The Waynesboro City Commission met in regular session on Monday, September 14th, 2020 at City Hall in Waynesboro. All commissioners were present, including Mayor Chris Bevis, Vice Mayor Jeff Davis, Commissioner Jeff Howell, Commissioner Lynn Warren, and Commissioner Tony Creasy. Also in attendance were City Manager John Hickman and City Recorder Paige Jackson.
Mayor Bevis called the meeting to order, and Commissioner Howell offered the invocation.
Commissioner Howell made a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting with a correction to a name typed wrong on page 2. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Davis, and the minutes were unanimously approved.
City Manager Hickman then distributed the monthly cash collateral statements and investment reports for the commissioners’ review.
The first item of new business on the agenda was a Proclamation from the Suicide Prevention Coalition recognizing the city’s desire to raise suicide awareness. Commissioner Creasy made a motion to approve the proclamation, and Commissioner Warren seconded the motion. The proclamation was unanimously approved.
The awarding of the road paving bid was next on the agenda. City Manager Hickman said that one bid was received from Rogers Group for $95 per ton of 411-E asphalt. The project does include edging, sweeping, etc. Hickman said that the cost has gone down from last year’s bid from Rogers Group at $105 per ton. Commissioner Howell made a motion to accept the bid from Rogers Group, and Vice Mayor Davis seconded. The bid was unanimously awarded.
Next was the awarding of the street patching bid. City Manager Hickman presented the bid from Pavement Restoration of $11 per square foot of pavement repair. He noted that this bid had gone up from last year’s bid of $10 per square foot. Commissioner Creasy made a motion to accept the bid from Pavement Restoration, and Commissioner Howell seconded. The bid was unanimously awarded to Pavement Restoration.
The final item of new business on the agenda was the South Tennessee Oil Company beer license. City Manager Hickman confirmed that the Beer Board met prior to the regular meeting, and approved Jonathan Edwards of South Tennessee Oil Company for a beer license at Quik Mart, located just off the square. He said that all requirements had been met for the license. Vice Mayor Davis made a motion to approve the beer license for Quik Mart, and Commissioner Warren seconded the motion. The beer license was unanimously approved.
Next, a Waynesboro citizen addressed the commission regarding an issue with the water being shut off at his property on Morrow Street. The citizen explained that after a fire damaged his doublewide mobile home, he moved a singlewide mobile home onto the lot to live in while repairs were being made to the doublewide. Mayor Bevis explained that city ordinance does not allow for two homes on one lot, and City Manager Hickman explained that the singlewide mobile home must be at least 16 feet wide to be in compliance, and it is not. Due to non-compliance with city ordinances and other issues, water has been shut off to both homes. After a lengthy discussion in which the homeowner agreed to somehow connect the two mobile homes to make them one residence, the commission agreed to turn the water back on to the doublewide mobile home for the time being until repairs can be made and the property can be brought into compliance.
Commissioner Howell then said that the city streets seem to be falling into worse disrepair, and the commission may want to consider putting more money into the budget next year for road maintenance.
Commissioner Howell went on to say that he had been contacted by Christopher Lynch at Tennessee Container about an awning that was blown off the building and flooring that was ruined in the office due to an air conditioning leak. City Manager Hickman said that he was in the process of getting an estimate from G&G Construction for the repairs.
Commissioner Warren then thanked City Manager Hickman for getting street lights that he had mentioned as needing repairs fixed in two days.
Vice Mayor Davis said that he wanted to extend his appreciation to the Waynesboro Police Department, and he hopes that our local police never have to go through what some cities are experiencing right now.
Vice Mayor Davis went on to inquire about the status of the new water line extension, and City Manager Hickman said that surveying and measuring is taking place now. Davis also inquired about the painting project at the former Fast Pace building, and Hickman said that it was due to begin at any time.
Commissioner Creasy asked about the ongoing problem of the odor from the sewer plant, and City Manager Hickman said that the engineer will be coming soon and the problem will be addressed.
Mayor Bevis inquired about a fire hydrant at the old jail building that is covered with a black bag. City Manager Hickman explained that the hydrant does not have enough pressure to be used to fight a fire.
Mayor Bevis went on to say that the sidewalks that have recently been rebuilt and cleaned look good, but that the sidewalk across the street from the Post Office is very poorly lit due to the street lights being on the opposite side of the street. City Manager Hickman said that it would help if the shrubs and trees were trimmed at the residence across from the Post Office.
City Attorney Polk mentioned that the shrubbery in front of El Guadalajara restaurant needs to be trimmed again so that drivers pulling out of the parking lot can see oncoming traffic.
With no further business to come before the commission, Vice Mayor Davis made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Warren, and the meeting was adjourned.
