Monday, July 7th, 2025
6:30 P.M. Community Center
Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins, Council Members Thomas Gary and Mike Barfield. Library Manager Rhonda O. and City Clerk Irma Robles. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: Council member Josh Burkhalter, City Attorney Jody Campbell, Finance Director Glenda Cantrell, Public Works Director Doyle Samples, and Mainstreet Newspaper (Draft minutes emailed to Mr. Mike Buffington on 7/8/2025).
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Steve T. Nichols called the Council Meeting on July 7th, 2025, to order at 6:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.
APPROVAL OF JULY 7TH, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: Council Member Mike Barfield made a motion to amend the Agenda for July 7th, 2025, on the Old/Unfinished Business section from “Approval of March 2025 Financial Report” to “Approval of April 2025 Financial Report”. Councilman Thomas Gary seconded. There were no discussions, and all were in favor. The agenda was amended.
APPROVAL OF JUNE 2ND, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Councilman Thomas Gary motioned to approve the Council Meeting Minutes on June 2nd, 2025, as presented; Councilman Mike Barfield seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.
MAY 2025 FINANCIALS: Councilman Thomas Gary motioned to approve the May 2025 Financials as presented. Council member Mike Barfield seconded this motion. Councilman Thomas Gary inquired if the city is losing money by providing the sanitation pickup service, as evidenced by the income item 34.4100 for $7,973.21 to Sanitation and the expense item 52.2110 for $10,397.35 for Disposal (Garbage Pickup). City Clerk Irma Robles responded that she believes income item 34.4100 only includes cash and check payments, but not credit card payments. However, she would check with Finance Director Glenda Cantrell the following business day and email the city council with more information. There were no further discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved. May 2025 Financials were approved.
- Applicant and owner, Nicholas Zaslavsky. Request to rezone 2.349 acres located at 4331 Highway 441 – also known as Tract number two, a portion of Map & Parcel # 013 033, recorded on Plat Book 89, Page 39 and Deed Book 114X, Page 329; from the current SR (Suburban Residential) District to HB (Highway Business) District. Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to approve this zoning request with the stipulation that a vegetative buffer be installed in front of the actual business and along Highway 441 to offset the appearance of the building. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. Mayor Nichols asked the applicant if he could comply with this stipulation, and the applicant stated that he could. Mayor Nichols asked the applicant if a sign would be erected, and the applicant replied that he would put up a sign, and he could also build a flower bed around it. Councilman Mike Barfield emphasized that no business will be conducted outside of the approved area. There were no further questions, comments, or discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved.
- Selection of Bid: City Shop 50×80 Metal Building Installation. Mayor Nichols presented three bids: DCI Metals for $194,650.00, Riley Contracting Inc. for $217,000.00, and Walter Barnett Construction for $225,164.00. Councilman Mike Barfield made a motion to table this agenda item, as the three bids are not “apples to apples” (i.e., not comparable), and a building cannot be constructed without electrical and plumbing. He believes that the city needs to have a bid that covers them all, identical, apples-to-apples, or to get an electrical/plumbing contractor first and then do the building. Councilman Thomas Gary stated that the bids are in line with the city’s request. Mayor Nichols added that all bidders had the option to include the electrical work if they wished to do so. Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. Councilman Thomas Gary opposed. Motion was tabled. There were several discussions about using an engineering company for these projects worth more than $20,000.00, and the possibility of amending the city’s purchasing policy since the city is already using an engineering company for the paving of roads only.
- Contract for Services: Adult Literacy Jackson: Councilman Mike Barfield motioned to approve the Contract, and Councilman Thomas Gary seconded this motion. There were no discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved.
Resolution: City of Civility: Councilman Thomas Gary inquired whether this is an annual resolution and if the city can cease approving it at any time. Mayor Nichols replied that it is a yearly resolution, and the city can no longer participate in it by not adopting the resolution the following year. Councilman Thomas Gary made a motion to approve the resolution; Council Member Mike Barfield seconded. There were no further questions or discussions. All were in favor. Motion was approved.
OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Approval of April 2025 Financial Report. Mayor Nichols mentioned that the revised April 2025 financial report provides more information on Miscellaneous items, and it is included in tonight’s agenda packet. Councilman Mike Barfield made a motion to approve the April 2025 Financial Report. Council member Thomas Gary seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. Financials were approved.
LIBRARIAN’S REPORT
Rhonda O’Keeffe, Library Manager.
8 programs in June
-4 paid outside programs
-4 craft in-house programs
Over one thousand people attended our programming in June.
Lunches May/June
-Over 700 meals served in this time frame. The last day for lunches is Wednesday, July 30. School starts back on Thursday, July 31st.
Adult Programming
The Quilters, Adult Book Club, and the Adult Cookbook club have been ongoing.
2025 Summer Reading Program (SRP)
Nicholson Library has four programs left for our SRP. Their ending program is the Foam/Water program on Thursday, July 17, in the park. The last day to turn in reading stats for children is
Saturday, August 2nd. Grand Prize drawings will be the following week. They are also running an Adult Summer Reading Program for the month of July. The Adult reading ends on July 31st. Prizes are drawn weekly.
Grants and Splost
The library has won a grant from AARP. This grant money will cover the remaining costs for our updated Veterans Wall. The Library Manager hopes to have the new circulation desk and end panels installed by August.
Upcoming
The library has started working on winding down SRP. Sherri Stephens (Library Assistant) and Mrs. Rhonda will be attending the EJES and SJES Open Houses on July 29th. She will start visiting SJES with the mobile library in August. The staff and the Library Manager have started working on our Halloween Event.
Councilman Lamar Watkins asked how much money was collected from the quilt raffle. Mrs. Rhonda replied that it was just a little over $1,000.00, which is more than the amount collected in the last two years. They will stick to UGA quilts since these are more publicly attractive.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Steve T. Nichols
-Mayor Nichols provided an update on the community center project.
Mayor Steve thanked city staff for a spectacular Independence Day Celebration event, which was a success and drew a large crowd of attendees.
-Councilman Thomas Gary added that he is exploring the possibility of extending the duration of the fireworks display and hiring parking and traffic directors for next year.
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: N/A
ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Mike Barfield motioned to adjourn the July 7th, 2025, Council Meeting. Councilman Thomas Gary seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
Announcements:
*Next Work Session – July 24th, 2025, at 6:30 pm
*Next Council Meeting– August 4th, 2025, at 6:30 pm
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Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles