Blackshear City Council discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session Tuesday, January 6 and regular meeting held Monday, January 12. The change of the regular meeting to Monday was previously announced.
Public hearing: The Blackshear City Council held a legally mandated public hearing to give citizens the opportunity to make statements for or against two different rezoning proposals.
The first rezoning request was filed by NGC Properties, wanting to rezone a 1 acre parcel on Grady Street from single family to multi-family for apartments. The second rezoning request was filed by Alison Byrd, wanting to rezone three parcels totaling slightly less than one acre from single family to multifamily, also for apartments. No one spoke either for or against the rezoning requests, which had both been previously recommended for approval by the Joint Planning Advisory Board. Both rezoning requests received their first reading during the following regular session of the council.
Architect selected: The council unanimously voted to approve the selection of Ellis, Ricket and Associates as the architect of record to provide services for the city’s Land Water Conservation Fund grant project to improve the city’s park facilities. Ellis, Ricket and Associates was the only architectural firm to submit a bid to the city, gaining approval by default for lack of competition, but Mayor Brooks attested the firm is “very well qualified”.
Thigpen appointed to advisory board: The city council voted unanimously to appoint Rebecca Thigpen to the Pierce County Joint Planning Advisory Board. Zach Lee has officially resigned his position as a city appointee to the board. Thigpen will serve out the remainder of Lee’s term through Dec. 31 of this year. Mayor Brooks extolled Thigpen’s qualifications, pointing out she was formerly an engineer with Georgia Department of Transportation and was well versed in zoning laws.
KDUG awarded Lakeside contracts: The city council unanimously awarded the contract for the Pinehurst Village Subdivision Phase II project to the KDUG corporation of Bristol. KDUG was the low bidder at $2,266,892.55 and the company was recommended by the city’s engineer, Hofstadter and Associates. KDUG was also awarded a contract to complete the underground excavation for a pipe bursting project on Lakeside Drive in the amount of $573,590.50.
Department Reports Blackshear Police Dept. Report: BPD reported 20 vehicular accidents in the month of December, 2 with injuries. Six warnings, 77 citations and 4 ordinance violation were recorded.
There were only 3 arrests in December, all adults, which is 5 less than December 2024.
Blackshear Volunteer Fire Dept. Report: BFD responded to 53 different events in December, including 7 fires and 13 emergency medical service incidents and 1 incident of unauthorized burning and 1 rubbish or waste fire, both with an official illegal burn notice issued. BFD workers and volunteers completed a total of 121 cumulative hours of activities and training.
Public Works Dept: Last month, the department conducted 6 water service repairs, 2 meter replacements, 4 meter box and meter lid replacements and only 3 sewer service repairs. There were no water and sewage locates, 75 leak checks, locating 60. There were also 10 read checks, 20 close outs, 10 services cut back on and 23 new customers connected in December. There were no incidents of consumer tampering during the reporting period. Public works also performed routine grass maintenance, replaced damaged street signs, conducted routine cleaning of storm drains, repaired potholes and performed routine limb trimming. No cemetery cleaning was done this month.
Main Street Program: The Main Street/Better Hometown program spent $9,997.84 on total operational expenses during the reporting period. The Main Street manager attended one training in December, DCA Coffee and Conversations. There were 4 events during the December reporting period: the Christmas parade, the Christmas Makers Market, the Chamber Cook-Off and Business After Hours at PrimeSouth Bank. Total estimated attendance for all events was 3,000 people Approximately 30 volunteer hours were used to conduct all four events. There was a total cumulative expense of $1,702.06 for all four events.
Senior Center: Center volunteer Karen Herndon reported the recent tricounty seniors beanbag baseball event, held in conjunction with the Pierce Rec. Department, was a big success. (See related article.) Herndon also affectionately scolded the council for “not doing their homework”, saying she had yet to receive from them any responses to the Southern Georgia Regional Commission survey about the best ways to address the needs of Pierce County seniors. Herndon reminded those present of the “spaghetti and survey” dinner the senior center is holding Jan. 20.
Shearly Coleman took a moment to personally deliver a thank you card to the council for the city’s recent donation of $1,500 to the center. “Never underestimate the importance of what you do for our seniors,” said Coleman. Gratitude was also directed to Bethany Strickland and the Better Hometown organization for sponsoring the center’s New Year’s celebration.
Minutes approved: The council unanimously approved minutes from both December’s regular meeting and the January work session.
Attendance: Council members Mat Boatright (District 1) and Jerry Boatright (District 2) were absent from the council’s regular meeting.
Next meeting: The council will hold its next work session, meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 3 and its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 10.
