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Residents raise water-meter, blight and safety concerns; NAACP Juneteenth parade request deferred
Summary
Public commenters told the council of a suspected overcounting water meter, urged stronger blight enforcement, and requested help addressing people living in a storage building; the NAACP's Juneteenth parade route request was deferred pending a completed application.
Three members of the public addressed the council at the April 8 meeting with requests and complaints.
Viktor Patel, who lives on 108th Street Crescent, said a replacement water meter installed after September had been overcounting usage—"counting three gallons when he used one gallon," he said—and that he had documented the problem on video and shared it with several city officials during six months of follow-up without resolution. Mayor Billy Yeomans told the audience that when a matter advances to potential litigation with privately retained counsel, "city personnel must refrain from direct engagement and defer to appropriate attorney-to-attorney communication channels."
Melissa Barker of the Cochran Chamber of Commerce urged the council to develop and enforce stronger blight ordinances and prevent downtown buildings from being used for storage. She also outlined several upcoming community events tied to Georgia Cities Week and other local activities.
Resident Luis Sayers said he had bought and improved a property where people previously lived; according to Sayers, those individuals relocated into a neighboring storage building and were creating problems, including improper waste disposal and drug use. Council Member Shane Savant asked Sayers to leave contact information with City Hall so staff could follow up.
Separately, Mayor Yeomans said the NAACP requested a Juneteenth parade on June 19 at 11:00 AM, with a route from Ash Street down 2nd Street to the courthouse and a need for police assistance. City Clerk Candace Summerall noted the required facility-use form behind the police department had not yet been submitted; the council deferred action on the parade request until the application is complete.
