The monthly meeting of the Swainsboro Mayor and City Council was held on Monday evening, October 7, 2024. In addition to concerns and discussion surrounding the recent damage throughout the city from hurricane Helene a full agenda of business was slated. Following an invocation from Pastor Andrew Flowers and the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes from a called meeting on August 15, 2024, and a regular meeting of September 9, 2024, were presented and accepted. Under old business, the Gumlog gymnasium project was discussed, and council was advised that the project would continue beginning next week following a delay caused by the weather. Under new business, council discussed changing the pension multiplier. A motion was made and approved to adopt the change. Council next discussed amending the new alcohol ordinance. No action was taken pending more discussion on the closing times for different days of the week. Next council discussed auditing services and approved renewal of the standing arrangement with Lanier, Deal, Proctor and Bloser, CPAs. Council also reviewed the contract with Jon Levis as city attorney. The current twelve-month contract with Levis was renewed at a fee of $75,000.00. Council also approved maintaining a contract for groundskeeping with Southern Landscape at a yearly cost of $192,000.00. Council then discussed and approved the 2025 budget. The final agenda item dealt with terms of councilmembers. A motion to change the length of council terms from the long-standing four years to three years was discussed. This would require a change in the City Charter, and it was not clear as to the final disposition of the motion. The Blade will report the result of this action as soon as it can be determined. At this point, the regular agenda was completed, and council went into executive session for discussion of a contract exemption.
