Blackshear City Council discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session on September 2 and regular meeting held on September 9.
Opioid Settlement: The council unanimously approved joining a class action suit filed against Purdue Pharma for damages suffered during the opioid crisis due to overprescription of the highly addictive medicine. ( See related coverage in this edition.)
Liquor License: The city council unanimously approved a motion to grant a new alcohol license to Tulasi LLC, doing business as GX Market. The license is for the convenience store located 931 Main Street, across from Tiger Field. Nothing has changed except that the location is under new ownership. Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright confirmed that all the paperwork and other requirements had been fulfilled.
Department Reports Blackshear Police Dept. Report: BPD reported 19 vehicular accidents in the month of August, 5 with injuries. Fourteen warnings, 141 citations and 1 ordinance violation were recorded. There were also 9 arrests in August, but arrests year to date so far are down 28% overall.
Blackshear Volunteer Fire Dept. Report: BFD responded to, assisted with or were on standby for 38 different events in August. BFD workers and volunteers also completed a total of 235 cumulative hours of activities and training.
Public Works Dept: The gentleman who files the reporting documents for the Public Works Department is currently out due to an injury. Fuel and mileage reporting were made available, but there will be no task report filed for the month of August.
The Times will provide this information as soon as the reports are updated.
Main Street Program: The Main Street/Better Hometown program spent $5,600 during the reporting period. Better Hometown Manager Bethany Strickland attended a training seminar at the Georgia Downtown Association during the reporting period. Three events occurred during the month of August: the opening of J. Leonard’s new location, Vintage J’s ribbon cutting and the Smash Brothers Gaming Tournament at the NFC gym. Forty volunteer hours were used to conduct these various events. One business closed during the month of August, The Book and Bean, resulting in the loss of two jobs.
Senior Center: Senior Center Director Lynn Platt delivered the monthly update, saying volunteer Karen Herndon was taking a much needed break. Platt reported that the combined seniors farmers market events have served 378 seniors in the county so far. Another event is scheduled for Sept. 29 due to extra funds disbursed from the state via AAA. Platt also thanked Blackshear Fire Department (BFD) Chief Bucky Goble for regularly checking in on the center to ensure fire codes are being observed and stressing the importance of the center’s sign in sheet. In case of emergencies, the BFD needs an accurate headcount of those at the center.
Attendance: Mayor Keith Brooks, city attorney Adam Ferrell and council members Chuck Ward, Corey Lesseig, Jerry Boatright, Theo Mackey and Mat Boatright were all in attendance at the regular session.
Next meeting: The council will hold its next work session, meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 7 and its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 14.
