By TIM FRANZEN

timothy.franzen@gaflnews.com

UNADILLA — Ernest Dennard was approved to serve as Interim Police Chief following executive session at the regular City Council meeting here Tuesday night.

Officials have decided to wait until after the election, November 6, to decide on a permanent replacement. The new replacement will be expected to fill the post left vacant following Leonard Smith’s conviction by a Dooly County Superior Court Jury.

Smith’s received his conviction on Friday, Aug. 3 for three felony counts of making false statements and writings. He was sentenced to five years in prison plus an additional 10 years on probation.

He was accused of submitting time cards and receiving payment for police work during the same hours, both with the Unadilla and Fort Valley Police Departments.

In a related matter, officials have decided to advertise for a part-time police officer. They will possibly approve a candidate for the job by the next Council meeting on September 11.

Councilmen also have agreed to adhere to a policy outlined in the Unadilla City Council’s charter concerning vacation and sick leave.

In the past, city employees were compensated for vacation time not used, but the decision reached Tuesday night indicated this will not be allowed in the future.

Brand also informed Council members that a Community Development Block Grant with matching funds of $150,000 will go towards improvements on the Tybee project.

Included in the funding will be 93 state-of-the-art water meters. Homes in that area are either being demolished or, in some cases, refurbished depending on their condition.

He also reported that the Comfort Inn sewage improvements are all but complete. Before the work can be finished electricity must be outfitted to the pump station.

Georgia Power furnished electricity to the inn. The total cost of the sewage improvements came to $29,000.

In other news from the meeting: