One Circle Community Coalition

Good afternoon! Thank you for coming out to our community meeting this past Thursday evening. If you were unable to attend, the video of that meeting will be uploaded soon. In the meantime, please join our WhatsApp! The link will allow you to join our group-chat where we will make announcements and try to answer your questions. We will also continue to post here and update you as we have new information. We know you still have more questions than answers and so do we, so we are working tirelessly to try to get those answers.

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On Thursday evening, at 6 PM, there will be a community meeting about the proposed ICE Detention facility at the Standridge Community Center. People in the community have been working diligently behind the scenes to push for change and/or at least help from the federal government for all of our infrastructure issues. Please come out to hear how you can be a part of what is happening in your community. There will be a national news outlet there and Senators Ossoff and Warnock, along with Congressman Collins and local leaders have been invited to be a part of the discussion. Senator Jon Ossoff Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock Representative Mike Collins Williamson for Walton Georgia House of Representatives GeorgiaSenate

Here’s a step towards open communication. Make plans to attend and hear the details first hand. We will post a recap for those that aren’t able to attend.

DCA has decertified Social Circle. Seems the crux of the issue is the annexation of Stroud’s Creek (Data Center) proceeding prior to the completion of the arbitration as prescribed by statute.

Social Circle notified of decertification after annexation into Newton County The annexation of a portion of unincorporated Newton County into the corporate limits of Social Circle has apparently led to the city’s decertification as a Qualified Local Government by the

Three lawsuits filed in Hall County regarding the ICE Detention center there.

https://www.covnews.com/news/cities/ice-officially-purchases-warehouse-detention-facility-according-social-circle/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAP25uBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFWjWDG3Cv9BYuqZHsdPF83UbeX7RATLblUBlNjtvOlLXBTtzGwgEDc5xVbU_aem_knS-jct3ItSBTIn8Wca4FQ

ICE officially purchases warehouse for detention facility, according to Social Circle For weeks, Social Circle residents have kept an eye on the possibility that a warehouse could be purchased by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for a detention facility. Now, it's no longer a rumor.Citing “multiple sources,” the city of Social Circle announced Sunday via Facebook th...

We have not, and will not give up until our city and our citizens are made whole and our kids safety is secured.

In addition to the reasons included in the attached letter, this facility will also increase daily commutes on our two lane bypass (4000ft from our elementary school) by over 5000+ daily commutes.

5000 residents are going to have to pay for the loss of over $1m in tax revenue.

Demand on our already stressed water system (we just took out a $65m loan to fix) will triple.

The worst part of it is it was all done without engaging us, the people most affected by it!

The only person One Circle Community Coalition has heard from is Mike Collins (48 hours +\- before the deal was announced done). Mr. Collins has committed to work with DHS to address these issues. We need more than words, we need action!

A big thank you to LeAnne Long Commissioner District 5 and Lee Bradford Walton County Commissioner District 4 who have continue working as hard as we are to get answers and assistance!! We appreciate that you haven’t given up either!!

We are glad Mike Collins has publicly joined the fray. We provided the Congressman a detailed account of what we, the citizens of Social Circle, are facing if this project moves forward. We will continue to stay engaged to make sure Mike Collins follows thru on his pledge to make sure Social Circle is not negatively affected by this facility

We had a similar conversation with Mike Collins office yesterday. He does not seem to understand, or worse yet care what impact it will have on the citizens of Social Circle. He sees no reason why DHS should engage with our city at all. Shameful for someone who claims to represent us. If you disagree with his stance, as we do, it is imperative that you immediately send a message to his office letting him know. This goes way beyond immigration policy and speaks to the governments duty to do due diligence and mitigate the negative impacts on our community before taking action like this! This will negatively affect everyone who lives here whether you agree with immigration policy or not. If you think taxes and utilities are high now……wait till this is here.

This week at City Council:

- Board appointments

Planning and Zoning: Several candidates applied. There was one open spot to replace the vacancy left by Scott Gaither from Dist. 4 who was also Board Chair. Councilman Shelton said District representation should be the top consideration and that District 3 was underrepresented. Councilman Jackson indicated that it had not been a criterion previously but that it was fine with him if it was going to be across the board going forward. Councilman Jackson gave examples of prior appointments. There was only one candidate that applied from District 3. Councilman Conavay from District 3 requested time to evaluate possible candidates from District 3. If district representation was going to be the main criterion, that desire had not been advertised to the public nor mentioned in the work session.

Councilman Shelton moved that John Gardner be made chair. It was approved unanimously.

Social Circle Dev. Auth.: Reappointed current members

Downtown Dev Auth.: Reappointed current members

Tree Board: Lynn Mills stepped down. Seneca Ellison was appointed.

We hope you found this update informative. If you’d like to see more, consider joining our page as we strive to make Social Circle the great “informed” little town!