Perry to waive service fees and penalties

At Tuesday’s meeting of Perry Mayor and Council—held in the Grand Jury Assembly Room at the Houston County Courthouse—City Manager Lee Gilmour requested that council authorize four items regarding the COVID-19 virus and the manner in which it would affect the city as a corporate entity. The first of which was that any commercial city service account will have 60 days to be brought current after the shelter-in-place order is lifted, as well as residential city service account have 30 days after the order is lifted to bring the account up to current. Gilmour also proposed that residents that are able to prove that they were furloughed or laid off after the Mayor’s March 24 executive order, or after any subsequent order from the mayor or governor, will have late fees and penalties waived from their city services accounts. Businesses that were closed under the same guidelines will also have their fees and penalties waived.

Gilmour emphasized that this would not remove the responsibility to pay the base requirement or consumption fees for accounts.

“The administration’s position is that this is a fair compromise for businesses or individuals affected by COVID-19 without severely jeopardizing the financial situation of the city,” Gilmour explained.

Councilman Riley Hunt concurred with Gilmour’s request, and the recommendation was approved unanimously.

Also brought before council, Gilmour sought the approval of council to request funding from the Perry Public Facilities Authority to fund two projects. The first of which would be the acquisition and improvements to be made to the Houston County Government Building (also known as the old courthouse), totaling at an estimated $2,000,000. The other project seeking funding is updates to the sewer system that runs along the Perry Branch area. Gilmour said that this had been an issue for around 20 years, and that the sewer is nearing capacity. Gilmour also explained that the city has had problems with the system surcharging after heavy rains.

Gilmour said that if council were to approve the request, a presentation would then be made to the Public Facilities Authority, after which the authority would make the decision on whether to move forward. Gilmour also explained that if the authority did approve the funding, a 20-year revenue bond would be issued of which the city would be the securer.

Gilmour said that he believed it was in the best interest of the city to proceed with seeking the funding. Council unanimously approved the request to approach the Public Facilities Authority for funding.

In other business, a resolution was presented by Gilmour to adjust the Perry Fee Schedule. Represented in the resolution were automatic traffic sign charges, as well as the price for 65-gallon recycling bins, which are not of the residential verity, but commercial. Also addressed was an adjustment, which would apply to the damage of meters, meter boxes and lids, or MSU units that sit atop the boxes. These units are electronic devices that transmit signal for the meter. After the second time damaging any of these aspects, a fee would need to be paid.

Mayor Pro Tempore Willie King voiced concern for sending out letters informing customers of these changes so that they would be not be caught off guard. Gilmour explained that there has already been action taken to inform the customers, and they have been made aware that if meters are damaged a second time, they will need to pay. Gilmour added that this resolution addresses the MSU unit itself.

The resolution was adopted in a unanimous vote.

Council also went into executive session for the purpose of real estate, after which a motion was made and seconded to enter into a sales agreement with Houston County for the city of Perry to purchase the Houston County Government Building (also known as the old courthouse) for the amount of $1.6 million. Mayor Randall Walker informed that the interest rate would be 2.25% for a five-year term to start at closing. The closing date is set at or before December 30, 2021.

The motion was passed unanimously.

Walker also made a proclamation, declaring the week of May 3 through May 9 the 51st Annual Professional Municipal Clerk’s Week, and further extended appreciation to Perry Municipal Clerk Annie Warren, as well as all municipal clerks. According to the proclamation, the office of the municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants, and the office is the professional link between the local governing bodies and citizens, and also serves as the information center of the city government and community.

Though Warren was not present at the meeting, Walker said that Warren would be recognized throughout Municipal Clerk’s Week.

“She does an outstanding job, and we really enjoy having the services that she supplies to each and every one of us,” Walker said.

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