CITY OF GRAY
City committees continue to work on trash collection issues, with another rate hike looming on the horizon for residents.
The April 17 meeting was called to order, and the first report was about tax collection. Councilman Terrell Fulford, who is also the Finance Committee Chairman, said 98.22 percent of 2022 property taxes or $1,044,180 has been collected with $18,987 remaining unpaid.
Council members Benny Gray and Terry Favors were absent from the committee meeting.
Jones County Library Branch Manager Julie King updated council members on the activities at the library and thanked them for their support.
For the water and sewer committee report, Bradley Carroll with Vantage Development talked to members about a proposed development that would include 45-single family homes at the end of Dixie Street. He said the project would not begin until the new wastewater treatment plant is constructed.
Carroll said the homes would be rentals, and it would be financed with tax credits.
City Attorney John Newberry asked the speaker what he wanted from the city and stated that the city was under a moratorium for sewer service.
Councilman David Tufts talked about a letter received from Matt Smith with Carter and Sloope about storm drainage improvements. Smith said the only way to get the LMIG project and drainage issue on Dolly Street completed this year would be to make an exception to the bidding policy.
Tufts asked the issue be placed on the May 1 agenda for a vote by council to allow the exception.
For the Plan Committee, Mayor Pro Tem James Collins asked Main Street Director Ashley Roberson to give a report about the Spring Festival that took place the previous weekend. She said 65 vendors participated in the festival, and 605 wrist bands were purchased for the concert.
The director estimated more than 1,000 people attended the event.
Tufts said he was at the festival and thoroughly enjoyed it.
“It was a family atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to next year,” he said.
Collins said he made phone calls earlier in the day, and everyone he spoke to enjoyed the event. He also congratulated Roberson on her achievements during her first year as Main Street Director.
“You took it to the next level. Thank you,” he said.
The mayor pro tem talked about the upcoming countywide cleanup day from 8 a.m. to noon, May 20. He said it has been a great event in the past and he hopes to get a team together for the city.
Tufts, who is also the Streets and Sanitation Committee chairman, said the city is paying $8,000 more per month than it receives from city customers for trash collection. He said the city needs to look at the contract to see if they can get better numbers.
City Clerk Cindy Yancey said she’s not getting cooperation from the company and is not sure what is being charged.
Newberry was asked to put a letter together with the city’s concerns and requesting the information from the provider.
Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele was the first to speak for the Public Safety Committee. He said GFD has a smoke alarm program, and a form to receive assistance with smoke alarms is on the department’s website, grayfd.com.
The chief said the department applied for a grant for firefighting equipment, and it was funded. He said the equipment should be arriving soon.
Gray Police Chief Adam Lowe opened sealed bids for surplus and seized vehicles. The total of the bids awarded was $66,500.
The meeting concluded with an invitation from Jones County Development Authority Executive Director Haley Watson to the Rural Development Institute being held in partnership with Valdosta State. She asked for a representative to attend from the city.
Watson said the cost to attend is $2,500, and that is being paid by the JDA. The only cost to attendees would be their room fee and meals. She said the communities that attend are provided with a mentor who stays with the group for a year.
The date of the institute is June 13–15, and Collins said he was interested in representing the city.
The next meeting of the city council is May 1.
