Regarding Data Centers in the Home City & County: Thoughts by MBM & a Communique from Newton BOC Rep LeAnne Long

 Hello, friends. 

So yet another proposed data center now being considered here in the home county, those water & power sucking scourges, and now the home city of Covington is being brought in to mix as well. 

What follows is my response to a FB post by the right honorable & totally badass BOC 5 Rep of Newton Co, GA - LeAnne Long - followed by an additional comment of mine & then followed by her original post. 

The Chair of the NC Water Authority has already said we can’t take on anymore of these.

Concerns about power capacity as well.

Will definitely be reaching out to my representation on the City of Covington Council on this.

— ENOUGH IS ENOUGH —

This isn’t “NIMBY.” This is self-preservation!

I’m at the point where I’m ready for social media & AI to disappear. Those two things are the reason why we’re seeing this scourge.

Thanks for all you’re doing, LeAnne Long!

For the Home City & County!

- MBM

### My additional comment:

Also,

New York Times :

The situation has become so dire that Newton County is on track to be in a water deficit by 2030, according to a report last year.

“What the data centers don’t understand is that they’re taking up the community wealth,” he said. “We just don’t have the water.” ~ Mike Hopkins, NCWSA

(H/T Tonya Be) 

*******

LeAnne's original post: 

OKAY- District 5 ***

The Newton County Board of Commissioners received a required notice letter from the City of Covington stating that a landowner has applied to be annexed into the City of Covington's limits for a Massive Data Center. 600 ELKS CLUB RD -

The number of requests for data centers without proper planning and understanding of the community's impact is ridiculous! I am very concerned - while developers talk about potential tax revenue, those numbers don't show the big picture. The process lacks transparency, and communities aren't seeing the actual outcome for residents, which still remains unknown.

Social Circle (in Newton Co.) is attempting to annex and zone TWO large centers in Newton Co., ONE is being built now in Covington, Portdale approved ONE, and now another ONE OFF ELKS Club RD-

THIS IS INSANE! LET the City of Covington Council know your thoughts to VOTE NO!!

LeAnne! 

Here is part of the notice, as required by law

(This doesn't imply the City is in favor or not).

Please be advised that the City of Covington, GA, by the authority vested in the Mayor and Council, by Article 2 of Chapter 36, Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, has received an application to annex property hereinafter described. This letter has been sent to you by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon acceptance of an application for annexation by the City of Covington, GA, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 36-36-

6 and O.C.G.A. § 36-36-,9 and after receipt of the application for zoning pursuant to O.C.G.A. §36-36-111. The property owner's application is attached hereto as Exhibit "B."

The property owners have requested the zoning of Light Industrial (M-1) for the following properties:

600 Elks Club Rd and Elks Club Rd, (TMP#s 0100 003, 0100 003В 0100 009) 11,520 SQFT AND 18 BUILDINGS.

GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS -LeAnne

### Best, MBM

And A Word From Ellis Millsaps

 Fuck you, Donald Trump. 

- - Ellis Millsaps

Ellis "Da" Millsaps is a recovering Attorney but has worn many hats over the years: father, bus boy, stand-up comedian, novelist, wiffle ball player, rock'n'roll band manager, and at one time wrote a popular and funny column for The Covington News. A Fannin Co. mountain boy originally, Mr. Millsaps now stays at the mill village of Porterdale by way of 20 years in Mansfield. Usually funny and at times irreverent and subversive, he leans left in his political philosophy but can always be counted on for a pretty darn good write-up. The Chronicles are proud to have him involved...

Good Cop, Bad Cop: A Novel by Ellis Millsaps

TPC REAL Politick: Raffensperger Running for Governor. Other Dominoes to Fall?

 Hello again. 

So, the news hit today (somewhat surprisingly to this writer), that current GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has actually decided to run for Governor of Georgia. 

He'd previously put out feelers but many had figured he wouldn't actually do it. 

After all, his political capital in our great state doesn't seem to be overly strong.

Trump hates him, by all accounts, and two state heavyweights - Burt Jones, current Lt. Governor & Chris Carr, current AG - have already announced & declared for this race. 

So the question is begged - why would B-Rad do this? 

Well, in my humble estimation, it's the same reasoning as behind his original run for the Holder & Custodian of the Great Seal of Georgia (Secretary of State) back in 2018: 

spend a shit-ton of money & run in a crowded field where you might make a runoff. Then, w/ enough money, you might just steal the damn thing...

###

For those who know, that's exactly what he did seven years ago. 

*****

Again, he doesn't seem to have the ability to do this. Obviously, Trump hates him. An extreme majority of the GA GOP despises him; however, never doubt the ability of money combined w/ a crowded field. 

Again, that's exactly what happened in 2018. Just ask the current Chairman of the GA GOP. 

Homeslice bought that office.

Spent a shit-ton of money w/ the aim of making it to a runoff (paying big money to landowners on major thoroughfares to put up signs plus a whole bunch of other stuff). 

And as those who know, in a runoff - all bets are off.

It's all about turnout (read:  $$$). 

W/ Carr & Jones running, he knows he just has to spend enough money to finish second in the primary (Jones will be first). Then he's hoping if he does finish second, he'll be able to get enough of the Carr votes to possibly win the runoff (w/ enough of that $$$). 

Not saying I'm right on this, but...

*****

So, Trump's archnemesis will not be running for a third term for Secretary of State (SOS). 

Therefore, that means that Tim Fleming is definitely running for SOS. 

So...

that means that GA HD 114 is

W I D E   O P E N 

DEVELOPING... 

Best, 

- MBM 

[Recent City Happenings] - Covington East Ward Post 1 Now a 2-man Race

 Greetings, Fearless Readers. Hope it is all good out there. 

So, the news hit just today that Rev. Eric Threets has withdrawn his candidacy for the open East Ward, Post 1 race. 

I was actually made aware of this the end of last week but was trying to get additional information as to why he was withdrawing (had a few sources tell me it was due to a certain reason) before reporting the story. 

As has been the case a few times over the years, that other paper stole my thunder & beat me to the punch. 

According to its article, and this was confirmed by a member of staff of the Newton Co Board of Elections, it was due to "family demands," as per a letter that Threets submitted. 

Again, I was told by various sources that it was due to another issue. I have communicated w/ the City of Covington to confirm the exact reason but as of press time I haven't gotten a response (big surprise there, right? Government, what you gonna do...). 

Regardless, that means that this is now a 2-man race. 

That other paper - The Covington News by the way - erroneously reported that now there are three running but Cole Inman, as we understand it, also withdrew his candidacy, so now it's just between Dwayne Turner & Donny Cook. 

Dwayne Turner

Donny Cook 

I've had several folks that I know & trust tell me they're supporting Cook in this one. I'm hoping to have a sit-down tete-a-tete w/ him soon. I do know, based on his social media presence, that he is NOT a fan of apartments, and seems to be rather conservative regarding the spending of taxpayer dollars. 

We'll be keeping an eye on it. 

Will keep you updated if we get additional info on the Threets situation. 

Best, 

- MBM 

If You Don't Know, Now You Know: Greetings & Welcome to TPC!

The Town Square Podcast

 

Hello, all. 

I meant to publish this post last night in anticipation of today's drop of the latest edition of The Town Square Podcast hosted by old friend & current Newton Co BOE member Trey Bailey w/ yours truly - Marshall McCart - as the featured guest. 

While I know a pretty good number of folks who have listened (or will listen) to that podcast are already familiar w/ what we do around here, I'm sure at least a few are not so I thought I'd give you a bit of an intro. 

As we discussed on the show, I'm self-described as equal parts Citizen Journalist, "semi-professional ant hill kicker" & public advocate. I'm passionate about the home county (Newton), home city (Covington) & the Glorious Georgia Piedmont (particularly the quad-county area of Jasper, Morgan, Newton & Walton). 

Politically, I'm basically a conservative-adjacent, libertarian-leaning independent; or, to quote another writer - I'm usually being liberally conservative when I'm not being conservatively liberal. Basically I'm GDI. A true independent around the intersection of a Ron-Paul-Republican & Zell-Miller-Democrat. 

I'm for good government, and wise spending of tax dollars. 

I also tend to be inclined that many elected officials need a watchful eye upon them in order for them to do the right things & do things right. 

Mainly, I try to capture the REAL Politick, and always doing my best to keep it real. 

You can peruse some previous readings if you so desire. 

As I mentioned on the podcast, my posting has been a little light here lately but I do have a few things coming down the pike. Plus, we've got the off-year municipal elections this fall so we'll certainly be keeping an eye on that. 

Okay for now & hope all is well out there. 

- MBM