Macon-Bibb candidates take on garbage fees, gangs, race in latest forum

The two candidates for Macon-Bibb County tax commissioner — former Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis and interim Tax Commissioner Wade McCord — squared off during a candidate forum Thursday.

Ellis and McCord, who had previously butted heads on issues such as uncollected garbage fees, were the first to speak during Thursday’s event hosted by the Bibb County Democratic Party. The forum also featured candidates from various local races, including county commission and sheriff’s office, that will face off in the May 24 election.

Two issues in the campaign resurfaced Thursday: $7 million in uncollected garbage fees owed to Macon-Bibb, and liens that have been placed on some properties for nonpayment. Ellis said if he is elected tax commissioner he would not place a lien on properties because of late garbage fees.

“I’ve made it clear I would never sell anyone’s property on courthouse steps,” Ellis said. “I’ve also made it clear I would not act as a collection agency.”

McCord said there is a 97 percent property tax collection rate, and a 90 percent collection rate for garbage fees. Under the county code, the Tax Commissioner’s Office collects garbage fees for Macon-Bibb County.

McCord said he works with people to help them through the tax cycle.

“We do that honorably by working with taxpayers on a day-to-day basis,” McCord said. “Not only is it a position that is elected, but it’s a position that you have to care about what you do and care about taxpayers.”

Ellis, who served as mayor for eight years, said he’s spent much of his adult life working to better communities. As mayor he regularly oversaw a $100 million budget, which Ellis said has prepared him to run the Tax Commissioner’s Office.

“I’m offering my services again to the people of the community and (to) take this Tax Commissioner’s Office and turn it into what it should be,” Ellis said.

McCord said that with 21 years working in the office, he has grasp of the technical aspects of the operation. It’s important to be “technically knowledgeable of Georgia law, motor vehicle ordinances, things of that nature,” he said.

Attention in sheriff’s race turns to gangs, body cameras

Body cameras and gang violence were among the topics discussed by the three people vying for sheriff.

Retired sheriff’s Capt. Mike Smallwood questioned why it took so long to get body cameras after Sheriff David Davis said deputies should have them by the end of this summer. Davis said a vendor for the cameras has been selected and that it has taken time creating a policy on how they would be used.

“We should have had them two years ago,” Smallwood said. “Other (law enforcement) departments have policies. All you have to do is get with them and put your policy in effect.”

Another candidate, former sheriff’s deputy Timothy Rivers, said the body cameras would be instrumental in making sure “citizens would not get their civil rights violated.”

Another question posed to candidates revolved around stopping gang violence. Davis said the level of gang violence ebbs and flows, but the office uses various outreach programs to try and attack it. There also are various sheriff’s office units with people working in them who know their neighborhoods well and are able to quickly solve crimes, the sheriff said.

“We have to go at it from the front end and get involved in young people’s lives before they get into the path of criminal activity,” Davis said.

Rivers said a crime suppression unit is helpful when gang violence occurs, but an approach involving churches and other organizations is vital.

“We have to get stronger community partnerships,” he said.

Smallwood said that for too long the gang problem in Macon was denied by some people in the community. A special unit that’s able to deal with gangs can have an impact on drugs and truancy, he said.

District 5 candidates take on blight, race

For the District 5 Macon-Bibb County Commission race, incumbent Bert Bivins and opponent Leroy Jarrell talked about how they resolve problems, such as blight, that afflict their district.

Jarrell, a business owner and retired firefighter, said he was encouraged to run for commissioner by a group of “concerned citizens” who said there was a need for “new voice.”

The district has heavily blighted and high-crime neighborhoods such as Unionville and Pleasant Hill, Jarrell said.

“I want to help save our neighborhoods and work with churches and organizations. We’re trying to bring the community together,” he said. “It’s all about a total reconciliation, accountability and responsibility, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Bivins also said he’s concerned about the state of some neighborhoods, and that commissioners have designated $14 million to try to deal with the serious issue.

The two candidates had vastly different views on the level of race relations in Macon. Bivins said it remains a problem and that he’d like to spur more discussion among people.

“What I have in mind is to get people together who understand there is a problem and help come up with solutions,” he said. “We have to realize that Macon isn’t much different that Ferguson, (Missouri) and we have to realize that and get a jumpstart.”

Jarrell said he doesn’t believe racism is much of a factor in the city.

“I think this community has been working good as far as race relations,” he said. “One thing I could say to improve it, is to recognize it , accept it and try to move forward. On my end, I see the community getting along very well as a whole.”

District 6 County Commission candidates talk priorities

Each of the District 6 candidates had different main priorities if elected commissioner.

Don Druitt, former Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency director, said he would start with addressing blight. Druitt faces Commissioner Ed DeFore and former Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen.

Druitt questioned why DeFore hasn’t used more money from the $1 million in blight bond funds dedicated to their district.

“We have dirt roads with 15 to 20 homes that need paving. We have blighted areas, illegal dumps,” Druitt said.

Allen, who spent 20 years as commissioner, said street and stormwater maintenance should be paramount before major road problems arise.

“We don’t want it to happen here,” Allen said. “We need to address that.”

If re-elected, DeFore said he’d like to bring in outside experts to see how much taxes could be cut. DeFore, a former Macon City councilman, has spent 44 years as an elected official.

“If it can be done, I’m hoping we’ll go ahead and relieve the taxpayers,” he said.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb candidates take on garbage fees, gangs, race in latest forum."