A tragic pedestrian accident that occurred on Eatonton Highway was the catalyst for a discussion about the need for sidewalks on the dangerous roadway that has claimed the life of more than one young person.
The March 17 meeting of all City of Gray Committees was called to order by Mayor Ed Barbee. The conversation about sidewalks included John Albrycht, who was at the meeting to offer his professional services toward a sidewalk along Eatonton Highway.
Albrycht is all too familiar with the dangers of that road with his son Vincent having been killed while riding a bicycle in September of 2018.
“This latest fatality was within sight of where my son was hit,” he said.
Albrycht is involved in transportation and is Georgia Department of Transportation certified. He said lighting is also needed.
“There is a lot of foot traffic and no shoulder. You just can’t see people,” he added.
Albrycht said he understands the city inherited the problem when bypass was built.
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins brought up the sidewalk discussion as chairman of Gray’s Plan Committee. He said there should be sidewalks from the city’s main intersection to Northside Villas.
He referred to the March 8 death of 13-year-old Rylee Baird, who was walking north along the road and was struck as she attempted to cross the highway.
Collins said the transportation sales tax did not pass but could have been used for the sidewalk.
“I’m talking to the commissioners. I hope we can work together,” he said.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe said the area is difficult to even cut the grass along the side of the road. He said what Albrycht was offering the city was worth a lot.
“The state is not cutting that right of way, and that is pushing people closer to the road,” Lowe said.
City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan said there is 100 feet of right of way from the center of the road to the industrial park. He said the distance from the intersection to the city limits is 3,700 feet.
Morgan said there is a transportation alternative program geared to pedestrian safety that has been around a while.
“It’s worth looking in to,” he said.
Collins said he may have access to a grant writer that could help.
Committees report
Finance Committee Chairman Councilman Terrell Fulford was the first to present. He said the city had collected 95.45 percent of the 2024 property taxes, amounting to $1,309,105. The remaining unpaid taxes total $59,584.
Morgan reported for the Water and Sewer Committee. He said the lowest bid received for a permanent generator for the Glover Lane treatment plant was $72,000. He said the grant received by the city was $47,000, and the city portion of the cost would be $32,000.
The superintendent said money was available in the city’s Special Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Councilman David Tufts said the city needs to get the project done, especially with all the storms coming in.
City Clerk Cindy Yancey had good news. She said the change order for the new wastewater treatment plant came in $152,000 less than expected.
City Attorney John Newberry said he received another request to connect to city water from a residence outside the city limits. He said the potential water customer agreed to a covenant stating they will annex into the city if the property becomes contiguous with the city.
Council members agreed by consensus for the connection to move forward. Newberry said the item would be on the April 7 meeting agenda.
Main Street Gray Director Ashley Roberson said she had been working on quotes for the work needing to be done on the city’s East Clinton Street building. She said the total of the bids was $98,000 for the four suites being renovated.
Roberson said the area would include a community conference room and a big meeting space for larger meetings.
Collins said that would free up the Main Street Station building to produce revenue.
Fulford said the city had invested too much in the project not to finish it.
Newberry said they need to amend the building agreement.
Roberson announced the dates of the Hometown Spring Festival. She said the event would be a little different this year with a Friday night concert April 25. The festival with vendors and activities will be April 26.
Two performers, Heath Peacock and Ashton Jones, are scheduled for the Friday night concert, and the headliner will be announced soon.
“We’re blocking off the street and setting up the stage. We’re calling it ‘Party on Main Street,’” the director said.
She said vendor signups for the festival are available on the Main Street Gray website.
“Our businesses did well at our March 8 Second Saturday. It really helped generate business downtown,” she said.
Roberson said Main Street and the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce have hired Mallary Lunsford as a joint community relations administrative assistant. She said the chamber has also hired a director, who will start April 8.
Roberson and Jones County Development Authority Director Haley Watson have been working together to cover the position since the end of last year.
As chairman of the Streets Committee, Tufts said Newberry continued to work on the ordinance amendment to keep trucks out of downtown.
The attorney said Lowe is looking at the streets, and they are working with businesses that require trucks to make their deliveries.
The next meeting of the city council is scheduled April 7 at the D.V. Childs Civic Center.
