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Cedartown commission takes no motion on Cleo Street transitional‑housing request after neighborhood opposition
Summary
After a public hearing with supporters citing low recidivism and a Drug Court partnership and neighbors describing drug incidents and safety concerns, the Cedartown City Commission did not move on Everett Willis Jr.'s conditional‑use request for parcel #C28‑087, leaving the application without action.
The Cedartown City Commission heard passionate testimony both for and against a proposed conditional use to operate a transitional/halfway house at parcel #C28-087 on Cleo Street but took no motion on the application, leaving it without formal approval.
The public hearing opened Aug. 12, with applicant Everett Willis Jr. and program partners describing changes to operations and oversight. Willis told the commission the facility has housed 85 residents with a 5.9% recidivism rate and that residents are subject to weekly drug testing and employment during the day. Lisa Nash, Polk County Drug Court coordinator, said the Hope House partnered with the Drug Court in April and described program rules: 10 participants currently, screening that excludes violent and sexual offenders, random drug tests four times per week, treatment three days a week, work schedules of 40–50 hours per week and a 9 p.m. curfew enforced by officers.
Program supporters emphasized structure and neighborhood service. Brandon Waddell, the on‑site manager, said all current residents work at Tip Top and are supervised by their employers; Lydia Goodman of the Polk Reentry Program read a letter saying residents have helped by building a handicap ramp and picking up neighborhood trash. Phil Stroud, who founded Hope Home, acknowledged early problems in the program but said lessons learned and the Drug Court partnership had strengthened operations.
Opponents focused on proximity and safety. Several neighbors urged the commission to reject or relocate the facility because it would be adjacent to a park and houses occupied by elderly residents. Ursula Barnett said she had been told the development would be apartments and later discovered it would be a halfway house; she reported finding drugs in her yard and on her back porch and said the incidents have left her unable to sleep. Gerald Woodruff referenced a stabbing and an overdose she associated with the house. Other commenters said the proposed 1:10 manager‑to‑resident staffing ratio felt insufficient for safety concerns.
No commissioner moved the conditional‑use item after public comment, and staff recorded that the item "failed due to lack of a motion." The commission did not vote on permits, conditions, or alternate locations during the meeting.
The lack of a motion leaves the application in procedural limbo; commissioners and staff indicated public input was heard and considered. Chair Jessica Payton thanked speakers and said the commission appreciated hearing both sides of the issue. The transcript does not record any formal direction to staff to study alternate sites or to return a revised application to the commission.
Next steps: The commission took no formal action on the Cleo Street application at the Aug. 12 meeting; the applicant may choose to revise and refile, request administrative guidance, or ask the commission to place the item back on a future agenda.
