Stockbridge city parks were scheduled to be reopened as of June 13, according to a recent statement by city officials. The grounds are available for use by citizens but park equipment such as playgrounds and pavilions are to remain closed until further notice.
Members of the community are strongly encouraged to comply with the health recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, and anyone who is considered high risk should stay home if possible. All visitors using the park do so at their own risk, officials said, and suspected cases of COVID-19 in the surrounding area should be reported immediately to the Georgia Department of Health.
“Our city parks will reopen on this Saturday morning,” according to the statement released June 11. “Although we are moving forward with allowing public access to our parks, we highly encourage all community members to continue to practice social distancing as they visit our popular locations. We will get through this together, but we need everyone to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.”
In other city business, the Stockbridge City Council voted at its June 8 regular meeting to approve a measure addressing right-of-way maintenance on a portion of Hwy. 138 that passes through the city. The vote came after the council moved earlier in the meeting to approve a resolution adding the item to the meeting’s agenda. Both motions passed by a 4-1 margin with John Blount opposed.
The council also voted to approve a resolution in support of House Bill 426, which is now under consideration in the Georgia General Assembly and is referred to in city documents as a hate crimes bill. That item was also added to the agenda, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
A $48,489.29 increase in the security contract with Johnson Controls for the city’s new public works facility was approved. According to a report, city staff is seeking to install systems for surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, security integration network and CCTV throughout the public works administration building on an as-needed basis over the next 18 months. The council also approved a $59,461.02 contract with T.W. Brown Contracting LLC for the parking lot expansion at Reeves Creek Trail. Both votes were unanimous.
