Chavis resigns from council; wants city to take over hotel/motel tax

By
MARY ANN ANDERSON
During the April 23 meeting of the Hazlehurst City Council, Ward 4 Councilman Landon Chavis announced his resignation, citing a new job and a move to Bainbridge. The resignation, which had been previously submitted to the mayor, took effect that evening.
Chavis had served on the council since January 2024. His departure leaves a vacancy that will be filled by a special election.
“You made a great impact on our city,” Mayor John Ramay said. “You have been a great asset, and you will be sorely missed.”
One of Chavis’ final actions as a council member was to urge the city to begin collecting hotel and motel sales taxes to improve parks and help fund the Downtown Development Authority. Currently, the tax is collected by Jeff Davis County, with a portion supporting the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Chamber of Commerce and Board of Tourism. While the county has used some of the funds to improve its own parks, none has been directed toward parks within the city.
Ramay noted that two of the area’s three hotels are located within the city limits, with the third in the county. The proposed tax would also apply to Airbnb properties and other short-term rentals.
“It all goes to the county,” Chavis said of the tax. “And most of the hotels are in the city. The county would still collect taxes on the one hotel outside the city limits.”
He added that the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Tourism would continue to receive funding from the city.
Chavis also requested that the city contract with the Georgia Municipal Association to conduct an audit after the levy is approved, ensuring all taxes are properly collected. Ward 2 Councilwoman Elizabeth Oliver made a motion to approve both the levy and the audit, and the council voted unanimously to move forward.
In other action during the busy 90-minute meeting, the council ….
…. signed a proclamation declaring May 3-9 as the 57th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week, with Ramay specifically stating that he was “honored and privileged” to pay tribute to Vernice Thompson for her many years as city clerk.
…. accepted the recommendation of Croy Engineering, Hazlehurst Municipal Airport’s engineering firm, to hire Graham and Studstill General Contractors of Eastman for hangar work.
…. also accepted the recommendation of Turnipseed Engineers, one of the city’s engineering firms, to hire RPI Underground of Valdosta for Southside Circle’s sewer pump station replacement, a project funded by a Community Development Block Grant.
…. after hearing Mark Mangold of Inframark, the company hired to oversee the water department, explain the annual watershed assessment and monitoring are required of the city, the council voted in favor for Vision Environmental Consulting to complete the work at a cost of $15,605.
…. agreed for Georgia Asphalt Producers to complete the drainage pipe installation on Lee Street at a cost of $61,461, to be paid from storm drainage SPLOST funds.
…. accepted a low bid from Bryant Fencing LLC of Jacksonville, Ga., to install fencing around City Hall, the municipal building, and the police department. The measure passed 3–1, with Ward 1 Councilman Dywane Johnson voting against it.
…. tabled several matters until the May meeting including issuing citations and fines for water meter damage and tampering, creating policies for after-hours emergency water cut-on service and establishing policy and procedures for water bill adjustments.
…. after hearing again from Mangold, voted to update for the first time since 2017 installation procedures and cut-in fees for the water department.
…. approved the 2nd Annual Coach Cornelia A. Jackson Foundation, in partnership with the James Earl Cray Foundation, a 4K run and health fair to be held July 18 at Jeff Davis Youth Center. Ward 3 Councilman Chris Jones also made the council aware of the Hazlehurst Community League’s Juneteenth celebration to be held June 19 at Mary Frazier McLean Park.
…. approved March’s work session and regular meeting minutes, water and sewer adjustments, departmental reports and check register.
…. in the citizens’ comments section, heard an update on the Hazlehurst Animal Shelter from Janet Corcoran, a volunteer with the Voices of Hazlehurst Animal Shelter; Danny Lyndall of Inframark, who stated the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has officially declared the current drought as Level 1 and will provide an awareness campaign to the public on how to conserve water; and local citizen Linda Moore, whose water service was inadvertently cut off, with the council approving an emergency cut-on that same evening.
…. and finally, also in citizens’ comments, heard from Thompson, who gave several updates, including that the cost of the contract with Inframark did not increase from last year’s cost of about $1.5 million. She also stated the annual Georgia Department of Corrections contract for the 2026-27 with the Bacon County Probation Detention Center work detail had been renewed, spay and neuter fees for the animal shelter had increased, costs for repairs of the Hazlehurst Police Department were $16,852 with a $5,000 deductible, and property values for the city had risen from $15 million to $33 million but the cost of insurance for that same property rose by only $233.