Perry City Council votes against raising water and sewer fees at recent meeting

PERRY — In a 4-2 vote, Perry City Council approved not raising water and sewer fees by 3%. There will be a second reading of the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget at a future meeting. 

Councilmembers Amy Fouse, Dan Peterson, Robert Jones and James Moody voted to approve not raising fees, while councilmembers Willie King and Darryl Albritton voted to deny. 

Peterson made a motion, with amendments, to allow Mayor Randall Walker and the council to review current rates and potential rate increases. He moved to approve the proposed budget, as presented by Director of Finance Mitchell Worthington, with changes. 

These changes include deleting the 3% increase in water and sewer consumption rates. He also mentioned reducing the increase in transfers to the city’s general fund. 

The operating budget was accepted. Since it was a substantive change, it will need a second reading before final approval. The second reading will take place at the next meeting. 

Heritage Oaks Park

Later in the meeting, the council approved extending the moratorium on events at Heritage Oaks Park to March 17. 

City Manager Robert Smith said there was a request to stop private rentals at the park. This was due to extensive discussions with staff about the requirements for hosting events, he explained. 

Smith said there was discussion among the mayor and council, but they agreed they do not want to prohibit private events at Heritage Oaks Park. He shared that he has made them aware of issues that have occurred at the location, and that staff were asked to prepare revised rental agreement policies. 

Staff requested an additional 45 days of moratorium. Smith said this will give them more time to prepare revised documents and policies. He hopes it will be ready by the first city council meeting in March. 

This moratorium applies only to new reservations, not to those already made. City and private events that are currently scheduled at the park will continue, Smith said. 

The moratorium was approved unanimously. 

Legacy Park phase two

Public Works Superintendent Ansley White discussed a proposal for phase two of the Legacy Park project. This phase will include relocating the Confederate soldier monument currently in front of City Hall. 

According to council documents, the estimated cost of the proposed monument area will be $594, 936.50. The project’s funding will come from SPLOST. 

The mayor and council approved the proposal unanimously. 

The Mayor and Council will hold their pre-council meeting at 5 p.m. and the regular council meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 17. Everyone is invited to attend, and the agenda can be found here. Both meetings are also livestreamed on YouTube.