Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

 

The Cordele City Commissioners met on November 1, 2022, for a regular meeting held at the Cordele City Hall Courtroom with Commissioners Vesta Beal-Shephard, Royce Reeves, Sr., Isaac H. Owens, and Wesley Rainey. The City Manager, Angela Redding, City Attorney, Tommy Coleman, and Chairman Joshua Deriso were also in attendance.

Benjamin Gatliff spoke to the commission board and addressed the commission asking for the removal of Chairman Joshua Deriso on the terms of violations of the city charter and Title 45. “Commissioner Reeves, Commissioner Shephard, and Commissioner Rainey it is your responsibility to act on the 5.16 of the City of Cordele Charter and remove the chairperson from his seat violating Title 45 multiple times,” said Gatliff. “Are you done, sir?” asks Deriso. The commission board did not discuss or address the speaker.

The meeting included proclamations for Ms. Pearlie Mae Barner and Ms. Carol Dawson who was honored for service to the community because both women clean and upkeep the community in which they live. “I wasn’t looking for this,” said Dawson, “but I appreciate this”. A recognition of city employees that are United States military veterans was presented by the city manager, Angela Redding. Veteran’s Day is observed on November 11^th this year and the City of Cordele offices will be closed that day in observance. A presentation of Williams Field was given by Wimberly Treadwell for an economic development that included an installation of a park that included playgrounds, an amphitheater, and dog parks. “This is a great opportunity,” said Treadwell. Treadwell discussed the various options available to Williams Field. “If the amphitheater comes,” said Treadwell, “people will come.”

The agenda items were addressed after department head reports. Agenda item number one was the second reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the city to designate permissible uses of solar electrical systems and to repeal all ordinances in conflict of. This agenda item was moved, seconded, and properly approved unanimously. A discussion of a work session for changes to the ethics ordinance. Commissioner Owens motioned to have a work session to discuss the changes to the ethics ordinance, but the motion died due to lack of second. A second reading of an ordinance repealing article XII of Chapter 2 of the City Code of the City of Cordele in its entirety and adopting a new article XII of Chapter Entitled “Ethics” was moved, seconded, and approved. Consideration and approval of an alcohol license application for Odom’s Pool Room on 412 West 6^th Avenue in the city. The motion was properly moved and seconded unanimously approving the permit to Herbert Lee Odoms.

The city manager report included a reminder that board appointments are needed. The logo contest deadline was October 31, 2022, and the city received 19 submissions that will be under review. “We have had some people calling about our property tax bills,” said Redding, “but we are in the process of preparing the property tax bills and hope to get those out soon.” The city attorney, Tommy Coleman had nothing to report at this meeting.

The commission went into executive session to discuss legal matters. “I would love to have a brief executive session,” said Reeves, Sr., “a brief executive session no more than 6 minutes.” The board went into executive session adjourning the meeting for the public attendees. The next city committee meeting will be held on November 15, 2022 at the City Hall Courtroom.