With a second-straight light agenda, the Eatonton City Council met for approximately half an hour Monday night.
The first order of business was to approve a revised memorandum of understanding with the Putnam County Charter School System. City Administrator Gary Sanders explained the PCCSS had been using the city’s recently acquired, decommissioned PC Elementary School gym for wrestling practice and said the Streets, Buildings, and Grounds Committee recommended approving a continuance until Feb. 28, 2026, noting the change limits activity to practices only.
“They’ve already started practicing at the school for the season, and the committee felt it best to let that practice continue,” Sanders said.
With only combined Wards 1 and 4 Councilmember Marie Rainey absent, the remaining six councilors unanimously approved an amended MOU allowing the PCCSS to continue wrestling practices through February.
Council members also voted to allow applicant William Gilbert to withdraw, without prejudice (meaning he could resubmit the request in the future), a request to rezone four acres from agricultural to residential. The Planning and Zoning Board reported the applicant sought the withdrawal during its Nov. 10 meeting and recommended approval.
In the night’s largest financial action, the council next awarded Southern Pipeline, Inc. a $1,001,642 contract for a 6-inch high-pressure gas main improvement project. Southern Pipeline was the lowest bidder of six.
“Our engineer is familiar with their work … and there’s no reservation to make that recommendation,” Sanders told the council. Once the contract is finalized, work is expected to begin in early spring 2026.
Councilwoman Janie Reid used her committee report to promote several community events, including three remaining performances of On Golden Pond at The Plaza Arts Center, downtown shopping for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, and the upcoming Celtic Angels Christmas show on Dec. 2, also at The Plaza. She also reminded Eatonton residents of the Dec. 10 deadline for entries to the city’s Christmas decorating contest.
Reid also expressed concern about declining participation in the Meals on Wheels home-delivered meals program, citing reports that only four meals were being delivered daily. Sanders said, however, that the number is actually about 15 clients, acknowledged that delivery staffing has been strained, and said he would look into it further.
Once each councilmember had an opportunity to speak, Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell reported that a new certified officer is expected to join the department on Friday following academy graduation.
Wrapping up, Sanders confirmed bids for resurfacing work along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, including repairs to numerous cuts left by recent water main upgrades, will be opened Dec. 4. He acknowledged the road is currently in rough condition. Still, the city had previously decided to wait until all water main repairs were completed before making a single, long, smooth repair, rather than a patchwork effort as work progressed.
“We knew it was going to look like a minefield,” Sanders said. “Council decided to commit funds to make that a smooth patch … We are going to fix it.”