Eatonton City Council held its first meeting of the new year, Jan. 6, opening with a swearing- in ceremony for several council members.
Current members Mylle Mangum (Ward 1), James Gorley (Ward 2), and Teresa Doster (Ward 4), joined new council member Fredrick Lowe, elected to the Ward 3 position last November.
Putnam County State Court Judge Michael Gailey administered the oath, reminding the officials of their duty to uphold the U.S. and Georgia constitutions and to serve “without fear, favor, affection, reward, or expectation thereof.”
Mayor John Reid presided over the meeting and congratulated all council members who were sworn in before moving on to the council’s regular agenda, led by a first reading by City Administrator Gary Sanders of a proposed new city charter aimed at modernizing local government.
Sanders read each section title aloud, outlining a comprehensive document that addresses the city’s powers, structure of government, elections, finance, courts, personnel, and taxation.
“We are long overdue for an update to our charter,” Reid said following Sanders’ presentation. “You all have had an opportunity to review it, and I encourage you to continue to look it over and see if anything sticks out that we may need to change.”
Sanders explained that after a second reading and local adoption, the charter would be sent to Eatonton’s legislative delegation for consideration by the Georgia General Assembly.
“There will be a notice of intent to adopt local legislation, and local acts usually go through,” he said, adding that lawmakers had already been briefed.
After Gorley asked for clarification on the process, Reid confirmed the council will have two readings and can make changes before final adoption.
The council also unanimously approved a resolution changing the date and location of its next meeting due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The meeting originally scheduled for Jan. 19 will now be held Tuesday, Jan. 20, at The Plaza Arts Center on Madison Avenue in Eatonton.
Committee reports looked back upon the past year and forward to plans ahead.
Doster, now chair of Streets, Buildings, and Grounds, noted visible progress near the railroad trestle alongside North Maple Avenue near Marion Street.
“There’s a lot of activity, so be patient in that area, but progress is good,” she said.
Public Safety Chair Gorley thanked police and fire personnel for maintaining safety over the holidays and offered condolences to several families who experienced recent losses. He also provided updates on infrastructure concerns, including long-awaited paving on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Sanders confirmed that contracts are in place and a pre-construction meeting is expected within weeks.
Eatonton Fire Chief Jamey Williamson also presented year-end statistics showing a sharp increase in calls. He said the Eatonton Fire Department responded to 797 calls in 2025, including 443 medical calls and 18 structure fire responses.
“So, we’re not just sitting there,” Williamson told council members. “We do have a lot of stuff going on.”
The meeting concluded with brief staff announcements and congratulations exchanged among council members. With no executive session, the council adjourned, setting the stage for what Reid called “an important year ahead for the city.”