Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Royston council approves routine licenses and appointments, sets election fees and adopts updated comprehensive plan
Summary
The council unanimously approved a range of routine items on Jan. 14, 2025 including an alcohol license renewal, appointments to boards, qualifying fees and adoption of an updated comprehensive plan; it also set public hearings to comply with HB 581.
ROYSTON, Ga. — At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Royston City Council approved several routine items including licensing, appointments, election-related resolutions and adoption of an updated comprehensive plan.
The council approved the 2025 alcohol license renewal for Pragati19 Group LLC (Royston Package Store) in a 5-0 vote. Councilman David Pressley nominated Jason Phillips as Mayor Pro Tem for 2025; the nomination was seconded by Councilman Kenneth Roach and approved 5-0.
The council renewed Bill King's appointment to the Planning Commission and appointed Susan Russell to the Tree Board; both actions passed 5-0. The body adopted a resolution setting qualifying fees for the 2025 municipal election: the fee for mayor was set at $409.19 and the fee for council seats at $337.19. City Manager Lanier Dunn explained qualifying is 3% of compensation under state law and said the county's elections superintendent, Tracie Creason, will serve under the intergovernmental agreement; early voting will be at the county registrar in Carnesville.
Under state law cited in the meeting (O.C.G.A. 36-32-2), the council approved a two-year contract for municipal court services with Judge Mayes Davison at $800 per month. Council also adopted by resolution an updated comprehensive plan that had been drafted in 2024, transmitted to the Department of Community Affairs for comment and revised accordingly.
City Manager Dunn presented the operations report for December 2024: surplus vehicles have been sold on GovDeals; several departmental vacancies remain (police patrol, street crew, natural gas trainee); one new hire (Kyle Dodson) in the police department was noted; water and wastewater projects are in procurement and staff reported the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades were over budget relative to current GEFA funding. The council adjourned at 6:14 PM.
Next steps announced in the meeting included three public hearings required to comply with HB 581 (Jan. 27 at 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM; Jan. 28 at 8:30 AM) and ongoing staff work on water/wastewater bid evaluations.
