The most notable part of Gray’s May City Council meeting may have happened the next morning with a groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s new wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the brief May 2 meeting to order and announced the groundbreaking ceremony during his Mayor’s Report. The event took place at the current wastewater treatment plant located at 163 Homestead Drive.
Barbee also took the opportunity at the council meeting to thank City Clerk Cindy Yancey with a card of appreciation and proclamation for Municipal Clerk Week May 1-7.
“We couldn’t get anything done without you,” the mayor said.
The first item of new business was the engagement termination for the previous audit firm Clifton, Lipford, Hardison & Parker LLC and the second, the engagement of the firm of McNair McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co.
The move was discussed and agreed upon by council members at the April 18 all committees meeting but required a vote from full council The vote to change firms for the 2021 audit was unanimous.
Council members voted unanimously to accept the bid from Benchmark Paving LLC for a crosswalk located at West Clinton Street and Jefferson Street. The bid was in the amount of $7,200 and includes the layout of a new crosswalk, installation of four advanced warning signs, and new curb and gutter that includes ramps.
The final agenda item was for approval of a new Main Street Gray promotional account that was unanimously approved.
The groundbreaking ceremony the next morning took place at 10 a.m., attended by Barbee and Councilman David Tufts. Barbee noted the length of time it had taken to begin the project and thanked everyone who helped bring the project to fruition.
