The 2009 budget, water concerns, sewer issues and downtown development were all part of the discussion during a Maysville City Council retreat. The council held the retreat at Unicoi State Park in Helen Saturday.
The council agreed that the retreat was beneficial and another retreat has tentatively been scheduled for October 18 in Maysville.
Discussion about the 2009 budget was the first subject on the list of items that the council reviewed. Mayor Jerry Baker said that despite being slightly over budget in a few areas, mainly fuel costs, the budget overall is good.
One concern raised was the income paid into the city by residents using city water and other utilities. Council member Stephan Lewis commented that it is a bad time to be in the water businesses due to drought conditions.
One possible solution for the city would allow WastePro to collect its own billing for trash pickup.
“We are losing money,” Baker said. “We are paying it out if we get paid or not. If they pick up and move, we are stuck with the [bill]. In the upcoming year, we have got to be very careful with this budget, because if we [do not have] customers that are paying we are going to be in the red.”
On another matter related to WastePro, the council discussed the status of the promised recycling bins and the contract. Besides a few issues with the initial change in service, the WastePro service has been received well by residents.
Other matters discussed on the budget ranged from local businesses and Community Bank coming into the city to the funds available for streetlights. On the matter of streetlights, the initial estimated cost would be $8,000.
Clay Dorsey said, “Number one, it should have been developer’s responsibility. We can change that for the future, but cannot do anything about the past. Developers should be responsible for initial cost, after that homeowners should decide if they want to cover it.”
The council seemed to favor imposing future developers with the cost of putting in the lights, while addressing key safety areas as it becomes feasible.
The council also spent time discussing the following topics at the retreat:
•fuel costs from the police department and water department’s dip into the red caused the council to discuss adding funds to cover the cost of fuel while maintaining the departments conservation methods.
•the need for personnel for the police department, Downtown Development Authority, library and a Class III operator required by the EPD.
•city property and proposed uses involving public parking and city parks.
•status of various buildings in downtown and city owned properties.
•water concerns focused on the drilling of wells to supply the city and the ways to cover the cost of monitoring consumption.
As for the police department cut back to 2 men and let the rest go...Maysville was just fine with one cop for along time.
Jerry Baker needs to stop playing fireman and start running the city like he promised... not letting his buddies run it.
Sounds like the people of Maysville elected a bunch of "talkers" that like to go on retreat and spend money !
I just don't see it. The good ole boy system is still
in place and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
The police department has and always will be seen as a
joke. They are not paid enough and they don't receive
enough training. I know several officer's who have
tried to work part time at the police department only to
be turned away because they have more training then the
chief. The fire department is the same way, except they
cannot do anything about it because the mayor wants to
be the fire chief. The city needs to come into the 21st
Century and get professional people to do a professional
job.
If you want unethical goverment look no further the Maysville ,GA.... Both the Mayor and Ward 1 councilman serve on the Fire department when state law says a volunteer fireman MAY NOT serve on a local governing board or council. The city pays the fire department tax payers money each year...clear conflict of interest by both men yet no one gives a toot !
Progress...not a chance as long as Baker is mayor and Lyle's is Fire Chief.
Come on people wake up !
It should be clear by now that the Maysville Fire Department is not a part of the City of Maysville Government. It is a part of Jackson County Government which imposes a Fire Tax on tax payers living on the Jackson County side of that fire district. The City of Maysville contracts with Jackson County to provide fire protection on the Banks County side of Maysville and imposes the same fire tax and millage rate charged by Jackson County to its residents of the fire district.
In addition, Georgia Attorney General Opinion No. U98-8 plainly states that:
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS----Dual Service as a volunteer firefighter and member of a city council or county commission does not violate the provision of O.C.G.A. 36-30-4 or O.C.G.A. 45-2-2.