Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Lucas C. Allison

Dispatch Correspondent

 

The Abbeville City Council held it regular monthly meeting Thursday April 3, 2025. Attending were Mayor Ronald Spires, Councilwomen Jo Barton, Patricia Wells, Penny Harris, Councilmen Hunter Cook, Kirk Muscleman, and Lucas McFall. City Clerk, Police Chief Jay Wood, Streets/Maintenance. Invocation by Billy Joe Millins, the Pledge of Allegiance by all. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved after being properly moved and seconded.

 

First on the agenda was Mr. Scott Alderman in person and Mr. Tom Sloop via phone regarding water/sewer projects and renovations to the city park on Highway 280 and site of the Wild Hog Festival.  It was noted that at last months meeting council stated the bank was loaning the city $$700,000.00, until the reimbursement for bills submitted for payment on the projects which will be a flow through.  The amount billed was $670,000.00, however only $500,000.00 was paid with the balance being billed at the next draw, Mr. Alderman stated the bills are supposed to be in his office by the 25^th of the month.  Mr. Alderman and Sloops gave detailed status report on the projects and answered questions from the mayor and council on if the work would be completed prior to the Wild Hog Festival, if not the area would be secured so it would be useable, and work completed following the Wild Hog Festival. It was reported estimated time of completion of work on park and sidewalks would be April 27^th. Mr. Sloops via phone stated requests for GEFA loan of one million and a grant for one million will go before the GEFA board in May this is for oxidation pond, new fencing and pumping station to keep in compliance with EPD when the river overflows.  There is also an application through GEFA for a one-million-dollar loan and a one-million-dollar grant for drinking water improvements. The loans will be 20 to 30 years at 2.50 percent interest this means for both projects loan payments will be approximately $9000.00 per month. It was noted the applications have been approved by underwriting and will come before the mayor and council for approval before anything moves forward.

 

Mr. Kevin Poss addressed council regarding use of  the Farmers Market area, also access to the RV hookups for the RC Car Racing event he has scheduled for April 18-20, 2025, he stated he is  already having to use a major portion of his property for the event, and he needs clarity as to if the venue will be available so he can let participants and spectators know.  He will need Farmers Market area for a couple of hours both Saturday and Sunday for the race, Mr. Poss also noted the restrooms wouldn’t be needed as he is having porta potties on site for the event. Mr. Alderman agreed to meet with Mr. Poss Friday morning at 10am, to clarify what is needed for race. Councilwoman Jo Barton wanted the public to know that the Farmers Market area is available for public use, just check with the city clerk to schedule so there is no conflicts.

 

 

 

 

 

Next on agenda was Mr. Joe Hill, who stated he was there to find out why he wasn’t allowed to speak at last month’s meeting. Mr. Hill stated he filled out the Citizen form to be on agenda and indicated he wanted to talk about street lights and water.  He said the mayor called him before the meeting in March and said the lights are GA Power problem not the city and that he wouldn’t be allowed to speak at the meeting.  This ensued to a lot of back-and-forth banter about who can use what parks, buildings in the city and procedure for requesting to be on agenda for council meetings. Councilman Muscleman noted that all citizens can use all parks in the city and may request use of the community center. Mr. Hill asked that when the Hwy 280 park is completed will the city try and get some help for the Mottie Lunford Park. It was noted that the park is owned by the city, the housing authority and a church which Mr. Hill and Mr. Henry Young and Mr. Marvin Everson stated is a safety and fire hazard and needs to be condemned and the lot cleaned off. It was noted that the city could do that by eminent domain. A suggestion was made to council to enclose the shed located at Mottie Lunford Park, the mayor and council stated they would work on getting that completed.  Councilwoman Patricia Wells inquired of mayor and council is it permissible for council members or the mayor to call a citizen prior to a meeting and tell them they would not be allowed to speak in a meeting if they have filled out a request to do so. Mayor and councilmembers asked Mr. Hill to make a list of needed repairs and improvements and prioritize them and bring them back to council so we can see how to best make the park better.

\

Mr. Roy McCall addressed council and stated the March 6, 2025,  meeting was anything but peaceful, as stated earlier the mayor refused to allow Mr. Hill to speak and calling him prior to the meeting to tell him this.  Mr. McCall inquired if the city clerk and mayor can do just anything they please.  Can the mayor just buy and sell city equipment and assets  as he sees fit without approval of council? He state this is not Ronald Spires town he has to answer to council and citizens.  Councilwoman Wells stated any citizen can request a copy of the agenda from the city clerk, it was also noted that notice of meetings must be posted with agenda 24 hours prior to any meeting.  There was also discussion on the Citizen Request to be on Agenda with recommendations for  clerk to assist citizen filling out the form if needed, changing amount of time to speak from current 10 minutes to 5 minutes, that request to be on the agenda must be submitted 48 hours prior to the meeting so the city can comply with the 24 hours’ notice of meetings. No action were taken in regard to the process, but the matter was postponed/tabled until the next meeting.

 

The council and mayor discussed having a workshop meeting monthly two weeks prior the regular monthly meeting.  It was also discussed moving the regular monthly meetings from the first Thursday to the Second Thursday each month to allow council to receive record of income/expenses for the previous month to keep a more accurate control of the budget. No actions were taken on the matters and will be discussed a future meeting.