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City Manager reports staffing, code-enforcement progress and grant activity
Summary
City Manager Lanier Dunn presented the March 2025 operations report noting tax and business-license collections outreach, several department vacancies, a Georgia PSC inspection of the Natural Gas Department with no probable violations, a Dill's water-line grant application and Phase 1 environmental review, and routine public-works and code-enforcement activity.
City Manager Lanier Dunn delivered the operations report for March 2025 at the April 8 Royston City Council meeting, updating the council on administration, staffing, utilities and code enforcement.
Administration: the City Clerk sent notices to businesses that had not registered for occupation tax by the March 1 deadline and mailed letters to delinquent property tax parcels to initiate collection efforts.
Human resources: the report recorded the resignation of Municipal Court Clerk Robin Crump and the hiring of Tara Buffington as her replacement. The report also listed vacancies: two patrol positions in the Police Department, two positions (one CDL driver and one laborer) in the Street Department, one open role in the Natural Gas Department (trainee or experienced technician), and one vacancy in the Water Department for an operator or operator trainee.
Natural Gas Department: inspectors from the Georgia Public Service Commission conducted a comprehensive inspection in mid-March and made several recommendations, but the minutes state no probable violations or notices of concern were noted; an official written report is expected in the coming months. The department added one new commercial gas customer in Carnesville and has engaged 365 Degree Total Marketing to develop branding and marketing materials for the gas utility.
Water and sewer: the Dill's water line grant application was submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on March 18; the city is proceeding with a required Phase 1 environmental review for the right-of-way and the property itself. The City Manager noted the Raw Water Intake Project bid opening and the forthcoming contract award the council addressed later in the meeting.
Public works and code enforcement: crews completed storm drain maintenance, pothole repairs and began grass cutting for corridors and the cemetery. Code enforcement sent 70 reminder letters about ordinance requirements; within two weeks 34 residences had corrected violations and 10 had begun corrective work. Building-permit activity, animal pickups and cemetery sales (four plots) were also reported.
Why it matters: the operations report outlines staffing shortages and near-term capital and regulatory steps—information the council may use to prioritize hiring and grant applications. Several items noted in the report (grant work and the environmental review) relate to projects the council approved later in the meeting.
