City Council Meets

By
Mary Ann Anderson
During last week’s joint workshop and regular monthly meeting of the Hazlehurst City Council, the agenda was mostly routine and moved along quickly. After the invocation was given by the Rev. Dustin Hutto, and with Ward 1 Councilman Dywane Johnson absent, the council discussed and considered a flurry of motions. Of note, the meeting was held on Monday rather than the usual Thursday so the entire council could attend the Georgia Municipal Association’s annual conference.
The first order of business was to discuss the city property at the corner of Latimer and South Williams streets. After Ward 4 Councilman Landon Chavis explained that the now-vacant city hall on Latimer Street and old city jail fronting on South Williams Street were deeded several months ago from the city to the Downtown Development Authority, he and City Attorney Ken W. Smith requested a survey for both buildings and the vacant lot next to the old jail. The motion, which passed unanimously, enables the DDA to execute its plans for the space.
After Smith opened and read the bids for property and liability insurance, the council reviewed the only two bids: the lowest bid of $205,440 from Swain Insurance Agency and the other of $209,905 from Georgia Municipal Association’s Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency. A more detailed discussion and vote will occur in a called meeting after the council returns from the GMA convention.
In quick succession, the council, after hearing a recommendation from Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Joint Development Director Oakley Perry, approved the appointment of Lonnie Roberts, president of Coastal Pines Technical College, to the JDA board. The council also approved a beer and wine license, at the request of Christian Negrete, for Ruby’s Taqueria, with Chavis and Ward 3’s Christopher Jones voting yes and Ward 2 Councilman Steve Land abstaining. The measure passed 2-0.
The council also approved the intergovernmental agreement among Jeff Davis County, Jeff Davis County Board of Elections and Registrars, and the City of Hazlehurst, allowing Jeff Davis County to hold city elections for a three-year period.
After hearing from Inframark/ESG’s Mark Mangold, who explained that watershed assessment and monitoring are required of the city, the council voted in favor of Vision Environmental Consulting to complete the work at a cost of $13,230.
The council also approved a prayer walk for Bennett Tabernacle Church for June 28.
After City Clerk Vernice Thompson stated the city had undergone an inspection for risk and safety management insurance updates, the council quickly approved all four measures brought to the table following the inspection, including distracted driving policies, updated personnel policies, fleet management policies, and master subcontractor agreements. The council also approved May’s water and sewer adjustments, departmental reports, and check register.
In the Citizen Comments section of the meeting, the council listened as Laurel Matula of ER Assist Funding Solutions gave an update on Hurricane Helene debris removal. She noted that Philips and Jordan, the owners of the so-called big black double-trailer trucks, will continue debris removal in both the city and county at the direction of the county. Thompson also noted that the city had just received payment of $6.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Philips and Jordan, which prompted Matula to, as she said, “do a little happy dance.”
The council will meet at its regular date and time for the monthly workshop and meeting on Thursday, July 17, at 5 p.m. at Hazlehurst City Hall.