Regarding the newly released property assessments in Columbus, GA: Two really  big questions are floating out here.. Since the Tax Freeze was upheld, how can taxes be raised/lowered by new assessments, and if your H1 property was assessed higher/lower, do you have to file an appeal to protect your interests?

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With the influx of shootings/shooting deaths in Columbus, GA of late, The City slogan "What Progress Has Preserved" may soon change to "Chicago South"

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LIV's L-E "soundoff": "We liberals declare you Repugs the champions in the humor department. We couldn't come up with the biggest joke of a president the world has ever seen ... but you did." -- We conservatives had to laugh when y'all put Obama in but only because crying was self destructively painful. Bottom line is that the only bigger joke than Obama would have been Hellary..

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It's now 40 years we have been stressed at justice being administered in the case of Carlton Gary. While it is paramount that all efforts be made to protect the rights of the charged.. and convicted, those rights do not precede the rights of the citizens to see justice carried out in a timely manner.

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A Minnesota School District has ordered it's schools to allow all students (read..TRANSGENDERS) to use the bathroom they feel safest in. Hmmm..how about the majority of girls who have to be concerned that boys entering the Girls bathrooms aren't just there on a fantasy trip?

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Online story: "Pope Francis created a controversy amongst Evangelicals this week, when he stated in his weekly address, that those who believe they can maintain a "personal" and "direct" relationship with Jesus Christ outside the "mediation of the Church" was "dangerous and harmful." * In his weekly address from St. Peter's Square, the Pope said, "No one becomes Christian on his or her own! Is that clear? No one becomes Christian by him- or herself." * "Christians are not made in a laboratory. A Christian is part of a people who comes from afar. The Christian belongs to a people called the Church and this Church is what makes him or her Christian, on the day of Baptism, and then in the course of catechesis, and so on," the Pontiff continued.
* "We are able to live this journey not only because of others, but together with others. In the Church there is no 'do it yourself', there are no 'free agents'," the Pope added." -- "dangerous and harmful"..."the Church... is what makes him or her a Christian"? Once again, Poop Francis confirms my moniker for him is more than accurate.

https://www.worthynews.com/16807-pope-stirs-controversy-amongst-evangelicals

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I asked the Mayor and Council whether Columbusites with H1 ememptions would have to file appeals on thei property tax assessments.. this is Mayor Tom-LYING-son's same day response:

"Thanks Hal. Actually, no, if the owner has a Tax Freeze or H1 exemption, their valuation does not change regardless of the reassessment. Their assessment is frozen from upward and downward valuation. So, no they don't have to file an appeal to keep their frozen valuation." 


Teresa Pike Tomlinson
Mayor
Columbus, Georgia
Ttomlinson@columbusga.org
(706) 225-3114

-- Hmmm.. I'm going to "accept her word" on his one as it applies to me.. but from what I've heard from other people about their re-assessments, I'd remember her past.. and file anyway.

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Two weeks ago, we left Columbus for a 9 day Texas adventure.. the 6 acre lot at River & Mobley Rds was pretty much "wooded" except or some prelimnary work to seemingly cut out some future raod beds through the property. When we got back, the whole 6 acres was devoid of greenery, and looked like a used construction machinery dealership.  I still don't know what is going up there (inquiry to my Councilors was in vain), but don't companies usually post a huge sign advertising "what's coming"?

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There's a horrific story about 9 men being found dead in the back of a semi-trailer parked in a parking lot in San Antonio, TX. Purportedly, they were smuggled in illegally.. The article is not clear as to whether the people were loaded into the back of the truck in Mexico, or at some point in the US, but if  they were brought across the border inside the truck.. I want  to know HOW this could happen .

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Online headline: "USS Constitution, newly restored, is returning to the water" -- Ahhhh! I remember my venture aboard the USS Constitution in 1992 at the Boston Harbor. It was bigger than life, though I cannot imagine a sailor of 6' 6" in height enjoying working aboard her...

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Online headline/story: "Ruth Bader Ginsburg hopes for less political gridlock 'in my lifetime * "My hope is in my lifetime we will get back to the way it was," Justice Ginsburg said.'" -- Good grief.. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was APPOINTED to CREATE "political gridlock"... and so far she's done a great job at it.. to America's dismay...and as far as getting "back to the way it was". as soon as she relinquishwes her seat.. it will be a good start.

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L-E headline: "Rise in homicides has families, police looking for answers" -- "families, police looking for answers"? How about us neighbors, innocent bystanders, and taxpayers as well.. what we need is a Mayor and Council and Court system looking for SOLUTIONS!

 

From above story: "“All of the unsolved homicides in Columbus are related to drugs, gangs or both,” he said." -- Hmm.. there's the answer.. at least the politically expedient one.. we have no gangs or drug problems! In fact, drug crimes are considered "non-violent" as outlined by immediate past President Obama and confirmed by Mayor/Council.

 

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L-E headline: ""Take a Magical Mystery Tour of the Government Center" -- While concerned with all, my two main concerns are, in no certain order, are  that water pipes have corroded (didn't know copper or PVC corroded), and why are employees selected to anxiously point out deficiencies they should have been maintaining all along?

 

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Obvious flower child and Uber-LIV's L-E  "soundoff": "The House Budget Committee 2018 budget calls for deep cuts to Medicaid and food stamps and converts Medicare to voucher system. Said they’re “unsustainable,” yet increased defense spending by $662 billion." -- Good grief.. without a good military, slackers in this category would never see "free anything" if another government took over the US because we could defend our borders.

 

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L-E headline: "The five most dangerous creatures in the Chattahoochee * Copperhead Snake, E. COLI, Snapping Turtle, Flesh-Eating bacteria, Timber Rattlesnake" -- Wait a minute.. if not number 1, then certainly in the top 5 would be the alcohol-laced speed/ski boat drivers!

 

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From the "maybe some 'splainin' may be necessary" department -L-E story: "From Council Agenda: "PROPERTY ACQUISITION - 1511 CUSSETA ROAD: Approval is requested to acquire 1511 Cusseta Road in the amount of $375,000, plus closing costs, in an effort to relocate the Public Works Street Division onto Cusseta Road. Public Works is interested in the warehouse property mentioned above to relocate the Street Division off of Schatulga Road. It would also be used for records storage and surplus auction items. This property is adjacent to the current property that the Public Works Department already occupies at 602 11th Ave." -- You know, I generally find where the Mayor has volunteered tax dollars to pay more than the fair market value of such properties, but in this case. it seems we're getting a break, and some taxpayer is getting shafted. The siad property was carried on the books last year at a total value of $533K, and this year was assessed at $583K, yet the City is buying it for "ONLY" $375K (plus closing costs). I want to know if the current property owner might want to sell the property to me for $400K (plus closing costs)? The sad thing is another $9K in annual taxes will go up in smoke.

 

I also notice  that "upgrades" for a new "Network switches and AP bundles" package for the Mayor's and City Manager's offices is in the requests.. excuse me, if the Mayor and City Manager are wanting the old building gutted or replaced, why are taxpayers going to have to waste money on "upgrades"? Can;t ewither the Mayor of City Manager just ask someone in another area not scheduled for dismantling do their computer searches?

 

Argh! Another tax dollar request drips of waste.. From abouve story: "VIDEO VISITATION SYSTEM FOR MUSCOGEE COUNTY JAIL - It is requested that council approve the purchase of a new video visitation system from Lightspeed Data Links (Columbus) in the amount of $ $495,694; an initial $80,000 payment will be made to Light-speed Data Links upon completion of the installation. It is further requested that council approve the City Manager and Sheriff to enter into an Equipment Lease with a purchase option with Family Holdings Sub, LLC in order to fund the remaining balance due for the equipment." -- "an Equipment Lease  with a purchase option"? We're talking electronics.. if there is a lease, then by expiration, the value of the equipment is way past value.. why would we taxpayers be on the \hook to purchase such.. the Leasing Company should be required to remove all said equipment when the lease is over so the City can seek new and updated equipment..

 

Also on the agenda is this "head scratching" item: "First reading – An ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Columbus Code by adding a new Section 2-3.07 so as to prohibit candidacy for office in Muscogee County by persons employed by grantees receiving general operating funds from the Consolidated Government; and for other purposes. (Councilor Davis)" -- One can only think that something has happened to bring such an ordinance rewrite to a head.. how about the City telling us the who;e story before voting on such a change?