The Waynesboro City Commission met in regular session on Monday, May 24th, 2021 at City Hall in Waynesboro. All commissioners present, including Mayor Chris Bevis, Vice Mayor Jeff Davis, Commissioner Lynn Warren, Commissioner Jeff Howell, and Commissioner Tony Creasy. Also in attendance were City Manager John Hickman, City Attorney Josh Polk, and City Recorder Paige Jackson.
Mayor Bevis called the meeting to order, and Commissioner Warren offered the invocation.
First on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the previous commission meeting. Commissioner Howell made a motion to approve, and Commissioner Creasy seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved.
City Manager reported on several items under Departmental Reports, including:
-The musical entertainment contracts for the Independence Day Celebration on July 3rd will be finalized on Tuesday, May 25th. There will be two different entertainment acts, to be formally announced very soon. The fireworks display has been booked, and vendors are already signing up.
-The City Pool renovation project is almost complete, with the pool set to open on Memorial Day. The commissioners agreed that the renovations have definitely made a positive impact on the pool area.
-City Manager Hickman will attend a pre-construction meeting regarding the Highway 64 East water line extension on June 10th. Contractors and engineers for the project will be present at the meeting.
-Approximately four feet of sludge has been removed at the wastewater treatment plant over the last two weeks. This was a recommendation from engineers to help control the odor at the plant.
-Rick’s Barbecue has broken ground at the future site of their new location in Waynesboro in front of the Piggly Wiggly shopping center.
-RaeKar, who is contracted with the city for garbage service, has assigned all of their interest to Wayne
Halfway House. This will not affect their contract with the city.
-City Manager Hickman gave complimentary swimming pool passes to all of the commissioners.
Mayor Bevis then addressed the topic of the sale of the Industrial Park property that was tabled at the last meeting. Following a brief discussion, the commission agreed to leave the topic tabled at this time.
Waynesboro resident Allen Mathis addressed the commission next concerning the buyout of his property on Hurricane Creek Road that he said was promised to him following severe flooding in 2003. This is an issue that Mr. Mathis had brought before the commission on several occasions. City Attorney Polk told Mr. Mathis that he had no new information on the subject, and said that Mr. Mathis has the right, as everyone does, to litigate his issues in court if he wishes to do so. Attorney Polk again advised all of the commissioners that they were not to respond any further to Mr. Mathis’ questions. Police Chief Walter Smith escorted Mr. Mathis from the meeting after he continued to interrupt Mayor Bevis when the Mayor was continuing with other items on the agenda.
Commissioner Creasy said that a tile seems to be blocked near the John Turnbo residence, and City Manager Hickman said that someone would check it out.
Commissioner Howell said that he has received several complaints about potholes on South High Street. City Manager Hickman agreed that the potholes are bad, and that they will need to be dug out and re-filled by the paving company.
With no further business to be brought before the commission, Commissioner Creasy made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Howell seconded the motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
