Council holds brief October meeting

Members of Swainsboro City Council and Mayor Charles Schwabe convened for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m. in the classroom of Swainsboro Fire Department.

Calling the meeting to order, Mayor Schwabe welcomed all before calling on City Administrator Al Lawson to lead the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited by all.

Council then reviewed minutes from the last council meeting. These minutes were approved unanimously with Councilperson Julian Sconyers making the motion and Councilperson Johnny Ray Stafford providing the second.

Scheduled on the night’s agenda to speak with council regarding a recently revoked business license was Unrico Lloyd. However, due to Lloyd being absent, council carried on with the next agenda item, the second reading of the protective mask ordinance.

Lawson advised all councilmembers that a public hearing and third reading of said ordinance would take place before a final decision is made on the matter.

In other news:

• Councilperson John E. Parker took initiative to compliment local law enforcement, commending Swainsboro Police Chief Randy Ellison, who recently responded to Parker’s residence to assist with gaining access to a set of keys that had been mistakenly locked inside of the home.
• Mayor Schwabe then invited Chief Ellison to take the floor to announce an upcoming inaugural event set for this coming Saturday, nationwide Faith in Blue. 

Upon taking the floor, Chief Ellison presented all councilmembers with an invitational flyer while providing details on the weekend event set to take place at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church Swainsboro. He advised that all local agencies plan to be in attendance for this particular presentation that is co-sponsored by Swainsboro Police Department and Georgia State Patrol Post 19.

Stafford and Chief Ellison then expressed appreciation to Sconyers and members of the church for allowing the location to serve as the host spot as well as their offer to provide a freshly prepared meal to all law enforcement officers after the program’s conclusion.

Mayor Schwabe and remaining councilpersons also relayed positive words on the matter. Councilperson Rita Faulkner advised the importance of masks being worn and social distancing being practiced by all in attendance of the Faith in Blue event, and Councilpersons Bobbi Collins, Faulkner, and Parker inquired about advance notices being given for future events so that additional contributions can be made.

• Parker then addressed issues regarding trash pick-up dates, to which Lawson advised that the new operation management is working to have all issues resolved and normally scheduled picks-ups should resume within the possible next two weeks or at least by the first of November.
• Parker then inquired about an estimated timeframe to expect minutes from previous meetings to be made available on the city’s new website. Lawson advised the progress on the matter and stated the information should be made available through the online source soon.
• Chief Ellison inquired about that status of city shop employees and operations, to which Mayor Schwabe advised that all special needs or concerns should be addressed to Lawson so that efforts to resolve any issues may be executed during the current transitional process.
• Councilperson Collins then addressed a previous appreciation being made on her behalf at the September meeting did not make print in The Forest-Blade. She then requested that Swainsboro Fire Department Chief Strobridge and firefighter Frank Nasworthy, who were both present at the meeting, stand for an in-person “thank you.” She expressed words of appreciation for 911 employees, local firefighters, law enforcement as well as other emergency personnel for responding to her residence to assist with a house fire. She commended all on a job well done as well as their prompt timing on the matter.
• Lastly, prior to the night’s meeting being adjourned, Councilperson Parker inquired on contract bids for landscape work performed within the city. Lawson advised that the current contract is set on a two-year term that will enter its final year of contract come 2021.

With no other business to discuss, council then adjourned until the next scheduled monthly meeting.