Gray’s new mayor and city council member were sworn in as the first item of business for the final council meeting of the year.

Gus Wilson took his oath of office from Probate Judge Mike Green Dec. 21 prior to the called business meeting as did the new councilman for District Four, Russell Thompson. The mayor pro-tem and the other three council members were also sworn in by Green. Councilman David Tufts won reelection during the Nov. 3 election, and councilmen Benny Gray and Terrell Fulford were unopposed.

Loretta Lipsey was sworn in as the mayor pro-tem even though that race is being contested by her opponent, Rooster Cogburn. The Dec. 1 runoff between the two highest vote getters for the office was decided by just five votes, which was the exact number of votes uncounted when the runoff ballots were tabulated.

Cogburn asked for a recount, but when that was denied, he filed a petition to contest the election in Jones County Superior Court. Judge H. Gibbs Flanders from Dublin will preside over a hearing of the petition at 9 a.m. Dec. 28 in Jones County Superior Court. The hearing is open to the public.

The first of two items of business at the called meeting was Christmas bonuses for city employees. Lipsey asked councilmen to consider the bonuses even though they were not in Gray’s 2009 budget.

She said the city is doing well financially and the total of the bonuses last year were approximately $3,000. Lipsey said employees with the city less than a year will receive $25, those with the city one year $50, and employees who have been with the city over a year will receive $100.

The motion was approved by council unanimously.

The second item was a resolution to sell the city’s surplus equipment to clear out the records room. The resolution also had unanimous approval.

The called meeting was adjourned, and a reception held for the outgoing and incoming elected officials.