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Speakers press county to preserve Madras depot and to respect voters’ intent on property tax changes
Summary
Residents and historic‑preservation advocates urged the county to preserve a historic Madras depot owned by Coweta County and to explore options with CSX; a separate speaker urged commissioners to hold the school board to voters' recent assessment‑limit changes and not rubber‑stamp an opt‑out.
Several members of the public used the Dec. 17 comment period to press the board on historic‑preservation and tax‑policy issues.
Carolyn Turner, who represents Browns Mill Battlefield and local history groups, described the Madras depot as an 1850s maintenance shed and urged preservation of the small building now known as the Little Depot. Michael Miller, a historic architect who said he works for the National Park Service (and formerly for the State Historic Preservation Office), told the board the structure appears eligible for the National Register and suggested three options: allow CSX to demolish it, negotiate preservation on site with CSX, or relocate the structure to Madras School Park. Miller asked staff (Todd Hanley and grants personnel) to explore stabilization and preservation options and offered the public group’s assistance in seeking grants or stabilization measures.
Other public commenters highlighted local recycling and transfer‑station access problems after earlier site closures. James Brantley asked that containers from the closed Silk Road site be moved to the Welcome site to improve capacity and access for residents. The board indicated staff would study logistics and costs.
Alan Brady spoke about HB‑581 changes to property tax assessment limits (an 'opt out' option) and urged the county commissioners to respect voters’ intent and not to rubber‑stamp any school board decision that would effectively keep higher assessments in place. He asked the board to exercise oversight if the school board chooses to opt out of assessment‑limit changes.
