County's plan to donate property to church hits snag
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The Board of Commissioners voted on Aug. 4 to donate the 5-acre lot to Holy Ground Baptist Church, but found out late last week that the Carroll County Board of Eduction had not made a formal decision on whether it wanted the property. Because the school board has the right of first refusal, the property cannot be given away until it rules on the matter one way or another.
“We were under the impression before the [Board of Commissioners’] meeting that the [school] board had already done that, but I guess they hadn’t,” said County Attorney Cynthia Daley, who is also the attorney for Carroll County Schools.
Commission Chairman Bill Chappell sent a letter to Superintendent John Zauner on April 23 of this year, requesting “that the Board of Education provide written notification to the Board of Commissioners that the Board of Education is in agreement with the transfer of the property to Holy Ground Baptist Church for recreational use.”
According to County Clerk Susan Mabry, the county never received such notification.
Beyond who had first claim to the property, there were further questions as to where the deed of ownership actually was.
The most recent known document detailing the sale history of the property goes back to 1988. In that year, the property was given to the Roopville Youth Athletic Association, a predecessor to the present-day athletics booster club, from the Roopville Board of Education. Prior to that, the field belonged to what was Roopville High School.
In 2002, the property went to the county, a product of the Carroll County Recreation Department’s move to consolidate the youth athletic associations in Roopville, Whitesburg and Hulett. Less than two years later, the county stopped using the field for games, moving all sports to the existing recreation complex on Newnan Road.
In the meantime, the deed has either failed to be updated or has been lost in the transition. Daley said she will be looking at the existing deed next week to clarify any discrepancies about the ownership of the property.
None of that may matter if the school board decides it wants the land, and at this point, there is nothing to do but wait until the school board meets in September, said Commissioner Kevin Jackson.
“There’s no way that we can do anything until the school decides,” Jackson said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s on hold. Our decision is really no good until we hear from the school board.”
If the school board votes in a month to accept the land, it will then belong to the school system, and Carroll County Schools Board of Education Member Bernice Brooks said she wants the property for the schools.
“I’m leaning toward us providing that property to residents of that area but not to the church,” she said.
Over the next few weeks, the school board will undergo a discovery period to acquaint itself with the situation up to this point, at which time it will meet for the vote.
The school board’s next meeting is on Sept. 17.
Holy Ground Baptist Church had been leasing the property since 2006. As part of that lease agreement, the church would mow the grass, pay for utilities and maintain the facility. Outside of general upkeep, the church would not be required to pay for the land.
How much effort did YOU put into cleaning up and maintaining that property? How much sweat equity have you deposited into something you don't own in an effort to help kids have a sportsmanlike good time and learn some core values??
"Christian people" and "church people" spent countless hours on that field, cleaning, repairing, then managing and coaching games, AFTER they had worked countless hours on their PAID jobs (at which they pay TAXES, making them TAXPAYERS just like everyone else in the community), all for the good of the children, long before ANYONE ever mentioned donating the land to the church!!! They did this for FIVE years prior to this date!! Nobody, including YOU, ever complained when "church people" were pouring "church money" into all the work on that field or when "church people" were providing FREE labor on that field.
Church people didn't make you sick -- you were sick long before we came along.
Signed: A Christian and a Church person
In closing Holy Ground Baptist Church is doing an amazing work for God in the Roopville Community , I just don't understand why a "christian" would attack the work of God. There are things worth fighting for and our youth of the community is worth it!
I would hope that we will have some Christian members on the school board that will vote for what is pleasing to God. We need to remember what is wrong with our schools today, we have taken God out of everything. Vote so that the children that have been part of this ministry can still be part of it. Your decision may affect your family on down the road. Your child or grandchild may become part of this ministry. Show children that you care about the Lord and his people!
I WARNED YOU KATIE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. MAYBE Next TIME YOU'LL THINK BEFORE YOU GO AND GET SO PERSONAL WITH YOUR INSULTS!! Your also just another religious phony. People who love the Lord support sister churches, not jump on the band wagon and attack!!! You really ought to be ASHAMED of all the PEOPLE YOU HAVE HURT WITH YOUR TONGUE TODAY!!! The pastor's family, his parents, his children, and his church family and friends. Man your a great witness for the cause of Christ!!
You attacked my pastor! So, in effect you attacked me. I love my pastor and do not appreciate you calling him a liar and all the other horrible things that you said.
You call yourself a Christian, want to play the victim in all of this, as if we attacked you. NO, I am defending a great man of God and a wonderful church family.
If you want the Roopville community to have the land, that's fine. We are all entitled to our own opinions, but when you start to spread lies and slander about my brother in Christ, I must stand up.
I am glad that you have said your peace. Now I hope you keep your "peace" to yourself!
I am not attacking anyone. I am just repeating what was said to a County Elected Official in public. No Slander Here. I think this is in some minutes from a meeting. I might be mistaken on that point, but I am pretty sure.
Anyway, it was not my intention to offend you or anyone else. I am just disheartened by the entire situation. Why did it have to come to this? Christian against Christian. There could have and SHOULD have been a more peaceful and amicable solution created other than to sling comments through the air.
Everyone (with the exception of the key players – and even a few of them) has committed some sort of slander, so be careful who you are accusing of a crime. Each one who has posted can be placed in that category.
I remain in constant prayer in this matter, have said my peace and will not respond again.
“We were under the impression before the [Board of Commissioners’] meeting that the [school] board had already done that, but I guess they hadn’t,” said County Attorney Cynthia Daley, who is also the attorney for Carroll County Schools.
Is it not the attorney's responsibility to be sure that all things are in place prior to board action. Just saying "We were under the impression...." lets us know what has caused an uproar between people in the community.
Stop attacking each other. We need to once again demand answers as to why proper procedures have not been followed in carrying out the business of the county. Since the attorney represents BOTH parties (county commission and school board), it should not just have been an "impression". Why didn't she know for sure? Now after the donation of the property by commission vote and the "uncovering of the snag" to donate the property, the attorney is going to
(according to the article)
"Daley said she will be looking at the existing deed next week to clarify any discrepancies about the ownership of the property."
All of the "problems" need to be dealt with on a legal basis without the people in the community attacking each other. Once everything is in place on a legal basis, surely an agreement can be reached to allow the land to be used jointly by the church and the community. There are good people in this church, and there are good people in this community not in this church. All churches in the Roopville area are part of the community and should be interested in continuing the ministry that has begun. Wouldn't it be great to see the churches come together for this cause? The community ministry is not dependent upon who owns the land. The ministry is dependent upon willingness to serve.
Wow! How hateful and mean to attack such a great church that loves the community and it's people. Then to personally attack a pastor who only wants to help and serve people. I can only shake my head in disbelief! Do you realize that you are attacking a man who has a family and church that love him? You are attacking more than this pastor, you are attacking his wife and children, and 650 people, as you say! Again, shame on you!
With these scriptures in mind I find it quite distasteful that a Christian pastor would resort to threats, prideful behavior, and anger to rescue the money and time given to better a park within a community to which he and his flock are a part of. I would be ashamed to call myself a Christian. It has been stated by the pastor that there are 650 members at Holy Ground. This might be so, however, until ALL 650 member show up for church each and every Sunday, I would keep my prideful talk to a minimum. REMEMBER: pride is one of the seven deadly sins as stated in Proverbs. Proverbs 16:5 tells us that “the Lord detests the proud.”
Aside from that, those “650 members” are Children of God. You are not winning them over to Christ to be used as pawns in a political scheme to rescue money the church has spent on a park they claim to use for the Glory of God. That is greed at its finest: yet another deadly sin. Proverbs 15:28 lets us know that “greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes (threats) will thrive.”
Does it matter THAT much who holds the deed or has this situation actually become a vendetta mission for the church. You were paying $1.00 a year for the use of that park. If this is too much, maybe someone will pay it for you.
I attend church regularly. I do not claim to be better than anyone for I am a sinner. But I am a Christian who loves the Lord. I am appalled that this Christian minister would lead his flock in such a way: especially when it clearly goes against the teachings of Christ. As Christians we are suppose to strive to be Christ-like each and every day. Would Christ threaten an elected official using a few of the seven deadly sins He Himself detests?
I THINK NOT! Would Christ be so quarrelsome and prideful? NO!
What I am basically saying is you should “walk the walk you talk.” If you claim to be a Christian, then BE ONE. Don’t make the Christian faith look bad by using your status as a Christian only when you think it will give you an edge. This only makes you look less like a Christian.
One more thing to remember: NON-CHRISTIANS ARE WATCHING!