The Waynesboro City Commission met in regular session on Monday, September 11, 2023 at City Hall in Waynesboro. All commissioners were in attendance, including Mayor Jeff Davis, Vice Mayor Lynn Warren, Commissioner Jeff Howell, Commissioner Chris Bevis, and Commissioner Tony Creasy. Also in attendance were City Manager John Hickman, City Recorder Paige Casteel, and City Attorney Josh Polk.
After addressing a light agenda of new business, the commissioners were allowed to address current topics during “Open Items.” Mayor Davis said that the main complaint of Waynesboro citizens still seems to be the odor from the sewer plant. City Manager Hickman updated the commission on current happenings at the sewer plant that have been affecting the odor situation. First of all, there are three motors at the plant that continue to be down: the digester motor, the aerator motor, and the effluent meter. These three components of the plant that are not functioning are definitely contributing to the odor problem. City Manager Hickman said that the old motors have been sent off to be rebuilt, but there is not a definite date when they will be ready. He went on to say that the new belt press generator and trailer have been delivered but not yet set up. Hickman explained that everything else must be working for the belt press to run correctly.
Commissioner Bevis asked about the situation with the gazebo on the square. The commission agreed that public opinion seems to support moving the gazebo to the City Park rather than tearing it down. The new owner of the lot where the gazebo now stands, Jason Crews, has not given the city a deadline for when the gazebo must be moved, but he does plan to develop the lot for his business. Mr. Crews has told the city that he would still allow the gazebo to be decorated for the upcoming holidays if it remains where it is now. The gazebo is approximately 16ft wide, and it is believed that it can be picked up by a crane, set on a flatbed truck, and transported to the park. The commission has not yet decided on a date for this to happen.
Commissioner Howell said that he had recently been hearing complaints regarding vehicles speeding on South High Street and other back streets in the city. He asked if it would be possible to increase police presence on the streets that are affected, and went on to ask why there is only one police officer on duty at night. Police Chief Walter Smith stated that there are currently two officers in the police academy, and when they come back the police department will be fully staffed. Chief Smith and the commissioners discussed the possibility of staggering the night shift officers’ schedules so that two officers can be on duty until midnight. No final decision was made.
With no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned.
