The Eatonton City Council met Tuesday night for its second of two regularly scheduled monthly seminars.
Wards 1 & 4 Councilmember Marie Rainey, Ward 2 Councilmember James Gorley, and Councilmember at Large and Mayor Pro Tem Chip Walker were absent. However, with Mylle Mangum of Ward 2, Michael Smith representing Wards 2 & 3, Ward 3’s Janie Reid, and Teresa Doster of Ward 4 present, a voting quorum was achieved, and the meeting proceeded under the direction of Mayor John Reid.
The meeting opened with the council approving a request from property owner Virginia Jones for modifications at 300 N. Madison Ave to the roofing over a shed door within the city’s official Historic Preservation District.
“The Historic Preservation Commission approved the request with the condition that the yellow metal flashing from the recent reroof be painted to match the darker roof,” City Administrator Gary Sanders explained.
Doster moved to approve the request, which passed unanimously.
A second request from Jones was also unanimously approved, allowing the replanting of two oleander shrubs in the city’s right-of-way in front of her property to replace two that had died. In explaining the request, Sanders noted that the proposal reflected the neighborhood's historical character, where oleanders once lined the street.
The council next approved a last-minute request to close a street from New Life Christian Outreach Center to accommodate its fall festival. The temporary closure will affect a section of Agnes Drive between Lawson Drive and Agnes Jenkins Lane from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday.
“We have had a history of this being done with or without permits. I think they applied last year, but they were asked to do this a bit more in advance. So, we got it today and we have a council meeting today … the [police] chief has looked at it and has approved it, and it is ready for your consideration,” Sanders told the council in describing the New Life request.
Following a brief discussion to clarify the closure boundaries and the duration of the traffic disruption and inconvenience to nearby residents, the request was unanimously approved.
An AT&T application to install additional aerial fiber cable along Industrial Boulevard also received unanimous approval. Sanders explained the work would primarily be done overhead, with a short underground segment run through existing conduit.
“There will be no excavation or impact to sidewalks or roadways,” he stated, adding he expected the work to proceed quickly once scheduled.
The council also voted unanimously to move its scheduled Nov. 4 meeting to Nov. 5 because Nov. 4 is Election Day. Later in the meeting, City Clerk Maria Jiminez reminded everyone that advance voting for the municipal general election continues through Oct. 31, including a final Saturday voting day, Oct. 25, all at the old gas building behind the current city hall at 201 N. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Eatonton.
During committee reports, Mangum said bids would be opened Nov. 6 at Eatonton City Hall for the city’s six-inch, high-pressure, gas-main improvement project.
Sanders provided updates on several ongoing projects, including the second phase of the Briar Patch Trail expansion, which involves clearing “approximately 2,900 feet of new trail,” he reported.
He also said a request for design services regarding the recently purchased, decommissioned elementary school, the city plans to repurpose as City Hall and redevelop to house other city services, would be issued shortly. Sanders added that bids for SPLOST paving projects would come soon, too.
Sanders said the city’s new electric vehicle chargers have been installed in the parking lot adjacent to City Center Stage, alongside Willie Bailey Drive; however, they are awaiting Georgia Power's wiring approval and meter installation. Once completed, a three-week commissioning period will begin before the chargers become operational, he added.
Councilmember Reid reported on upcoming community events, including the Eatonton Main Street-sponsored Candy Mania for local kids on Oct. 31 on North Madison Avenue and the Georgia Writers Museum’s Haunted Eatonton walking tours scheduled for Oct. 24, 25, 30, and Nov. 1.
With no executive session required, the council adjourned after approximately 30 minutes, having satisfied its published agenda.