A long listed agenda awaited the Mayor and Council members of Warner Robins on Monday evening. Steps to move forward and progress the city in the right direction were taken by approving several ordinances and motions. To add to the list, one of the major motions of the evening consisted of approving hazard pay for all of the city employees on the front lines between March 1, 2020 to November 29, 2020 distributed from the funds received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by President Donald Trump, in recognition of the hard work and dedication to the public health and safety the employees have demonstrated.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Toms held a press release at the Warner Robins Fire Department training facility to announce the proposal for voting on the topic at the city council meeting. The hazard pay would serve as a bonus to city employees on a tiered basis from officers, full time, down to part time employees.
Councilman Charlie Bibb added his praise for everyone’s hard work. “I just want to say congratulations to all city employees. From the top down, you are all well deserving of this. Thank you for all you guys do. …I think it’s going to be a great thing for the city and it’s a great day today. I want to congratulate the city…during this pandemic.”
Councilman Kevin Lashley chimed in saying, “Every employee deserves this, from the frontline all the way to the backline. Every employee we’ve had has done a fantastic job during this time. Basically what this boils down to is hazard pay that other communities have been paying all along. We’re basically catching up to where we need to be. Job well done by all.” He praised the first responders down to customer support, noting how difficult dealing with such a precarious situation has been.
Mayor Toms had nothing but encouraging and heartfelt words for his employees and fellow citizens of Warner Robins. “Sometimes we get the credit for things we don’t deserve the credit for,” began Toms. “Our employees…they’re the ones that are out there. The employees of the city of Warner Robins are some of the best in the state. …We do an excellent job of working together and helping each other out. I am proud to be a member of the Warner Robins employee team.”
Keeping morale up during hard times is one of the most important things a leader must be able to do. Mayor Toms expressed his gratitude and excitement to be able to do something big for those who serve their community. He went on to say, “I want to say thank you in an intangible way, but I’m grateful that we have the opportunity in the midst of a global pandemic to say thank you in a tangible way….Thank you, thank you, thank you. It can never be said enough.”
Among the agenda, Mayor Toms and the Council members voted on the ordinances of the Mid-State Energy Commission, general purchasing procedures, sole source procurement, storm water department amendment and emergency procurement. The resolutions passed were the Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Slum and Blight Designation.
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