CITY OF GRAY
Gray City Council members came together for a brief meeting on the eve of the Fourth of July to take care of city business.
The July 3 meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem James Collins in the absence of Mayor Ed Barbee, who continues to recover. Councilmen David Tufts, Terry Favors and Terrell Fulford were in attendance. Councilman Benny Gray was absent.
A Planning and Zoning hearing was the first item of New Business. The hearing was for a plat review of a project in Cedar Springs Subdivision on Allan Green Drive requested by Cedar Creek Land and Development.
Scott Jackson spoke in favor of the project that includes 12 lots with a green space. Jackson said a 10 percent green space is required for the cluster development, but the project’s green space far exceeds the requirement.
Fulford asked about access to a test well the city is considering in the green space area. Jackson said that is a separate issue, but he would be agreeable to granting the access. Following the discussion, the hearing was closed.
The councilman made a motion to approve the plat, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
City Clerk Cindy Yancey requested authorization to open a new bank account for Gray Police Department’s Community Public Safety Grant.
The GPD grant was funded June 8 in the amount of $528,896. The official announcement of the grant was made by Gov. Brian Kemp and was part $83.5 million in funds awarded across the state for projects to improve community-level challenges that arose during the pandemic.
The grant announcement stated the GPD funds are to be used for the installation of equipment for patrol vehicles and to improve officer and public safety. Fulford made the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Council approved a resolution to sell surplus Main Street Gray wagon carts. The resolution was due to a request from Main Street Gray Director Ashley Roberson made at the committee meeting. Roberson said she received an offer from the Serenity Lodge to buy the wagons for $500 each and recommended the city sell them.
Favors made the motion for the sale of the wagons, and the motion was approved unanimously.
The motion to amend the city’s budget to accept contributions to the Fire Safety Program for the Gray Fire Department was made by Fulford and was unanimously approved.
Council also approved motion for public consumption of alcoholic beverages for the July 28 Fridays on Main Street event made by Favors.
Yancey presented $1,577 in unpaid property taxes for businesses no longer open in the city. She said the taxes are not collectable and requested their abatement. Tufts made the motion to abate the taxes, and it was approved unanimously.
With no more business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the council is an All Committees meeting scheduled July 17.
