The meeting of all committees for the City of Gray was held in the Gray/ Jones County Business Development Center last week to showcase the new facility and its capabilities.
The Oct. 20 meeting was preceded by a special called council meeting, and Mayor Ed Barbee called that meeting to order at 6 p.m.
The called meeting had two agenda items. The first was the approval of the city’s 2025-26 workers compensation insurance renewal. The proposal was presented by Higginbotham Insurance Agency in the amount of $47,047, which was an increase of $3,181 over the 2024-25 cost.
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins made the motion to approve the renewal, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Item 2 was a resolution approving a legal services agreement to allow attorneys with Stag LIuzza LLC and Carothers & Mitchell LLC to represent the city in a class action suit against the companies of Dupont and 3M pertaining to impurities in the city’s water.
City Attorney John Newberry explained that the city was agreeing if the class action suit was successful the attorneys would receive one-third of the settlement funds.
“The attorneys pay all the expenses, and there is no cost to the city,” he said.
Newberry said the city would also be agreeing to allow testing of the water.
Councilman Terrell Fulford made the motion to approve the resolution, and the vote was unanimous.
Barbee adjourned the council meeting.
Collins called the committee meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Committees
No financial update was given. The first committee to report was for water/sewer presented by City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan. He said two 48-inch storm drains need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $60-$70,000.
Morgan said the one on Dolly Street had collapsed and created a valley in the road. He said the cost was be covered by funds in the current water and sewer budget.
The superintendent presented the draft of the 2026 Water/Sewer budget in the amount of $2,934,900. The budget was unanimously approved by council members.
Main Street Director Ashley Roberson said Main Street’s Hometown Christmas Market was scheduled Nov. 29, and downtown Gray would be decorated before the event. She said the reservations for booths would open Nov. 1.
Roberson said the annual downtown Not-So-Scary Grayberry Spectacular, sponsored by First Baptist and Gray Methodist churches, would take place Oct. 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
She used the available screen to display the suggested branding logo for the city. The logo uses the same colors and basic design as the Jones County logo with the addition of a light post, depot and substitution of Gray for Jones County.
Collins said he really liked the logo and felt the additional time and all the meetings it took to get there was worth it.
Roberson said the anticipated opening date for the new bakery in downtown Gray is Nov. 1. The bakery is a product of the entrepreneur contests at the high school. Ava Kate’s Confections, a recent finalist, is located at 106 W. Clinton Street with plans to be open Tuesday through Saturday. It will feature cakes, cupcakes, cookies and other sweet treats, which will be prepared, baked and sold on site.
Collins announced the Gray Employee of the Month, Police Officer Michael Holloway. He presented the officer with the plaque Oct. 22.
“I enjoyed getting to know him,” he said.
Tufts said timber was being cut on property in Stone Gables that had recently been acquired. He stated he would like to see a bond required to make sure the city streets were not torn up in the process.
Morgan said he spoke with the county code enforcement officer and did some research. He said the largest bond that can be required is $5,000. He also said access from the property to take the timber to a state route cannot be denied.
The councilman asked Newberry if he could work on something to protect the city residents.
Morgan said the city needs an ordinance addressing timber harvesting.
Under City Properties, committee chairman Councilman Terry Favors congratulated Roberson on the great job on the Business Development Center Building.
Collins agreed and said it was good to meet there and utilize the available technology.
For the Public Safety Committee, Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele said the state’s burn ban was lifted Oct. 1. He said burn permits are no longer required, but it is important to still maintain safety.
The chief also announced the fire department would have an open house.
At the conclusion of the agenda, Colman Hice gave council a presentation proposing a city park. He suggested that the park be located at the old football field and track on Turnerwoods Road. Hice’s presentation included a map and drawings of the proposal.
“It would be nice to have a real park in the city,” he said. “There are a massive amount of families within walking distance of the property.”
Collins said he agrees it is a great idea. He said there have been conversations with the Board of Education that owns the park, but the current members did not show interest.
The mayor pro tem said there were plans for a park in the SPLOST renewal that will be voted on in the Nov. 4 election, which is another reason to vote for the renewal.
