The Americus City Council met on August 22. Council member Terrence Clemmons had selected Gloria Simpson as the honorary council member for the month of August.

Simpson addressed the Council. “We as citizens, all the citizens, we have to support our council. If we don’t, who will? So make sure that we back them. If we got a problem, don’t discuss it among or between one another. Bring it here, where they can do something about it.” Mayor Lee Kinnamon read a proclamation appointing Simpson honorary council member for the month of August.

Kinnamon also presented an award to the finance department. “This is a very special award, given by the Government Finance Officer’s Association, and that is a national organization, has rigorous standards and criteria that are used to qualify a local government for this prestigious award.” Kinnamon read the letter addressed to finance director, Twany Edwards, who will be resigning September 6th. “We are pleased to notify you that your annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year end of December 31 2022 has met the requirements to be awarded GFOA certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting.” He went on to read that the award started in 1945 to encourage State and local governments to exceed the minimum standards and recognize those who do. Edwards addressed the Council. “And this is our 38th consecutive award that was presented.”

Anne Isbell, the director of the Lake Blackshear Library, addressed the Council. “We are a small, four county system. We serve, as you known, Crisp, Dooly, Schley, and Sumter County. Our headquarters are here, in Sumter County. We operate on a budget of about $1.2 million, a little over that.” She told how they received $660,000 from the State and about $550,000 from local sources. Isbell mentioned book check outs were up. “Actual books have been checked out with an increase of 6% over the last year.” She also mentioned that the number was higher when taking into account virtual books. “An additional 17% overall for books and non-books. So as you know, e-books and e-audio books, they’re the big new popular thing.” She also mentioned they were excited that they had new study rooms. “They’re free for the public to use. The classroom holds probably about 20 people.” She also mentioned six person study rooms as well. Isbell mentioned two new projects they had started over the Summer. “One project is called the Palace project. The Palace Project is the idea that when you’re looking for an electronic resource, that you only want to go one place to find out if you have access to that title.” She told how it allowed you to use a single platform to find e-books.

Isbell mentioned the other project was a federal grant administered through the State. “We’re going to get 91 hot spots, wireless hot spots, to be checked out in our community.” She told how they would be distributed throughout the four counties. “We’re going to get a little over $100,000 worth of services and equipment.” She also mentioned they had also been allotted 134 chrome books for checkout.

She summarized attendance. “We don’t quite have our pre-COVID numbers back, but every, every quarter, they are getting a little bit better.”

City attorney Jimmy Skipper presented the revised contract for RMS transport. He mentioned revising errors. “there’s a lot of typographical issues that I had to deal with.”

Skipper mentioned a requirement of the contract. “What this paragraph does is it requires RMS to come up with a process for their receipt and prompt response of consumer complaints about service.”

Council member Daryl Dowdell questioned Skipper. “They submitted to us with all these errors on it like this?”

The Council voted to accept the contract, with all in favor accepting Dowdell, who was opposed.

Public works director George Allen requested approval to apply for the LMIG street resurfacing grant, noting it required a 10% fund match by the City. “The City of Americus qualifies for $205,709.64 for 2025 LMIG resurfacing funds.”

Resurfacing is planned for Sharon Circle, East Jefferson, Welcome Way, East Hill Street, Felder Street, Bronco Drive, and Falcon Drive.

Clemmons questions Allen as to when the road resurfacing process will begin. Allen responded; “I can’t give you an exact date. It will probably be mid to late 2025, hopefully.”

Dowdell expressed concerns about the fairness of the streets selected. Council member Kelvin Pless also expressed concerns.

Kinnamon entertained a motion to approve the list for the application. Council member Nelson Brown made a motion to accept the measure, seconded by Clemmons, passing unanimously.

Dowdell questioned City Manager Diadra Powell. “Is there anything our ordinance, alcohol ordinance, anything about 3% tax on mixed drinks?” Powell stated she would have any answer tomorrow.