Gray’s City Council members got news about banking changes and discussed the possibility of saving money on water at their All Committees meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem James Collins called the March 16 meeting to order and asked for the first committee report.
Finance Committee Chairman Councilman Terrell Fulford said 93.84 percent of 2025 property taxes had been collected. The total collected is $1,291,295, leaving an uncollected balance of $84,771.
Wesley Casteel with Huntington Bank was next on the agenda. Casteel was the former Branch Manager for Gray, and he began by talking about the progress of the merger of Cadence to Huntington.
He said the merger was official Feb. 1. He said Huntington Bank has a Government Banking Department and announced that he is the head of that department in Georgia.
Casteel said he was glad he would still be handling the city’s accounts.
“I’ll take care of all your banking needs,” he said.
He said the day-to-day operations would still be handled in the local bank, but he would handle the investments and anything else.
Casteel said Melissa Tanner would be going with him to the new department, but her office would remain in Gray. His office will be upstairs at the Forsyth Road bank.
He introduced the new branch manager, Candance Farr, who was also at the meeting.
Casteel said Huntington Bank is the 10th largest bank in the country and will be able to offer more services.
“We can take care of our clients at another level,” he said.
Casteel said his plan is to come to the City Committees meeting every three months to give updates.
“This is all happening fast and is an exciting opportunity,” he added.
Water and Sewer
City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan told council members he was contacted by a developer wanting to build a subdivision on Eatonton Highway between Gray Gardens Apartments and Industrial Blvd.
He said it would be the Stone Creek Subdivision with 50 homes. The developer was asking for a capacity letter. Morgan said sewer capacity was no problem, and council agreed by consensus to the letter.
The superintendent said he received a letter from the EPD about a well off of Highway 18.
He said it was a high-producing well that was part of a proposed deal with a developer to build townhomes. The townhomes project fell through, but the well is still there. Morgan said unless the city can come to an agreement, it could be filled in.
He said the developer is interested in getting the money back he spent on the well. He is offering to sell the city water from the well at one-half the price it is currently paying until he gets back his investment.
Councilman David Tufts said he felt it is best to try to work with the developer.
After a short discussion, it was agreed that City Attorney John Newberry would set up a called meeting to meet with the developer.
Morgan moved to the topic of a drainage issue at Nature’s Walk. He said the storm drain was backing up, causing water to spill across a resident’s back yard. Newberry said he would work on an easement to allow the city to repair or install a new drainage system.
Main Street Gray
Main Street Gray Director Ashley Roberson said the Hometown Spring Festival is scheduled April 25. She said she is coordinating with downtown businesses, and a committee is working on the entertainment.
Roberson said entertainment will be later the same day.
Personnel
Collins announced that Lt. Thaxton Pennamon is the employee of the month. He said the officer has been with the city for 15 years and will retire March 31.
At the conclusion of the agenda, Gray Mayor Ed Barbee commented that he attended a class presented by the Department of Community Affairs about workforce housing. He said it is a universal issue. There are not many starter homes available, and there are few houses affordable for working families.
Barbee said he got a lot from the class and encouraged others to take it.
The next meeting of the Gray City Council is scheduled April 6.
