Gray City Council members considered the renewal of its insurance and a change in audit providers at their April all-committee meetings and a called meeting.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the April 18 meeting to order. Councilman Terrell Fulford, who chairs the Finance Committee, gave the first report. He said 97.5 percent of 2021 property taxes had been collected with approximately $25,000 remaining uncollected.
Fulford also broached the issue of the city’s audit. He said the city had not been contacted about the 2021 audit that is due in June. City Clerk Cindy Yancey said the audit is usually started in March.
David McCoy was in attendance to the meeting. He performed the city’s audit in the past with another company and has relocated his practice. McCoy said his new firm could extend an offer to the city to provide the services at the same price.
City Attorney John Newberry asked if the city had a contract with the previous provider. McCoy said there was an engagement letter, but the city could ask to be released.
Newberry said the council would need to have a called meeting to vote to change providers.
Upon the arrival of Tom McEachern with Dunwody Insurance, Barbee opened the called meeting to discuss the insurance renewal. McEachern said the city’s renewal is due in May. He said its previous company had been purchased, and the 2022-23 premium offer had gone up. The agent presented three quotes, including one from the previous company.
The quote from Zurich was the lowest at $81,641 compared to $103,665 from the previous insurance provider. McEachern said the city had not had any significant claims and there was no reason for the premium increase. He said both providers are A+ rated companies.
Fulford made the motion to switch to Zurich, and the motion was approved with a 4-0 vote. Councilman Benny Gray was not in attendance.
The called meeting was adjourned, and the all committee meeting continued.
Councilman David Tufts presented the report for the Water and Sewer Committee in the absence of Gray. He said Assistant City Superintendent Cheyanne Morgan was arranging a preplanning meeting for the construction of the new wastewater treatment plant.
Newberry said the owners of the property containing the driveway easement for the plant had some questions and he suggested they come to council.
Plan Committee Chairman Mayor Pro Tem James Collins said the Design Review Committee met about a review of the city’s design guidelines. Main Street Manager Ashley Roberson said they have a letter to get assistance from the Middle Georgia Regional Commission. She said the guidelines are usually 12 pages and Grays are close to 50 pages.
Roberson added that the DDA is considering getting an outside firm to help.
Collins announced the One Jones meeting Thursday, April 21, and the Board of Education Candidate Forum scheduled April 28.
“Both events are at Butler Hall. We hope people who haven’t been inside Butler Hall since it has been renovated will get to see it,” he said.
Yancey introduced the city’s new administrative assistant, Heather Brown.
Tufts, who serves as the chairman of the Streets and Sanitation Committee, said he hopes to have a date for the LMIG projects soon. He said the city’s trash pickup has been much better.
Collins noted that the company has had good response to customer complaints.
Councilman Terry Favors had nothing for the City Property Committee he chairs. Newberry said the city needs an inspection and appraisal for the next-door property it plans to purchase. He added that financing for the property also needs to be figured out.
The attorney said there are three tenants in the building and one has a long-term lease. He suggested the DDA could manage the tenants.
Favors and Tufts agreed the best option was to let the leases continue.
“That will give us time to figure out how we want to configure the building,” Tufts commented.
With nothing else on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
