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Cochran council approves grants, insurance renewal, tree purchases, cleanup dates and appointments
Summary
At its Feb. 14 meeting the Cochran City Council accepted a $7,700 safety grant, renewed city employee health coverage with Anthem, authorized pursuit of AFG and SAFER grants, awarded tree-purchase bids, set April cleanup and scrap-tire dates, and approved a recreation board appointment; all motions passed 6–0.
The Cochran City Council on Feb. 14 handled routine business and several grant- and program-related items in a session that included a brief executive session on pending or potential litigation.
The council accepted a $7,700 Safety & Liability grant from the Georgia Municipal Association; Artiffany Stanley, a GMA members services consultant, presented the check and encouraged annual applications. The council also approved renewal of employee health, dental and vision coverage through Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield after a presentation from broker Johnathan Shaw.
Fire Chief Brock Wilcher asked for permission to pursue two federal grants: an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to help fund a replacement engine that carries a 5% match and a 3% fee for the grant writer, and a SAFER grant to cover three firefighter positions for three years at 100% of salaries (with a 3% fee to the grant writer). Councilmembers approved pursuing both grants.
The council awarded bids for tree purchases for the Georgia Tree Council RELEAF program to Wagon Hammock and Dixie Landscaping; larger trees will be planted across the city, while smaller trees will be given away (one per eligible resident) in March. City staff set April 22 as Cochran Clean-up Day and April 16–22 as Scrap Tire Amnesty Week and were authorized to file a scrap tire grant application with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Mayor Billy Yeomans announced the Recreation Department’s nominee for the city recreation board, Bianca McBurse; the council approved the appointment. Councilmember Jimmy Jones also moved to approve the revised 2023 retreat agenda; the motion passed.
Councilmember Rufus Veal had moved that Items 4–6 related to a CDBG public hearing, hiring Dependable Home Inspections for CDBG preparation, and ARPA financing for lead abatement be postponed pending further investigation; the postponement passed 6–0. The meeting included a closed-session affidavit reminder from City Attorney Jim Elliott and ended with a public comment from Mary Pitts regarding an abandoned house at Ash and Beech (demolition pending) and a suggestion to site a pickleball court at the recreation department. Mayor Yeomans adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
