The City of Gray’s last Committee meeting discussed the progress of new city wells and the first report of the collection of 2025 property taxes.
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins called the Dec. 15 meeting to order, and in the absence of Finance Committee Chairman and Councilman Terrell Fulford, read the finance report.
The total of taxes collected was $523,012, which is 38.26 percent. The amount of the city’s adjusted tax digest is $1,366,855, leaving the amount of unpaid taxes $843,842.
City taxes are due Dec. 29. City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan gave the Water and Sewer Committee report. He said drilling on the city’s newest well had started and reached a depth of 680 feet. He said the plan now is to ream it out to 8 inches, with the goal of achieving 20 gallons per minute.
Morgan said the city does have options in the use of the well.
City Attorney John Newberry said he had a contract for another well site for Mayor Ed Barbee to sign. Newberry said the cost of the property is $80,000, and the city will have 120 days to dig a well and decide whether to purchase the property.
Morgan said he received an email from a fiber optic company that damaged the city water lines. He said the cost to repair was $29,000, and the company offered to pay half.
The superintendent said he did not accept the offer and expects them to pay the full cost of the damage they caused.
Main Street Director Ashley Roberson reported that the Christmas Market was a success. She said there was a good turnout, and she’s exploring options of how to get an accurate count of event attendees.
“The children loved ice skating,” Roberson added.
The director said she would be meeting with downtown business owners in January to put together a calendar of events for 2026.
Under personnel, council discussed holiday closing hours. It was decided city offices would be closed Dec. 24-28 and reopen Monday Dec.
29. The offices will only be closed Jan. 1 the next week.
Collins announced the city employee of the month was actually two Gray Police Department officers, Josh Josey and Capt. Eric Maynard. He said the officers assisted with the search for Jeffery Epps, who was missing in Milledgeville, as did GPD Chief Adam Lowe.
“We want to recognize them for going above and beyond in helping this family,” he said. “Thank you.”
Miscellaneous
Barbee spoke about a proposed grant for off-street safety. He said he receives information about possible grants and contacted the Georgia Department of Transportation about this one.
He said it would be a federal grant and if funded it would be data driven.
“If the decision is made to fund the grant, we’ll start the process,” he said.
Councilman David Tufts said the street signs in the city need attention. He said some are hard to read and others are in bad shape and just need to be replaced.
Morgan reminded council members that a decision about the city’s GDOT LMIG application needs to be made in January. He said it would be placed on the next meeting agenda.
The superintendent recommended repaving North Street and also picking one of the smaller streets. The target cost for the project is $115,000, including what could be done in-house.
Tufts said he preferred leaving the decision to Morgan, who commented that Ross Street takes a lot of traffic.
With no more business, the meeting was adjourned.
The next scheduled meeting of the City Council is Jan. 5.
