Travis Moore: Clearing the Air on Cinelease and Cemetery Controversy – Episode 63 cover art

Travis Moore: Clearing the Air on Cinelease and Cemetery Controversy – Episode 63

Travis Moore: Clearing the Air on Cinelease and Cemetery Controversy – Episode 63

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 Introduction: When Facebook Turns into City HallEvery community has those moments when social media explodes and rumors outpace reality. For Covington, Georgia, that moment came when the city council voted to purchase property from Cinelease/Three Ring Studios—a move that set keyboards ablaze across Newton County. Many residents wondered: Was the city bailing out the studio? Was this another taxpayer burden?So this week on The Town Square Podcast, host Trey Bailey sat down with Travis Moore, East Ward Post 2 Councilman, to get the story straight from the source. Moore is known for his transparency, his calm on social media, and his willingness to explain city decisions in plain language.This conversation also dove into another hot-button issue: the new ordinance banning for-profit cemetery tours in Covington. After a video went viral, emotions ran high, accusations flew, and Moore once again found himself clarifying facts online—and ultimately casting the council’s lone “no” vote.In true Town Square fashion, Trey and Travis unpacked both stories in the “messy middle,” where nuance replaces outrage and facts matter more than Facebook.Setting the Scene: A Councilman Who Actually CommunicatesBefore tackling controversy, Trey opened with appreciation. In an era when public officials often hide behind press releases, Moore has built a reputation for directly communicating with citizens after each council meeting.“You’re setting the bar for how we should communicate as public servants,” Trey told him.Moore laughed, modestly noting that he just likes to “be out there with the folks.” Whether it’s concerts, movie nights, or ribbon cuttings, he’s visible—and online, he’s transparent. After every meeting, he posts the highlights, summarizes the votes, and explains his reasoning.It’s the kind of grassroots accountability residents say they want—and the kind that probably explains why his Facebook posts often calm storms before they turn into political hurricanes.The Cinelease Purchase: What Really HappenedThe Need for ConsolidationAt the heart of the Cinelease story wasn’t Hollywood drama—it was logistics.Covington’s utility departments were scattered all over town: electric trucks here, gas meters rented from a warehouse off Cook Road, poles and transformers stored elsewhere. It was inefficient, costly, and frustrating.“We needed to consolidate,” Moore explained. “Get all our materials, trucks, and departments in one place.”So the city put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to find property suitable for a centralized utilities complex. Several options surfaced, but the Cinelease/Three Ring property—roughly 20 acres with two 36,000-square-foot buildings—offered the most space for the same price as smaller alternatives.The $15 Million Price TagThe agreed purchase price hovered around $15 to $16 million. As soon as that figure hit the local paper, the Facebook comment sections caught fire. The narrative? The city was using tax dollars to bail out a struggling studio it once helped attract.“I could see the tar being heated up,” Moore said with a grin. “We needed to cool the temperature down.”So he jumped online and clarified the facts.No, It Wasn’t Paid with Taxpayer MoneyThe purchase did not use property-tax funds or utility-rate hikes. Instead, it was financed through MEAG Power—the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia—and the Municipal Competitive Trust, commonly called the MCT fund.Here’s the short version:Covington buys wholesale electricity from MEAG.Each year, MEAG reconciles its budget. If it collected more than it spent, cities get a refund.Covington has historically received money back.Rather than spend it, the city deposited those refunds into the MCT Trust—a kind of utility savings account.“It’s not baked into the city’s annual budget,” Moore explained. “We didn’t raise rates or dip into taxpayer funds. We used money already saved for utility needs.”That trust can only be used for utility-related projects, such as infrastructure or debt service. In this case, the purchase perfectly fit that criteria.Why This Property Made SenseThe new complex will:Eliminate monthly rent for the warehouse on Cook Road.Speed up response times for outages by housing crews and materials together.Improve safety and inventory control with fencing, lighting, and cameras.Provide a modern, efficient base for Covington’s utility departments.Construction and relocation are slated to wrap by April or May 2026, saving taxpayers money while improving service delivery.“It just makes things more efficient,” Moore said. “You’ll see faster repairs, fewer delays, and less wasted time.”That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes decision that rarely trends online—but makes a real difference when the lights go out during a storm.The Cemetery Ordinance: Respect, Revenue, and RumorsHow It StartedThen came controversy #2...
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