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Lake Park council adopts retirement agreement update, revises municipal insurance license fee and approves routine business
Summary
At its July 2 meeting the Lake Park City Council adopted an updated GMEBS retirement agreement, revised municipal insurance license fees to comply with Georgia law (effective Jan. 1, 2025), approved minutes and financial reports, and set follow‑up steps on several city projects.
The Lake Park City Council on July 2 adopted an update to its retirement agreement and revised municipal insurance license fees to conform with state law, while approving routine minutes and financial reports.
Mayor Jena Sandlin opened the meeting and the council approved the June 4 regular meeting minutes and the May 30 public hearing minutes after a motion by Council Member Michelle Lane and a second by Council Member Oscar Griffith; the motion passed unanimously, 4‑0. The council later accepted the city’s financial reports, with Council Member Carl Spano noting departments are generally operating within budget aside from $92,000 in Hurricane Idalia expenses that the city expects to recover from FEMA.
Why it matters: the council’s two ordinance votes carry direct financial and compliance implications. The first ordinance adopts updates to the Georgia Municipal Employee Benefit Services (GMEBS) agreement; Mayor Sandlin said the changes are largely driven by updated legislation and IRS requirements. The council adopted the update on a 4‑0 vote after a motion by Council Member Busby Courson and a second by Council Member Carl Spano.
The second ordinance adjusts municipal insurance license fees. City Clerk Lisa Johnson explained that preliminary 2020 Census counts briefly allowed the City to charge a higher $25 fee; final certified counts placed Lake Park under the 1,000‑person threshold, which by state law limits the maximum fee to $15. Council Member Oscar Griffith moved to adopt the revision, which the council approved unanimously; the ordinance is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Other business approved included routine financial acceptance and adjournment. Mayor Sandlin thanked staff and volunteers for the Independence Day celebration; resident Ronnie Sauls told the council he thought “everyone is doing a great job and the Independence Day celebration was great.” The council set its next regular meeting for Aug. 6, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
The council did not take other formal actions on personnel or major capital projects at this meeting; several operational items (office hours, flags, tree replacement, fountain scheduling) were discussed and staff were asked to return with quotes and monitoring data.
