By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@
cordeledispatch.com

CORDELE — City Commissioners held their regular bi-monthly meeting Tuesday night to discuss city business.
Sherry Evans of Crisp County Family Connections addressed commissioners, thanking them for their continued support of the organization. Crisp County Family Connections addresses issues regarding children and families. There are several strategy teams that help make up the organization; Poverty, Mental Health, Literacy and Ministerial. Evans shared the organization’s plan for the coming year with commissioners and invited anyone who would like to attend their meeting on Thursday, June 4 at 8:30 a.m. at the Dowdy Resource Center.
As the commission moved on to new business, Commissioner Royce Reeves, Sr. suggested to the board they consider purchasing body cams for the City Police Department.
“ I think we need to look into this,” he said. “The body cams will pick up activity and will alleviate any accusations.”
City Administrator Edward Beach informed the board he had been working with Interim Chief Lewis Green and they are in the process of obtaining bids for the cost of the body cams. Commission Chairman Zack Wade agreed there is a need for the cameras in order to “keep from having three sides to one story.”
Beach also updated the board in regards to the CHIP Grant for the Gillespie-Selden area. A potential conflict of interest was discussed during a previous meeting involving one resident’s relationship to an employee. The legal team determined there was no conflict due to the relationship not being defined as immediate family.
City Attorney Tom Cotton discussed the legal situation with the sprinkler company employee from Valdosta who caused last month’s water issues. The employee, after being advised to contact public works shut off a valve that caused two city water mains to break.
Commissioner Jeanie Bartee asked Cotton if the company whose employee caused the problem would be fined for the negligence of that employee. Cotton informed the board the city would be reimbursed for their losses. He also said he was releasing the information on the insurance company for any citizen who may have a claim as a result of the incident. (SEE “Citizens with damage from water main break can file claim” story this page).
Beach gave his action report to commissioners. He advised the board the 2015 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 2 p.m .The conference will be held at city hall regarding compliance with Section 3 mandates in the bidding process for the 2015 CDBG grant funding round.
In his action report Beach submitted items for board approval.
The first as for the 2016-2017 Watershed Monitoring and Annual Report Proposal. The city received the proposal from TTL, Inc. to provide services associated with the EPD required Watershed Assessment Program. According to Beach the company performed testing and analyses for the past two years of the program. Since the budget had not been approved he asked commissioners to approve the execution of the contract so the testing and monitoring services can begin. He informed the cost would be included in the professional services portion of the Stormwater Divisions Budget. Cost for this year’s service will be $46,431.40. The board approved this motion unanimously.
The second item for approval was a request Benny Wade for a permit to host the Kiwanis Memorial Day Running Celebration. The event will be held on Monday, May 30 from 7:45 a.m. until 11 a.m. and will begin at the Crisp County Recreation Department, travel to Blackshear Trail School and out to Airport Road. The request was approved unanimously.
Commissioners also approved a second event permit submitted by the Black Dusters Motorcycle Club. The organization would like to host a Back to School Fundraiser event on Sunday, July 10, 2016 from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. The event organizers requested that 10th Street South between 16th and 17th Avenues be closed for the event. Commissioners also approved this request unanimously.
Commissioners also reviewed reports from various departments.
Chief Green in addition to his written report advised commissioners crime had begun to fall off in the city. He said right now they were dealing with more theft than any other issues.
In his report City Fire Chief Augustus Telfair updated commissioners on the status of new fire trucks. He said they would be ready for inspection by the beginning of June and he would be traveling to Florida to inspect and bring back if they pass inspection.