Treutlen Resident Asks Commission For Tax Audit
During the Public Comments portion of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Treutlen County Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 4, county resident and property owner Alfred Harden presented his request for an audit of the Tax Commissioner’s Office. In his written request to the board, Mr. Harden stated, “I own several properties in Treutlen County. The last few years when I pay my taxes, Penny tells me that I didn't pay one or another the previous year. I usually pay taxes on all properties at the same time.” Mr. Harden also added that in the past he had to pay twice on a property and was looking at having to do the same thing again this year and did not feel he should have to. He went on to say he had talked with others who said they too have had the same experience as he had. Harden questioned what was going on at the tax office “under Penny” and that he had never had this problem when her parents “ran the tax office.”
Harden alleges the office had charged him and other black residents for the same bills twice. “I’m here because I’m mad as hell about my taxes,” said Harden. Harden alleges the double billings were racially motivated and stated, “They need to be looked into, and I’ll say it like this, and I feel like it’s just in the Black community. Negroes that own property [are] being attacked with this situation.” County Manager Glenn and County Attorney James Garner agreed Harden’s tax concerns were valid, as other residents had come forward with similar complaints too but said the other residents were not black. Therefore, Garner said he could not and would not say the issue was racially motivated. Garner added that the Board of Commissioners has no legal authority to do an audit of the tax commissioner’s office even though it is a county office. Instead, Harden would have to contact Governor Brian Kemp’s office and the Georgia Department of Revenue, which does have the authority to conduct an audit. That authority, according to Garner and County Clerk Angie Hooks, comes under the Department of Revenue and the Governor’s Office. Hooks added that Harden would have to ask for the audit himself, that the board could not ask on his behalf. She asked Harden to leave his contact information so that she would provide him with the information he would need to move forward with his requesting the audit.
When asked if she would like to respond to Harden's request, Tax Commissioner Penny Sumner Wheeler stated, “No comment.”
In Chairman Jennings’ absence, Vice-Chairman Cali Hollis presented a quote from DJ Mason of $15,500 for a new mower for the recreation department. The city would pay half and the county half with 2019 SPLOST monies. The motion was carried and the bid was approved.
Emergency Management Agency Director Justin McNure presented the board a check from FEMA for $4,954,060.50. According to McNure, the funds are intended to help the county pay off bills incurred by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Use of these monies cannot be for unrelated projects or for the general fund.
Fire Chief John Johnson presented the board with a check for $100,000. According to Johnson, this was FEMA money to cover the cost of 12 new self-contained breathing apparatuses. Johnson then spoke to the board about the unincorporated areas of Treutlen County that are outside of the 5-mile road base from any Treutlen County Fire Stations, resulting in citizens having to pay substantially more on their homeowner insurance premiums. This inequity in insurance cost could be remedied according to Johnson by partnering with the Tarrytown Fire Department as the affected property and road base in the Old Louisville Road/Secret Forest Road area are within the 5-mile road base from the closest Tarrytown Fire Station. This partnership would require either a Memorandum of Understanding Contract, or other legally binding agreement between Tarrytown and Treutlen County. In that scenario the Tarrytown Fire Department would be the primary fire protection responder with an automatic response from Treutlen County Fire Department for these areas. The Fire Chief stated he was not looking for action to be taken on the partnership immediately and stated he was 'just planting the seed.'
Johnson then presented a SPLOST Funding Request to cover some deficiencies in fire engine supply hose. The new hose has been purchased and was placed into service March 2026 at a cost of $2187.00 Johnson also requested SPLOST funds to cover the purchase of firefighter protective gloves and structural boots for one new member going thru in-house rookie training, at a cost of $460.00.
Johnson reported the purchase of 30 gallons of Class A/B firefighting foam for the onboard tank on the new rescue firefighting system at a cost of $750.00 and also requested a purchase of 50 additional gallons of foam to replace most of the foam used during the recent wild-land fires at a cost of S1,250.00.
Chief Johnson spoke about pursuing a 50/50 matching grant opportunity through the Georgia Forestry Commission to fill the need for wildland firefighter proper protection equipment and the additional purchase of a wildland fire fighting hose. Georgia Forestry Commission will match 50/50 up to $5,000.
Johnson addressed the difference in structural firefighting gear compared to wildland gear, including the health and safety concerns of both. He reported that currently local firefighters are battling wildfires in unsuitable gear or in normal street clothes which is inappropriate. Johnson proposed purchasing additional wildland booster hoses so that water from the current fire engine fleet can be delivered deeper into the woods and closer to the fires. Johnson recommended allocating $10,000 to meet the wildland fire equipment needs in Treutlen County with $5,000 being allocated from SPLOST and the other $5,000 from Georgia Fire Commission matching grant.
Bids for Curbside Trash Service from Ryland and Amwaste were given their final review, with the board awarding Amwaste the bid. Their bid prices for residential pickup with the county billing is $16.25 per month per trash cart and $8 for each additional cart. Roll-off prices are $375 per haul plus $35 a ton. There would be no additional fees or fuel surcharges for these services. The motion to accept the Amwaste bid was passed unanimously.
The Community Service Board of Middle Georgia Behavioral Health Renewal Contract was reviewed and approved. The purpose of the contract is to provide to all clients suitable for referral within Treutlen County behavioral health and alcohol services. The county will contribute $4,128.00 to the operation of the service for the contract year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The contributions will be paid monthly in the amount of $344.00 Wayne Coates accepted the nomination for appointment to fill the 2026-2029 term opening for a Treutlen County representative to the Region 5 Emergency Medical Council Advisory Board. Coates, currently serving in that capacity, accepted the commissioners’ nomination for appointment to serve a second term. The commission board will submit their recommendation to the council advisory board for their review and approval.
The Fiscal Management of Grant Funds Policy was reviewed, approved and adopted by the Commisioners. The purpose of the policy is to establish standardized financial management procedures governing the administration of all grant funds received by Treutlen County. This policy ensures responsible stewardship of public funds and compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
The Commission approved a new business license for LG’s Esthetics, LLC, located at 3158 Orianna Road. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Meeks and seconded by Commissioner Powell.
The Financial Report showed the following balances as of May 2026. General Fund $806,210.27, Certificates of Deposits $420,370.53, Local Maintenance Grant $794,452.34, 2019 SPLOST $240,391.38, 2025 SPLOST $593,615.08, Crime Victims Assistance Fund $248,155.42, Drug Abuse Treatment Education $28,176.04, Federal Drug Seizure Fund $40,833.94, State Drug Seizure $10,010.18, E-911 $483,489.80, Jail Reserve $60,371.54, Treutlen/Wheeler Landfill $9,155.87, T/SPLOST $176,364.90.
Before adjournment, the board went into an Executive Session regarding a personnel matter.
The next scheduled meeting of the Treutlen County Board of Commissioners is set for Monday, June 1, 2026, at 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
