The Waynesboro City Commission met in regular session on Monday, May 10th, 2021 at City Hall in Waynesboro. Commissioners present included Mayor Chris Bevis, 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. Vice Mayor Jeff Davis was absent.
Mayor Bevis called the meeting to order, and Commissioner Howell offered the invocation.
First on the agenda was approval of the minutes from the previous commission meeting. Commissioner Howell made a motion to approve with one correction on the spelling of a name. Commissioner Warren seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved.
City Manager Hickman next distributed copies of the monthly cash collateral statements and investment reports to the commissioners for their review.
Next on the agenda was a discussion of the Independence Day Celebration event. City Manager Hickman said that the fireworks display has already been booked, but pointed out to the commission that if the city wants to have musical entertainment at this year’s event, a decision needs to be made very soon. Commissioner Howell made a motion to go ahead with plans for musical entertainment at the event. Commissioner Creasy seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Next was a discussion of the sale of the Tie Camp Road/Industrial Park property. At the last regular commission meeting, a representative from MDN Development, the company that is interested in purchasing land at the Industrial Park, addressed the commission. He stated that his company has studied the feasibility of constructing a housing community for independent-living senior citizens at the site, and they believe that it would be successful. Commissioner Warren made a motion to accept bid(s) on the property and decide after bid(s) were received whether or not to sell the property. After further discussion, Commissioner Warren rescinded his motion and the topic was tabled until the next meeting when all commissioners are able to be in attendance.
The awardance of the Highway 64 East water line extension bid was next. Kim Eakes of Griggs & Maloney Engineering told the commission that one bid was received for the water line project, from TJ Construction in the amount of $1,066,951.00. Although the bid is approximately $455,000.00 more than the amount originally allotted for the project, Ms. Eakes and City Manager Hickman explained to the commission that COVID relief funds distributed through the American Rescue Plan Act could be used to make up the difference. Commissioner Howell made a motion to accept the bid, and Commissioner Creasy seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Citizens to Address the Commission was the next item on the agenda. Mr. Sloan Clayton, who stated to the commission that he was there to represent his friend and neighbor Mr. Josh Mitchell, addressed the commission regarding recent issues that Mr. Mitchell has been having with some other neighbors regarding livestock on his property. After Mr. Clayton explained the situation to the commission, City Attorney Polk told him that he would look further into the Tennessee State Code pertaining to regulations about livestock within city limits.
Mr. Roger Pitts addressed the commission next regarding the poor condition of Pointer Road. The commission agreed that Pointer Road is indeed a city street, and is in dire need of asphalt repair and better lighting. The commission told Mr. Pitts that the asphalt repair would be put at the top of the list in the fall when the paving company begins their work in Waynesboro, and City Manager Hickman said that he would meet with TVEC within the next few days to have more street lights installed.
Under open items on the agenda, Commissioner Howell said that he had been approached by a citizen who said that Taylor Street needs to be widened.
Commissioner Warren said that someone had spoken to him about the possibility of a crosswalk being installed in front of the George Gray Law Firm connecting to the inside of the square. The commission briefly discussed how or where a crosswalk could be installed without having to sacrifice parking spaces, but no decision was made at this time.
Commissioner Creasy asked if the outfield temporary fencing had been put up yet at the Sportsplex, and City Manager Hickman said that it was on the list to be done as soon as the crew could get to it.
Mayor Bevis said that the drainage tile at Jones Lane and Hassell Street needs to be cleaned out.
With no further business to come before the commission, Commissioner Creasy made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Howell seconded the motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
