It will be a bit brighter around Waycross this holiday season thanks to some new lighting.
The Waycross City Commission last week approved the purchase of new Christmas-themed decorations to supplement existing ones in the downtown area.
The OK came in one of two resolutions commissioners passed during their bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, November 19 in City Hall. The other authorized the purchase of a pump at the wastewater treatment plant to replace one that recently failed and is beyond repair.
In other business at the meeting, a second Waycross Board of Ethics was seated to study a complaint by citizen Shawn Sanders against Commissioners Diane Hopkins and Katrena Felder. At the center of the complaint is the commissioners’ alleged objection to the city providing free use of the C.C. McCray City Auditorium for a public viewing of the late Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders as well as a later tribute dinner to raise funds for a foundation created in her honor.
The first panel seated in September is still deliberating a complaint by citizen Clayton Nelson against Felder.
The commission also set two public hearings for rezoning requests for properties on Brunel Street and Victory Drive, respectively and approved privilege license renewals for four businesses.
In addition to Mayor Michael-Angelo James, Commissioners Sheinita Bennett, Alvin Nelson, Hopkins and Felder were present for Tuesday’s session.
Resolutions
The resolution for the lights approved the purchase of 30, six-foot ornaments for $19,880 from DisplaySales of Bloomington, Minn. The lights, which will be placed on utility poles in the downtown area, will be paid from the interest on the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.
City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford said the decorations will be in at some point around Thanksgiving. He also said the city has purchased 23, four-foot ornaments from the ARPA interest for less than the $10,000 threshold needed for commission approval.
“I’ve had calls about some of the ones up there now,” Hopkins said. “They’re not bright enough or the bulbs are out.”
Rayford said the city’s existing pole ornaments, purchased in 2010, are well past their expected 10-year life cycle. He said there are about 80 of those still working or repairable for use this season.
The newer six-foot lights will be placed on poles in the central business area of downtown moving out along Plant Avenue, Memorial Drive and Ossie Davis Parkway until they all are used. The older lights will cover the remainder of the routes, Rayford said.
Downtown’s Christmas tree lighting will be at 7 p.m. Friday, December 6. The annual Christmas parade and festival will beheld Friday, December 13. The festival begins at 5 p.m., followed by the parade at 6:30.
The submersible pump at the water plant will cost $49,097 from Xylem Water Solutions USA, Inc., which includes a oneyear warranty. Its predecessor was installed in 2004.
Ethics Board
Shawn Taylor, Lorene Regulus, Martin Gray, Dr. Earl Martin and Jene´Walker were chosen to hear the second complaint. Walker, who is involved in the December 3 runoff with Shawn Roberts for the District 1 commission seat, was replaced by Kit Brinson.
Taylor, Regulus and Gray also are members of the panel handling the first complaint. Acting City Attorney Huey Spearman said the new board would undergo training as part of its 30 days to investigate the complaint and decide its merit before a dismissal or continuation.
Rezoning
The hearings will be held at 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, December 17 ahead of the commission’s final meeting of 2025 at 5 p.m.
