“No Thru Trucks” was the message from the City of Gray’s All Committee meeting last week in reference to a city ordinance that is once again being revised.
Mayor Ed Barbee brought the May 19 called council meeting to order that had two quick items on the agenda. The first was a resolution to approve the final 2024 budget amendment for the city.
Councilman Terrel Fulford made the motion to approve the resolution, and the vote was unanimous.
The other item was the approval of the consumption of alcoholic beverages at the May 30 and July 25 Fridays on Main events. Mayor Pro Tem James Collins made that motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Barbee adjourned the called meeting and turned it over to Collins to lead the All Committees meeting.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe brought up the truck issue during the Streets Committee discussion. The city had a second reading and adoption of an update to an ordinance to keep big trucks off city streets at its May 5 meeting, but Lowe said there was a problem with the weight limit.
The chief took responsibility for the error. He said the ordinance lists the weight limit at 8,000 pounds, but it should be 18,000. He said the streets affected consist of the old state routes that are now the responsibility of the city to maintain.
Those streets include East and West Clinton streets, Atlanta Highway (Highway 11), Eatonton Highway (Highway 44), and James and Railroad streets.
The 18-wheelers were already prohibited from driving on residential streets and subdivisions.
Trucks are allowed to make deliveries or load goods, and vehicles traveling to or from the registered place of business are exempt.
The truck issue goes back to the opening of the North Gray Bypass in December of 2016, which was intended as a truck route to get trucks out of downtown Gray to relieve traffic congestion at the main intersection.
The state then changed the state highways to the bypass and notified the city those streets formerly maintained by the state were now the city’s responsibility.
Lowe reminded council that that Georgia Department of Transportation representatives committed to assisting with the transition by helping with road maintenance and the replacement for the traffic light at the crossing intersection. None of that happened.
Lowe said he had a phone conversation with State Sen. Rick Williams, and he agreed to help with those issues.
For now, the chief said the plan is to give the big trucks 60-90 days to become accustomed to the ordinance changes with warnings and signs letting them know to that through truck traffic is not allowed.
“We will be patient and lenient as long as we can. Truck tickets start at $250 for the first violation and go to $500 and then $1,000 for three or more,” he said.
Lowe was not finished, however, with the street discussion. He said the city has received complaints about golf carts and four wheelers in The Pines subdivision. He said the HOA wants those vehicles stopped from driving through the subdivision to empty lots in Piedmont Lakes.
The chief said signs would be posted.
“This is not us; it’s Georgia state law,” he said.
Committees
The first committee report was by Fulford as Finance Committee chairman. He said 99.75 percent of 2024 property taxes had been collected. That amount was $1,301,801. The unpaid balance in $7,404.
There was also a discussion about the abatement of uncollectable taxes from companies no longer in business. The committee agreed to the abatement that will be voted on at the June 2 council meeting.
City superintendent Cheyenne Morgan presented for the Water and Sewer Committee. He said he went to a wastewater treatment conference.
Morgan said he met people in the industry and learned more efficient ways of doing some things. He also announced the preconstruction meeting for the Glover Lane permanent generator would be held May 22 at 1:30 p.m.
The superintendent said he met with Darryl Bridges about the Folds Drive project, and it was almost complete.
Morgan added that is what the $400,000 pilot grant he spoke about at the last meeting was about.
Main Street Gray
Director Ashley Roberson reported that Main Street Gray received notification of its accreditation from Main Street America and Georgia Main Street for 2025. The accreditation report includes a Community Impact Report that shows the impact of the Gray Downtown Development program in 2024 totaled $960,442.
That impact includes promotional events, building rehabs, public improvement projects, and new and expanding businesses.
Roberson said two suites had been rented in the East Clinton building, and the renovation project was half-way completed.
Barbee asked if council was agreeable to hosting the Georgia Municipal Association District 6 meeting his fall.
“Elected officials in the district will visit Gray and see what we are doing. It an opportunity to show off our downtown and Butler Hall,” he said.
Council members agreed to the idea by consensus.
Roberson said Gray would be hosting the Georgia EMC Redevelopment Academy in August and invited council members to attend.
Plan Committee
David Midgordon with TNT Fireworks spoke to council members about having a fireworks stand in the Ingles parking lot for the Fourth of July holiday. He said they have approval from Ingles and already have a state license and insurance.
He said the company would purchase a city business license and pay a $500 inspection fee.
Councilman Terry Favors asked how long the stand would be in the parking lot, and Midgordon said three weekends from June 20 through July 4. He said they would sell from a wooden stand that slides closed and locks.
Lowe brought up the city’s ordinance against truck sales and a possible problem with the city’s design guidelines.
After a discussion, Midgordon was directed to apply for a permit with the planning and zoning office to find out if the stand would be allowed under the guidelines.
Streets
Coucilman David Tufts, chairman of the Street Committee, said he attended the May 6 Commissioners meeting. He said Greg Boike with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission spoke to the board members about a grant for sidewalks and commissioners were agreeable to it being a joint city/county project.
Tufts also requested consideration by council to rename a city street in honor of the late Benny Gray. It was agreed to begin the process for the street that runs in front for the former council member’s home.
