(The Patterson City Council discussed and/or voted on the following items during their monthly meeting Thursday, January 9. ) Annual appointments: The council approved annual appointments for 2025 including a new city clerk and a new public works superintendent/
Mancuso asks for Councilman’s resignation: Resident Laurie Mancuso demanded City Councilman David Smith resign over a confrontation he had with Mancuso at Patterson’s Christmas in the Park event in December. (See related story.)
Drawdy Street rezoning: The council approved rezoning a two acre tract on Drawdy Street from agriculture/forestry to public/institutional for the proposed Jeremiah’s Promise School. (See related story.)
Special purpose local option sales tax: The council approved a resolution and a list of capital outlay projects for the proposed special purpose local option sales tax referendum scheduled for March 18. (See related story.)
Benefit plan approval: The council approved a routine renewal of the Georgia Municipal Employee Benefit System Retirement Plan.
Department reports: Police Chief and acting public works superintendent Nick Strickland gave the reports for the police and public works departments. He reported the Patterson EMS station is back in service and debris pick up from Hurricane Helene is still in progress. He also reported on work on the city’s lift stations. Tyler Stokes was introduced as the new public works superintendent and fire chief. Stokes has been on the job for about two weeks. Council members praised Strickland for filling the public works superintendent’s job until a new superintendent/fire chief could be hired. Former public works superintendent and fire chief Stevie Sweat retired due to medical reasons. Laura Kate Dixon attended her first meeting as city clerk.
Next meeting: The next regular monthly meeting will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, February 13. The meeting will be held at Eagle Station.
