[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6095145,"mediaKeyId","2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9","parentId",2840395,"title","Villa Rica council weighs stops, speed humps and a one-way proposal for Thomas Dorsey; takes no action","audioSeconds",915,"startMs",3390000,"endMs",4305000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9&start=3390&end=4305","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9/thumbnail_3390000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095145/Villa-Rica/Carroll-County/Georgia/Villa-Rica-council-weighs-stops-speed-humps-and-a-one-way-proposal-for-Thomas-Dorsey-takes-no-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095145-5de5baf1c2a13d4e8c586e8c87d4a3a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971561&Signature=oVhmRDWbBirUJa9WJQwd6GTnmIU9qFW5gx4HHcXoOvBYjNHV8HB443yb0xGPffSADAAPbAfOLL6Wgzi0oBgFP69C~NimuBZ0v4ihWUUYUfhY~6xcNaTFZySsLwx4xrt369YW5V7HpZNUqF-ri1A~kkTAPAJs9P47I86N4I8eVUb85SDO0v8twXspOYwyYsPpEhibWWh1U02F-2nppRAP0VYAH0Z66qmaue8Ce8IMmoHuOsTgkeQokKPHIVxZJyas4vDlwAi9LblPpmHJEDLy4bsb4VynKrRkHCNbMDVKtfJFYgDh~ICNlCtBwEk9F7pTMxXTq9-oXZXsVIn2u2-~rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-02T01:30:05.23Z","article","Villa Rica City Council on Wednesday reviewed a traffic study of Thomas Dorsey and considered three options to reduce speeds near Bay Springs Middle School: installing three-way stop signs, placing speed tables, or converting Eleanor Walk to a one-way street. After extended discussion and public comment, the council did not approve any change and the agenda item expired without formal action.

Public Works representative Mr. Birch told the council the study measured about 6,773 vehicles during a full week of sampling and found the 85th percentile speed at roughly 34 miles per hour, “which is under the actual threshold for where traffic calming measures would be recommended.” He reported that nine vehicles exceeded 50 miles per hour during the sample week and said the data therefore did not technically meet the typical traffic-calming threshold.

The choice before the council was between traffic-control devices that rely on driver compliance and physical speed cushions that force slower travel. Mr. Birch said the city would need about $24,000 to install four speed tables in the corridor and noted the city’s petition policy requires 75% of property owners on a street to agree if residents initiate speed-hump installation.

Why it matters: Thomas Dorsey runs past a school and several houses of worship; residents and business owners said pedestrian safety is at stake. Council members weighed enforcement, cost, resident consent and unintended effects on adjacent roads.

During the public hearing, business owner Ryan Clark, who operates a driveway off Eleanor Walk, urged the council to avoid converting Eleanor Walk to a one-way street because of the harm to the adjacent business and nearby residents. “The speed hump will solve the traffic issue without affecting the residents that are up there in a negative capacity or affecting anything on Eleanor Walk,” Clark said, recommending three speed tables placed on the primary stretches of Thomas Dorsey instead of a one-way conversion.

Resident Doug Lang likewise opposed a one-way conversion and favored targeted speed humps plus enforcement. Marvin Hilton, another resident, asked the council to consider speed bumps at a location with three churches and a school. Several residents asked for better signage and enforcement if the council chose stop signs alone.

Council discussion focused on trade-offs: Councilman Warmoth asked whether the roadway “just barely missed” the threshold; Mr. Birch agreed the measured 85th percentile was slightly below the policy cutoff. Councilman Carter explained the rationale behind proposing a one-way route for Eleanor Walk: making it one-way, he said, would prevent motorists from using Eleanor Walk to shortcut and re‑enter the school pickup queue on Thomas Dorsey, which he said could otherwise spill onto U.S. 78. Councilman McCoy and others raised concerns about unintended consequences for businesses and driveway access if the street were reversed.

The council debated tabling the item for further study and for staff to pull additional data but ultimately did not adopt a motion to implement any change at the meeting; with no motion to approve or deny, the item “died” on the agenda and may be brought back for reconsideration at a later meeting. Interim City Manager Diana DeSanto and staff offered to provide additional filtered data (for example isolating non-school‑pickup hours) and to explore budget options or phased installations.

The council signaled it retains the authority to install speed tables by council action even if the citizen petition threshold is not met, but members emphasized the value of resident buy-in and enforcement plans before adding physical calming devices. Staff said enforcement could address the small number of high-speed drivers and that a repeat or differently located speed study could be run on request.

Next steps noted at the meeting included possible follow-up traffic counts outside school pickup windows, additional engineering input on cost and placement, and outreach to nearby residents and the affected business if council elects to pursue speed tables or restricted turning hours.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Villa Rica","oneSentenceSummary","Villa Rica City Council on Wednesday reviewed a traffic study of Thomas Dorsey and considered three options to reduce speeds near Bay Springs Middle School: installing three-way stop signs, placing speed tables, or converting Eleanor Walk to a one-way street.","taxTitle","Villa Rica, Carroll County, Georgia","taxId",57022,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6095135,"Villa Rica council adopts consent agenda and board appointments, convenes executive session",3720,2848000,6568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9&start=2848&end=6568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9/thumbnail_2848000.jpg","/articles/6095135/Villa-Rica/Carroll-County/Georgia/Villa-Rica-council-adopts-consent-agenda-and-board-appointments-convenes-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095135-7b8426d0c32df93da8d6a4a6f9c91cf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971561&Signature=fVNpO57UrH2jHZqJemtpSx7XMkYAGgvOEsCqKInYgmyo2ZR4BgOsznvjcyOiqDkDGcn8V1PcXuFSj7W2exoOeg3ZBdqOnpTqsSWzPhW6Pur3-k2Fz~ObqP~C7HvfT~YlaBhIVEtxz-EGA2MMta7~7Jp7a4ceTbRC66dYZTwOzRmolaqE5PuhoO~Cw6dNuz-SbJTU~OhZHTNghKmBebYl71SCvp3YToFxRGJgDfOjz84Monvsh2LdlgC7dEOOxf0AGyGcTtj5Zw54zgNDBuOgYRBaE4n6DQdP6ElpK0-fgvMdDjd9zjzZ5-ceJapja2vuSNjKkt0UsDV2OLg~cksVQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Villa Rica City Council unanimously adopted the meeting agenda and approved the consent agenda and several appointments during the session. Council also voted to enter executive session to discuss property negotiations and personnel matters under Georgia law; no binding action came from that closed session.

The consent agenda was presented as a single block of routine approvals previously discussed at a work session. Items placed on the consent agenda and approved unanimously included: sponsorship for a local e‑recycling event with Keep Carroll Beautiful; approval for J & M Tank Lines and Scruggs Company for a fixed asphalt plant parcel in the industrial park; installation of a three-way stop at Thomas Dorsey and Daniel Road; award of the Main Street Plaza paving contract to low bidder Magnum Paving, Inc.; approval of the left-turn lane design for Mare Lake Boulevard; and two 2025 community development grant awards (Villa Rica Lions Club, $8,500; Thomas A. Dorsey Birthplace and Gospel Heritage Festival Inc., $10,000).

The council also approved minutes for the March 4, 2025 work session and March 11, 2025 regular meeting after a brief correction to a voting record noted by a council member. Appointments approved by unanimous vote included Jenna Price Steed and Nathan Jackson to the Main Street Advisory Board (terms to fill unexpired January 2024–December 31, 2025 seats) and Alan Martinez to the Downtown Development Authority (term to fill an unexpired January 2023–January 31, 2027 seat).

Later in the meeting, Council voted to go into executive session “for the purpose of meeting to discuss or vote to authorize negotiations to purchase, dispose of or lease properties provided in OCGA 50-14-3(b)(1)(B) and also to discuss or deliberate upon the appointment, employment compensation, hiring, disciplinary action, or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a public officer or employee as provided in OCGA 50-14-3(b)(2).” Council voted to return to open session and Mayor Leslie McPherson recorded that no official action had been taken in executive session.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt the agenda — moved and seconded on the record; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Motion to adopt the consent agenda (items listed above) — moved and seconded; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Motion to approve minutes (03/04/2025 work session and 03/11/2025 regular meeting) — moved and seconded; outcome: unanimous approval after correction noted by council member.
- Motion to appoint Jenna Price Steed and Nathan Jackson to the Main Street Advisory Board — moved and seconded; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Motion to appoint Alan Martinez to the Downtown Development Authority — moved and seconded; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Motion to enter executive session under OCGA 50-14-3(b)(1)(B) and OCGA 50-14-3(b)(2) — moved and seconded; outcome: approved. No official action taken in executive session.

Why it matters: The consent agenda bundles routine administrative matters and project approvals; the appointments fill advisory-board vacancies and the executive session cited statutory exemptions for property and personnel deliberations. Council members and staff said corrected minutes and routine approvals will be posted with the public records and that formal records and agenda materials are available on the city website.","Council unanimously adopted the agenda and a multi-item consent agenda, approved minutes and appointed members to advisory boards. The council also moved into executive session to discuss property negotiations and personnel matters citing OCGA 50-14-3; no official action was taken in executive session.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6095140,"Residents urge Villa Rica council for transparency on TAD spending, appraisals and ethics inquiries",385,2255000,2640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9&start=2255&end=2640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2840395-cb1c8fa24765e431b2bf03ff94cfa0a9/thumbnail_2255000.jpg","/articles/6095140/Villa-Rica/Carroll-County/Georgia/Residents-urge-Villa-Rica-council-for-transparency-on-TAD-spending-appraisals-and-ethics-inquiries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095140-54c12c4de5da6fb68431f3959eec3c7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971561&Signature=hbzzxbbbCTyGHO5vIgCHSruqjU2WFrshRh-IM~8o15CG~nNjvi0fuAvEYjPA9WVFIuznCSBOdBCSgx76ue04q8Ucf1rC1WNnCJ5V6wy7JljyQBWXcJcCGM5acDHbw6sj7QYfxRqssn95OAVK0U9737ixPdCHlQdcUQcarb1xo0W9cLOLFx3zovKLB~euw82gdsq5bh8aMlRwWrCqQDGXL9DyE7Gqh3jzKILkl8XmimiJf-E-Bvv7hi7dwbuLw-SaiPPkQKOmuW1H~9SMc1XoEap5S8AwVWluEGRhkGd~SK-1RcGQxgharfRSgniZf5SkW2s2Pf30ft~9qogMPuTZmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers during Villa Rica’s public-comment period on Wednesday urged the mayor and council to provide documentation and clearer explanations about redevelopment spending, appraisal payments and state ethics inquiries.

Amy McCoy told the council she had reviewed receipts that appeared to show roughly $1,800 billed per property for 13 appraisals and said she could not find evidence the appraisals were performed. “This cost is excessive, far more than any typical charge for appraisal … and raises red flags about the validity of these payments,” McCoy said. She asked the city to provide copies of contracts with Bass and Associates (now Bass Appraisal) and TEE Consulting LLC (Teal Education and Engineering Consulting LLC) and the January 2025 comprehensive TAD report that was due to the board.

Pamela White framed broader transparency concerns as a civic grievance. “The city of Villa Rica has written a bad check on the backs of our community,” White said, attributing the statement to prior contracting and grant decisions she described as lacking sufficient oversight. She and other commenters told the council they want outside entities with investigatory power to hold elected officials accountable, saying the city’s internal ethics board lacks teeth.

Doug Lang cited recent media coverage and court filings involving the city and said he was asking why state agencies, including the Georgia Government Transparency/ethics entities, had become involved. He listed news stories and lawsuits referencing the city’s dealings with developers, a rescinded Department of Community Affairs grant, and other controversies. He said the frequency of headline coverage had prompted citizen questions about the city’s governance.

Council did not take action during the meeting; several council members and staff thanked speakers and said records are available through the city website or by formal public-records request. Amy McCoy also requested public notices for several special-called meetings tied to TAD boundary changes and asked for a timeline and explanation for how the TAD boundaries were changed.

Why it matters: Tax Allocation District funds are public dollars intended for designated redevelopment projects; residents said they deserve documentation when TAD funds are used, and they asked for clarity about whether expenditures matched the TAD’s legally required scope. Commenters also raised questions about consistency in the city attorney’s prior correspondence concerning representation rights in a land-acquisition matter.

The council did not respond with specific documents at the meeting. Staff and the city attorney were referenced as available channels for records requests; the interim city manager noted the council posts agendas and materials online and that public-records requests may be submitted through the city’s website.","Several residents used the public-comment period to press the council for records and explanations about Tax Allocation District (TAD) expenditures, vendor payments for appraisals, and recent ethics inquiries. Speakers requested copies of contracts, an accounting of TAD use, and answers about rescinded grants and alleged conflicts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Villa Rica council weighs stops, speed humps and a one-way proposal for Thomas Dorsey; takes no action

Villa Rica council adopts consent agenda and board appointments, convenes executive session

Residents urge Villa Rica council for transparency on TAD spending, appraisals and ethics inquiries