Warner Robins Mayor and Council met Monday and approved the creation of a new department as well as reorganization of current departments.
The newly created is the Internal Services Department. Procurement Manager Kim Demoonie was appointed to the director of the Internal Services. Mayor Randy Toms said Internal Services is combining the Purchasing, IT, and other sub departments, into it. With Demoonie as the current purchasing agent, Toms said that’s what led him to appoint her as the director.
Toms also said the Human Resources will be its own department now, and current manager, Toni Graham, will now serve as the director.
“After much discussion we wanted to make human resources its own entity,” Toms said. “We are even looking into finding a building for them to be housed in to give employees the opportunity to privately voice concerns and grievances. To do that in City Hall can be intimidating.”
Lastly, the Finance Department will now see reorganization. Council approved the appointment of Theresa Thornton as the new Finance Director/CFO (Chief Financial Officer). Toms said they plan to meet with departments over the next couple of weeks to fine-tune the new order chart.
In other business, some Council members were caught off guard with the order of filling appointments to the Development Authority of Warner Robins. Councilman Kevin Lashley made the motion to appoint Kent Jordan, Jon Nichols, and Jade Morey. Councilman Charlie Bibb seconded the motion. Before the vote was taken, Councilman Keith Lauritsen said he wasn’t aware of the appointments.
“I don’t have a problem with these individuals, but I think we need to make sure everyone knows what’s going on when it comes to making appointments to the different boards,” Lauritsen said. “There needs to be more communication as it hasn’t happened in the past. I don’t know who made these appointments, but I certainly don’t have anything against them. They’re people I would nominate, but it would have been nice to discuss this before taking a vote.”
Councilman Daron Lee echoed Lauritsen’s comments and further stated that, “It’s just good practice as far as integrity and moral to be have more communication, regardless if we agree or disagree. Let’s move forward in a positive direction.”
Lashley said he brought forth the appointments and said that each individual was well qualified to serve on the board.
Councilman Larry Curtis, a current member of the Development Authority of Warner Robins, said that no one discussed with him about the new appointments.
“I agree we do need to move forward, but in my personal opinion, putting them on now without that communication would set us back. This board has been doing very well and it’s actually one of the best boards that I have been on. Right now, we have some projects in the pipeline, and the members whose terms are expiring have great relationships with these developers. So to bring on two new people… it’s not a good time.”
Lee acknowledged that in the past, appointments that had been made were political.
“There was a season where majority, that same process we did just now, brought in names, like what was done today,” Lee said. I was a part of it, same thing that did not make it across the board fair because politics got involved. Here it is now again, but we need to move forward with better communication. Whether you’re with it or not, it’s politics. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose, but what outweighs the yeas or nays is transparency.”
Bibb agreed with Lee, but disagreed with Curtis.
“I don’t want to create controversy, but for Mr. Curtis to say that the current board is the best it’s ever been is a false statement. Trying to get information from them is like pulling teeth. These three appointments will bring different opinions and bring unity. They will also bring politics on both sides instead of just one side. That’s what we have right now is a one-sided development authority. And I believe with these new appointments, it will make the board even better than it already is. That’s transparency, and that’s the truth.”
Curtis shared that he keeps Toms informed of what takes place and that he has also asked Toms to reach out to the council, to which Toms agreed. The vote was then taken and split. Councilmen Lashley, Bibb and Lauritsen voted in favor, while Councilmen Lee, Holmes and Curtis voted in opposition. Toms broke the tie in favor of the appointments.
The appointments are as follows: Kent Jordan, who is filling the vacant seat of David Cook. Jordan’s term, which went into effect July 7 and will expire July 7, 2024. Jon Nichols and Jade Morey will fill the expired terms of Fenika Miller (Chairwoman) and Tim Thomas (Co-Chair). Both Nichols and Morey’s terms will go into effect July 11 and will expire July 11, 2024.
Toms said now that a “clear path” has been set forward, that once the COVID-19 crisis is lifted, he will begin attending the Development Authority of Warner Robins meetings. Lauritsen also stated that moving forward when the business of appointments come up, that if he does not know about it, he will not vote on them.
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