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By Joshua Windus

 

 

Photo: Jessie Lee Mercer honored by Cordele Commission

By Joshua Windus

The Cordele City Commission met on April 15. Employee Jessie Lee Mercer was honored by the Commission for 60 years of service to the City of Cordele.

The Council approved an event permit for a silent protest outside City Hall on April 17, 6:00 pm organized by Davontae Hunt.

The Downtown Development Authority gave two recommendations to fill vacancies on its board, Lin Barnes and Roger Buxani. Commissioner Isaac Owens asked about the qualifications for serving on the board, stating he had heard interest from citizens about joining. The Downtown Development Director, Monica Rentfrow, outlined the necessary qualifications, which include living inside the County, and owning or operating a business in the downtown district. “You can have one that lives outside the County, but they have to own a business. The others have to own or operate.” In addition to five business owners or operators, there are two seats reserved for professionals such as a realtor, attorney, or developer, which allows for the Board to make use of their relevant expertise if they acquire land.

Rentfront also listed Lin’s qualifications. “Lin is a realtor. He’s also a developer, and he has experience with small business development, which is something we are trying to really focus on.” The DDA does currently have a developer, though Rentfrow noted that Lin was capable of wearing a variety of hats.

Rentfrow expressed a desire to see new officers approved soon so they could be trained, citing two buildings they wanted to work on. “We’re trying to get this board built up so that we can start working.”

Deriso criticized the appointments. “We don’t just take recommendations that people want us to put. . . we put people on the Board because we see that there is a need for more people that has been historically shut out to be on the Board.” Deriso asked that she bring the names of her recommendations to a Board member or the City Manager instead of the City Commission. “So when we make these appointments, we need to have [confidence] and faith that these people also have some interest coming from us as well.”

Deriso expressed further concerns. “It’s almost a attitude or audacity that people have that when they make appointments that we just supposed to accept them.”

Deriso stated that there was one particular board member of the DDA he had issues with. The Board decided to delay voting on new DDA board members.

The Council revoked the alcohol license for Family Food Mart and OM Jai LLC. Cordele Food Mart, Party Shoppe, and Sonny’s Package Store all had their licenses suspended until they pay the $250 reinstatement fee.

During a public hearing on April 1 concerning the possible suspension or revocation of their alcohol license, Chief of Police Jalon Heard stated that scales with drug traces were found at OM Jai LLC, which is located at 1305 Joe Wright Drive. The Cordele Dispatch reached out to the owner Anand V. Patel, but he declined comment.