Warner Robins council approves personnel moves, property agreements and finance consulting; amends fire department classification plan

The Warner Robins City Council unanimously approved a package of personnel, property and administrative measures at its first meeting of 2025, including amendments to two previously executed purchase-and-sale agreements, a resolution to hire a finance consulting firm to modernize the finance department, and changes to the city classification plan for the fire department.

The council also appointed Christopher Rooks as interim director of general administration and swore in a new police officer, Katie Askarate.

Why it matters: The classification plan change reassigns and reclassifies several fire-department positions and grants specified incumbents a 10% pay increase, altering internal ranks and authorized strengths. The Sumter Local Government Consulting engagement is aimed at restructuring the finance department and modernizing its systems; the council authorized the mayor to execute the agreement. Together these items affect city personnel, departmental organization and city finances.

The consent agenda, approved by motion of Councilman Bibb and seconded by Councilman Curtis, included routine personnel actions: Cassidy Sullivan — court effective Jan. 6, 2025; Antonio Burley — promoted from maintenance worker II to equipment operator effective Jan. 6, 2025; and Ashley Storm — promoted from police officer to detective effective Jan. 6, 2025. The council followed with a public swearing-in for Officer Katie Askarate.

Councilman Holmes moved and the council approved a resolution adopting an employee assistance program. The council then approved an amendment to a purchase-and-sale agreement originally executed Oct. 7, 2024, with Rob Electro LLC for the property at 111 North Davis Drive (motion by Councilman Curtis). The council also approved an amendment to a purchase-and-sale…