Blackshear City Council discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session on May 6 and regular meeting held on May 13.
Alley Abandoned: The city council unanimously voted to abandon any claim to 420 feet of alleyway between two parcels of land on NW Central Ave. Public works had previously confirmed there were no existing utilities or sewer for which the the city was responsible. City attorney Adam Ferrell confirmed that everything seemed in order and that the city had no need of the property. Mayor Brooks noted that no one spoke for nor against the proposal at the previously scheduled public hearing on the matter.
Bob Bowen property rezoned: A parcel of land on Bob Bowen Road has been rezoned from industrial to agricultural. Per Mayor Brooks, the landowner requesting the rezoning has no intentions of developing the property and wants it solely as a buffer between his home and the industrial park.
Department Reports Blackshear Police Dept. Report: BPD reported 29 vehicular accidents in the month of April, 4 with injuries. Thirteen warnings and 134 citations were recorded, a jump back up from the low water mark of only 81 citations in March. There were also 11 arrests in April.
Blackshear Fire Dept. Report: BFD responded to 41 dispatched calls in April, plus one call for assistance that was canceled while en route. BFD workers and volunteers completed 233 cumulative total hours of activities and training.
Public Works Dept: Last month, the department conducted six water service repairs, eight sewer service repairs, one sewer main repair, four water and sewer locates and conducted 53 leak checks, locating 38. There were also 10 read checks, 13 close outs, 58 cut offs, 55 cut back on and 16 new customers connected in April. The department also replaced two meters boxes and lids and three incidents of consumer tampering occurred during the reporting period. Public works also performed weekly solid waste removal and disbursement at the landfill, replaced damaged street signs, conducted routine cleaning of storm drains, repaired potholes and performed routine grass maintenance at the cemetery.
Main Street Program: The Better Hometown (BHT) report recorded $19,524 in operational expenses for the month of April. Program funds and 15 volunteer hours were used for multiple events, including a Chamber of Commerce press conference and the outdoor painting Plein Air Event, which had a combined attendance of about 100 people.
Senior Center: A brief report from the Pierce Senior Center confirmed dates for the upcoming Senior Farmers Markets, June 12 in Blackshear and August 1 in Offerman.
A senior olympics event took place May 29 at Laura Walker Park.
Hospice Satilla is currently sponsoring a vegetable growing contest, men versus women. The ladies are currently in the lead.
Attendance: Mayor Keith Brooks, city attorney Adam Ferrell and the entire city council were in attendance.
Council comments: Councilman Corey Lesseig congratulated Better Hometown Manager Bethany Strickland on another successul Beats and Eats in the city park.
Next meeting: The council held its next work session yesterday, June 3. The next regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. next Tuesday, June 10.
