Members of the Gray City Council and Gray Fire Department took the opportunity last week to honor a long-serving volunteer firefighter who has devoted a big portion of his lifetime to the safety of others.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the June 17 All Committees meeting to order, and Fire Chief Keith Eisele took over the recognition of GFD Deputy Chief Karl Zimmer.
Following Eisele’s remarks, Zimmer was presented with a plaque in commemoration of his 28 years of volunteer service to the Gray Fire Department and citizens of the city. More about the tribute to Zimmer can be found in a separate article in this week’s edition.
Committees
Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman Terrell Fulford presented the finance report. He said the city has collected $1,301,801 in property taxes, which equals 99.43 percent of taxes due.
Water and Sewer Committee Chairman David Tufts asked City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan to present that report. Morgan talked to council about creating an incentive program for public works and water department employees who are on-call for after-hours and weekend emergencies.
Morgan said, since the first of the year, there have been 95 alarm calls, and more than a third are afterhours.
“The monitoring system is doing a great job, but it’s usually the same guys who respond,” he said.
The superintendent said the on-call list would consist of three to five employees, and both the calls and the list would be rotated fairly. He said the additional pay for those who respond would not only compensate the employees but incentivize them to answer the calls.
Morgan said the calls can be anything from downed trees to water leaks and electrical issues, and all employees are not capable of handling the repairs.
“A lot happens on holidays and weekends,” he said.
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins said he likes the idea.
“If they don’t answer the call, they lose out on the opportunity for additional pay,” he said.
Collins asked Morgan to bring the idea back to the next committee meeting with more details about how the incentive pay and on-call rotation would work.
Council members agreed by consensus that they liked the idea and would like to see a more detailed plan of who would receive the incentive pay.
Main Street Gray Director Ashley Roberson reported that the Second Saturday events were going well. She reminded members that summer is a slow time for small businesses in Gray and encouraged them to support those downtown businesses whenever possible.
Roberson also introduced Mallory Lunsford, who is the new Keep Jones Beautiful director and assistant for the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Gray.
“We are doing great things at Keep Jones Beautiful, the Chamber and Main Street Gray and having fun,” Lunsford said.
Collins, who serves as Plan Committee chairman, brought up the sign ordinance amendment that was explained to council at the June business meeting by zoning officer Tim Pitrowski.
City Attorney John Newberry said the amendment would reduce the number of variances brought to council about the signs. He said amendment would give new businesses the option of a 32-squarefoot sign or 10 percent of the square footage of the front of the building, whichever is larger.
Collins said he is in favor of the amendment.
Newberry suggested placing on the agenda for the July 1 meeting to allow a full vote of council to begin the ordinance amendment process.
Temporary businesses
The topic of temporary businesses was a lengthy discussion. Newberry said the city’s code does not address temporary businesses, which includes food trucks. He said food trucks started the conversation, but it also includes other businesses, such as the recent request to sell fireworks.
“If there is a temporary business license, what would be the fee? Would the license be for one day or cover a year, one use or one period of use?” he asked.
Councilman Terry Favors said, if a food truck operates in the city, it needs a health department permit.
“There needs to be a fee per day, and it needs to be high enough not to have one on every corner,” he said.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe said there is one food truck that has been operating for months.
“We don’t have an ordinance, so we can’t do anything about it,” he said.
Roberson said issues get into things like paying sales tax and not having overhead.
Local business owner and Gray Downtown Development Authority Chairman Sherri Rollins said temporary businesses are not paying any property taxes or sales tax.
Newberry asked, if there is a fee, will there be a cap on how many times the business can set up?
Collins asked the topic be placed on the next committee meeting agenda.
Lowe pointed out that the peanut stand and ice machine that were operating downtown during the summer months were required to go into a building.
“We have the best-looking ice machine in the state,” he said.
Newberry asked if the design review committee was planning to come up with guidelines for temporary businesses, and Collins said it should not be easier for temporary businesses.
“It goes back to the question, ‘do you want temporary businesses or not?’” Newberry stated.
Rollins said she did not want it made easy.
“It’s not fair to our permanent brick and mortar businesses,” she said.
Under the streets committee, Newberry said he would have the changes for the truck weight limits ready for the next meeting.
Roberson spoke about city property. She asked council members their thoughts of allowing the rental of the Main Street Station building. The director said it will be empty when the Main Street Gray office moves to the East Clinton building.
Council agreed by consensus to the rental. Newberry asked for the transfer of the property to DDA be placed on the next agenda in order for them to handle the rental.
Lowe spoke about the decision to continue purchasing patrol cars rather than going to a lease agreement under the public safety committee. He said they looked at the leasing program, but it would not be a cost savings for the city.
Collins asked for any public comments. Don Johnson, president of the HOA for The Pines, asked about the oversight for drainage on construction projects. He reminded council members about previous problems that affected residences in The Pines subdivision. Morgan said he does make sure the drainage plans are being followed periodically.
Johnson also thanked the GPD for responding to issues with dirt bike riders.
The meeting adjourned to enter into closed session to discuss real estate and adjourned again at its conclusion.
