It was a typical first-of-the-year meeting January 6 for the Locust Grove City Council, with the added activity of a new council convening after the recent elections.
Mayor Robert Price was sworn in for another term along with council members Carlos Greer, Rudy Breedlove and Rod Shearouse. Greer won re-election in November while Breedlove and Shearouse were elected to their first terms.
Several board appointments were approved as part of the beginning-of-year business. Otis Hammock, who just completed his tenure on the City Council, was reappointed to the Downtown Development Authrity, as were Ken Dickey and Jeff Mills. Also appointed to the DDA was Sherry Moon to fill the unexpired term of Linda King, who stepped down at the end of 2019. Betty Shearouse was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission.
The ordinance for appointment of city offices for 2020 was approved. Changes for this year include Bert Foster as assistant city manager; Daunte Gibbs as community development director; Case Crumbley as solicitor, replacing Nicolle Ramsey; and Tim Haley as pro team court solicitor.
The council passed a resolution urging joint participation with the county’s other three cities in the upcoming 2020 U.S. census. The goal is to decrease the nonresponse rate so as not to miss out on federal and state funding which is often tied to census numbers. Full participation is necessary in some cases due to cities reaching new milestones in growth, and Locust Grove officials in recent months reported an unprecedented population increase in the city over the past decade.
A resolution was approved creating a streetlight district in Phase 1 of Derringstone Manor in Locust Grove Station subdivision. The 77 lots will be served by 12 lights, which will cost $24.55 per year per lot to operate and maintain. An application was received from 65 lot owners, representing 84 percent of the total neighborhood.
The council also approved an ordinance to adopt certain FY2019 third quarter budget revisions prior to final budget closeout in March.
