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No new Clayton resolutions
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| Clayton public works employees Jerry Green, left, Everiest Turpin and Moody Barrick, work to repair a water leak on Bleckley Place Drive. Repairing water and sewer infrastructure rank as Clayton City Council priorities for the coming year. |
By Donald Fraser Staff Writer
For Clayton City Council, 2007 didn't bring New Year's resolutions so much as its members resolved to continue addressing old resolutions.
"I'm going to be looking at cutting costs," said Mayor Tom Ramey Sr. "I want to get the financial situation in order."
Ramey also said he would be making "big commitments" to addressing Clayton's ongoing water and sewer system leaks.
Otherwise, Ramey said, it will be "business as usual."
January is also the month the mayor selects appointments for city manager, city clerk and city attorney upon the advice and consent of council, according to the city charter.
Ramey chose to play his cards close to the vest in discussing pending appointments. "I'd rather not put anything in the paper right now," Ramey said. "I want to let council know where I stand."
Ramey did say he had "what I feel is a real good lineup."
Discord between Ramey and City Attorney Davis Bauman has been worn on the mayor's sleeve in recent months, especially regarding the lawsuit between Clayton and Tiger.
"I don't know," was Bauman's answer when asked whether he expected to be reappointed by council Jan. 9. "I serve at the pleasure of the mayor and council. I'm hired help."
If he is not reappointed, Bauman said "presumably the new attorney would try the (Clayton/Tiger) case."
Councilman David Phillips said he wanted to "get ahead of the sewer situation." He noted Clayton's water and sewer lines continued to present problems, and he wanted to "hunt some grants" to finance system repairs.
Rebuilding Clayton's Blacks Creek water treatment plant "is one of my main priorities," Phillips said. "It is one of the best sources of water anywhere around."
Clayton currently plans to spend $1.7 million of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue to refurbish the plant if the referendum is approved by voters in March.
Phillips said he hadn't put a lot of thought into city appointments.
"I would hope they could work things out," Phillips said of the strained relationship between Bauman and Ramey.
"The number one priority would be dealing with water and sewer system issues," said Councilman Pat Marcellino Jr. "I want to continue to work on (sewer line) inflow and infiltration problems."
Water system priorities include "getting a handle on unaccounted for water losses," Marcellino said. A survey by Georgia Rural Water Association during the summer did not indicate major water line leaks.
Marcellino said the focus the city should take during the coming year is replacing faulty water meters, the next likely source of major leaks or inaccurate billing of actual usage.
Concurring with Ramey and Phillips, Marcellino also places the Blacks Creek water treatment plant as a high priority. "The demand for water is only going to increase," Marcellino said.
"I'm very comfortable with everyone we have in place right now," Marcellino said about pending city appointments.
Councilman Jeff Reeves said he wanted to focus on water and sewer line replacement projects on John English Road that have been on the drawing board since May.
"It's time to get it in place. The city will do that work with forced labor," Reeves said, meaning city work crews will provide the labor.
"The Blacks Creek water plant is another priority," Reeves said.
Reeves said he was satisfied with the city's current appointments.
Councilwoman Armede Bynum and Councilman Mike Smith did not return multiple messages left for them.
"I'm going to be looking at cutting costs," said Mayor Tom Ramey Sr. "I want to get the financial situation in order."
Ramey also said he would be making "big commitments" to addressing Clayton's ongoing water and sewer system leaks.
Otherwise, Ramey said, it will be "business as usual."
January is also the month the mayor selects appointments for city manager, city clerk and city attorney upon the advice and consent of council, according to the city charter.
Ramey chose to play his cards close to the vest in discussing pending appointments. "I'd rather not put anything in the paper right now," Ramey said. "I want to let council know where I stand."
Ramey did say he had "what I feel is a real good lineup."
Discord between Ramey and City Attorney Davis Bauman has been worn on the mayor's sleeve in recent months, especially regarding the lawsuit between Clayton and Tiger.
"I don't know," was Bauman's answer when asked whether he expected to be reappointed by council Jan. 9. "I serve at the pleasure of the mayor and council. I'm hired help."
If he is not reappointed, Bauman said "presumably the new attorney would try the (Clayton/Tiger) case."
Councilman David Phillips said he wanted to "get ahead of the sewer situation." He noted Clayton's water and sewer lines continued to present problems, and he wanted to "hunt some grants" to finance system repairs.
Rebuilding Clayton's Blacks Creek water treatment plant "is one of my main priorities," Phillips said. "It is one of the best sources of water anywhere around."
Clayton currently plans to spend $1.7 million of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue to refurbish the plant if the referendum is approved by voters in March.
Phillips said he hadn't put a lot of thought into city appointments.
"I would hope they could work things out," Phillips said of the strained relationship between Bauman and Ramey.
"The number one priority would be dealing with water and sewer system issues," said Councilman Pat Marcellino Jr. "I want to continue to work on (sewer line) inflow and infiltration problems."
Water system priorities include "getting a handle on unaccounted for water losses," Marcellino said. A survey by Georgia Rural Water Association during the summer did not indicate major water line leaks.
Marcellino said the focus the city should take during the coming year is replacing faulty water meters, the next likely source of major leaks or inaccurate billing of actual usage.
Concurring with Ramey and Phillips, Marcellino also places the Blacks Creek water treatment plant as a high priority. "The demand for water is only going to increase," Marcellino said.
"I'm very comfortable with everyone we have in place right now," Marcellino said about pending city appointments.
Councilman Jeff Reeves said he wanted to focus on water and sewer line replacement projects on John English Road that have been on the drawing board since May.
"It's time to get it in place. The city will do that work with forced labor," Reeves said, meaning city work crews will provide the labor.
"The Blacks Creek water plant is another priority," Reeves said.
Reeves said he was satisfied with the city's current appointments.
Councilwoman Armede Bynum and Councilman Mike Smith did not return multiple messages left for them.
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