PlanFirst Designation Award received at Tuesday’s Perry City Council meeting

PERRY — Perry City Council had its most recent meeting on Tuesday, March 18.

This April, Perry will celebrate the 35th iteration of the Dogwood Festival, which brings thousands of people to the community for two days of events, food and fun. But, despite efforts from the Chamber of Commerce, there won’t be a banner promoting the event hung across Carroll Street.

Maggie Schuyler, president and CEO of the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce, made the request on behalf of the chamber. 

“This banner placement would be able to enhance the visibility of the partnership between the Perry Area Chamber and the city as well as to promote the partnerships that the chamber has with our community partners that are helping sponsor the event,” Schuyler said. 

Schuyler said the banner would be another way to help promote the Dogwood Festival for anyone visiting downtown before the event. This topic was mentioned in pre-council, and the council was divided on this issue. 

Councilmember Joy Peterson expressed her support for the banner.

“The fact that you said it’s the 35th Dogwood Festival, that’s a significant number. 12,000 people coming for it is a significant number that sets this event apart from a lot of other events we have. The fact that you are a city partner, there should be some leeway for city partners to be able to request a banner,” she said. 

However, the council denied the banner request with a vote of 4-2. Peterson and Councilmember James Moody were the only yes votes. 

Schuyler asked what the chamber could have done differently to get this banner request approved. City Manager Lee Gilmour explained why it was denied. 

“My understanding is that the majority of the council felt that because a previous partner had been denied the request to have a banner put up, they felt that it was appropriate to be consistent with that,” he said. 

Gilmour also noted that if Perry approves the banner, many other organizations, regardless of city partnership, will approach the city requesting banners be put up, given the popularity of downtown Perry.

PlanFirst Designation 

The city then received the PlanFirst Designation Award, part of a program by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The award recognizes municipalities that successfully implement a local comprehensive plan. 

Councilmember Willie King, community planner Emily Carson and assistant city manager Robert Smith represented the city of Perry at the award presentation. 

“There are 536 cities in the state of Georgia and we are one of 37 that receive this award and this is our third time in receiving this award for the PlanFirst. Congratulations to all the work that you guys are doing,” Mayor Randall Walker said.

National Day of Prayer

The meeting then turned to a Special Events application submitted by the Perry Ministerial Association regarding the National Day of Prayer, held on May 2 from noon to 1 p.m. The request is for the use of the City Hall lawn, road closures of the 800 block of Carroll Street from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the use of the Food Truck Friday stage.

“There was an extensive discussion with the council last year on this item. The Ministerial Association was welcome to use the grounds and the electricity if they needed it from the building, but that the stage would not be provided since city policy says that only goes to city partners,” Gilmour said. 

The recommendation from the staff was that there would be no road closures. The request was approved unanimously.

“We’d love to have their National Day of Prayer here on the grounds. We will not close the roads, but we will defer traffic during the actual ceremony and the stage will not be available,” Walker said.

Traffic Control in Wind River

Continuing a discussion from their March 5 meeting, community development director Bryan Wood approached the council about staff recommending the installation of two sets of speed cushions in Wind River. According to Wood, speed analysis indicated that there are greater risks of medium and high-level speed at this location. 

The recommendation was approved unanimously. 

The next Perry City Council meeting will be held on April 2, starting at 5 p.m. for pre-council and regular council meeting at 6 pm. 

For the full agenda and minutes of this meeting, go to perry-ga.gov/escribe-agendas-minutes

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