Walker County Newsletter Issue 73 - September 2022
The Walker County Board of Commissioners Approve a Millage Rate Lower Than Originally Proposed
The Walker County Board of Commissioners adopted a millage rate for 2022 below what was originally proposed. Citing a desire to hold firm on taxes, the board unanimously approved a property tax rate that will be the lowest since 2013.
The new millage rate of 6.8283 mills in the unincorporated area represents a 17.86% reduction over 2021 when the rate was 8.313 mills. In addition, the new rate of 9.9213 mills in the incorporated areas represents a 17.06% decrease compared to 11.963 mills last year.
“We need to be sensitive when we set a millage rate,” said District 4 Commissioner Robert Stultz. “$30 could mean a water bill or a tank of gas.” Board members said young families and the elderly are stressed by higher property assessments, increases in the school tax, higher fuel prices and runaway inflation.
Due to the state’s complex formula used to compute millage based on the value added from reassessments, the new rate will actually generate $89 less in property tax revenue for county government operations. The revenue reduction will necessitate revisions to the FY2023 proposed budget, which will be voted on by the board on September 22.
Walker Co. First Responders Recognized for Bravery and Life Saving Efforts During July 4th Incident
Sgt. Michael Keith and firefighter Drew Andrews with Walker County Fire Rescue were both recently presented with a Medal of Bravery, along with a Life-Saving commendation. In order to receive a Medal of Bravery award, a firefighter must perform an act of distinguished bravery while on a call and exhibit stamina in adverse conditions of fire, environment, weather or materials.
On July 4, they were dispatched to a residential structure fire with two people still inside. Sgt. Keith and firefighter Andrews entered the home through a bedroom window, which was the last known location of one of the occupants. The firefighters found an unresponsive victim on the bedroom floor and worked to quickly rescue this person by removing them through the bedroom window. The Rossville Police Department then helped get the victim to EMS for transport to the hospital.
Sgt. Keith and firefighter Andrews then continued searching the residence for additional victims and found a second person inside. Working as a team, they were able to rapidly extricate the second person.
Sgt. Christina Hicks and communication officer Alyssa Landress also received a Life-Saving commendation award. When the call came in, Landress calmly dispatched the first responders. Hicks took a call from one of the victims and remained on the line with them, even after they became unresponsive.
Fire Heavily Damages Old Coats American Building
Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions battled a structure fire at a large vacant industrial building in downtown Rossville last month.
Over a dozen units from Walker County, Catoosa County, East Ridge, Georgia Department of Corrections, Trenton and Hamilton County provided assistance to Rossville to help get the fire under control, which took about five hours.
Fire officials estimate about 75% of the old Coats American building to be a total loss. The vacant building, which was donated to the county in 2008, did not have any power. Walker County’s new Accelerant Detection Canine Team searched for signs of what started the blaze, which remains unknown. The Georgia State Fire Marshal's office is now overseeing the investigation.
Cleanup of the fire debris will take some time to complete. A portion of the 240,000 sq. foot building is in the process of being demolished, due to safety concerns. The area where the fire occurred is about 75 yards from where vandals caused a PCB spill in 2018. The county is currently awaiting a permit for disposal of concrete pads from that incident.
Members of the Walker County Fire Rescue Cave & Cliff Rescue Team are in the Republic of Georgia working with firefighters overseas. They are training their foreign counterparts in technical rescue, which involves rope work and rescuing patients in tough, rocky terrain. Watch the video to learn more about this exciting opportunity for our team members and scroll down to see a few pics they've sent back.
iWorQ Service Request is Now Citizen Portal
The app version of the iWorQ Service Request program used by Walker County residents to report issues to various government departments was recently disconnected and replaced with an upgraded web-based version.
Service Request is now Citizen Portal and includes many of the same features as the app version, most notably the ability to submit pictures with your request.
Along with codes, roads and animals, users can also ask general questions, inquire about renting a county facility and alert the county of concerns with permitting and inspections, drainage and the landfill.
Citizen Portal is now accessible directly at walkercountyga.gov/citizenportal and through a link at the bottom of the county homepage.
SAVE THE DATE: Monday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m.
A collaboration between Walker County and Georgia Windstream will result in a fiber internet solution being deployed to 3,339 homes and businesses in rural areas. A townhall meeting to update the community on the program will be held Monday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the LaFayette-Walker County Public Library. Look for more information in next month's newletter.
Preparations are underway for the annual Walker County Ag Festival on Saturday, September 17th from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Walker County Ag Center, located at 10052 Hwy 27 in Rock Spring.
The festival is jam-packed with activities for the whole family to enjoy. For more information visit walkercountyagfestival.com.
Blood Assurance will host a blood drive from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28 in downtown LaFayette. Pre-register online at this link and then drop by 106 E Withers St. (in the parking lot across the street from Courthouse Annex II) to participate.
Everyone who donates will receive a T-shirt that pays tribute to the tens of thousands of people who donated blood in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Click here for More Information
