Douglas County Denies Resident Was Removed From Town Hall

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — The Douglas County Board of Commissioners said Monday that a resident was "never removed or thrown out" of a town hall meeting Jan. 29. Resident Julie Camp, however, stands by her claims that the county commission chairman had no right to throw her out.

Rick Martin, director of communications and community relations says in the statement, "An internal probe has revealed that a Douglas County citizen was never removed or thrown out of a recent 'Walking The Talk' Listening Session with Douglas County Commission Chairman Dr. Romona Jackson Jones as published reports indicate.

"During the town hall-style meeting, which was open to the public, on Monday, January 29, 2018, a major with the Douglas County Sheriff’s office approached Ms. [Julie] Camp and asked to speak with her," continues the statement. "Ms. Camp herself said, 'Can we speak outside?' The Mayor and Ms. Camp then walked out of the Hall together where they briefly spoke, and both came back into Citizens’ Hall. Ms. Camp then stood in line to speak and express herself during the meeting. At no point were Ms. Camp’s rights violated as claims have been made. Ms. Camp remained an active part of the meeting."

Camp told Patch after the controversial meeting that she was unhappy with its format, knowing that most of the people in the room were there to discuss the Douglas County bus proposal, which, she said, was the original reason for the meeting. "So the meeting was supposed to be about the buses and when we got there Dr. Jones had an agenda about a mile long and the buses were at the end," Camp told Patch

After a wait, she began to question the commission, and video shared on YouTube shows Jones asking about the cost of buses, to applause from the crowded audience. When Jones replied she can be heard asking security to show Camp out, to loud boos from the crowd. Jones told those in attendance if they didn't ask so many questions they could move on to the topic of busing.

But Camp stands by her original statements in an email to Patch.

"I was thrown out by Dr. Jones," said Camp. "I told the deputies, there were 2 [deputies], that she violated my rights and they had no right to throw me out. We went outside for a brief moment to talk. They were very nice and I went back into the meeting. I never said the deputies threw me out, only Dr. Jones. She was rude and very angry at me for asking serious questions. Not professional at all!!! I had the floor and I had the right to ask. I don't need an internal probe, I have video."

Camp said a member of the group Citizens Against Public Transit in Douglas County reached out to the Board of Commissioners and Jackson Jones about a meeting between the county and the group regarding the county's bus system proposal. Jones responded and agreed to meet with the group on the date the group specified.

According to the County's website, Douglas County plans to implement fixed route bus service at a time still to be determined. Routes are still under development but will likely serve the Highway 5, Highway 92, Hospital Drive, Chapel Hill Road, Douglas Boulevard and Stewart Parkway corridors of Douglasville and the Thornton Road south of I-20 and Riverside Drive corridors in Lithia Springs.

Camp said she waited for about 40 minutes and began to ask bus questions.

"I'm afraid we're going to run out of time for the main part of what we're here for — the buses," Camp said as she addressed the county's transportation director, Miguel Valentin. "So I'm going to ask you, have you all done any studies to show how 32 bus stops are going to impact the traffic in downtown Douglasville? I can't see any way that would help traffic. And I would also like to know, who's going to pay for this once the CMAQ [The Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System grant] runs out? They only pay 80 percent for three years. Who is going to pay for it? Now this is an entitlement program you all are pushing on us and, you know, we need some answers tonight. And this is why we're here. And this is why we're having the meeting and you all are dragging your feet."

After a round of applause from those in attendance, Jackson Jones addressed Camp, "Excuse me, ma'am. This is Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones and this is my meeting."

At that point, Jackson Jones asked deputies to remove Camp.

"We're about to get to the buses but this meeting was not designed around buses," stated Jackson Jones after Camp's removal. "This is my Walking the Talk session and I've been nice enough to do this. If you be patient and allow us to finish the Walking the Talk session, I will greatly appreciate it. Now if you all don't ask so many questions, we can go onto the next...the buses..."

Deputies briefly spoke to Camp outside the meeting before allowing Camp to return to the meeting.

Photo and video courtesy YouTube