Gray City Council members considered several items at the April meeting of all committees in preparation of their May business meeting.
The April 21 meeting was called to order by Mayor Ed Barbee, and the first discussion was about the Folds Drive drainage project intended to solve ongoing drainage issues for several streets and homes in the Jackson Heights neighborhood.
The storm sewer improvements are estimated to cost $136,000, and the consensus was to get started on the project as soon as possible.
The committee reports began with Finance Committee Chairman Councilman Terrell Fulford. The report stated 98.46 percent of 2024 property taxes had been collected in the amount of $1,289,035. The remaining uncollected tax amount is $20,170.
City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan gave the report for the Water and Sewer Committee. He started with a request for a grant application from GEFA for the purpose of a pilot study for polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal.
According to the EPD website, PFAS is a group of manufactured chemicals used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others.
One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment over time. That is why they are known as forever chemicals.
Morgan said the grant application is for $400,000, and its purpose is to evaluate removal technologies to determine which would better suit the city’s needs. In order to perform the pilot study, several structures will need to be temporarily installed within the Gray Water Treatment Plant property.
The superintendent said the reason for the pilot study now is the city just broke the limit for the amount of unregulated contaminants. He added that there are different techniques to take care of it, and drinking water is how to reach the most people fastest.
Morgan said testing for PFAS just started last year. He recommended taking advantage of the grant opportunity but added that the level of contamination was miniscule, and the study is a precaution.
Main Street
Ashley Roberson, Main Street Gray director, talked about the upcoming spring festival that will feature 70 vendors and food trucks. The Saturday festival is preceded by a Friday night concert, which is something new.
The director also talked about a possible TextMyGov partnership that would be a new way to advertise local events. She said it utilizes mobile phones and can also be used by city departments for announcing road closures, water outages and/or boil water advisories.
Council members appeared interested and asked for more information about the cost, contract specifics and details.
Barbee shared an idea about using sidewalk art to add color to make areas such as crosswalks more noticeable. He said it would be an opportunity to get students involved.
Fulford asked if there were pictures of ways it had been done in other cities, and Mayor Pro Tem James Collins suggested turning the idea over to the Design Review Committee.
Councilman David Tufts said the project was worth a try, and kids might enjoy being a part of it. He also brought up the topic of the need for an upgrade to crosswalks.
The councilman suggested moving the current crosswalk that is in front of the entrance to Butler Hall to a less busy intersection. He would like a better system at the busy intersection with more lights to get the attention of motorists and a system to allow walkers to push a button to stop traffic before crossing the street.
Tufts said the entire system would cost $8,400.
“We want to try to make our streets safer,” he said.
Morgan said there was money in the budget to cover the cost, and he could order it if council was in agreement.
Collins added that having to stop and push a button to cross would also make the walker stop and think before proceeding.
Tufts said he would also like to talk more about the possibility of sidewalks for Eatonton Highway. He said the city needs to focus on the area and would like to work with the county. The councilman said he met with a representative of U.S. Sen. John Ossoff, and the city needs to submit a grant application for the sidewalk program before the June deadline.
Morgan said they have sent emails inquiring about the application with no reply. He added that the grant would require matching funds.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe said he was working on getting the lights connected that were installed on the Bill Conn Jr. Connector. He said it has been over a year since the lights were installed.
Code enforcement
Fulford said he has received calls about the house at the corner of Madison Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. Lowe said the grass has been cut, but there was still a problem with concerns about pest infestation due the large number items piled on the porch and around the property.
Morgan said there is an ordinance, and the Gray Police Department would be the enforcement agency. The chief asked if a written complaint was needed, and City Attorney John Newberry said the complaint could come directly from the council.
Lowe said the process begins with notification to the property owner of the ordinance violation, and GPD would take care of that the following day.
Councilman Terry Favors said Main Street Gray does a great job keeping the city looking good. He asked if attention could be paid to street signs that are leaning over and look in need of repair.
Morgan said the signs were level at one point, but they would work on straightening the signs.
Public safety
Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele said another firefighter training class was starting, which means more firefighters.
Lowe announced the receipt of a highway safety grant by the Gray Police Department in the amount of $40,000. He said a portion of the funds can be used for salaries and the rest for equipment.
“We hope next year we can get funding for a new position,” he said.
Lowe brought up the number of out-oftown food trucks that have been coming into Gray. He suggested they are taking away from local restaurants and said it may be time to consider requiring permits to set up in city limits.
Newberry asked if he needed to start work on an ordinance that would require a permit and health department inspection. It was agreed for the attorney to start work and bring the issue back for more discussion.
Called meeting
Barbee called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m., following the closure of the work session. Council members approved a resolution to approve an agreement with Middle Georgia Electric regarding the permanent lift station at Glover Lane.
Other approved agenda items were for the mayor to sign the PFAS Pilot Study Grant and to approve a covenant between the city and an out-of-city water customer.
The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of the agenda items.
The next meeting of the Gray City Council is scheduled at 6 p.m. May 5.
