FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. — Emerson Russell’s hand has been in Fort Oglethorpe development for the last 15 years.

He is working on three separate housing or condominium developments, working to attract a company to Mack Smith Road that would employ 250 people, and is hoping to donate land to the school system for building a new school.

As a resident and as one of the biggest developers in Catoosa County, Russell says business interests aren’t the only interests he has in mind.

“I’ve made money, but I haven’t always looked at it for making money,” he said. “I’ve tried to look at what’s best for the county too.”

School Superintendent Denia Reese said school officials had examined the property and decided instead to use a location on Ooltewah-Ringgold Road for a future elementary school.

“Significant site (preparation), including road construction, would have been necessary to make the property conducive for an elementary school,” she said.

Russell is also on the economic development board for Catoosa County. An East Ridge native, he has lived in Catoosa for nearly 20 years.

He said he owns 10 to 20 pieces of land in or near Fort Oglethorpe.

Development is only a side business for Russell. He is owner of ERMC, a company that specializes in maintenance, janitorial and security services for malls and other establishments all over the country.

City hall connection

Some of Russell’s real estate business involves Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Judd Burkhart.

Burkhart has come under criticism from council member Richard Egeland and others in the community who believe the relationship constitutes a conflict of interest since Fort Oglethorpe City Council votes on annexing or rezoning Russell’s property. The mayor directs council meetings but votes only in case of a tie.

Burkhart says he has been in the development business for years and sees nothing unethical about continuing in the business while mayor.

“I was elected and it was common knowledge that’s what I do for a living,” he said.

He said he and Russell own small tracts of land on Cloud Springs Road, Fant Road, Beaver Road and Mineral Avenue.

Russell said he always attempts to annex property into Fort Oglethorpe when possible. Fort Oglethorpe City Council recently annexed several pieces of his property into the city.

“We put it into the city to try to help the city grow,” Russell said. “It gives the city a better tax base and a broader opportunity to broaden horizons.”

Burkhart said he and Russell partnered with two other people 1½ years ago to form Weichert Realtors.

The company now has franchises in Catoosa and Walker counties in Northwest Georgia and in Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee.

Burkhart said he and Russell also own several parcels of property together in or near Fort Oglethorpe and have remodeled houses and buildings through their realty business.

“We think anything on Cloud Springs Road is commercial, so we’re remodeling houses to make small businesses,” he said.

As for Weichert Realty, Burkhart said he and Russell hope to open three more franchises in the tri-state area in the next year and are looking for agents to run them and locations to open them.

“We’re going to be the biggest in the tri-state area,” he said of Weichert.

Burkhart said he and Russell are considering opening a mortgage company together in the near future.