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Byron council denies Pawn Smart fencing variance, approves grant filings and verifies street-name petition
Summary
At its March 11 meeting, the City of Byron council unanimously denied Pawn Smart’s fencing variance, authorized submission of a supplemental LMIG application and acceptance of GEFA funds for a lead service line inventory, and verified a petition to rename Suncoast Drive.
Mayor Michael Chidester presided over the City of Byron Mayor and Council meeting on March 11, 2024, where the council denied a fencing variance for Pawn Smart, approved several grant-related authorizations, and confirmed a street-name petition for Suncoast Drive.
The council opened the public hearing on a variance requested by Pawn Smart; no members of the public spoke for or against the request. Rusty Adams moved to deny the variance and Chris Hodges seconded; the motion carried unanimously. The denial resolves the request without condition.
In other business, the council authorized the mayor to sign and submit the 2024 Supplemental Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) application and related contracts, a step staff said is needed to pursue state-administered roadway maintenance funds. The council also approved the Local Government Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement Program Agreement.
Council members authorized the mayor to execute an application and accept Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) award funds to complete a Lead Service Line Inventory, a project intended to identify aging lead service connections in the city’s water system. Both authorizations passed by unanimous votes after motions and seconds recorded in the minutes.
During citizen time, Ms. Cherie Giles thanked the mayor and council "for a wonderful turn-out at the unveiling of the Jailhouse Park Little Free Library," described plans for a Phase II with plantings and a walkway, and said she had applied for a $100 mini-grant to support improvements.
The council verified that a petition submitted by Alan Dorsey to change a street name included signatures from 60% of property owners and/or residents of Suncoast Drive, meeting the city ordinance’s signature threshold. The minutes do not record a final ordinance adoption or a formal vote on the renaming; the verification confirms the petition met the signature requirement to move forward under city procedures.
Near the end of the agenda the council voted to enter a closed session under O.C.G.A. §50-14-2 to discuss a real estate matter. Those voting in favor of closure were Council Members Michael Chumbley, James Richardson, Rusty Adams, Alan Dorsey and Chris Hodges; no members voted against. The council returned to open session at 6:36 p.m. and adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
Motions and formal outcomes recorded in the minutes were unanimous unless otherwise noted. The minutes show no public testimony in favor of the Pawn Smart variance and provide no further detail on the substance of the closed-session discussion.
