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HR reports $10,000 wellness grant; building inspections and code enforcement request vehicle, training and staff additions
Summary
HR Director Sandra Witherspoon said the city received a $10,000 GMA wellness grant and is not requesting a budget increase; Building Official Ed Barnwell requested a vehicle and training funds for inspectors, and a code enforcement official asked the council to convert part‑time staff to full time and add a second full‑time code enforcement position.
City HR Director Sandra Witherspoon told the council the human resources department received a $10,000 grant from the Georgia Municipal Association to fund employee wellness programs for 2025, including mental‑health seminars, financial‑wellness workshops and digital wellness apps. She reported the city’s headcount increased from 192 in 2023–24 to 197 currently; she said 148 employees are male, 49 female, there are 32 vacancies and turnover has fallen from 14% to 11.7%.
Witherspoon said HR is not requesting a budget increase this cycle and highlighted recurring training (harassment prevention, first‑time supervisor training), recruitment efforts and wellness programming. "We have once again been fortunate to get the GMA grant for our wellness activity in the amount of $10,000 to cover us for 2025," she said.
Building official Ed Barnwell gave a short presentation noting inflationary pressures on operating costs, the need for training for inspectors to keep current with code updates and a request for a vehicle to travel to job sites; he said most other items are standard.
A code enforcement official (addressed in the record as Freddie) requested conversion of a part‑time code enforcement position to full time, asked for an additional full‑time code enforcement officer, requested funding for training and sought a vehicle for the division. Freddie described the first certification requirement for code enforcement as a 45‑hour program delivered through the University of Georgia and said continuing education is provided regionally.
Council and staff also discussed mileage reimbursement for use of personal vehicles and plans for future fleet vehicle deliveries targeted for the September round.
