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Citizens raise concerns about fire staffing, unexecuted $4M HUD grant and parks during Newton County meeting
Summary
During public comment, residents and county staff flagged a staffing crisis at the fire department, an unexecuted $4 million HUD grant for a Westside facility, park closures and local drainage complaints; commissioners and staff responded with requests for follow-up and clarification.
At the June 17 Newton County Board of Commissioners meeting, public commentators raised a range of operational and programmatic concerns, including staffing shortfalls at the fire department, an apparent lack of an executed federal grant agreement for a Westside facility, local park closures and a long-running drainage complaint.
James Franklin, a 22-year Newton County firefighter and the county's fire safety educator, told the board the fire department is "in crisis," saying the department is losing personnel, that some fire trucks cannot be fully staffed and that others are operating with only two crew members. "Two people…
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