Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy
New "School" Construction by HLA Owner Killed by County?
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http://www.thedahloneganugget.com/artic ... 1wozny.txt
Commissioners hindering betterment of county
To the editor:
Dismay ... shock ... outrage. These are but a few words to describe my reaction to the news that the county commissioners have thrown up yet another roadblock to the proposal by Hidden Lake Academy to build a new facility, Mountain Brook Academy.
I am a relatively new resident of Lumpkin County, but I have followed this situation since it was first proposed. In addition, I have toured Hidden Lake and have seen first-hand what a great contribution it makes to the community and the benefits derived by its students.
It should be noted that my first visit to Hidden Lake occurred in late 2004 when the Dahlonega Woman's Club presented a candidate forum, generously hosted by Hidden Lake Academy.
Every person presently on the commission attended that forum and I heard each get up and promise that he/she would always act in the best interest of the county and its citizens.
I question how the recent actions of the commissioners in continuing to block HLA/MBA can be considered in the "best interest" of Lumpkin County.
At the commissioners meeting Nov. 17, Clarence Stowers presented an additional list of various items that he proposed be renegotiated before giving the go-ahead to the plan presented.
The development authority had already recommended acceptance of the original proposal, but NO, that wasn't good enough for the commissioners.
They asked the authority to go back and meet again to look into the new items being presented for consideration. It appears that MBA agreed to those stipulations, but, no, even that wasn't enough.
The commissioners are now asking for even more concessions from HLA/MBA.
Hidden Lake has been an asset to Lumpkin for the years it has been here. What plans do the commissioners have to make up the funds that would be generated by the new school should Dr. Buccellato decide not to proceed with Mountain Brook Academy? I listened to all five of you in Oct. 2004 and believed you would act in our best interest.
This commission is a "first" for Lumpkin County, going from a single commissioner to a commission of five persons. What a shame that you are prohibiting a good project from contributing to the betterment of Lumpkin County. I'm ashamed of all of you.
Sincerely,
Pat Wozny
Dahlonega
Troll Control:
http://www.thedahloneganugget.com/artic ... lloway.txt
Faith in system shaken in 2005
More Letters
Faith in system shaken in 2005
To the editor:
Just when I thought the waters had calmed down, I returned from spending the holidays with family to find the waters again swirling. I hope that I can update what has taken place so far and where things now stand.
Contrary to some comments, tax incentives to bring in new businesses is not new to Lumpkin County, with two other companies having arranged similar agreements with the county when it had foresight to help our economy grow.
Mountain Brook was not reinventing policy, but utilizing a tool the county had previously developed to bring in businesses in hopes to lessen the property tax burden on our homeowners.
I was interested in the stance that The Home Depot was brought in with no assistance from the county. I believe Mr. Abraham with the development authority may have conflicting information on the amount of money spent on paving, water lines, and sewage; the last number I heard at a public meeting was around $1 million.
The following timeline best represents our last interactions with the county:
On Nov. 17, the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners passed a motion that outlined its recommendations for a tax abatement between the county and Mountain Brook Academy. The board requested that Mountain Brook meet with the Lumpkin County Development Authority, and through negotiation finalize a plan covering each of the items in the motion.
On Nov. 18, representatives from Mountain Brook met with Bruce Abraham and Mike Cottrell from the Lumpkin County Development Authority and reviewed each of the items listed on the Nov. 17 motion. At the end of that meeting the two parties had created a plan that would meet the needs of Mountain Brook and Lumpkin County. This plan was submitted to the board of commissioners as directed in the motion so it could be reviewed at the Dec. 1 monthly work session.
On Nov. 29, Mountain Brook received an e-mail from Bruce Abraham informing us that contrary to the motion passed at the Nov. 17 meeting, a special meeting was held by the commissioners who then altered the plan to include items not passed in the official motion. Mountain Brook in good faith completed all requirements of the Nov. 17 motion, yet in the end the commissioners altered their own recommendations and submitted a plan that had not been approved. Based on what was listed as "final position" from the commissioners by Mr. Abraham, Mountain Brook is saddened that a final agreement could not be made.
It is clear that the commissioners are not desirous of having Mountain Brook Academy, its jobs, the tax revenue and added revenue to the local merchants as part of Lumpkin County. As the commissioners were elected to represent the people of Lumpkin County, we will respect their wishes and have begun pursuing other options for making Mountain Brook a viable possibility and continuing our mission of helping children receive a good education.
I have spent the last 20 years working with children and understand adversity, but I have to admit my faith in the system has been shaken in 2005. My elected officials went against their own public motions and in a secret meeting altered what had been placed as an official motion and presented to their constituents. My past brother Rotarian Billy Wells, an official at NGCSU, wrote inaccurate and inflammatory articles about our school, our staff and our morals. Rev. Jeff Ross compared supporting a new school that works with children to be no different that supporting the new Chick-fil-A.
Nevertheless, we will continue to find way to improve the life of the children entrusted to us. Our current options are to move to another county or become a non-profit school like North Georgia and Lumpkin County public schools. As we have tried to point out to our elected officials, neither option is good for the county.
If we move to another county, Lumpkin will be out jobs, tax revenue and tourism from our parents. If we go non-profit, the county is out $71,000 per year plus the loss of all county sales tax from our purchases. Only by going non-profit can we afford to build the new facility due to the lack of water, sewer, and access to emergency services, three expensive items that also affect the outrageous insurance rates associated with this type of facility.
While neither option is desired, we will go whichever direction pushed by the commissioners.
So, to answer Mr. Kanel, we're not asking to receive more than anyone else in the county is due, at this time we would be happy if we were treated like any new business trying to come into the county - fairly.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey S. Holloway, MSW
Executive Director
Mountain Brook Academy
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ol' Jeffrey sounds like a little crybaby. ::mecry::
Troll Control:
Be sure to call Mr. Abraham to voice your concerns over the new so-called "school" proposed to be built in Dahlonega, GA by the owner of Hidden Lake Academy.
Do your part to bring to light pertinent facts about the way this company does business.
CONTACT INFO:
Bruce Abraham,Development Authority executive director, at (706)864-0423.
Apparently there have been many concerns raised by local citizens about the care and treatment of children at the existing facility which led to suspension of negotiations for a new facility. The possibility exists to kill the project altogether if everyone does their part.
Good luck!
Antigen:
Hmm, could it be that the good ppl of Dahlonega are starting to smarten up?
There is not a "fragment" in all nature, for every relative fragment of one thing is a full harmonious unit in itself.
-- John Muir
--- End quote ---
Deborah:
Apparently, some.
--- Quote ---?In addition, I have toured Hidden Lake and have seen first-hand what a great contribution it makes to the community and the benefits derived by its students.?
--- End quote ---
Saw the ?benefits derived by its students?, in a ?tour?? Puleeeez.
--- Quote ---?I question how the recent actions of the commissioners in continuing to block HLA/MBA can be considered in the "best interest" of Lumpkin County.?
--- End quote ---
Perhaps it is in the best interest of the kids, which should take precedent over the best interests of the county. Commissioners in my county were set to approve a medical waste incinerator; they typically aren?t picky when it comes to revenue. Which makes this even more curious.
--- Quote ---?What plans do the commissioners have to make up the funds that would be generated by the new school should Dr. Buccellato decide not to proceed with Mountain Brook Academy??
--- End quote ---
I would guess that their primary concern is that Home Depot and Chick-fil-A will not tarnish the county?s reputation?. HLA/MBA, questionable? What other concerns might they have? Adjudicated youth being housed from all over the country?
--- Quote ---?Mountain Brook was not reinventing policy, but utilizing a tool the county had previously developed to bring in businesses in hopes to lessen the property tax burden on our homeowners.?
--- End quote ---
What drama. As if their $71,000 is going to lessen property tax. What?s his/her real interest in this issue?
--- Quote ---?As the commissioners were elected to represent the people of Lumpkin County, we will respect their wishes and have begun pursuing other options for making Mountain Brook a viable possibility and continuing our mission of helping children receive a good education.?
--- End quote ---
Is it possible that they?re privy to the real nature and purpose? The ?good education? scam has apparently run its course.
--- Quote ---?I have spent the last 20 years working with children and understand adversity, but I have to admit my faith in the system has been shaken in 2005. My elected officials went against their own public motions and in a secret meeting altered what had been placed as an official motion and presented to their constituents.?
--- End quote ---
Then you now have some idea how parents/teens feel, when they expect one thing, and another happens.
--- Quote ---?Rev. Jeff Ross compared supporting a new school that works with children to be no different that supporting the new Chick-fil-A.?
--- End quote ---
And should they think otherwise? ?Works with? is what is in question.
--- Quote ---?My past brother Rotarian Billy Wells, an official at NGCSU, wrote inaccurate and inflammatory articles about our school, our staff and our morals.?
--- End quote ---
Where can those articles be found? I think it speaks volumes that a military person, considered an upstanding citizen and leader, such as Wells would disapprove of their methods, techniques, morals, values. A little about Billy Wells.
******
BILLY WELLS
http://www.ngcsu.edu/Univ_Rel/archives/april2005.htm
After reviewing the applicants and nominees, Potter announced April 21 that he is naming Billy Wells, North Georgia?s professor of Military Science since 2002, to the new position [assistant to the president for leadership development].
?Billy already has contributed significantly to the success of our leadership program in the Corps of Cadets,? said Potter, ?and I believe that he can build on that success to help us achieve a comparable level of achievement for the other dimensions of our leadership identity.?
?Billy Wells has an excellent reputation and is engaged throughout the community,? said Andy Schaffer, who serves on the Business Administration faculty. ?He has established outstanding working relationships with both civilian and military faculty and staff across campus and is well suited for this role.?
Coincidentally, Wells, now a retired colonel in the U.S. Army with 30 years of leadership and management experience, was honored on April 18 with a reception as he retired from the Army and his military faculty position at the university.
Before coming to North Georgia, Wells was chief of staff of the First Army at Fort Gillem in 2001-2002. For three prior years he was the training support brigade commander of the 87th Division, Fort Stewart. His previous military assignments, primarily in Georgia and Kentucky, included operations officer, chief of doctrinal and future force development, and battalion commander, among numerous other positions.
Wells earned his bachelor?s degree from Mississippi State University in 1975 and a master of science in education from Louisiana State University in 1980. Additional education and training included the Army War College, the Army Command and General Staff Officer?s Course, and Emergency Preparedness with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ***
Perhaps he has chatted with Keith Antonia.
http://www.flageorgia.org/conference/20 ... nments.htm
Antonia being the original Director at Ridge Creek, until he (and several of the other Mt Rangers) was fired for not possessing the proper credentials to hold that position.
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?to ... t=30#94224
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?to ... t=20#95945
Wonder if he's chatted with Overlordd? Curious!
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