Lyons Installs Smart Meters to Track Water Consumption
The City of Lyons has replaced aged water meters with state-of-the-art smart devices that were put into service on October 1. The new meters communicate vital data and will give the City and its water customers the ability to track their water consumption through a customer web portal. Email alerts can also be set up to warn customers when consumption is abnormal, or a leak is detected. These alerts save the customers money and allow usage to be monitored more closely.
To take advantage of this service, customers must set up an online water account by visiting the City's website and clicking online payments. Customers who already have an active online account can now view the new data. Information on this service, as well as an instructional video titled “Lyons Smart Meter Portal,” is available at www.cityoflyons. org. Lyons Police chief Wesley Walker presented final plans for the inaugural National Faith and Blue weekend. This event was scheduled to occur locally during the Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival, October 9 and 10, and to be concluded with a non-denominational worship service on Sunday the 11 at 6 pm, at The Pit, Toombs County High School’s football stadium.
The Lyons Police Department, with participation of the Vidalia Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol, had a tent set up at the Real Squeal on Friday afternoon downtown, and on Saturday at Partin Park, as a way to bring together local law enforcement, the faith-based community, and the public.
On Sunday evening, several pastors from the area spoke on what Faith in Blue means, and the Unity Choir, composed of voices of different races and cultures, male and female, were to lead with inspirational singing.
Michele Johnson, Director of the Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and the Toombs Development Authority, announced that the “I Am The Chamber Day” will be held Wednesday, October 21. On that date social media and e-news will be used to foster awareness of what the Chamber does, and to highlight members of the Chamber.
Johnson reported that the 2020 Virtual State of the Port event will be held Thursday, October 22. The Georgia Ports Authority’s latest developments in infrastructure and global trade at the Port of Savannah will be presented during this free online event. Johnson noted, “It will be eye-opening for what’s going on at the port and to see the potential as some of those operations move inland.” She encouraged Council members to participate if possible.
Johnson also said that the Spec building #4 project at Toombs Corporate Center was awarded to Dublin Construction Company. The formal contract is expected to be executed soon.
In other Council business, City Manager Jason Hall announced that the 37 professional BBQ cookers scheduled for the Real Squeal is the largest number ever to compete at this event on October 9 and 10.
The 2020 Trick or Treating will occur on Halloween, Saturday, October 31 from 6 to 8 pm. The Mayor and Council encouraged everyone to follow proper social distancing and sanitation requirements and wear a mask when social distancing cannot be achieved.
City Manager Hall presented a draft adoption agreement for the City of Lyons’ Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. This amendment provides that participants serving in the position of Code Enforcement Director on or after October 6 will be subject to the age 62 normal retirement qualification. The entire amendment is available on the lyonsga.org website. Council members approved the ordinance.
The Council also agreed that its November 3 regular meeting be moved to November 10 because of the General Election.
