John Whiddon and Raleigh Coarsey and Eldorado resident Donald Adcock asked the council not to sell its wastewater to Duke if the plant is built.

“If it wasn’t for the wastewater, we wouldn’t have any water,” Whiddon told the council. “We respectfully ask that when Duke Power asks for our water, you turn them down.”

Coarsey said his father had been irrigating from the river since 1954. “It’s going to ruin the farmers and what we’ve worked for all of our lives,” said Coarsey.

In other action Monday, council:

Recognized Tifton Police Department officers who have been promoted. Senior Det. Garfield Rhaney was named a patrol lieutenant and traffic officers Ray Cox and Julie Thompson were each promoted to patrol division sergeant.

Recognized firefighters Mike Flippo, David Owens, Allen Pugh, Adam Smith and Paul McGahee for receiving fire science technology degrees from Tiftarea Technical College.

Recognized Mayor Paul Johnson for being elected first vice president of the 11th District of the Georgia Municipal Association and for being named vice chairman of the Regional Development Council in Valdosta.

Recognized City Manager Charles Howell for being elected first chairman of the GMA telecommunications committee.

Recognized Councilman Dave Hetzel for completing more than 120 hours of training through the GMA’s Municipal Training Institute.

Approved the low bid of $17,101 from Sherwin Williams, Inc., of Tifton for traffic paint and beads to be used in restriping streets and parking places.

Approved the low bid of $22,227 from Barbee Petroleum Co. of Tifton for relocation of fuel pumps at the city/county landfill.

Approved second reading of annexation and land-use reclassification requests by Danny Ross on a 9.23-acre tract of land located adjacent to King Road.

Approved second reading of annexation and land-use reclassification requests on three parcels of land on Fulwood Road totaling about 101.855 acres. The land is owned by Northside Baptist Church, Mother’s Love Too Child Care and Carrington Farms.

Approved second reading of annexation and reclassification requests from property owners in the Windsor Drive area. Area resident Keith Schneider spoke in favor of the proposal during a public hearing held at the beginning of the meeting, saying the property owners were mainly concerned with fire and police protection issues.

Approved a resolution amending the policies and procedures governing appointments to city boards. The changes include a requirement that appointees be either residents of Tifton or operate a business here and that they be registered voters. They also call for appointees to attend any state-mandated trianing within the first year of service and also attend any special training arranged by the city.



To contact city editor Florence Rankin, call 382-4321, ext. 209.