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Thomaston and Upson County authorize managers to solicit consolidation study for Joint Projects
Summary
City and county leaders unanimously authorized their managers Feb. 17 to solicit an expert consolidation study of Joint Projects, citing recurring monetary disputes and a desire for an outside analysis; cost and timeline were not specified.
The Thomaston City Council and the Upson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 17 to authorize their respective managers to solicit a consolidation study of the bodies’ Joint Projects partnership.
City Manager Russell Thompson asked both governing bodies to consider whether the Joint Projects arrangement should be consolidated, restructured or dissolved. Commissioner James Ellington told colleagues that disagreements over Joint Projects “usually circulate around monetary issues,” and Upson County Chairman Dan Brue and Commissioner Benjamin Watson both said they wanted an expert study to examine the partnership’s future.
Councilmember Jerry Adams moved that the City authorize its manager to solicit the study; Councilmember Don Greathouse seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. On the county side, Commissioner Benjamin Watson moved that County managers be similarly authorized, Commissioner James Ellington seconded, and that motion also passed unanimously.
Thomaston City Manager Russell Thompson said the study would examine a “multitude of factors” and identified a possible contact at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. He did not provide a cost estimate or timeline; finance director Allen Salter provided a financial update on Joint Projects but the transcript does not include line-item figures.
Supporters of the study emphasized conducting an objective review rather than immediately dissolving the partnership. Thompson also clarified that the original Joint Projects contract allowed the county to provide certain services to the city but was not intended to authorize county taxation of city residents for those services.
The managers were directed to return to the Joint Projects authorities at the next meeting with a proposed scope and associated cost for the study. The meeting then moved into an executive session on real estate and adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
