Chief Lynn introduces Captain Alan Everidge

Perry Mayor and Council held their pre-council and council meetings on Tuesday, July 6 at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. These meetings are open to the public for citizen input and to hear all the events taking place in Perry. Mayor and council hold these monthly meetings to ensure the wellbeing of Perry and its citizens.

Starting off the pre council meeting was a review of the items by Mayor Pro Tempore Robert Jones. After City Manager Lee Gilmour spoke on making Juneteenth as a city holiday. Congress just declared Juneteenth as a national holiday, and Perry now wants it as a city holiday. Gilmour asked Mayor Randall and council to consider allowing holiday time for workers next year for the new Juneteenth holiday. No vote was taken on this consideration.

Perry Public Works Superintendent Ansley Fitzner addressed the Legacy Park umbrellas installation. These installations have already been discussed in previous meetings. The commercial umbrellas will cost $600 each, not including shipping. Council is still deciding on which they would like, for example, shape, color, design, etc. Shortly after this discussion the pre council was adjourned.

During the regular council meeting, Police Chief Steve Lynn introduced Captain Alan Everidge to Mayor and council. He is in charge of the patrol division and has been in law enforcement for 34 years. Everidge graduated for Georgia Command College, where he received his master’s degree and graduated with the FBI National Academy.

“I’m happy to be in Perry and I’m looking forward to working with the city and citizens,” Everidge remarked.

Community Planner Holly Wharton requested to annex and rezone from R-AG and the location is US 41 South Perry Parkway. The staff’s recommendation and planning commission’s recommendation is the approval of all the annexation with the requested C-2, general commercial, and zoning classification. Parcels 000340 015000 and 000190 010000 are subject to landscape easement in favor of the city along the front property line for commercial properties located outside 1,100 feet of a major intersection. Also, Wharton spoke on the rezone from planned unit development. Staff and planning commission recommended approval of the zoning charge. The development of the subject properly shall be substantially consistent with the conceptual site plan presented with the application prepared by Rowland Engineering and dated 5/13/2021. Also, the city should meet with residents in the Langston Road area to discuss plans for the regional detention pond and other planned infrastructure.

Community Development Director Bryan Wood then spoke on the second reading of an ordinance for modifications to land Management Ordinance sections 2-2.1- 2-3.7 to remove duplicative language, to clarify the requirements for various zoning applications, including the authority of the planning commission and city council. The specific zoning applications being modified are land; de-annexation of land; amendments to the text of the ordinance; planned unit developments; special exceptions; and variances and appeals of administrative decisions.

Next, in the meeting Ms. Newby spoke on the intergovernmental agreement relative to sewer service between the Houston County Board of Education and the City of Perry. The Board of Education would donate property to the city to expand their sewer expansion; and in return the city will allow sewer service. Shortly after this statement, the council meeting was adjourned.

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