Blackshear City Council discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session on October 7 and regular meeting held on October 14.
Downtown Development Authority created: Different from the Main Street program and Better Hometown organizations of which Blackshear is already taking part, during its regular September meeting, the city council unanimously voted to approve the creation of a Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The Blackshear DDA will exist as a corporate entity with the power to buy, hold, lease and sell property for the purposes of revitalizing and maintaining a central business district within the city limits. The DDA will also have the power to issue bonds and enter into contracts in order to carry out its mission. The city council also approved the appointment of seven individuals to comprise the DDA’s board, each serving until such time as “a successor is duly appointed and qualified.” (See related article in this edition of The Times) Public Hearing: Prior to the council’s work session, a brief public hearing covering two topics took place. The proposed increase in the city’s millage rate received no public comment nor did the proposed rezoning of land parcel #B05-022A on Grady Street between Johnson Street and 251 Grady Street. The parcel was proposed to be rezoned from single family residential to multi-family residential.
Millage rate for FY 2025-2026 approved: After holding the legally required public hearings Oct. 7, prior to adoption the 2025-2026 city budget and millage rate, the city council approved the new millage rate at the Oct. 15 regular meeting. The millage rate will be 8.664 mills, which is less than the roll back rate and shall be levied on all property within the city limits.
Grady Street rezoning approved: The city council unanimously approved a rezoning request from Saltwater Sage Properties, LLC. The rezoned property consists of approximately less than one fifth of an acre located on Grady Street between Johnson Street and 251 Grady Street, recorded as Parcel #B05-022A. The parcel was rezoned from single family residential to multifamily residential. Applicant Jody DuPont said she is unsure if the building will be “a duplex or a great looking triplex,” but is confident it will be of good quality and help satisfy the numerous calls she gets requesting available housing within the city limits.
IDBA Board appointment: The city council unanimously approved a motion to reappoint Perry Tison to the Industrial Development and Building Authority Board. The appointment was made retroactive to September 1, 2025 to cover the period of time between the expiration of Tison’s previous term and the council becoming aware of the need to reappoint him.
Department Reports Blackshear Police Dept. Report: BPD reported 24 vehicular accidents in the month of September, 5 with injuries. Fifteen warnings and 245 citations, including 4 ordinance violations were recorded. There were also 24 arrests, 23 adults and one juvenile, which is a 450% increase over September 2024. There has also been an approximately 378% increase in DUIs year-to-date with only 9 reported as of September 2024 and 43 as of September this year.
Blackshear Volunteer Fire Dept. Report: BFD responded to, assisted with or were on standby for 32 different events in September, including one downed power line and one instance of unauthorized burning. BFD workers and volunteers also completed a total of 248 cumulative hours of activities and training.
Public Works Dept: The public works employee who compiles the monthly task data has been absent due to illness so there is no departmental task data for the second month in a row. Fuel and mileage reporting was turned in, but the monthly task list was blank. The Times will provide this information as soon as the reports are updated.
Main Street Program: The Main Street/Better Hometown program filed no reports for the month of September.
Senior Center: There was no one present to deliver the monthly update on senior center activity. A report should be forthcoming in November.
Attendance: Mayor Keith Brooks, City Attorney Adam Ferrell, Councilmen 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, November 4 and its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 11.
