After hearing a presentation from a secondary company, the council did not vote to reverse their previous decision and the formerly-approved Allied contract will hold for one year.
Mayor Ron Casey provided updates to the council on certain ongoing matters including that of the previously approved intent to move forward with a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to help improve the water system. Casey told council members that if they received a second grant, the USDA would subtract that amount from their original funding, reducing the overall received amount from the federal agency. The mayor also told council members a suggestion has been made to outsource the maintenance department, allowing other people to contract services to the city as opposed to continuing the current four-employee department as it is. Presently, the idea was only submitted as a suggestion and any decisions or further discussions may occur during a special called meeting that has not yet been determined.
Improvements to the park were approved by council members including the construction of a covered pavilion over the concrete pad that once housed the skate park and playground equipment will be purchased for children in two sets: one for children ages 2 to 5 years and the other for children ages 6 to 12 years. Adjustable basketball goals for smaller children also will be purchased and all improvements will be paid for through the 2007 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax fund.
"This may be a way for families to come together," council member Chuck Wise said, noting that he had been supportive of enhancing the downtown park since he began serving on the council 10 years ago. "I see this as an improvement."
Due to the council's possibility of privatizing the maintenance department, the council decided to table the decision on whether or not to purchase a John Deere Gator utility vehicle until some point in the future.
Before going into a closed session to discuss personnel and then conclude the meeting, the council discussed issues with the Dawson Street well. The well currently shuts itself off and has done so at least 67 times since the problem was discovered. The problem, though, is a mystery and the city discussed ways to determine the issue and solutions. One speculation is that there is not enough power getting to the well, which would be fixed by Georgia Power at no cost to the city should that, indeed, be the problem. However, there is a myriad of other possibilities inside the well that could be causing the problem and the city will be investigating to solve any issues with the well turning itself off.