Year in Review – June

Continuing WNEG News’ look back at 2023, today we take a look at the top stories in June:

In early June, Florida-based CSC Properties retracted their purchase offer for approximately 14 acres of property on the Big A Road corridor. The Florida-based development company also withdrew the annexation and rezoning applications on the multiple parcels of land. The company had petitioned the city for annexation and rezoning as part of their proposed development plan for the property, which was to include  a “national discount grocer” and two “junior box stores”.

CSC Properties had been in contact with Aldi executives regarding the project, but retracted their petition when Aldi declined involvement in the development.

 

Toccoa City Commissioners, at the June 12 regular meeting, adopted a $46.6 million Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget. Then- City Manager Billy Morse outlined the key points of the budget, including the fact that it included no mileage rate or utility rate increases, but did include a pay increase for city employees. At the meeting, no citizens spoke in favor of, or in opposition to the proposed budget, and there were no questions on the budget presentation from citizens. No further discussion on the budget was held between commissioners prior to the unanimous vote to approve the budget as presented.

Also in early June, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Stephens County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $1.2 million in grant funding as part of $83.5 million in Community Public Safety Grants awarded to law enforcement and other local government agencies throughout the state. Stephens County’s grant funds were earmarked by the grant to “provide more deputies on the street and more jailers to help reduce the strain on the current staff.”

 

On Friday, June 16, Brodrique Dixon was sentenced to serve 20 years for the death of Christopher Deshun Tukes. 

The sentence, passed down by Superior Court Judge Rusty Smith, was the maximum sentence allowable for the charge of voluntary manslaughter. 

Although Dixon was charged with Malice Murder and Felony Murder in his Dec. 2021 indictment, the jury, on Thursday, June 15, returned a verdict finding Dixon guilty of voluntary manslaughter. 

 

Stephens County Commissioners, on Tuesday, June 27, adopted a $42.5 million budget for Fiscal Year 2024.

As noted in the budget commentary, published as part of the adopted budget document, “For the first time in seven years, the county’s millage rate will increase.”

The 1.64 mill increase brought the county-only portion of the millage rate to 15.69.

According to county documentation, the value of one mill is $732,975 – this represents a 8.54 percent increase in the county’s net digest.