Discussions continue regarding possible dissolution of city

Mary Beth Sallee

Managing Editor

Hart Co. News Herald

 

During the Bonnieville City Council meeting on May 13, discussions continued regarding the possible dissolution of the city and the discussion of monies and funding. Present during the meeting was Mayor Marie Whitlow and Council members Johnny Hornback, Colby Smith, Danny Thompson, Sherman Bowman, and Wyonia Sue Butler. Larry Srygler was not in attendance.

The main topic of discussion once again was the possibility of the dissolution of the City of Bonnieville.

Melody Shanaberger addressed the Council. She stated that she had lived in Hart County for several years and in the City of Bonnieville since 2021. Shanaberger explained that she had a concern for the lack of progress within the city and had initiated the petition to take the dissolution of the city to the voters.

“If this petition succeeds, then the maintenance on your city streets and anything on the road or getting your road snow plowed will fall to the magistrate,” Shanaberger said. “… The petition that is circulating now is legal and approved by the County Clerk, and the people of Bonneville want the right to vote on this petition. Whatever happens after that, it happens. We just want the right to vote.”

Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 24^th District, Johnny Pennington, spoke against the dissolution of the city.

“I think it would be awful to end the city government at this point in time knowing that you got your battery factory (close in Glendale),” Pennington said. “The UAW or Teamsters (unions) are not in there yet, but I assure you they will be, which creates job security. What follows unions? Businesses…Y’all being here close to the battery factory, you got the opportunity of a lifetime to see Bonnieville prosper.”

As the discussion continued, Council member Danny Thompson addressed those in attendance.

“When it really comes right down to it, people should have the right to vote,” Thompson said. “People should have the right to make the choice. That’s all I’ve ever said. If they want a city or they want to keep going, that’s fine. They’d have to have the right to vote.”

Council member Colby Smith then asked Thompson, “Is there anybody denying anybody the right to vote?”

“Are you speaking to me?” Thompson ?? Smith. “…I said the people need to right to vote…I didn’t like the way you said that to me.”

“Put your petition in, it’ll be on the ballot, and we’ll vote for it,” Smith replied.

After the back and forth between Smith and Thompson ended, Bonnieville Fire Chief Dennis Amos addressed both personal and fire department aspects regarding the petition.

“I was born, raised, lived on the same street in this town for 53 years,” Amos said. “I lived within two to three houses of the house I grew up in. The town’s not changed in 53 years from when I was a kid…I’m not saying I’m for it (dissolution of the city). I’m not saying against it. Let’s put it on the ballot.”

“On the fire department side…when the facts are spoken about the fire department, I want the correct things to be said,” Amos continued. “We separated from this city 24 years and five months ago, and we have expanded 10 times, 15 times fold…So yes, there has been some grant money. The remodeling of the fire station was a block grant that the fire department applied for and done all the legwork. It had to either be ran through the county government or the city government to funnel the funds to the fire department…We asked the city fi we could funnel the money through the fire through the city. It worked great. But it was a block grant that we got through BRADD.”

Amos also discussed that the city used COVID funds to purchase hoses for the fire department.

“We greatly appreciated that, too, but I just want everybody to know when statements are made, how they get turned around, and the tax money paid for the fire hose… But we are an independent incorporated department,” Amos said. “We’re not campaigning for it (the dissolution of the city) or against it as a fire department. What my guys do personally, I can’t do nothing about that. But all we wanna say is whether the city stays here or whether the city dissolves is not going to affect your fire coverage or your fire rating whatsoever…I just want to clear the air with that, but if anybody’s got any questions on the fire department’s behalf, we meet on the second Monday with the same night y’all l meet at seven o’clock. Anybody’s more than welcome to come to the meetings and ask questions.”

Next, the question was posed to both the Council and citizens to explain their reasoning behind supporting or not supporting the dissolution of the city.

“When Danny was first elected, he and I had a good discussion, a couple of them, and I think it kind of come down to I asked him one question. I said, ‘Danny, we’re Bonnieville. Are we always just going to be Bonnieville, or are we ever going to try to do better than what we’re doing?’” Smith said. “…He said, ‘No, we’re just, Bonnieville. We’re never going to amount to anything.’ I got on the Council because I wanted to do something, and I wanted to make improvement in the city…You know, I’ve seen an up and down discussion here on whether if we expand, if we get business, well that’s gonna bring crime in, you know, stuff like that. So do we not want jobs for our young people, or do we not want us to matter as a City at all? You got to take your bad and your good together, and you got to make your choice on that. I just wonder where your city pride is?”

Citizen Elisa Green said the issue with the City and its administration had nothing to do with paying taxes, but rather that she felt there was nothing being done with the money that the city has.

“There’s just a lot of good things that could be done for the city,” Green said. “…Everybody sits back and wonders, ‘Where’s it (the money) going? What’s it doing?’ You know, you are paying taxes, so what are you getting for it? Nothing.”

After additional discussions, the meeting was adjourned.

Dissolution, or the dissolving of a city, refers to the termination of the city being an incorporated municipality. If the city dissolves, it reverts to dependence on the county government.As of Monday, May 20, the Hart County Clerk’s Office had not received the petition of signatures for the dissolution of the city. Those signatures would have to be submitted to Mayor Whitlow. Once she receives them, she has 10 days to submit to the Clerk’s Office.

Other Business

The Council passed the 2024-2025 Budget, as well as approved Municipal Road Aid.

Bonnieville City Council meets the second Tuesday of every month. The next Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at Bonnieville City Hall.