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Quitman waives senior late fees, schedules work session; mayor appoints Lula Smart as mayor pro-tem
Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting, Quitman’s mayor announced a waiver of late fees for senior citizens (about $3,000 annually), scheduled a Jan. 8 work session with invited speakers and exercised charter authority to appoint Lula Smart as Mayor Pro-Tem; the council adopted the meeting agenda by motion.
Mayor Zinda McDaniel told the Quitman City Council on Jan. 6 that the city will waive utility late fees for senior citizens, an action she estimated would cost about $3,000 a year.
"We are waiving the late fees for seniors. They are averaging an estimate of $3,000.00 per year," Mayor Zinda McDaniel said, announcing the policy during her report.
The mayor also said the city is continuing an audit process with the city’s CPA, Doree Henry, and that auditors are progressing into 2020 and will move toward 2021. McDaniel announced a Jan. 8 work session featuring presentations from Representative John Lahood, CPA Doree Henry, Georgia Municipal Association representative Emily Davenport, MGAG representative Mike Hudson, ECG representative Gary Ballard and Development Authority member Jerome Tucker and encouraged citizens to attend.
During the meeting procedural business, Council Member Kechia Harrison moved to adopt the agenda; Council Member Robby Christian seconded, and the council approved the motion "all in favor." McDaniel then said she would reappoint Lula Smart as Mayor Pro-Tem and exercised her charter authority to do so without a vote; Council Member Harrison said the matter would be revisited later.
City Manager Willie Burns reported a pending FEMA payment estimated at $500,000. During public comment, Brian Law of Brooks County High School invited local businesses to a career fair on Feb. 26, 2026. Citizens raised questions about the status of earlier audits and about ground-keeping and street maintenance; Burns said public-works crews were replacing street signs and cleaning ditches, and one resident thanked the city for speed bumps installed on her street. Emily Davenport of the Georgia Municipal Association introduced herself to the council and public.
The council later entered executive session; after it reconvened the city attorney announced personnel actions that included suspending the city manager with pay and appointing an interim manager. The council adjourned with minutes later recorded as approved on Feb. 4, 2026.
