Barwick torn on recent land transactions - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Barwick torn on recent land transactions

Posted: Updated:
By Stephen Abel - bio | email

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, June 20 2013 12:09 AM EDT2013-06-20 04:09:02 GMT
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.   WG&L leaders say the utility is paying $20,000 dollars a month
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:41:18 GMT
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today. Century Pines Assisted Living Center threw a party for resident Charles Walker who turned 101 today. Walker was
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:34:54 GMT
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing. A couple of businesses are thriving there. The new art park is open, and a sidewalk improvement
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing.
    •   
BARWICK, GA -

Some people in a small south Georgia town are calling for the mayor's job over a land deal.

Critics claim Barwick Mayor Ned Simmons and City Councilman I.J. McCann illegally transferred ownership of the city's community house to the chamber of commerce, And they're starting a recall petition.

Supporters of the deal say it's good for the city, and it was properly approved by the city council.

Built in the late 1930's, Barwick's community house has been a hot spot for parties, meetings, other community events.

And while the building is on city property, city officials say the house has been kept up by the chamber of commerce for the last 30 years.

"We're very small and it's just not too pleasant to have such dissension as we have. And we hope that everybody can come to some disposition on it," said Former Mayor Ward Manley.

In order to acquire the land they needed to build a new ball park, city officials swapped the 3.5 acres of land the community house is on with a 1.6 acre parcel owned by the chamber of commerce.

Some community members, like Manley are ok with the decision, but others say it's a bad deal.

"I have always been in favor of the chamber keeping this up because I feel like when the chamber gives it up, it's going to go to the way of the school building over there across the street."

"The Mayor, a council member, and a president of a chamber of commerce got together privately. Done the dealings behind closed doors and that's against the law. And that is why I am against it," said Recall Supporter Anthony Scott Mccammon.

Fran Beck applied for a recall this week of Mayor Ned Simmons and City Councilman I.J. McCann. Mccammon supports that recall effort.

"You can't sell something privately the way it was done. It should have been put up for bids, took bids on it. If they wanted to get rid of it, it could have helped the town out by doing that."

The city council approved the deal back in October, but the recall application claims the city land is worth $87,000 and the chamber land is only worth $12,600.

"I have always thought that if that piece of property is the piece of property that the city needs and no other piece of property will fit, than that makes it tremendously more valuable," said Manley.

Beck delivered the petition paperwork to Barwick's superintendent of elections and city clerk this week.