The Eatonton City Council met Monday evening in a largely ceremonial and forward-looking session, highlighted by the final meeting for Ward 3 representative Janie Reid, who was defeated in November’s election for her seat after seven years on the council.
Mayor John Reid opened the meeting by presenting his wife with a plaque recognizing her public service from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2025. All council members, staff, and city officials praised her dedication, leadership, and long record of public service, which previously included time as a county commissioner, too.
The council then turned to regular business. With no one signed in for public comments, it opened with approval to award a 2025 Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) paving improvement project to Garrett Paving Company, with the lowest of six bids received at just over $1.2 million, according to City Administrator Gary Sanders.
After discussion, the council rescinded the initial motion. It adopted a revised resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the contract, including the specific streets listed in the bid package, a step requested by Ward 2 Councilman James Gorley to ensure clarity and transparency. The project is expected to begin early in January.
The council also adopted a resolution approving a Language Access Plan required by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the city’s recently awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for drainage improvements in the Rock Lane neighborhood.
Representatives from the Middle Georgia Regional Commission explained the plan, noting that while the neighborhood does not meet thresholds for limited English proficiency populations, the policy remains in place as part of the grant process. The mayor was authorized to sign the resolution.
Councilmembers also approved a new employee performance evaluation system. The four-page evaluation form, developed with assistance from the regional commission and city staff, will be used across all departments, with job-specific duties drawn from previously adopted job descriptions. Evaluations are to be conducted by May 15, annually. Council members emphasized the long-standing need for a standardized evaluation process and expressed interest in gathering employee feedback after its first year of use.
During committee reports, council members highlighted recent community events, including an appreciation dinner for the Eatonton Fire Department held last Friday night at Barrel 118, and the strong turnout for Saturday night’s Christmas parade.
Eatonton Fire Chief Jamey Williamson then provided updates on his department’s annual Christmas toy drive and the delivery of a shipping container that will soon be converted into a firefighter training facility on city-leased property.
Councilmember Reid, during her development committee report, announced that the city is accepting letters of interest through Jan. 12 for three openings on the Eatonton Housing Authority board, to include one resident member. She also shared results of the city’s Christmas decorating contest, won by Fatima Cruz at 113 Oak Way over nine other entries in the residential category, and Hallman Wood Products at 127 Lower Harmony Rd., among five business entries.
Reid also announced an upcoming community leadership breakfast to discuss plans to create an African American cultural museum in Eatonton.
City Manager Gary Sanders reminded the public that City Hall will be closed Dec. 24–25 for Christmas and Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. He also reported the annual T-SPLOST report will be published next week and said a draft of an updated city charter will soon be forwarded to councilmembers and City Attorney Chris Huskins.
The meeting concluded with tributes to Councilmember Reid from the mayor and each councilmember present. In her farewell remarks, Ms.
Reid reflected on her years of service, emphasized unity, fairness, and trust among councilmembers, and pushed back against criticism that Eatonton has stagnated or that older leaders should be pushed aside. She said progress has come through generations of committed leadership and pledged to continue supporting the city and its political leaders.