Austell Mayor Defends Awarding 9 Contracts to Company Owing City $19,000 in Taxes

UPDATE at 6:29 p.m. on Sept. 30: Austell Finance Department Director Denise Soesbee responded to a Patch email, stating, "As of today, Carlos Jones owes $19,539 in property tax and penalties."

Also, the story originally stated that the Aug. 3 special-called meeting had not been announced to the citizens of Austell. This has been updated to reflect that the meeting had not been announced on the city's website or via its e-news alerts as other meetings or announcements are publicized. Austell City Councilwoman Virginia Reagan informed Patch that the meeting was in fact announced on the City Hall marquee 24 hours before it began.

South Cobb Patch will continue to keep you updated on this story.

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The City of Austell recently awarded nine demoliton contracts of the 19 flood-damaged homes it purchased to Hiram-based Carlos Jones Construction Company, which owes the city approximately $19,000 in taxes, according to the Marietta Daily Journal. 

Mayor Joe Jerkins said Patch must receive information about the company’s owed taxes from Finance Director Denise Soesbee, who did not respond to any of Patch’s several phone and email attempts this week.

Jerkins, who said he knew how much the company owed, was quoted in the MDJ report as saying, “The bidding process has got nothing to do with what he owes the city.”

On Aug. 3 in a special called meeting , the city council voted to award nine contracts totaling $65,475 to Carlos Jones Construction Company. The special-called meeting was not announced to the citizens of Austell via online email alerts or on the City's website where other announcements are regularly made.

According to City Councilwoman Virginia Reagan, the meeting was announced on the City Hall marquee at least 24 hours before the meeting took place.

According to the open and public meetings law, the City must give "due notice" of any public meeting being held at a different time or place of regular meetings. 

The law describes "due notice" as being a "posting of a written notice for at least 24 hours at the place of regular meetings" and 24 hours before the meeting, awritten or oral notice must be given to the legal organ that publishes sheriff's sales or given to a newspaper with a regular circulation in the county, such as the Marietta Daily Journal.

At the meeting, City Council members Trudie Causey and Martin Standard voted to not award the contracts to Carlos Jones.

Austell Floodplain Manager Duane Demeritt told the MDJ that Carlos Jones would be awarded at least one more contract.

To see what Jones told the MDJ, check out their story here.

Patch will continue contacting Soesbee to receive the requested public information.