The Waycross Police Department will soon have six new vehicles to upgrade an aging patrol fleet after action by the Waycross City Commission last week.
Commissioners approved the purchase of six patrol units at a cost of $330,000 during their bimonthly meeting Tuesday, February 16 in City Hall. The resolution was one of three the commission OK’d in the 30-minute session.
One approved the bid of ESG Engineering to handle the city’s projects tied to Community Development Block Grant funds for Fiscal 2026-27. The other moved the commission’s second bi-monthly work session and meeting next month back a week to Monday-Tuesday, March 23-24.
In other business, commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance related to the WPD, renewed one privilege license, and selected 12 members for the 2025 Waycross Ethics Board.
Mayor Michael-Angelo James conducted the meeting with all five commissioners in attendance. There was no executive session.
Resolutions
The new WPD vehicles — all 2026 Dodge Durangos — will be purchased from Enterprise with funds from the 2023 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The SUVs will be fully equipped to hit the street upon arrival, Chief Tommy Cox said.
Cox said the six will help improve a department fleet of nearly five dozen with at least a third of it a decade in age or older. Some of the units are in a “dilapidated” state, Cox said, needing high-ticket items like motors and transmissions.
The city has used SPLOST funds the past few years to upgrade vehicles for all departments, particularly, fire, police, community improvement and public works. City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford said he hopes at this time next year to have most of the city’s vehicles updated.
The contract with ESG, which handles the city’s water-sewer operations, is at a cost of eight percent per project. The projects will be determined when funding is secured through the grant application.
The change in meeting dates from March 16-17 was needed because of commissioners’ to the National League of City’s Conference in Washington, D.C., set March 15-18.
Ordinance
The ordinance approved amending the language in the oath of office for police officers to reflect updated language approved by the state. It also allows the chief of police to administer the oath.
Chief Cox said the oath now includes “faithfully, fairly and without malice” in execution of the duties of officers. Previously, the City Attorney or City Clerk delivered the oath.
Ethics board
Each of the commissioners, as well as Mayor James, presented two members to serve on the board, should a complaint be filed against a city official. The 12 approved were: Ossie Andrews, Connie Kirkland; (Commissioner Shawn Roberts); Carlos White, Ken Taft; (Commissioner William Simmons); Charles Johnson, Marcus Burden; (Commissioner Shawn Sanders); Phillip Walker, Angie Coleman; (Commissioner William Tompkins) Dr. Albert Bussey, Lorene Regulus; (Commissioner Alvin Nelson); and Kenneth Kirksey, Felecia Leggett (Mayor James).
If a complaint is filed, seven of the 12 — five to comprise the panel and two alternates — will be chosen in a blind draw to hear the case. The group would then decide the merits of the complaint, if it should proceed to a formal hearing to investigate, and making a ruling that could include recommending any legislative or administrative action regarding city policies and practices the board believes would/could enhance the ethical environment in which public servants work. Its findings and recommendations are then reported to commissioners.
