Rochelle City Council approves milleage rate

Published 12:26 pm Thursday, October 10, 2024

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Lucas C. Allison

Dispatch Correspondent

The Rochelle City Council held its regular monthly meeting Wednesday October 2, 2024, present were Mayor Wayne McGuinty, Council members John McDonald, Greg Lamb, Vickie Kemp, Lanier Ferguson and via phone Herman Green, and City Clerk Betty Jo Adkinson.  The previous months minutes were read and approved after being properly moved and seconded.

Mayor McGuinty publicly thanked Maintenance Superintendent Michael Gaines for working night and day during Hurricane Heleen in helping to restore the water, electricity and keeping the roadways clear of trees and debris. He also gave special thanks to Councilman Ferguson.  Mr. Gaines stated the problem with the pumping station not resetting and it was having to be done manually. He stated there was a problem with heat building up at the Ginhouse Station causing the resets.  Mayor McGuinty stated they priced an air conditioning unit for the station the cost would be $32,000.00, and the city just could not afford that. Mr. Gaines stated that they were in the process of replacing missing and old stop signs in the city also state a new stop sign had been installed at the corner of Second Avenue and Herbert Drive to hopefully keep people from driving into citizens yards. Mr. Gaines reported the lead pipe audit had been completed in the city.

Police Chief Jimmy Banks presented his monthly report to council. He stated on last Thursday there was a curfew in effect for the county the night Hurricane Heleen hit and Officer Shelton Adams worked 24 hours straight and Officer Michael Buchanan worked 16 hours straight to assist with keeping roadways open and enforcing the curfew. Mayor McGuinty stated he just wanted to let those in attendance and the city of Rochelle know that what Chief Banks is failing to report is that he was out there with his officers serving the citizens and he and the Council greatly appreciated his service and leadership at the police department.  Chief Banks reported that total call for the month were 327.  There were 3-Animal related, 6-domestic disputes, 8-suspicious persons, 6-suspicious vehicles, 129-traffic stops, 1- hit and run, 30- courtesy escorts, 1-shots fired, 3- alarms, 3- thefts, 3- check the welfare, 3- warrants served, 2-auto accidents, and 4- arrests.  He stated that he was still working on trying to find a city that would take the dogs that are problems. He said he spoke with Crisp, and they are checking to see if there is an arrangement between Crisp and Rochelle. But at this time Crisp, Dooly, and Ben Hill have no capacity to accept Warner Robins also will not accept. Chief Banks stated he also wish to thank Doug Powell who assisted during the storm.  He reported there was a fire at an abandoned house.

He stated these abandoned houses, buildings, and cars cause all sorts of issues such as crime, poverty, flooding and fires.  Mayor stated city attorney is working on a blighted areas ordinance to address these issues.

Mayor McGuinty reported that Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region had reduced the budget of the Community Center from $107,000.00 to $100,000.00 this does not affect the city budget as this funding is a pass through.  He reported that the city was in compliance with it’s audit, also it had been submitted the GEFA and the city is eligible for Community Development Block Grant funding and applications have been submitted for funding to help with shortfall for the water project.  He stated when he contacted Georgia Power about the power issues for the water system on Friday, they stated it could be Wednesday before we had power restored. He stated he contacted Representative Noel Williams about the problem to see if he could assist, he in turn contacted Mr. James Starling the Georgia Emergency Management Association who in turn contacted a Vice President at Georgia Power, who I explained we had one tree on Highway 280 which cut the power.  We were able to get power restored and by Saturday night we had the water back on and as of Tuesday we were no longer under a boil water advisory.

The council then approved a Resolution to adopt The High Efficiency Plumbing Codes which were went into effect in 2012, under Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia, this is required to be eligible for a GEFA loans.  After being properly moved and seconded it was approved unanimously.  Next Mayor McGuinty presented information on the upcoming election for City Council two seats for District One and three seats for District Two and Mayor to be held on Wednesday  December 4. 2024. Qualifying will begin on Monday October  28, 2024 9AM, to Friday November 8, 2024, at 12 noon. Qualifying will be performed by Rochelle City Clerk at Rochelle City Hall.  The filing fees are Mayor-$72.00, Council members $36.00.  Early voting will be November 25, 2024, thru November 27, 2024, 9AM-5PM at Rochelle City Hall. This election is being held in accordance with Georgia law and the implementing Order of the Albany-Americus Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Mrs. Vera Gibson owner of Vera’s Restaurant on 1st Avenue stating that she had a visit from the Department of Public Health (DPH) due to the restroom being out of order,  DPH stated that a complaint was registered they issued a warning and advised if they come back and its out of order, they would shut the restaurant down. Mrs. Gibson advised she has replaced all the plumbing  on the inside but the drain pipe outside is the problem.  The mayor stated that he problem was a section of the pipe had collapsed and sand is stopping the line in addition to grease from the restaurant stopping up the line, it will cost $180,000.00 to replace the line and it is part of the water project, but they will work with maintenance and waster project engineer to see if we can do a temporary fix. He also noted with the new water project all restaurants in the city will be required to have grease traps installed to prevent these type problems in the future. He stated that the city would work diligently to try and remedy the problem. It was recommended that a wet well could be the solution to the problem temporarily.  The meeting was adjourned the Rochelle City Council meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7PM, at the Rochelle City Hall.