City Council members had some disappointing news about their proposed redistricting at the July Business meeting.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the July 7 meeting to order, and City Attorney John Newberry asked to add an additional item to the agenda to discuss redistricting.
In his mayor’s report, Barbee said Georgia Transportation Department District Engineer Tyler Peek would be at a July 21 meeting with the city to discuss the former state routes that are now the city’s responsibility to maintain.
“He did look up the original document containing the agreement,” he said.
The mayor said he invited Jones County Commissioners to attend the meeting because the county was also part of the original agreement.
The first item of New Business was the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s code pertaining to weight limits on city streets. The ordinance covers vehicles weighing in excess of 8,000 and/or 18,000 pounds.
The ordinance includes a list of 10 streets with weight limits of 8,000 pounds for trucks and another list of six streets with a weight limit of 18,000 pounds. The second reading and adoption of the ordinance will take place at the August business meeting.
Council members approved a beer and wine license for Ambie Rae LLC. That motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem James Collins, and it was approved unanimously.
Council members unanimously agreed to the approval of a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an intergovernmental agreement to give the Gray Downtown Development Authority to handle leasing the Main Street Station building.
The agreement included the provision that the fire engine Little Red continues to be maintained and housed in its current location in the building.
Councilman Terry Favors made the motion to begin the process to amend the city’s sign ordinance. The idea was presented to council at its June business meeting by Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski. He said the large number of variances to the sign ordinance was the catalyst for the idea that was brought to him by Collins.
Pitrowki’s suggestion was to amend the sign ordinance to allow signage to cover 10 percent of the total wall area of the business or the current sign limit of 32 square feet, whichever is greater. He noted the 32 square feet was not sufficient for larger buildings such as Ingles, Tractor Supply and Advanced Auto Parts, all of which requested variances.
The amendment would only affect new businesses. The vote to approve beginning the amendment process was unanimous.
Newberry presented the final agenda item. He said he spoke to Elections Superintendent Marion Hatton, and getting the redistricting for the city completed before qualifying begins in August was not possible.
The redistricting must be advertised, hearings held, and it must be approved by the state legislature before it takes effect. The attorney said he wanted council to have that information going forward.
Council members discussed the idea of going ahead with the redistricting plan in January but ultimately decided to wait until the next election cycle.
Comments
Matthew Sims was the only speaker when asked for citizens comments. He said he lives on Upper River Road but had asked for a permit to sell fireworks before the 4th of July. Sims said Ingles had agreed to the temporary business, a fireworks stand, on its property, but it was denied by the city’s Design Review Committee.
He said he objected to comments made in the previous council meeting that temporary businesses did not pay their fair share of taxes and hurt the brick-and-mortar businesses.
“All businesses should pay sales tax,” Sims said. “We are trying to do it right way, getting permits, and we are a legitimate business.”
Sims said his business operates in Milledgeville and is only open three weeks a year. That is two weeks prior to the Fourth of July and the week after Christmas.
“I don’t appreciate being lumped in with businesses that don’t do it right,” he said.
The next meeting of the city council is July 21 for its All Committees Meeting held at 6 p.m. in City Hall.
