The City of Gray’s meeting of all committees started with a brief called meeting to approve alcohol sales at an upcoming Friday night event.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the June 17 meeting to order, and Mayor Pro Tem made the motion to approve alcohol sales for the June 21 Fridays on Main.
The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
Committee reports began with the finance report by committee chairman Councilman Terrell Fulford. The total collection of 2023 property taxes was $1,152,608, or 91.02 percent, with a remaining unpaid balance of $9,404.
The question of the sewer moratorium was the first item under the Water and Sewer Committee. Collins said he brought up the moratorium because it is due to expire next month.
City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan said the new wastewater treatment plant should be up and running next month. He said unless something changes, another moratorium on sewer connections should not be needed.
“We are sitting in pretty good shape. I think we can just let it expire,” Morgan said.
City Attorney John Newberry agreed that the city could just let it expire without any action needed.
Morgan said as of right now, both of the city’s wastewater treatment plants should be running in July.
The superintendent went on to give an update of the Wolf Creek project. He said a schedule progress meeting had been postponed, but the ribbon cutting is scheduled July 12.
Morgan added that the Environmental Protection Agency wants to do a press release about the opening of the treatment plant.
“They want to put out good publicity,” he said.
The superintendent said the city needs to pursue a grant for the mandated lead service line inventory. He said the city is making good progress with the inventory.
“A majority of the city’s lines are post-1990, so we are sitting pretty good,” he said.
The lead lines that are found will have to be replaced, and the grant would help with that expense.
Collins is the chairman of the Plan Committee and brought up the zoning request on Allan Green Road that failed at the last meeting. The motion failed because the vote was split 2-1 with only three council members in attendance.
He said he spoke to Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski and Newberry. Collins said the ordinance states the council shall act within 45 days, and he asked the request to be placed on the July meeting agenda.
Newberry said the item had been discussed at public hearings, and the only thing left was to take a vote.
“We need a vote up or down,” he said. “It’s not automatic.”
Collins said he would like to open the issue for public discussion.
Barbee said it can be discussed by council members but then he would call for a motion as suggested by the city attorney.
Collins moved on to the topic of branding for the city. He said the idea was to join with the county, DDA, JDA, Chamber and Main Street to share the cost.
Jones County Development Authority (JDA) Executive Director Haley Watson explained that a market research company had been selected by a joint committee. She said the city and county would each be asked to put in $25,000, and the other agencies would share the remaining cost.
Watson said the end goal was for each agency to have its own identity but with a common brand theme that would identify all as part of the same community.
“We need to attract businesses to Jones County and need community buy-in to help shape how others see us,” she said. “Each will have individual logos, but they will be cohesive to connect the groups.”
Barbee asked who would be responsible. Watson said there would be a committee to get the work done during the process.
Fulford asked about the timeline, and she said the process would take from nine to 12 months to complete.
Collins said he would like to vote at the July meeting about the city’s $25,000 contribution.
“We went through several branding companies,” he said.
Tufts said he liked the idea of everyone working together.
Tufts spoke as the chairman of the Streets and Sanitation Committee about speed bumps requested on Brookwood Drive. He said the street already has speed bumps with the exception of a short portion on the other side of Pinewood Drive.
Morgan said it was his understanding vehicles coming out of the gate at the end of that short street were the concern.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe, Tufts and Morgan agreed to meet the following day to look at the street again.
Tufts said he had no complaints about sanitation.
With no further reports or comments, the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting of the city council is scheduled July 1.
