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Ocilla council approves software and equipment purchases, returns citation revenue to police and approves two tax releases
Summary
The Ocilla City Council on April 21 approved multiple procurement items, authorized returning municipal citation revenue to the Police Department for underage-sales enforcement, approved two tax error-and-release requests for church-owned parcels and appointed a member to the Downtown Development Authority. Council also authorized speed bump purchases and held a brief executive session on personnel with no action taken.
Ocilla’s City Council met April 21 and approved a series of routine purchases and administrative actions while also authorizing the police department to retain citation revenue to support local enforcement.
Mayor Melvin D. Harper II called the meeting to order and after routine roll call and the pledge the council took up several procedural motions, including approval of the agenda, a rescission of that initial approval and a subsequent relaxation of the agenda to add an executive session for personnel matters.
The council approved two tax error-and-release requests affecting church-owned property. Council Member Clae Wynn moved to release taxes on parcel OC16 32 56, sold to New Bethel Church on Jan. 25, 2023, and parcel 610070AA, sold to Cross Point Church on Aug. 10, 2018. The motion passed on a divided vote: Wynn and Council Member Lemora Moses voted in favor; Council Member Patrice Manley voted against; Mayor Pro Tem Chris Paulk recorded an abstention.
Council members approved a surplus resolution declaring specified city property surplus and authorized disposal. The council also awarded purchasing contracts for technology: it accepted AsystYou Technology’s bid for new computers and printers and approved a separate contract for SoniClear recording software.
A governance change was recorded to move the regular monthly meeting to the third Monday effective April; the minutes record the motion as passing with votes listed, but the document also shows an attendance note earlier in the minutes that Council Member Lisa Cook was absent. That discrepancy is noted in the official minutes.
In department reports, Chief of Police Ashley Jones submitted the police activity report and said the department issued four citations to businesses for sales to underage buyers. Chief Jones asked that the city’s portion of municipal-court citation revenue be returned to the Police Department’s budget to continue enforcement work. Mayor Pro Tem Chris Paulk moved to return the city’s financial portion of citation proceeds to the Police Department budget; Council Member Clae Wynn seconded and the council approved the transfer.
Director of Streets Corneilus Hall presented options and pricing for speed bumps and was authorized to order 12 sets matching those on Martin Luther King Drive. Director Hall also reported Animal Control will need another vehicle and additional dog traps because the current vehicle has major issues and only one trap is available.
Fire Chief Will Towson reported department activity and, in response to questions, told the council he had a quote for two tornado-warning siren units totaling $22,000 to be placed on opposite sides of town. Council Member Patrice Manley also asked about hydrant flushing; Chief Towson said Captain Etheridge handled the specific issue she referenced.
Council discussion included routine park maintenance questions (bathroom cleaning and debris removal at College Hill and Cumbee parks), the status of generators that Chief Jones said are the subject of an active investigation, and a request that the city credit card not be used for personal purchases. Council Member Lemora Moses raised concerns about storm debris management, suggested moving dumpsters away from the school at 129 because of rodents and odor, and urged a citywide cleanup; she also criticized Director Hall’s handling of certain public-works duties while noting she was not singling out Animal Control Officer Jimmy Cobb for blame.
Council Member Clae Wynn moved to appoint Gerald George to the Downtown Development Authority; the motion passed. Later in the meeting Council Member Patrice Manley moved to suspend the regular meeting to enter Executive Session for personnel; the council entered a roughly 10-minute Executive Session and returned without any action taken. The meeting was then adjourned.
Votes at a glance - Approve agenda and procedural motions: passed (recorded votes). - Tax error-and-release for parcels OC16 32 56 and 610070AA (New Bethel Church, Cross Point Church): passed; recorded vote: yes (Wynn, Moses), no (Manley), abstain (Paul k). - Surplus resolution (declare city property surplus): passed (recorded). - Purchase computers/printers (AsystYou Technology): passed (recorded). - Purchase SoniClear recording software: passed (recorded). - Change regular meeting date to third Monday: passed (minutes record yes votes; minutes also contain an attendance inconsistency regarding Council Member Lisa Cook). - Return municipal-court citation revenue to Police Department budget: passed (recorded). - Authorize ordering 12 speed-bump sets: passed (recorded). - Appointment of Gerald George to Downtown Development Authority: passed (recorded).
What happens next City staff will proceed with the approved procurements and Director Hall may place the order for speed bumps. The Police Department will receive the city’s portion of citation revenue as approved to fund underage-sales enforcement. No personnel action was taken following the Executive Session.
(Reporting based on the April 21, 2025 City of Ocilla council minutes.)
