Changing a downtown street to one way was among the issues discussed by Gray’s City Council at its first Monday meeting.

The first item of business at the May 4 meeting was an American Red Cross resolution adopted unanimously by city officials encouraging the purchase of goods made in America and the utilization of American labor. The resolution was brought to the council by Darryl Ford, who said he is circulating the document throughout Middle Georgia cities and counties.

Mayor Pro Tem and finance committee chairman Loretta Lipsey was on the agenda asking for a cost of living raise for city employees. She said the raise was not in the budget but that Gray is doing well financially.

Lipsey made the motion to give the employees a 3 percent cost of living increase, and it was approved unanimously. The increase will take effect Oct. 1.

A zoning request by Debra Brookins to create an additional lot on her Cedarwood Drive property was approved by the council after a short discussion, but the request of Brian Jackson to amend a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow townhouses on Nature’s Walk Drive was not approved as easily.

Jackson presented a plan to the council consisting of three buildings netting 16 units.

“Gray and Jones County have seen nothing like this,” Jackson said. “The units will be sold individually, and parking will be in the rear. The streetscape will be maintained by a separate company and paid out of association fees.”

The developer said the units will consist of one and two bedrooms and one and two stories.

“They will have different facades and styles. There will be a common area and pavilion behind the units, and we will leave as much green space as possible. We hope to make this a showplace for the city,” he added.

Lipsey asked if the homes would be separated by a firewall, and Jackson said each unit has an individual firewall reaching all the way to the roof.

“That’s the way we have built all of our duplexes,” he said. “I think this is a dynamite project. I own everything vacant in the subdivision, and I’ve got to do a good job.”

Several of the homeowners in the Nature’s Walk subdivision had concerns about the project, stating that if the units are not sold, they would be rented and property values would fall.

Mayor Jason Briley told council members they must remember when zoning is changed it makes an impact on peoples’ lives.

“We need to be considerate of existing residents,” he said.

Jackson pointed out that he was not the developer who designed the subdivision. He said the builder went broke, and the bank sold the empty houses for what it had in them.

“I’m not the bad guy. These townhomes will in no way devalue your homes,” he stated.

During the discussion, Planning and Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski pointed out that the property across the street is zoned for more than 200 townhomes under the original subdivision plan. That information appeared to be news to the residents.

Councilman Terrell Fulford made the motion for the amendment prefacing it with a statement about the developer.

“We know Mr. Jackson. He has lots in the back of the subdivision, and it will be years down the road before those other townhomes will come to pass,” he said.

The motion was approved with a vote of 3-1. Councilman Ronnie Miller opposed the motion, and Councilman Benny Gray abstained.

One-way street

City councilmen voted unanimously to make North Madison Street one way from West Clinton Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. A group of business owners spoke to council members at their committee meeting April 20 in support of the change.

Councilman David Tufts stated that business owners are concerned about the traffic.

“If we make it one way, we’ll be able to make it better. There are safety issues turning in and out on Highway 129, and making it one way will eliminate danger for vehicles and pedestrians,” he said.

Fulford asked how motorists would be notified of the change, and Tufts said it would be publicized in The Jones County News and with the use of signs and notices.

Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe said one lane will be for through traffic and the other would be marked for deliveries. The effective date of the one-way street is June 8. The motion was passed unanimously.

Water office move

Gray made the recommendation to move the utility billing clerk and parttime cashier from City Hall to the Public Works office. He said all water bill payments, applications, and tap fees will be handled from that location.

The motion passed with a vote of 4-1 with Miller voting against it.

Committee reports

Lipsey said the city has received 91 percent of its property taxes, $799,000, and more good news is that the city’s liability and workmen’s compensation insurance premium did not go up.

“We saved $8,000 over last year’s insurance premiums, and our bank balance is excellent,” she said.

She said the city’s budget is on track, and as of May 1, the city has collected 51 percent of proposed revenues and has spent 38 percent. She said the water and sewer budget is also in good shape with 32 percent of its revenues collected and 23 percent of expenses spent. The finance chairman said water and sewer collections were $98,000 for April.

Gray Fire Chief Ronnie Malcolm said the department has presented fire safety education classes to 500 children so far this year, and volunteer firefighters represented the city at a recent job fair. The chief reported that the department has received a total of $10,000 in grant funds and were able to purchase two defibrillators and a meter to detect dangerous gases.

“The cost to the city in matching funds was $400,” Malcolm said.

Tufts reported that the city is going to participate in the Great American Cleanup, and he talked to Sheriff Butch Reece about the possibility of using community service workers in the city.

“We would like to ‘dress up’ the area around the welcome to Gray sign,” he said.