GRAY CITY COUNCIL
Gray City Council members held their monthly meeting of all committees immediately following a 6 p.m. public hearing.
The public hearing was the second of two scheduled Sept. 19 to allow public input about the city’s 2023 budget and 2022 tax rate. No one from the public attended either meeting.
The budget and millage rate are scheduled to be adopted at the city’s Oct. 3 meeting.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the committee meeting to order. All city council members were in attendance with the exception of Councilman Benny Gray.
Finance Committee Chairman Councilman Terrell Fulford was first on the agenda. He asked for any questions or comments about a proposal from Doxo Direct.
City Clerk Cindy Yancey explained the organization is a bill pay service company that would collect funds from taxpayers and pay the city in a lump sum. Council members showed no interest in contracting with the company.
Yancey said she continues to receive calls from Cliff Harpe with Tax Specialists of Georgia Southeast LLC, about the company’s tax recovery service. City Attorney John Newberry said he has reviewed the contract and the city would not pay anything to the company unless they collect funds.
Council members agreed to put the acceptance of the contract on the Oct. 3 meeting agenda for a vote.
Under the Water and Sewer Committee, City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan said two quotes had been received to replace the roof in the water treatment plant. He said the two companies inspected the building.
Morgan said one of the companies offered a two-year warranty and the other a 10-year warranty. The quotes will be placed on the Oct. 3 agenda for a decision by council.
The superintendent said he met with Councilman Terry Favors and residents of Autumn Ridge about an erosion issue. He said the erosion is a legitimate problem, and the city has funds in SPLOST for the repair.
Favors said water from the roadway is running between the houses and causing the erosion.
Morgan said the city would need an easement from the property owners to install a 36-inch pipe that would take the water to a nearby creek.
Newberry said he would get with Morgan and start working on securing the easements.
Morgan said the company working on the city’s sewer lines is having a problem finding contractors, and that is holding up the project.
Plan Committee Chairman Mayor Pro Tem James Collins reminded council members that Fridays on Main would take place again Sept. 30 from 5-8 p.m. He said the first event Aug. 26 had a great turnout.
Main Street Director Ashley Roberson said the Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular Trunk or Treat event will take place Oct. 22. The community event is a joint venture by the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Gray, local churches and local businesses. She said registrations for businesses and organizations to participate is open until Oct. 7.
She said West Clinton Street will be closed for the event from Main Street Station to Stewart Ave. from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Roberson said a downtown Farmers Market is being planned for next year.
Collins announced that it was time for Department Head reviews, and he asked a good time to meet to get it done. After a short discussion, councilmen agreed to meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 27.
Streets and Sanitation Chairman Councilman David Tufts said Dolly Street needed repair and it was his hope it could be placed on the next LMIG list.
Morgan reminded council members that bids for the city’s solid waste removal bids would close Oct. 12.
The final item on the agenda was Wreaths Across America. Collins said he was contacted by Linda Lancaster with the Oliver Morton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Gray, seeking the city’s OK for wreaths to be put on the graves of veterans in Highland Cemetery.
Collins said DAR members planned to have a day to clean the graves and would come back to place the wreaths.
Council members agreed by consensus to grant permission for the wreaths to be placed.
With no more business, the committee meeting was adjourned.
