Speaking the Peace

All three of Smyrna’s mayoral candidates were vocal during citizen input at Monday night’s lengthy Smyrna City Council meeting.

Alex Backry took the podium to remind citizens about the that is being hosted by the Marietta Cobb League of Women Voters.

“If you can’t make it, it will be televised live,” he said. “I think this is an important event where the candidates stand in answering questions directly from the citizens; again, an important event.”

Backry’s opponent Donna Short-Woodham also spoke during citizen input. She chastised the mayor and council for “evicting” the residents of Hickory Lake Apartments last December.

“Mayor, you didn’t relocate anyone in Hickory Lakes,” she said. “You evicted the Hickory Lakes residents. You bought it and you told them to get out, and while there was snow and ice on the ground. The children didn’t have Christmas. It was December. And that building is still up. Those kids could have finished there schooling, but no, no, no. This council said, “No, little children. You’re not important to us. You have to leave your school in the middle of the season and just go somewhere else.’”

It was noted during Monday's meeting that demolition has begun at the Hickory Lake complex. At the beginning of the year, the Housing Authority of Smyrna did cut incentive checks to those who moved from the 48-acre complex that the city purchased last December.

Woodham also added that if she is elected mayor she plans pursue grants for the to establish reading, math and science programs for Smyrna students. She also said the library should assure that children are reading on grade level by third grade.

Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon, who is normally mum during citizen input, broke his silence Monday to rebut Woodham’s remarks.

“We had without exception, the smoothest transition of people moving out of Hickory Lakes,” he said. “For the most part we did them a favor getting them out of there. It was a terrible, run down, worst location in Smyrna. A lot of them told us that, too. It’s just amazing…I just want to say this, folks can vote for whoever they want, but I tell you in this mayoral election you’ve got a clear choice of who to vote for. There is absolutely a lot of difference between all three candidates.’’

Later after another citizen had publicly chastised the mayor over the events surrounding a town-hall meeting a couple of years removed, Bacon responded, “I’ve been increasingly frustrated at some of the comments that are made by citizens that are not true comments.’’

Bacon also broke his usual silence during the citizen's input after an elderly man with self-described health issues complained that after 32 years of living at the now city-owned Smyrna Commons Apartments, he had recently received a letter informing him he would have to move at the end of November.

The Smyrna Downtown Area Development Corp (SDADC) purchased Highlands Apartments (now Smyrna Commons) in July 2008 and then renovated and operated the complex. Last February, a portion of the property was sold to the Cobb County School District for the new Smyrna elementary school that is scheduled to open in 2013.

The closing on that sale is expected on Dec. 1 if not earlier. Residents will be able to stay through the end of their leases and all leases are scheduled to conclude by the end of February 2012.

There was a complete Smyrna Commons investment history presentation by the city to conclude Monday’s meeting that Patch will be reporting on later Tuesday.

Bacon assured the elderly citizen that the city would assist him in his relocation and later discussed this with him privately while the meeting was still progress.

Several candidates for Smyrna City Council also spoke during citizen input.

Garry Osborne, a economics and American government teacher, spoke about his qualifications for the Ward 7 city council seat that is being vacated by Pete Wood.

“My business experience with planning, budgeting and personnel management combined with my classroom experience, which has taught me great patience and sharpened my organizational skills, make me uniquely qualified to represent the citizens of Ward 7 on the city council,” he said.

Another Ward 7 candidate, Vick Yankouski, outlined his campaign strategy. Since qualifying, he has gone to door-to-door visiting the residents of Ward 7. Yankouski said that so far he has visited 1,200 homes in his ward. He said he and other Ward 7 residents are concerned about zoning variances that allow for industrial and commercial properties to be developed near residential areas.

Susan Wilkerson also took the podium to introduce herself to the mayor and council. Wilkerson has lived in Smyrna for 25 years with her husband and two teenage daughters.

“I feel like because of my experience raising my family here and also my experience with my neighbors, I would be a good representative on the council,” she said. “I also think the members that are stepping down are going to be missed. I would just love the opportunity to represent the citizens of my ward.”

Wilkerson is seeking the Ward 5 council seat that is being vacated by current council member Jimmy Smith.

Judith Jones also publicly declared her candidacy for the Ward 4 city council seat that is currently occupied by Mike McNabb. Jones called out McNab, Bacon and Wade Lnenicka, Ward 6 council member, for not attending a recent ceremony where several Smyrna veterans were awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal. The ceremony was held Sept. 7 at American Legion Post 160 where all three men are members.

“Four Smyrna men were also named “Chevalier” by the French Consul General Pascal Le Denuff. Not anyone from this mayor and council was there. Not even a representative…This is a great honor. This is a once in a lifetime event. We needed to have a face there. I was embarrassed that you all were not.”

Pete Wood, Ward 7 council member, corrected Jones saying that he attended the ceremony.

, and , Ward 4 candidate, also introduced themselves to the mayor and council during citizen input.