City of Soperton Seeks to Collect $44,000 in Back Taxes

The City Council of Soperton met for its regular meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024. The agenda included discussing City ordinances, among other issues including the collection of some $44,000 in back taxes owed the City. According to newly elected Mayor John Koon the City anticipates growth and he wants the City to be in a good position for the future.

The first order of business Monday night was to approve an Ethics Ordinance, aimed at further enhancing the City’s commitment to transparency. Mayor John Koon emphasized, “This ordinance lets the citizens know the City is doing the right thing.” The ordinance allows for ethics complaints to be filed with the Clerk of the Municipal Court Judge, who will review them and make a decision. The ethics ordinance also clarifies that any complaints filed against an official or a candidate running for office will be held until after the continued from page

official election results.

The council held the first reading of a proposed building permit ordinance, which adopts state laws and meets the minimum state compliance. This ordinance will not affect owner-occupied single-family homes. The ordinance requires contractors or business owners to apply for a permit. This new ordinance gives the City time to investigate the property, make a recommendation on water/ sewer needs relevant to the property, ensures the City knows who the contractors or business owners doing work are, and helps protect its residents from being taken advantage of. The October agenda will list the building permit ordinance for approval.

Council acknowledged it was time to set the millage rate. However, Mayor Koon said more time is needed to review the current budget so an informed decision can be made. Therefore, that bit of business was tabled.

Another issue on the Council’s agenda was delinquent property taxes. There is $44,000 in back taxes owed to the City over the last six years. The City’s goal is to collect these past due taxes before current property taxes are due in December. Mayor Koon presented a plan recommended by Sam Richards, liaison for the City Council, and Mayor to get the taxes collected. The plan is to send out a letter to delinquent taxpayers giving the property owners 30 days to respond to the letter, at which time they can contact city hall to pay their taxes in full or set up a payment plan. The payment plan requires 20% down and payments with the balance paid in full by the end of 90 days. If a delinquent taxpayer does not respond to the letter, they will see their name advertised in the local newspaper; and if the taxpayer does not respond to that, the City will place a lien on the property.

The Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have mandated that cities conduct a survey of the lead piping in the City’s water service lines. A company from Cohutta, Georgia, 3-B Services, LLC, the low bidder was awarded a contract of $138,018.00, by the Council for the survey work. This project will be paid for through a grant from the Georgia Environmental Finance, resulting in no cost to the City.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Koon expressed his gratitude to the Public Works and Water department for its hard work. The department recently had to repair a sinkhole, and according to the Mayor, the men completed the job as efficiently and quickly as possible and without any complaints.