With the details previously hammered out, Eatonton City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve its $8.228 million budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
Six of seven councilors were present for the vote, with Ward 4’s Teresa Doster absent.
Before the vote, City Manager Gary Sanders outlined the highlights of the budget, which the council accepted at a public meeting on Aug. 6 after no residents attended to make comments.
Among the special items cited by Sanders:
• Across-the-board 3% cost-of-living pay increases for county workers;
• Increased Eatonton Police Department wages to recruit and retain officers and dispatchers;
• Increased annual commitment to The Plaza Art Center from $60,000 set two years ago to $65,000;
• $64,000 allocated for a significant repair and renovation grant project at the Eatonton-Putnam County Library, with funds matched dollar-for-dollar by the state;
• Continued support for the economic development budget for investments in the PEX Theater, to maintain the summertime BBQ & Blues Festival, downtown Christmas lights, various events, lunchtime concerts, and new downtown flowerpots and trash cans.
Following the vote, Councilor at Large, Mayor Pro Tem, and Budget Committee Chair Chip Walker said he appreciated Mayor John Reid’s help in setting this year’s budget.
“The mayor keeps his knife out during the year and pulls his sword out at budget time,” Walker said.
Prior to the budget discussion, Susan Usry, executive director at The Plaza Arts Center, presented to the council asking for approval to apply for a cultural arts facilities grant. The Plaza secured a similar grant last year for a $45,000 project to replace the community center hallway floor, all bathroom fixtures, including toilets, sinks, and product dispensers, and HVAC units for the entire building.
“The Council for the Arts gave us $30,000, and The Plaza paid $15,000 – which ended up being $20,000 because of the increase in the cost of materials from when the grant was approved versus when the work was done,” Usry said. “So that project is done and completed and at no cost to you.”
However, she added that the building has “developed a roof issue” that will probably require at least $30,000 to repair. Usry proposed this to the council.
The Plaza and the city are applying for another cultural facilities grant. However, she said the application is due by Aug. 30, so time is a definite factor.
“The way the grant works is because we have budgets over half a million dollars, we must pay 50% of the project. So, if it comes in at $30,000, then you would pay $15,000, and the Council for the Arts would pay $15,000, or if it comes in at $45,000, you pay half of that,” Usry explained.
She said The Plaza has received one bid for $30,000 to make repairs but is waiting for two more bids to arrive soon.
“What we’re looking for tonight is for your authorization for me to pursue that grant on your behalf. It is a structural issue, so it is a city council or city budget item,” Usry said.
All council members present voted for Usry to pursue the grant, so a decision is expected to be reached within weeks.
Next, the council heard from Sanders that the four-year commissions of three members of the Downtown Development Authority — Roddie Anne Blackwell, Cooper Rainey, and Walt Rocke r— are expiring. Since no applications have been made to replace them, all three are seeking reappointment to their positions.
The council unanimously approved the measure, though Marie Rainey of Wards 1 and 4 abstained, which was warranted, according to City Attorney Chris Huskins, as her husband is among the appointees.
The city council also unanimously agreed to authorize the mayor to re-sign its annual agreement with the state’s Department of Human Services Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Sanders also asked the council for approval to “decommission and dispose of” a city-owned piece of street repair equipment.
“It’s a mini roller that is no longer useful to the city,” he said. “It’ll only go in reverse and only on a good day.” Unanimous approval quickly followed.
Finally, in Wards 2 and 3, Councilor Michael Smith asked Sanders about slow progress being made on water-sewer issues on Willie Bailey Street and, more specifically, on Alice Walker Drive.
Sanders responded that an outside contractor had been hired to address the issues and that he would look into why that had not yet occurred.