Dodge County Attorney John Harrington reported to the board that he had conferred with attorney Ross Schell, and that an agreement had been entered into for Mosquito Creek Properties to pay taxes, penalties and interest, which was negotiated between Harrington, Schell and Dodge County Tax Collector Rob Stanley, in the full amount of $186,198.78.
Harrington added that they were planning, at another time, to come before the board to consider an abatement of penalties and interest. According to the law, the board of commissioners cannot change the property tax amount, but they can consider the abatement of penalties and interest.
Stanley told commissioners that he had entered into hundreds of contracts with taxpayers and this agreement with Mosquito Creek Properties did not go against any policies in his office.
Commissioner Jr. Howell asked Stanley if entering into contracts saved the county money. Stanley told commissioners that it did save the county cost of advertising, running individuals down, going through the legal process and it helps the taxpayer in the long run. Howell confirmed that interest would continue to be added on the unpaid amount.
Commissioner Brian Watkins asked Stanley what would happen if a payment was not made according to the contract. Stanley told commissioners they would see the property in the newspaper (for foreclosure). People who fail on their agreements show up in the newspaper for sale at the courthouse.
Board chairman Dan McCranie informed the commissioners that the City of Eastman was requesting a 10-acre parcel where Aremac is being built that belonged to the Eastman/Dodge County Development Authority be annexed into the city.
Commissioner Watkins stated that since he was on the development authority, that this was a new business coming to town. Watkins added that the city was requesting it be annexed in, in order to provide water and sewer to the new business and that it was a good idea. County attorney Harrington added that the annexation would not change anything as far as the county was concerned.
Commissioner Niblett made the motion to approve the annexation request, seconded by Howell. The motion passed unanimously.
Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission representative James Pope went before the board requesting approval of the updated Hazard Litigation Plan for Dodge County. According to Pope, the plan is updated every five years. The Hazard Litigation Plan identifies natural weather hazards that the county and city are prone to be effected by.
Updated data included new weather occurrences that have happened since 2008 and were added that into the plan.
Pope informed commissioners that they needed to adopt a resolution in order to stay in compliance with FEMA and be eligible for grants and assistance when natural weather hazards occurred.
Commissioner Howell made the motion to approve the proposed plan, seconded by Watkins. The motion passed unanimously.
Interim county manager Bobby Peacock told commissioners that he had received a letter from Eastman/Dodge County Recreation Director Travis Niblett that Keshia Jones' term as a board member was about to expire and Jones did not want to serve on the board any more. Niblett recommended Clifton Gooch to replace Jones. According to Peacock, Niblett stated that Gooch was currently very active at the recreation department and his children were involved in the programs.
Commissioner Watkins commented that he understood that Gooch was already volunteering and helping at the recreation department, has children out there and for that reason he would nominate him to replace Jones, seconded by Howell. Commissioners Cheek, Howell, McCranie and Watkins voted in favor of the nomination. Commissioner Terry Niblett abstained from voting.
The next regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Mosquito Creek Properties AKA, State Rep Jimmy Pruett. Why continue to hide the fact that he owes back taxes to our county and city since 2005?
The guy used a business maneuver. He shifted the property to a corporate entity. We all know who owned and owns it. On the books it is Mosquito Creek. Who cares as long as it gets paid. I hope the county has the courage to not agree to forgive the penalty and interest. There is only one way this topic is ever going to be put to bed and that is if the principal, penalties, and interest get paid. Anything less and sore election losers, local GOP folks, former city councilpersons, former airport members, former development authority members, and all of their spouses will continue going on and on until the cows come home.
Jimmy Pruett gets by because he is part of the politically corrupt networked in the county and in the state.
Give me one good reason why they shouldn't go on and on! If they had not brought this to light Jimmy Pruett would still be in a tax exempt status and would never pay taxes. Do you think it is fair to other tax payers to allow him NOT to pay his taxes?Do you think people should just keep quiet and let this kind of thing go unnoticed? You try to demonize the ones who are doing the right thing and let the crooks get by.
Most of the crooks and bigheads are already sitting at home. The last couple of years it looks like everyone wises up once a year and sweeps out another good old boy. We are overdue. Who do you all think is next?
You call it a business maneuver...I call it tax evasion and fraud! Shifting the property to a corporate entity is NOT what he did. You try to make it appear that he is just a shrewd business man when he is actually a slick tax evader and a shyster!
How about if u have a problem with Jimmy Pruett Jr u take it up with him. I know personally everything that man has done for Dodge county as a whole. Yet u continue to throw his name into the dirt. And as a family member I wish u would stop. Instead of sitting behind a computer typing crap. Jimmy we still love and support u 100%!
Doesn't matter what he has done for the county he still needs to pay his taxes; penalties just like every other tax payer in this county. It's not right that some tax payers get their land foreclosed on for one lousy year when your family member evades paying his which the county could really use. If you truly loved him you would tell him to pay his taxes. He does not have my vote in December I have lost confidence in his abilities as a leader.
Stating facts isn't throwing his name in the dirt. He may have done a whole lot of good for DC and that's great...that's what is expected of him as a leader. We applaud the good he has accomplished and always will. However, leading isn't just about doing "good" it's about leading by example. The example he set regarding taxes owed to HIS county is significant to voters. None of us are perfect. Yet, when you make a mistake you own up to it and move on. He should have represented himself in front of the county commissioners and set the record straight once and for all.
I can't believe the jealousy in these comments. You people should work hard, start a very successful business,do something for your county other than complain anonymously, run for office AND get elected, and be productive members of society. Then you and your family might get some leeway when you may or may not have a legal problem. Stop being a drain on the county and go to work.
To Athens Man hiding his identity; News Flash I have a very productive job (government) and enjoy it very much and the people I help thru my job. I pay my taxes and don't hide from them - I believe anyone owing taxes should pay - This had a direct effect on the county with county layoffs and departments who can't even afford uniforms for their new employees. So to you get a life and join Dodge County or keep your mouth shut.
I don't see any jealousy in any of the these comments. I agree with everything you have written about Mr. Pruett except the idea that due to what he has accomplished, that somehow grants him special treatment in paying just debt to the county and city. Mr. Pruett is no doubt a very hard worker, a successful business man, and seems to care greatly about his elected position. However, none of that negates the fact that he owes a great deal in back taxes to his own county.
Are you saying that if someone comes against Jimmy Pruett that these people will NOT get justice in Dodge County's Court Judicial System? Man this is baffling to me; in fact I take it as a threat to anyone who doesn't go along with certain people in this county….scary. I guess that is why Dodge County is referred to as the Dixie Mafia!
Athens Man sure sounds like anonymous to me!
Not against Dodge County. Just have seen NO proof at all of this tax burden of which everyone keeps talking. I find it hard to believe that ANY county would let ANY resident slide for that much owed money. Until I see proof, I won't believe it. Now learn some respect when speaking to others.
To Athens man; news article on his interest recently posted in Macon Telegraph; I was at the county meeting where his lawyers were suppose to show to ask for him not to pay his late fees and penalties; they even reached an agreement where the taxes would be paid in payments over 2 years to keep the recent foreclosure from happening; articles been on Eastman examiner site as well; Keep informed the truth is there....It's not the fault of the people of DC who don't control the tax office and what they do (but it's not fair for him to get away with it) when other families lose their property for one year's back taxes. When his was up for 2005-1011. I'll get respect when you realize not everyone in DC are deadbeats there are a lot of hard working people in DC who want to see change.
The proof was all over the Eastman Examiner. The proof is out there for everyone to see IF they want to truly see it! People are not this upset over nothing. This is not anything new for Pruett...he has been a crook for many years and seems to just slide through the cracks. One day he will have to face the consequences for his actions just like everyone else does, but in the mean time he just keeps on keeping on full steam ahead!
I am from Eastman. Born and raised. Don't think I don't understand what is going on down there. Don't live there anymore( as you can tell by name) but still have complete family there. I do keep up with what is going on there. I still have an interest.
If there were meetings to work out payment plans for back taxes, why is everyone still complaining? Are these people at these town meetings that are ignoring the back taxes? Sounds like everything has been worked out, or am I missing something?
Sir, the issue is that he has owed back taxes since 2005. More than $180k to date. Because who he is he got a free pass where many others did not and had property foreclosed on. He is an elected official and I hold him accountable as such. He knows better...and those that let him slide for so many years know better. I am pleased that he has finally been forced to make payments.
Can someone please explain to me why the county still has an "interim" manager?
Pruitt and his lawyers are going to ask for the late feels and penalties be dropped with the county commissioners say they can allow this (that isn't right he should pay all including late fees and penalties. Not saying he should be given 2 years to catch up others are allowed to pay at later time - just saying the county should have done more to make him pay sooner not when it got to the point of 2005-2011 back owed with a large sum of over S180,000 owed. County employees lost jobs last year - their jobs might could have been saved if he was paying timely.
If it is proven to be the case that the aforesaid elected official was deliberate in his tax avoidance and further, that subsequently because of his position, there are means to 'make amends' being suggested then this is brought to the attention and scrutiny of both State (GBI) and Federal (FBI) authority – in this case potential illegality certainly has been brought to the attention of both.
When there are young people who are seeking mentors and are offered those who appear unworthy then it becomes a very sad state of affairs, whether these are elected officials or police officers. The latter equally relevant, when there are cases of misconduct and if there are attempts at perjury by appeal to those who both look to them for guidance and actually pay them so to contrive a situation other than precisely what it is.
We are at a point in time where nothing at all lives in isolation, whether it is desired that way or not and especially with regard to public corruption and associated illegality, whether subsequently represented by lawyers or not. Of course, guilt has to be ascertained and in the process so is any contrived practice by the ones in question and their cohorts which is gross contravention of the law, - law everyone irrespective, has to abide.
Do you even know how this works. The property would not be foreclosed on. The property would be sold at a tax sale. Someone would need to pay the $180,000 delinquent tax note at auction. Mosquito Creek would then have 1 year to pay that person their money back. If not the tax deed holder could move to take ownership of the property. If no one bit on the $180,000, the property would just sit down their on file with a $180,000 tax lien tied to it.
Maybe the county could have raced to get the property in the next tax sale and maybe there would have been someone with the $180,000 to buy the tax deed. Maybe Mosquito Creek could have paid it off plus the 20% interest or maybe they couldn't and the person would have acquired herself a big building for cheap. Those are a lot of maybes.
Luckily the threat of the property finally going towards the tax sale caused them to get a plan worked out on how to get the money repaid.
Yes, what you are missing is that Pruitt has falsified information in order to run for office. He took an oath to a lie, and should be relieved of office; he also lied several times in different media interviews by denying ownership of Mosquito Creek Properties. He has no integrity and therefore cannot be trusted. He is poor representation for our district and a terrible example for our children.
This also shows that Brian Kemp, our Secretary of State shows poor judgment by allowing Pruitt to hold office. Kemp has been provided with all the proof he needs to remove Pruitt from office, but because they are personal friends he refuses to do so. He will not get my vote come November. He has proven to me that he is incapable of making wise decisions because friendship and party lines cloud his vision.
The point is Mr. J. Pruett as our represent should have had the guts to stand up to his mistake an make it right in the eyes of the people of our county and not hide and do the right thing and the ones that help him hide the facts should have brought it forward sooner and made him pay sooner not when it got to such a hugh amount and I do not agree that they vote at a later date to allow him to be able to drop the late fees and penalties. They are due and should be paid.
I heard the city got him to pay off the city taxes in full.
If true, that's good news. Now the ball is in the County Commissioner's court.
#15 Rom 13:1-7, in general terms, says,"The governments, which are ordained or appointed by God, must do us good, punish evil doers, use the tax money rightly or fairly. This is justice.
Romans 13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Jimmy Pruett and the Dodge County Commissioners as well as any person in a role of authority should do some serious thinking about what God's Word says!