The City of Gray’s meeting of all committees was preceded by a called meeting to take care of the city’s property insurance renewal.
The April 20 called meeting was brought to order by Mayor Ed Barbee, and he turned the meeting over to the city’s insurance broker, Tom McEachern.
McEachern explained that his company merged with Higginbotham Insurance, and he presented three options for the renewal. He recommended the quote from Munich, which is also the city’s current insurance carrier.
The quote was in the amount of $134,827, but he added more information that would bring down the amount. The city paid a premium of $125,000 for property insurance last year.
McEachern said Gray was one of a few cities in the state still carrying an umbrella policy, and he suggested council members may want to consider dropping that policy. The broker said the umbrella policy added $16,594 to the annual premium.
He also talked about property values increases, the loss ratio and the increase in the number of city vehicles.
McEachern said considering sovereign immunity, which limits liability to $750,000, the risk to drop the umbrella policy is minimal, which is why so few cities carry it.
Councilman Terry Favors made the motion to drop the umbrella policy, and the vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
Councilman Terrell Fulford made the motion to accept the quote from Munich, which without the umbrella policy would be $118,233. The vote to approve that motion was unanimous.
McEachern said he would prepare the paperwork and return it for signatures.
The called meeting was adjourned.
Committee meeting
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins called the All Committees Meeting to order.
Fulford, chairman of the Finance Committee, said $1,327,926 in 2025 property taxes had been collected as of April 20. That collected amount equals 96.53 percent of the city’s 2025 tax digest.
The remaining unpaid amount is $47,725.
Collins introduced Ava Dunlap, owner of Ava Kate’s Convections, to council members. Dunlap said she was fortunate to have won FLEX competitions, and her business received the 2025 Emerging Business Award from the Jones County/ Gray Chamber of Commerce.
The owner said she started her baking business when she was a freshman at Jones County High School. She graduated in May of 2025 and opened her bakery in downtown Gray in November.
“I sold 1,400 cupcakes at the Main Street Christmas Festival,” she said.
Ava Kate’s Confections is located at 106 West Clinton Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Collins treated those in attendance with a variety of Ava Kate’s confections.
Under the Plan Committee that Collins chairs, he announced that Gray Police Officer Brent Zimmerman is the employee of the month.
The mayor pro tem also brought up the topic of temporary business permits that had been previously discussed without a resolution. He asked the topic be placed on the committee meeting agenda next month.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe reported for public safety. He said two Dodge Durangos have been ordered and will be paid for with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Barbee brought up the possibility of placing package liquor stores in the city on the November ballot, but the idea did not receive support from any of the council members.
The committee meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. to enter closed session and was reopened at 7:30 p.m.
Developer Scott Jackson spoke to council members after the meeting reopened proposing a contract to sell water to the city for $1.38 per 1,000 gallons. A well on Jackson’s property has proved to be high producing, and purpose of the proposition is for him to realize the value of the property off Allan Green Blvd.
The price of $1.38 per 1,000 gallons of water is half of what the city pays Jones County for water.
“I’m trying to find a number that will make you happy. I want it to be valuable for both of us,” Jackson said.
He also proposed a flat rate of $5,000 per month, which did not seem to be popular with council members. It was agreed the item will be placed on the agenda for the city’s May 4 meeting for a decision, and the meeting was adjourned.
