🍇 Quiet Steady Work

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Spalding County! Today, we pause to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his vision of a beloved community built on justice and service. Born in Atlanta just an hour north of us, Dr. King believed that everyone has a role to play in lifting up their neighbors and that real change starts at the local level.

In Spalding County, that vision shows up in small ways every day: neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers showing up at food pantries and shelters, coaches dedicating their evenings to our kids, and leaders stepping forward to serve on boards and committees without fanfare or recognition. It's the kind of quiet, steady work that doesn't make headlines but holds a community together.

MLK Day has become the nation's largest day of service, and whether you spend it volunteering, gathering with family, or simply reflecting on how we can better care for one another, it's a reminder that community is what we build together.

- Chad

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Griffin residents won't see any new data centers popping up for at least six months. City commissioners unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on "technological facilities" at their January 13 meeting, giving planning staff time to develop regulations for these high-power operations. Griffin joins a growing list of Georgia cities and counties including Atlanta, LaGrange, and several metro-area counties taking a cautious approach to data center development. The pause addresses concerns about power usage, water consumption, and noise while the city updates its development codes.

Spalding County's voting precincts are being consolidated ahead of the May primary elections. The Board of Elections voted 3-2 on January 13 to reduce the total number of precincts from 17 to eight—combining six city precincts into two and eleven county precincts into seven. Elections director Kimberly Slaughter says the change will save taxpayers approximately $8,170 per election while improving efficiency. All affected voters will receive notification by mail with updated precinct information. The decision drew mixed reactions at a public hearing, with some residents expressing concerns about accessibility.

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day falling on Monday, it's a quiet week for government meetings in Griffin and Spalding County—but there's one important session on the calendar.

The Spalding County Board of Commissioners holds their monthly Zoning Public Hearing on Thursday, January 22 at 6:00 PM in Room 108 of the Courthouse Annex (119 E. Solomon Street). On the agenda is the much-anticipated third data center proposal for the Wallace Jackson Industrial Park area on Jackson Road. The Spalding County Planning and Appeals Commission already heard the request at a special called meeting on January 12, forwarding their recommendation to the full board. Residents interested in this 189-acre development or any other zoning matters are encouraged to attend.

Monday & Thursday: Carver (610 Carver Rd) and Woodroof (4245 Old Atlanta Rd) 11am-7pm

Tuesday & Friday: Blalock (5756 Newnan Rd) and Cabin (3865 Jackson Rd)
11am-7pm

Saturday: All centers open 7am-1pm (plus Akin for bulky items only)

Sunday & Wednesday: Closed

Got big stuff? The Akin Collection Center (841 S McDonough Rd) is for bulky items only—no regular household garbage. Open Saturdays 7am-1pm.

All centers closed on county holidays.

Knit/Crochet Club

Baby Rhyme Time

Family Storytime at the Library

D&D Club

The Kings of Queen

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

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Thanks for reading the Griffin Grapevine! From the data center hearing at the Courthouse Annex to storytime at the library and The Kings of Queen rocking the Opera House, there's no shortage of ways to stay busy this week. If you enjoyed this week's update, make sure your loved ones are subscribed as well. We're building something special here, and we'd love to have them join us. Have an event worth sharing or looking to advertise? You can reply directly to this email. Let's look out for each other and stay connected. Have a safe, wonderful week!