The August All Committees meeting for the Gray City Counciul included discussions about the upcoming one-cent sales tax renewal and the city’s tax rate.
The Aug. 18 meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem James Collins, and the first report was from Finance Committee Chairman and Councilman Terrell Fulford.
The chairman said the total of 2024 property taxes collected is $1,308,483, which is 99.03 percent. The remaining balance is $12,766.
City Attorney John Newberry led a discussion about the intergovernmental agreement between Gray and Jones County pertaining to the SPLOST renewal due to be on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Newberry said the city needs to submit its project list and make sure the numbers are agreeable for the joint projects portion of the agreement. The total of the joint projects is $11,625,000 of the estimated $25 million anticipated.
The joint projects include debt service on the courthouse expansion project, two new parks for the city of Gray, sidewalks on Eatonton Highway to Industrial Boulevard and the resurfacing of former state highways in the city and county.
The remaining collections will be split between city and county at a rate of 18 percent for the city and 82 percent for the county.
City Clerk Cindy Yancey gave council members a draft of the 2025 budget that included the current tax rate of 9.5 and the suggested rollback rate of 8.436. She said the two options would be presented at the Sept. 8 business meeting.
Yancey said if council decides not to roll back the millage rate, advertising for public hearings due to the resulting tax increase will have to be scheduled.
City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan stated that the GEFA Grant for the completed wastewater treatment plant project needs to be closed out and will be on the September agenda.
He said the report for the city’s test well was favorable to continue with the drilling of the new well.
Morgan also advised council members that he would like to purchase aerators for each of the city’s lift stations. He said the money is available out of water and sewer SPLOST funds.
Under the Streets Committee, the superintendent said the landscaper for a local convenience store mowed over the utility locate flags, and they need to be replaced.
Main Street Director Ashley Roberson announced the city’s Fall Festival would be held Oct.
17, which is a bye week for Jones County Greyhound football.
Collins, chairman of the Plan Committee, shared the idea of a Special Events Permit for the city. He said a fee could be attached and a discussion would be needed to decide if that permit would allow food trucks.
“It’s a way for the city to know what is going on. Council can decide how many permits would be allowed,” he said.
Councilman Terry Favors said he likes the idea, but it would need a fee attached.
Collins commented that he liked the idea better than the previously discussed temporary business permit.
Morgan brought up the idea of a compensation policy for on-call employees under the personnel committee. He said the policy had been cleaned up, and it would be on a rotating basis. The policy would add $100 a month for three employees on call.
The superintendent said the policy would be reviewed as to the response rate of the employees.
Collins reported that a joint meeting last week about the community branding project went well.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said.
Roberson added that she hopes there will be a city version of the logo soon.
The mayor pro tem proposed a city employee of the month. He said the employee would be recommended to him and he would make the final selection. The employee will receive a certificate and a picture.
He announced the first employee of the month is Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Matthew Scroggins. Morgan said Scroggins started with the city in 2021 and was a vital part of the construction of the new wastewater treatment plant.
“An all-around, hard-working guy,” he said.
Morgan presented a draft for the city’s letter to the Georgia Department of Transportation to ask for help with maintaining the former state route highways. Collins said it was agreed the city and county would both write letters, but they would be sent together.
The superintendent suggested repurposing the crosswalk system that had been replaced near the courthouse. Roberson said it could be used on Ross Street due to the pedestrian traffic to and from the businesses in the area.
Councilman Terry Favors mentioned several issues impacting the downtown area. He said 18-wheelers are still being parked on James Street, which he feels is a violation of the city’s truck route ordinance.
“The business license for the property states it is retail sales. What has that got to do with truck parking?” he asked.
The councilman went on to mention trash behind a business on Water Tower Park Boulevard that blows everywhere and large storage containers in parking lots. He said the Gray Downtown Development Authority has worked hard to beautify downtown, and those things take away from that.
James suggested checking with Planning and Zoning about what is allowed in the property’s zoning.
Fulford agreed they city needs clarification on what is allowed.
Under Public Safety, Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele said fire department volunteers have begun water hydrant inspections.
The next meeting of the Gray City Council is scheduled Sept. 8.
