1 Alan Mauldin, “Delta will add more daily flights between Albany and Atlanta beginning in June”, Albany Herald,

November 5, 2019.

2 Carlton Fletcher, “Larger aircraft to fly in to Southwest Georgia Regional Airport”, Albany Herald, April 29, 2023;

Gabrielle Taite, “Delta brings new planes to Southwest Georgia Regional Airport”, WALB, April 28, 2023.

3 Brad McEwan, “Yvette Aehele discusses Southwest Georgia Regional Airport’s future”, Albany Herald, August

29, 2014.

4 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany aviation officials set to discuss future of Southwest Georgia Regional Airport”, Albany

Herald, July 15, 2015.

5 Jada Haynes, “SOWEGA Regional Airport construction takes off”, Albany Herald, July 10, 2018.

6 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany gets $18 million-plus CARES Act Airport grant”, Albany Herald, April 16, 2020.

7 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany gets $18 million-plus CARES Act Airport grant”, Albany Herald, April 16, 2020.

8 Alan Mauldin, “Four-plane hangar facility rising at Albany’s Southwest Georgia Regional Airport”, Albany

Herald, May 4, 2022.

9 Carlton Fletcher, “Larger aircraft to fly in to Southwest Georgia Regional Airport”, Albany Herald, April 29, 2023.

10 The fixed-base operator provides various services, such as refueling, maintenance, tie-down and parking, and

hangaring for private aircraft. Eagles of America, Inc. is the fixed-base operator at Southwest Georgia Regional

Airport. Carlton Fletcher, “Customer service watchword for Eagles of America”, Albany Herald, September 24,

2016.

11 Alan Mauldin, “New Albany general aviation terminal taking off at Southwest Georgia Regional Airport

construction site”, Albany Herald, April 16, 2023.

12 Jon Gosa, “Raw, untreated sewage spills into the Flint River”, Albany Herald, May 26, 2018; Jon Gosa, “Sewer

system continues to plague Albany”, Albany Herald, June 18, 2018.

13 Jon Gosa, “Meeting set to discuss city of Albany sewer issues”, Albany Herald, June 23, 2018. Rogers described

the lift station malfunctions as “the little elephant” and the CSO issue as “the big elephant”. Jon Gosa,

“Riverkeeper: Albany has opportunity to overhaul sewer system after major spill”, Albany Herald, June 6, 2018.

14 David Dixon, “Why was the city of Albany sewer system not included in the GWC “Dirty Dozen’?”, Albany

Herald, December 20, 2021. Rodgers described the cause and consequences of combined sewer overflows in a

subsequent interview.

[T]he city has eight remaining Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges, seven of which are

active. When rainfall exceeds .19 inch per hour, mixed stormwater and sanitary wastewater can be

legally released into the Flint River watershed. When this happens, bacteria levels soar, making

the river unsafe for human contact. Additionally, everything imaginable that can be flushed down

the toilet can end up in the river. This problem is not only within the confines of Albany but

affects citizens and water uses further downstream.

David Dixon, “Work ongoing on Albany’s Combined Sewer Overflow Separation project”, Albany Herald, July 15,

2023.

15 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany board OKs ‘three-pronged’ sewer proposal”, Albany Herald, February 27, 2019.

Constantine’s project manager informed the city commission the firm could not perform the analysis for a specific

fee and could not “give a ballpark cost estimate right now” as to what the cost of the study would be. Id. Bo stated

he “hoped this commission will be more responsible in the future, to make sure the city’s funds are better protected”,

when staff was presented with purchase orders exceeding $1.6 million. Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission

approves $289 million spending plan for budget year beginning July 1”, Albany Herald, June 24, 2020.

16 Carlton Fletcher, “City of Albany faces $234 million sewer nightmare”, Albany Herald, May 16, 2020.

17 David Dixon, “Work ongoing on Albany’s Combined Sewer Overflow Separation Project”, Albany Herald, July

15, 2023; Alan Mauldin, “Albany sewer project consultants give updates on progress”, Albany Herald, August 1,

2023.

18 Carlton Fletcher, “City of Albany faces $234 million sewer nightmare”, Albany Herald, May 16, 2020.

19 Tom Seegmueller, “Current Albany leaders deal with sewer can long kicked down the road”, Albany Herald, June

20, 2020.

20 David Dixon, “Work ongoing on Albany’s Combined Sewer Overflow Separation project”, Albany Herald, July

15, 2023.

21 David Dixon, “Why was the city of Albany sewer system not included in the GWC ‘Dirty Dozen’?”, Albany

Herald, December 20, 2021.

22 Alan Mauldin, “Day of reckoning: Albany sewage discharge permits require action within five years”, Albany

Herald, February 2, 2021.

23 These funds were awarded by the Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee. “City of Albany, Albany State get

large share of federal stimulus grants”, Albany Herald, February 22, 2022; Molly Godley, “Water and sewer

improvements coming to Albany”, WALB, February 22, 2022. The Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee was

one of three committees appointed by Gov. Kemp to allocate $4.8 billion in COVID relief funds.

24 “Albany City Commission approves use of American Rescue Plan funding”, Albany Herald, December 14, 2022.

The city commission committed the first tranche, received in June 2021, and half of the second tranche, received in

June 2022. Id. Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission approves budget as protestors chant outside”, Albany

Herald, June 22, 2021; Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission members address chaotic Tuesday clash on budget”,

Albany Herald, June 23, 2021.

25 K.K. Snyder, “Albany/Dougherty County: Renewed Appeal”, Georgia Trend (August 2023).

26 Bo Dorough, “Stormwater issues impact Dougherty County as well as Albany”, Albany Herald, August 6, 2022.

27 Alan Mauldin, “Sales tax battle showcases friction between local governments”, Albany Herald, August 15, 2022.

28 “City of Albany awarded $25 million low-interest loan for sewer systems”, Albany Herald, May 11, 2025.

29 “Work on sewer construction will force closure on Broadway, Clark”, Albany Herald, January 26, 2022; “Sewer

work leads to road closures”, Albany Herald, February 26, 2022; “Portions of Jefferson Street to be closed for sewer

project”, Albany Herald, August 1, 2023.

30 Ardurra acquired Constantine Engineering.

31 Alan Mauldin, “Albany sewer project consultants give update on progress”, Albany Herald, August 1, 2023.

32 David Dixon, “Why was the city of Albany sewer system not included in the GWC ‘Dirty Dozen’?”, Albany

Herald, December 20, 2021.

33 David Dixon, “Work ongoing on Albany’s Combined Sewer Overflow Separation project”, Albany Herald, July

15, 2023.

34 Alan Mauldin, “Who’s in charge? Albany, Dougherty officials express different opinions on emergency

management”, Albany Herald, November 9, 2020; Alan Mauldin, “Emergency manager’s tenure in Albany has been

marked by Hurricane Michael, COVID”, Albany Herald, March 12, 2022.

35 Alan Mauldin, “Who’s in charge? Albany, Dougherty officials express different opinions on emergency

management”, Albany Herald, November 9, 2020. The fire chief turned his duties over to an acting fire chief during

the pandemic, while he worked full-time in his role running the emergency management response. Id.

36 Jamie Dupree, “Albany becomes unlikely Coronavirus hot spot in Georgia”, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March

21, 2020; Ellen Barry, “Days After a Funeral in a Georgia Town, Coronavirus ‘Hit Like a Bomb’”, New York Times,

March 30, 2020; Grant Blankenship, “How Albany Emerged As A Global COVID-19 Hotspot”, GPB, April 2,

2020;

Nicole Chavez, Angela Barajas and Diane Gallagher, “How two funerals helped turn one small Georgia city into a

hotspot for coronavirus”, CNN, April 3, 2020; Charles Bethea, “What the Coronavirus is Doing to Rural Georgia”,

New Yorker, April 4, 2020; Haisten Willis and Vanessa Williams, “A funeral is thought to have sparked a covid-19

outbreak in Albany, Ga – and led to many more funerals”, Washington Post, April 4, 2020; Graham Rapier, “How a

small Georgia city far from New York became one of the worst coronavirus hotspots in the country”, Business

Insider, April 7, 2020; Jenny Jarvie, “A small Georgia hospital battles one of the nation’s most intense coronavirus

outbreaks”, Los Angeles Times, April 8, 2020.

37 K.K. Snyder, “Albany/Dougherty County: A Steady Course”, Georgia Trend, July 31, 2020.

38 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Mayor Bo Dorough looks to keep city’s other priorities in focus while dealing with

coronavirus”, Albany Herald, January 30, 2021.

39 K.K. Snyder, “Albany/Dougherty County: A Steady Course”, Georgia Trend, July 31, 2020; Alan Mauldin,

“Albany Mayor Bo Dorough looks to keep city’s other priorities in focus while dealing with coronavirus”, Albany

Herald, January 30, 2021.

40 Alan Mauldin, “New chapter: Dougherty closes emergency operations center with decline in COVID cases”,

Albany Herald, June 11, 2021.

41 Alan Mauldin, “Fourth Wave: Dougherty Emergency Management re-engages with public”, Albany Herald,

August 9, 2021.

42 “Dougherty County closes Emergency Operations Center”, Albany Herald, March 3, 2022.

43 Alan Mauldin, “Dougherty commission chairman, Albany mayor set to meet Friday on emergency management

dispute”, Albany Herald, November 16, 2020.

44 Alan Mauldin, “Emergency manager’s tenure in Albany has been marked by Hurricane Michael, COVID”, Albany

Herald, March 12, 2022.

45 Alan Mauldin, “Dougherty Emergency Management officials advise residents to use weather alert systems”,

Albany Herald, September 17, 2020. The alert system no longer uses voice instructions. Id.

46 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany commission agrees to purchase Herald properties”, Albany Herald, April 26, 2019.

47 “Albany City Commission approves use of American Rescue Plan funding”, Albany Herald, December 14, 2022.

48 Carlton Fletcher, “Developer to bring $13.5 million ‘boutique hotel’ downtown”, Albany Herald, April 8, 2019.

49 Carton Fletcher, “Hotel developer: 207 Pine building in ‘sweetspot’”, Albany Herald, April 9, 2018.

50 Alan Mauldin, “Renovation of Gordon Hotel set to open in downtown Albany in 2022”, Albany Herald,

September 15, 2020.

51 Alan Mauldin, “Gordon Hotel will be Marriott International’s first black-operated facility”, Albany Herald, June 5,

2021.

52 Alan Mauldin, “Back to the drawing board: Albany to reclaim former WG&L Building after renovation effort

falters”, Albany Herald, May 17, 2023.

53 Alan Mauldin, “Chicago-area development company sets sights on $46 million hotel project in downtown

Albany”, Albany Herald, September 16, 2023; Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission approves moving ahead

with hotel, Harlem redevelopment projects”, Albany Herald, September 27, 2023.

54 Jim Hendricks, “Albany Museum of Art preparing for downtown move”, Albany Herald, February 25, 2020.

55 Rachel Lord, “Belk building donated to Albany Museum of Art for downtown move”, Albany Herald, June 28,

2019.

56 “Demolition work begins at future site of Albany Museum of Art”, Albany Herald, May 18, 2021. The city

received a $350,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Grant for this purpose. Id.

57 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Museum of Art requests $8 million from Albany City Commission”, Albany Herald, April

19, 2022; Molly Godley, “AMA asks City of Albany for $8 million for relocation”, WALB, April 20, 2022.

58 “Albany Museum of Art seeks funds from Dougherty County Commission”, Albany Herald, April 25, 2022.

59 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Museum of Art requests $8 million from Albany City Commission”, Albany Herald, April

19, 2022; Molly Godley, “AMA asks City of Albany for $8 million for relocation”, WALB, April 20, 2022.

60 Alan Mauldin, “‘Silver lining’: New business signal return of activity to Albany”, Albany Herald, July 3, 2021.

61 The award recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the revitalization of

a downtown in Georgia.

62 Carlton Fletcher, “Singfields’ The Flint wins state Renaissance Award”, Albany Herald, July 2, 2022.

63 Alan Mauldin, “Git ‘er done: Master plan approval by Albany City Commission sets stage for implementation”,

Albany Herald, November 12, 2022.

64 Alan Mauldin, “Back to the drawing board: Albany to reclaim former WG&L Building after renovation effort

falters”, Albany Herald, May 17, 2023. The project is contingent upon the developer being awarded tax credits. Bo

expressed opposition to the request for funding, as 75% of the 56 units would be “affordable housing”. Id.

“Affordable dwelling” is defined as one that a household can obtain for 30% or less of its income. A household is

typically considered “low-income” if it makes less than 80% of the community’s median income (called Area

Median Income or AMI).

65 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission gives support to downtown housing proposal”, Albany Herald, May 16,

2023.

66 Carlton Fletcher, “Spectra has transformed entertainment in Albany”, Albany Herald, November 23, 2019.

67 “Albany City Commission OKs FY ’24 budget on 4-3 vote”, Albany Herald, June 29, 2023.

68 “Small Change, Big Impact”, Albany Chamber of Commerce, October 11, 2021.

69 Alan Mauldin, “Highway 133 widening projects total 17.3 miles through Colquitt, Dougherty, Worth counties”,

Albany Herald, June 10, 2022. Brad Lanier Oil Company has opened a full-service travel center for professional

truck drivers and residents of southwest Dougherty County on Hwy. 133, which is less than ½ mile east of the

Liberty Bypass. Alan Mauldin, “BlocStop Travel Center opening planned in coming weeks”, Albany Herald, June

7, 2020.

70 “Base, LOGCOM officials break ground on new welding, body repair shop”, Albany Herald, July 17, 2021.

71 Alan Mauldin, “Outdoor Network announces $22 million Albany expansion, creating 92 jobs”, Albany Herald,

October 21, 2020; Kim McCullough and Jamie Worsley, “New Albany advanced power sports manufacturing plant

expands”, WALB, October 21, 2020; Alan Mauldin, “Outdoor Network expansion will bring 92 jobs to Dougherty

County”, Albany Herald, July 31, 2021.

72 “Pratt Industries announces $18 million expansion in Albany”, Albany Herald, August 3, 2021; K.K. Snyder,

“Albany/Dougherty County: Open for Business”, Georgia Trend (August 2021).

73 Molly Godley, “New grocery store opens in Albany”, WALB, December 15, 2021; “Food for Less has soft opening

in south Albany”, Albany Herald, December 18, 2021; Carlton Fletcher, “Food for Less ‘oasis’ eradicates southeast

Albany food desert”, Albany Herald, February 1, 2022. The grocery store has 70 employees, most of whom are

residents of south Albany. Id.

74 K.K. Synder, “Albany/Dougherty County: Open for Business”, Georgia Trend (August 2021); “AMADAS

Industries adds new facility in Albany”, Albany Herald, July 23, 2022.

75 “Phoebe Board approves $140 million expansion plan”, Albany Herald, January 5, 2022; Carlton Fletcher,

“Phoebe building projects on target, on budget”, Albany Herald, May 6, 2023; Alan Mauldin, “Transformational

groundbreaking”, Albany Herald, January 26, 2023. Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is pursuing designation as a

Level II Trauma Center. Id.

76 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany Historical Society puts brakes on $40 million Phoebe project”, Albany Herald, July 9,

2022. Alan Mauldin, “Transformational groundbreaking”, Albany Herald, January 26, 2023; Carlton Fletcher,

“Phoebe building projects on target, on budget”, Albany Herald, May 6, 2023.

77 “WebstaurantStore to add 150 Dougherty County jobs”, Albany Herald, February 18, 2015.

78 Jennifer Parks, “WebstaurantStore formally makes its Albany mark”, Albany Herald, October 17, 2017.

79 “Webstaurant to add 40 jobs at Albany facility”, Albany Herald, June 6, 2018.

80 “WebstaurantStore to bring 200 new jobs to Chatham County”, Albany Herald, May 11, 2021.

81 Jennifer Hafer, “Albany/Dougherty County: Capturing Opportunities”, Georgia Trend (August 2022). Brad

McEwen, “Albany Green Energy biomass plant begins test run”, Albany Herald, March 21, 2017; Carlton Fletcher,

“Albany P&G plant to add 30 new jobs”, Albany Herald, September 9, 2017; Jennifer Parks, “Procter & Gamble

prepares to add 40 employees at Albany plant”, Albany Herald, January 22, 2018; Terry Lewis, “P&G officially

opens new warehouse”, Albany Herald, January 22, 2018.

82 “Automotive supplier to bring 65 jobs to Albany”, Albany Herald, June 6, 2023; K.K. Synder, “Albany/Dougherty

County: Renewed Appeal”, Georgia Trend (August 2023).

83 “Steel manufacturer to bring 25 jobs, $5 million investment to Albany”, Albany Herald, August 1, 2023; K.K.

Snyder, “Albany/Dougherty County: Renewed Appeal”, Georgia Trend (August 2023).

84 Both properties were previously occupied by Outdoor Network.

85 “Automotive supplier to bring 65 jobs to Albany”, Albany Herald, June 6, 2023.

86 “Steel manufacturer to bring 25 jobs, $5 million investment to Albany”, Albany Herald, August 1, 2023.

87 Carlton Fletcher, “Advanced Metering Infrastructure technology price tag: $20 million”, Albany Herald, February

9, 2017. The consultant stated, “The manufacturers tell you the system will last from 15 to 20 years, but you need to

plan for 10 and hope for 15”. Id.

88 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany to move forward with $18.3 million meter loan”, Albany Herald, November 28, 2018.

89 Terry Lewis, “Albany City Commission approves $18.3 million smart meter loan”, Albany Herald, December 14,

2018.

90 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany to move forward with $18.3 million meter loan”, Albany Herald, November 28, 2018;

Terry Lewis, “Albany City Commission approves $18.3 million smart meter loan”, Albany Herald, December 14,

2018. The project encompasses gas, water, and LED streetlights as well as electric accounts. Meters for each

service transmit data “to a meter data management system, which is software that performs long-term data storage

and management for the vast quantities of data delivered by the meters”. Id.

91 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany commission OKs utilities expansion”, Albany Herald, August 14, 2018.

92 92% of the smart meters were successfully installed. The remaining 8% could not be installed due to an inability

to access and replace the existing meters, or a safety issue with the existing metering equipment.

93 “Vehicles”, in addition to buses, cars, pickup trucks, and vans, usually includes dump trucks, garbage trucks, high

volume jet vacs, pumper trucks, which are used by the Fire Department, and street sweepers, while “equipment”

usually includes backhoes, bulldozers, mowers, and tractors.

94 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission approves $3.1 million purchase of three fire trucks”, Albany Herald,

February 1, 2020. The fire trucks, each of which cost more than $1 million, feature “clean-cab technology”, which

provides storage space for equipment exposed to chemicals released in fires which are high in carcinogens, have

higher capacity for pumping water, and numerous others safety features, including enhanced lighting, which is

inducted into the Public Fleet Hall of Fame in 2022. Albany Mauldin, “Albany Fleet Management Director Pete

Bednar: From Kmart to Boeing to the Hall of Fame”, Albany Herald, July 11, 2022.

95 Jennifer Parks, “Albany City Commission approves speed tables, vehicle purchases”, Albany Herald, March 13,

2018. Fleet Management’s director stated the average lifespan for a city vehicle – depending on what it is used for –

is typically no more than five or six years. Id.

96 Carlton Fletcher, “Central Services department carries huge responsibilities”, Albany Herald, March 28, 2015.

97 “Albany City Commission votes to move forward with board pay increase”, Albany Herald, October 26, 2022.

98 Jon Gosa, “Albany officials propose new $6.5 million streetlight initiative with no cost savings”, Albany Herald,

August 11, 2018. The LED lights, in addition to burning brighter, also have fewer maintenance requirements.

“Albany LED light installation progressing”, Albany Herald, February 29, 2019.

99 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany Commission OKs lighting contract”, Albany Herald, October 24, 2018.

100 “Albany LED light installation progressing”, Albany Herald, February 25, 2019.

101 “Albany LED light installation progressing”, Albany Herald, February 25, 2019.

102 J.D. Sumner, “Old Albany gas plant may need expensive cleanup”, Albany Herald, August 2, 2012; J.D. Sumner,

“City, WG&L issues continue”, Albany Herald, August 6, 2012. The directive was issued following a statewide

inspection of such sites. Carlton Fletcher, “Gas plant cleanup on Albany officials’ radar”, Albany Herald, June 26,

2016.

103 Carlton Fletcher, “Cleanup at WG&L site ‘better than expected’”, Albany Herald, April 19, 2013.

104 Carlton Fletcher, “Street resurfacing moves up Albany city officials’ ‘priority list’”, Albany Herald, April 16,

2016.

105 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany Commission SPLOST big on infrastructure”, Albany Herald, July 4, 2016. SPLOST

VII was expected to generate $92.5 million over the six years of collection, with the city receiving $59.2 million and

the county $33.3 million, consistent with the 64/36 split that had been in place for the past two SPLOSTs. Id.

106 Jennifer Parks, “Dougherty voters overwhelmingly pass SPLOSTs”, Albany Herald, November 9, 2016.

107 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany officials outline $17.5 million street resurfacing plan”, Albany Herald, November 29,

2017. A more recent survey revealed 35% of the city streets were in “very poor” condition. Id.

108 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany City Commission OKs first stage of road resurfacing plan”, Albany Herald, February

28, 2018.

109 Alan Mauldin, “City has nearly $12 million in resurfacing projects underway”, Albany Herald, August 3, 2019.

110 Carlton Fletcher, “Dougherty T-SPLOST passes by narrow margin”, Albany Herald, March 19, 2019. Less than

7% of the voters cast ballots on the referendum. Id.

111 Alan Mauldin, “City spreading tax funds on street projects”, Albany Herald, July 15, 2019.

112 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany Dougherty officials look to prioritize T-SPLOST projects”, Albany Herald, March 20,

2019. T-SPLOST “boosted the total sales tax rate in the county to 8 cents on the dollar for most goods and services

purchased. [Half] of that amount is state sales taxes, with the other [half] going to the city, county, and Dougherty

County School System.” Alan Mauldin, “Albany resurfacing project reaches halfway point”, Albany Herald, July 8,

2019. At the time of that article, it cost about $192,000 to resurface one mile of street in the city. Id.

113 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission approves resurfacing 25 miles of ‘very poor’ streets”, Albany Herald, April

29, 2020.

114 Alan Mauldin, “Albany resurfacing program enters fifth year with plans to complete 22.5 more miles of roads”,

Albany Herald, January 20, 2022.

115 “City of Albany has began work on T-SPLOST resurfacing plan”, Albany Herald, July 21, 2022.

116 “Phase B of Albany T-SPLOST resurfacing plan set to start”, Albany Herald, June 12, 2022.

117 “Albany City Commission OKs FY 24 budget on 4-3 vote”, Albany Herald, June 29, 2023; Carlton Fletcher,

“Albany City Commission OKs street resurfacing list”, Albany Herald, July 1, 2023.

118 Alan Mauldin, “Albany, Dougherty County seem to be on track for transportation sales tax”, Albany Herald, July

18, 2023; “Dougherty County residents will have an opportunity to vote on a second TSPLOST”, Albany Southwest

Georgian, September 13-September 19, 2023

119 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany awarded $8 million utilities improvement grant”, Albany Herald, August 1, 2019.

120 Alan Mauldin, “Federal grant funds will pay for extensive infrastructure improvements”, Albany Herald, August

31, 2019. The city applied for a grant to convert a section of its overhead power lines to underground infrastructure

in August 2018, only weeks before Hurricane Michael incapacitated almost all of the city’s 52 circuits. Id.

121 “Work on Sandy Bottom project may lead to power outages”, Albany Herald, February 18, 2023.

122 This is a problem faced by local governments throughout the country. Brad Schrade, “Georgia police agencies

struggle to fill their ranks”, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 29, 2021; Ryan Young and Devon Sayers,

“Why police forces are struggling to recruit and keep officers”, CNN, February 3, 2022; Stephanie Pagones, “Small,

mid-size U.S. police agencies reeling from loss of officers, job recruitment woes amid anti-cop climate”, Fox News,

May 13, 2022; Ryan Young, Devon Sayers and Ray Sanchez, “‘We need them desperately’: US police departments

struggle with critical staffing shortages”, CNN, July 20, 2022; Dan Flynn, “Georgia’s Challenge: Police Recruitment

and Retention”, James Magazine, December 2, 2022; Mitch Smith, “As Applications Fall, Police Departments Lure

Recruits With Bonuses and Attention”, New York Times, December 25, 2022; Robert Klemko, “Police agencies are

desperate to hire. But they say few want the job”, Washington Post, May 27, 2023; Charles Keeshan and Susan

Sarkauskas, “Why is there a police officer shortage, and what are the solutions?”, Daily Herald, August 18, 2023;

“The U.S. is experiencing a police hiring crisis”, NBC, September 6, 2023.

123 19 were former APD officers who were rehired and a few were lateral hires, meaning they came to APD from

another law enforcement agency.

124 Alan Mauldin, “Albany, Dougherty police departments address area church members”, Albany Herald, June 14,

2023.

125 Alan Mauldin, “Police advisory members push for more police officers during Albany Commission meeting”,

Albany Herald, November 16, 2021.

126 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Police Department facing significant shortage in patrol officers”, Albany Herald, May 18,

2021. See also, Katja Ridderbusch, “Stress takes its toll on Georgia law enforcement officers”, Albany Herald, June

15, 2021.

127 Alan Mauldin, “Report detailing shortage of APD patrol officers will go to Public Safety Committee for action”,

Albany Herald, May 22, 2021.

128 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission approves $289 million spending plan for budget year beginning July 1”,

Albany Herald, June 24, 2020.

129 Alan Mauldin, “Budget in the books: COVID-19 relief funds for Albany sewage project still divisive”, Albany

Herald, June 26, 2021.

130 Alan Mauldin, “$3 million budget hike includes COVID duty pay, salary increases, for some Albany employees”,

Albany Herald, September 21, 2021. All full-time employees received a payment of $1,000 and all part-time

employees received a payment of $500. Id.

131 Alan Mauldin, “Salary increases, capital projects account for $17 million increase in Albany budget”, Albany

Herald, July 8, 2023.

132 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission to vote on $1.3 million employee pay package on Tuesday”, Albany

Herald, October 22, 2022. All other full-time employees received a payment of $1,000 and all part-time employees

received a payment of $500. Id.

133 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission approves pay increase for most police officers”, Albany Herald,

January 25, 2023.

134 “Albany City Commission OKs FY ’24 budget on 4-3 vote”, Albany Herald, June 29, 2023.

135 Lucille Lannigan, “New Flock keeping an eye on high crime areas in Albany”, Albany Herald, August 30, 2023.

136 Lenah Allen, “Over 100 crime cameras to be installed in Albany”, WALB, August 29, 2023.

137 Alan Mauldin, “Warning given: Albany police will begin issuing tickets through speed camera system in the fall”,

Albany Herald, July 3, 2021.

138 Alan Mauldin, “Albany speed camera fines total more than $3 million since 2021”, Albany Herald, May 13, 2023.

139 Alan Mauldin, “Warning given: Albany police will begin issuing tickets through speed camera system in the fall”,

Albany Herald, July 3, 2021.

140 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany police chief: school zone speeders … You’ve been warned”, Albany Herald, May 13,

2021.

141 Alan Mauldin, “Warning given: Albany police will begin issuing tickets through speed camera system in the fall”,

Albany Herald, July 3, 2021. RedSpeed receives 35% of the fines paid APD receives the balance. Id. Alan

Mauldin, “Albany speed camera fines total more than $3 million since 2021”, Albany Herald, May 13, 2023.

142 Alan Mauldin, “Speed detection devices at Albany schools account for more than 12,000 citations in first three

months”, Albany Herald, November 17, 2021.

143 Alan Mauldin, “Albany speed camera fines total more than $3 million since 2021”, Albany Herald, May 13, 2023.

144 Alan Mauldin, “Albany speed camera fines total more than $3 million since 2021”, Albany Herald, May 13, 2023.

145 The cameras have led to the recovery of 34 stolen vehicles and numerous arrests. Lucille Lannigan, “New Flock

keeping an eye on high-crime areas in Albany”, Albany Herald, August 30, 2023.

146 “Albany police to host meeting on gunshot detection technology”, Albany Herald, February 25, 2023.

147 Lucille Lannigan, “New Flock keeping an eye on high crime areas in Albany”, Albany Herald, August 30, 2023.

148 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Police Department looks to boost use of technology”, Albany Herald, April 18, 2023.

149 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Police Department looks to boost use of technology”, Albany Herald, April 18, 2023.

150 Alan Mauldin, “Albany, Dougherty police departments address area church members”, Albany Herald, June 14,

2023.

151 David Shivers, “APD Chief Michael Persley talks crime with Kiwanis Club”, Albany Herald, October 11, 2021.

152 “Albany police to host meeting on gunshot detection technology”, Albany Herald, February 25, 2023.

153 Alan Mauldin, “Albany police, Dougherty County sheriff’s officers gearing up for youth summer camp”, Albany

Herald, May 1, 2023.

154 “Albany Police Department to initiate voucher program to help drivers fix defective cars”, Albany Herald,

September 16, 2021.

155 Alan Mauldin, “Gang feud stoking violence that has erupted in Albany in recent weeks”, Albany Herald, October

17, 2020.

156 Alan Mauldin, “Part of the solution: Albany police need a helping hand to address thefts, gun violence”, Albany

Herald, December 30, 2021.

157 Alan Mauldin, “Albany, Dougherty police departments address area church members”, June 14, 2023; Alan

Mauldin, “East Albany residents fed up with illegal riders”, Albany Herald, October 2, 2021.

158 “Three charged in fatal Albany accident involving motorcycle”, Albany Herald, October 14, 2019; “Albany teen

charged with murder in street racing death”, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 16, 2021; Jeff Cox, “Police: Man

dead, another arrested, after racing their cars down Albany street”, WFXL, December 23, 2022; “One dead, one

arrested in Albany racing incident”, Albany Herald, December 26, 2022.

159 “Eight arrested in Albany on sex trafficking charges”, Albany Herald, November 24, 2020.

160 Alan Mauldin, “Gang feud stoking violence that has erupted in Albany in recent weeks”, Albany Herald, October

17, 2020.

161 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany City Commission OKs pool, Thornton Gym repairs”, Albany Herald, October 27, 2015.

The Boys and Girls Club is paid $99,000 a year to operate the facility. Id.

162 “Albany Boys and Girls Club returning to East Albany in partnership with city”, Albany Herald, October 19,

2015.

163 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany Boys and Girls Clubs officials open Thornton Gym”, Albany Herald, February 23,

2017.

164 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission approves $289 million spending plan for budget year beginning July 1”,

Albany Herald, June 24, 2020. Carver Park was subsequently renamed in honor of Coach Charles Driskell. Alan

Mauldin, “Carver Park, transportation center will be named for influential Albanians”, Albany Herald, September

23, 2020.

165 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission sets recreation as a priority for 2021”, Albany Herald, December 28,

2020.

166 “2021 Facilities Overview”, Albany Recreation & Parks.

167 “Congressman Sanford Bishop helps land funding for Albany projects”, Albany Herald, July 22, 2021.

168 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission approves nearly $10 million for Driskell Park, Henderson Gym

Projects”, Albany Herald, August 24, 2022.

169 Alan Mauldin, “$8 million Driskell Park renovation project divides Albany City Commission”, Albany Herald,

April 9, 2023.

170 Alan Mauldin, “$8 million Driskell Park project to kick off next week”, Albany Herald, May 23, 2023; Lenah

Allen, “Over $8 million going toward Albany park renovations”, WALB, May 22, 2023.

171 “City of Albany to receive $6.6 million in grants for recreation improvements”, Albany Herald, May 21, 2023.

The application sought funds to demolish Carver Gym and construct two covered, outdoor courts on the site. The

city commission has obtained permission to use the funds to renovate Carver Gym.

172 Alan Mauldin, “Sewage, emergency equipment, recreation, downtown top proposed sales tax projects”, Albany

Herald, July 20, 2023.

173 “Small Change, Big Impact”, Albany Chamber of Commerce, October 11, 2021.

174 The 2022 American Community Survey, an annual statistical analysis performed by the U.S. Census Bureau,

estimates there are 21,299 single family homes in Albany, and that 17% of the residences in Dougherty County are

vacant. A large number of the vacant properties are “dilapidated”, defined as “a housing unit that does not provide

safe and adequate shelter and its present condition endangers the occupants’ health, safety or well-being”.

175 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany Code Enforcement transitions to Planning Services”, Albany Herald, April 27, 2015.

Demolition of blighted and dilapidated structures has been an issue for the city for many years. J.D. Sumner,

“Public safety, blighted properties top city’s 2010 priorities”, Albany Herald, January 31, 2010; Carlton Fletcher,

“Albany officials target blight areas”, Albany Herald, August 2, 2016.

176 Alan Mauldin, “Albany commissioners differ on making Code Enforcement a standalone department”, Albany

Herald, June 3, 2020.

177 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission approves $289 million spending plan for budget year beginning July 1”,

Albany Herald, June 24, 2020.

178 Alan Mauldin, “Albany commissioners take aim at dilapidated structures”, Albany Herald, April 4, 2023.

179 Alan Mauldin, “Tax-delinquent properties draw interest of Albany City Commission”, Albany Herald, June 1,

2021.

180 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission considers vacant property registry”, Albany Herald, October 5, 2021.

181 “City of Albany receives Brownfield Grant for environmental clean-ups”, Albany Herald, June 16, 2021.

182 Carlton Fletcher, “City of Albany, Museum of Art awarded $1.15 million in Brownfield funding”, May 11, 2020.

“A Brownfield site is defined as real property, the expansion, redevelopment and re-use of which may be

complicated by the presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, controlled substances, petroleum or

petroleum products, or that is mine-scarred land”. Id.

183 Carlton Fletcher, “Investor: Mabry Motel, other Albany eyesores are coming down”, Albany Herald, October 30,

2021.

184 Carlton Fletcher, “Midtown demolition”, Albany Herald, April 28, 2022.

185 Alan Mauldin, “Cleanup under way at West Oglethorpe eyesore”, Albany Herald, July 17, 2023. This has been

one of the city’s most problematic industrial sites for decades.

186 Alan Mauldin, “Trash talk: Illegal dumping ire of Albany, Dougherty officials”, Albany Herald, March 1, 2021.

These items must otherwise be transported to the landfill, where a tipping fee is charged. The only roll-away

container currently available to the public is at the Recycling Center on Meredyth Drive.

187 Alan Mauldin, “Operation Clean Sweep to tackle Albany litter, one neighborhood at a time”, Albany Herald,

November 19, 2020.

188 Alan Mauldin, “Operation Clean Sweep a hit in Albany”, Albany Herald, March 27, 2022.

189 Carlton Fletcher, “It costs nothing to have a little pride”, Albany Herald, April 15, 2021.

190 Carlton Fletcher, “City-wide trash epidemic is no man’s treasure”, Albany Herald, March 4, 2021.

191 Carlton Fletcher, “It costs nothing to have a little pride”, Albany Herald, April 15, 2021. See also, Alan Mauldin,

“One spot at a time: Operation Clean Sweep hits south Albany neighborhood”, Albany Herald, August 25, 2022

(“The hope behind the program is that once a neighborhood is spruced up, residents in the area will buy in to keep

the clean feeling going by cleaning the areas where they live”); Alan Mauldin, “Operation Clean Sweep a hit in

Albany”, Albany Herald, March 27, 2022 (“One of the goals of the program is that once Public Works staff, other

city departments, and partnering companies sweep through an area, the residents will buy into keeping their streets

clean”); Alan Mauldin, “Albany’s Operation Clean Sweep marks third year of sprucing up city”, Albany Herald,

January 22, 2023 (“the goal was to have residents participate by keeping the freshly spruced-up areas clean once the

city employees had done their work”).

192 Carlton Fletcher, “It costs nothing to have a little pride”, Albany Herald, April 15, 2021.

193 Alan Mauldin, “Live broadcasts of Albany City Commission meetings to start on Tuesday”, Albany Herald,

March 9, 2020.

194 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission yanks live streaming of meetings from Facebook”, Albany Herald,

August 25, 2021. The meetings are now livestreamed on the Meetings Portal on the city’s website.

195 “Albany City Commission votes to move forward with board pay increase”, Albany Herald, October 26, 2022;

Alan Mauldin, “Albany commissioners defend salary increase votes”, Albany Herald, October 27, 2022.

196 “Albany City Commission OKs sewer projects, signs off on pay increase”, Albany Herald, November 30, 2022.

$25,000 in 2008 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $35,500 today.

197 Jeff Cox, “Albany Mayor and Commission to get first salary increases since 2008”, WFXL, November 1, 2022.

198 Carlton Fletcher, “Transportation director: Transit vital to passengers’ livelihood”, Albany Herald, November 14,

2015.

199 J.D. Sumner, “Bus station sites still under construction”, Albany Herald, October 22, 2009; J.D. Sumner, “Transit

Center bid tabled”, Albany Herald, February 27, 2012; Carlton Fletcher, “City ponders next multimodal step”,

Albany Herald, February 26, 2013.

200 Alan Mauldin, “At last … City breaks ground on Transportation Center”, Albany Herald, October 4, 2021. The

city had previously returned a $4.5 million grant due to its failure to move forward with the project. Alan Mauldin,

“20-year site selection process for Albany transportation center came full circle”, Albany Herald, August 22, 2020.

201 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Transportation Center construction on schedule for early 2023 opening”, Albany Herald,

April 14, 2023. The project was, however, delayed due to supply chain issues. Alan Mauldin, “Delay in equipment

delivery holds up opening of Albany Transportation Center”, Albany Herald, February 1, 2023.

202 Alan Mauldin, “New Albany transportation center blends past, present, future”, Albany Herald, March 20, 2023.

203 Residential customers pay a base rate of $10.77 per month and 8.295¢ per kilowatt for the first 650 kilowatts.

That rate increases to 11.85¢, from May until October, for each kilowatt above 650 kilowatts, and is reduced to

7.5409¢, from November until April, for each kilowatt above 650 kilowatts.

204 Such a policy is consistent with that of many utilities, as an annual increase is almost always necessitated by

inflation, the rising costs of goods and services, increased labor expense, the need for new equipment and vehicles,

and other factors.

205 2023 GA Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard. www.dashboards.efc.sog.unc.edu/ga.

206 Carlton Fletcher, “Albany City Commission OKs stormwater utility, enterprise fund”, Albany Herald, November

26, 2013.

207 Carlton Fletcher, “City of Albany ready to roll out stormwater utility”, Albany Herald, February 13, 2014.

208 This additional revenue will service the debt on the $25 million GEFA loan, which is to be repaid over 20 years.

209 Albany Utilities received $1,211,750 from LIHEAP in 2020, $1,221,057 in 2021, and $1,658,392 in 2022. Funds

are available through the Cooling Program beginning in May and through the Heating Program beginning in

December. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and seniors (65 and above) and those who are

medically homebound receive priority.

210 The city did not resume service west of Slappey Blvd., as it used a succession of private contractors to collect

residential garbage from customers in this area.

211 Alan Mauldin, “Albany Commission selects low bid for garbage collection on trial basis”, Albany Herald, August

20, 2020.

212 Alan Mauldin, “New Albany garbage contractor gives update on first month of service”, Albany Herald,

November 5, 2020.

213 Albany Mauldin, “Albany City Commission hashes out garbage issue”, Albany Herald, March 16, 2021; Alan

Mauldin, “Albany City Commission approves consolidation garbage service under private vendor in 4-3 vote”,

Albany Herald, March 24, 2021. The Finance Director informed the commission the city lost $469,000 in FY 20

collecting residential garbage east of Slappey Blvd. The former assistant city manager identified theft of containers

as an ongoing problem. Id. The city, had it retained residential collection, would have required six new grapple

trucks, which would have cost in excess of $1 million. The containers purchased by Concrete Enterprises have

microchips, which identify their location in the event of theft. Albany Mauldin, “Albany City Commission hashes

out garbage issue”, Albany Herald, March 16, 2021.

214 Alan Mauldin, “Albany City Commission approves consolidation garbage service under private vendor in 4-3

vote”, Albany Herald, March 24, 2021.