Thomasville council OKs Pace Park design contract, widens Cates Avenue no-parking zone and clears consent items

At its Dec. 15 meeting, the Thomasville City Council approved several administrative and planning actions: a $194,200 contract with McGill Associates for Pace Park design services, an expansion of the city’s no-parking ordinance on Cates Avenue, and a slate of consent agenda items including a new coinage policy and a three-year sludge removal contract.

City Manager Michael Brandt said the McGill Associates contract will fund detailed planning and engineering work for Pace Park, the Farmers Market parking lot and recently acquired parcels, including the former car wash site at 52 East Main. Council Member Payton Williams said the improvements would enhance a valuable city asset. The contract passed unanimously.

Police Chief Dustin Carter presented an amendment to Chapter 78-470 (Schedule 10) to extend a 'no parking at any time' restriction along the west side of Cates Avenue from East Main to East Guilford Street; Council Member Lisa Shell moved the ordinance and the council adopted it 7-0.

On the consent agenda, council approved an ordinance establishing a coinage policy to allow cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel after the federal government halted penny production; a three-year wastewater sludge removal contract with Coltrane Utilities; minutes from Nov. 10 and Nov. 17 meetings; and added two workshop dates for January budget discussions. All consent items were approved by unanimous vote.

The council also entered a closed session for attorney/client matters and took no action before returning to open session and adjourning.