City votes for change of alcohol, B&O fees in FY25-26
The Waycross City Commission voted last week to establish new fees for business and occupation tax accounts and alcohol beverage licenses beginning in Fiscal Year 2025-26.
The approval came in separate resolutions governing each area during the commission’s bimonthly meeting Tuesday, March 4 in City Hall. City Manager Ulysses “Duke’ Rayford has recommended an increase in city fees, licenses and fines since early in his two years on the job.
Rayford said the new fees will be discussed and set during the city’s budget process that will begin later this month. B&O fees are due April 1 of each year while alcohol beverage — aka privilege license — applications and renewals are due by November 15.
The resolutions were among seven approved at the session conducted by Mayor Michael-Angelo James and attended by Commissioners Shawn Roberts, Sheinita Bennett and Alvin Nelson.
Two of the other resolutions approved the hirings of Jim Blackburn Jr. as Waycross Fire Chief and Matthew Elwell as Public Works Director.
Another OK’d the reappointment of Joseph R. Johnson, Jr. as Municipal Court Prosecutor.
The sixth measure approved a new pump for the Kettle Creek Lift Station on the city’s water-sewer system while the last surplussed fire department items for sale on govdeals.com.
In other business, WPD Lt. Josh Prall was honored as Employee of the Month for March and Mayor James presented a proclamation to representatives of Unison Behavioral Health in recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness.
Resolutions
In seeking the new fees, Rayford presented examples of those assessed for alcoholic beverages by some other area municipalities. All far exceeded those currently charged by Waycross.
The city’s charges are (beer, wine, liquor):
• Consumption on premises: ($293.75, $212.50, $2,500);
• Package sales: ($243.75, $175, $1,587.50);
• Sale by private club: ($293.75, $150, $1875).
By comparison, fees in Baxley are $1,000 (beer & wine) and $1,500 (liquor) for premises; $1,000 (beer & wine) and $4,000 (liquor) for package sales. In Douglas, fees for consumption on premises are $1,250 (beer), $1,000 (wine), $1,500 (beer & wine), $2,750 (liquor), $4,750 (all); and $500 (beer), $250 (wine), $2,000 (liquor), $2,750 (all) for package sales.
The city announced on social media February 21 the promotions of Blackburn and Elwell from interim roles following the commission reaching a consensus on the hirings. The resolutions affirmed the elevations.
Johnson’s contract with the city is for one calendar year with three automatic renewals at the end of the annual term December 31.
Cost of the pump for the lift station is $34,786 to Xylem Water Solutions USA, Inc. of Garden City, Ga. from the water-sewer budget. Charlie Bridges of ESG Engineering, which handles the city’s water-sewer operations, said it no longer was cost-efficient to try to repair the 30year-old pump.
There were 139 pieces of turnout gear that no longer meet National Fire Protection standards, Purchasing Director Mamie Jackson said.
Employee of Month
Prall is approaching his sevenyear anniversary (June) with WPD after serving as an infantryman in the Marine Corps. Since beginning as a patrol officer, Prall has been a SWAT team member, K-9 handler, and promoted to sergeant where he became a gang narcotics investigator as part of Special Operations.
He earned his current rank in December 2021 after a year as a sergeant. Prall received a commendation in 2022 for his actions in the apprehension and disarming of the perpetrator in a local bank robbery and the safe release of a hostage.
“He’s one of those you have to say ‘go home,’ Police Chief Tommy Cox said in introducing Prall. “Whenever he’s needed, he’s always there.”
