Lyons City Council Approves Traffic Cameras

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At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 7, the Lyons City Council approved a bid to purchase traffic cameras to place within the city in the future.

It has not yet been determined where these cameras will go. The Council approved a contract with Flock Camera Systems to install and maintain the camera systems. The budget was also amended to reflect both the additional expenditure and revenue from this decision by adding an appropriation of $25,650 to the budget.

More information on these new traffic camera systems will be released in the coming meetings.

Other Business

Hofstadter and Associates were chosen to provide engineering services for projects related to a competitive grant awarded to the city by the state. This grant administered by the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission for Grant Administration Technical Services is as an extension of funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF), and will be used for a total of 5 projects within the city. Those projects all center around water, sewer, and well renovation and construction.

“Hofstadter and Associates is someone we have dealt with for ages,” Mayor Willis D. NeSmith told the Council, as the members approved the contract.

Hofstadter and Associates President Carl Hofstadter spoke to the Council on behalf of his firm. “I want y’all to know we really appreciate that,” he said. “Lyons has been a client of ours for several years. Thank y’all very much.”

City Council authorized Lyons to enter into a vehicle leasing program with Enterprise Fleet Management to address the needs of current vehicles and to replace dilapidated vehicles. This program costs $180,000 per year.

Shannon Gaffney was appointed to finish Councilwoman Cathy Benton’s term with the Ohoopee Regional Library System Vidalia Toombs County Board of Trustees. Gaffney was recommended for the position by Benton, who had to vacate her position to take office with the City Council at the beginning of this year.

Gaffney has written and published 2 children’s books in her career, serves as a part-time secretary for Urban Vitalization Group, and freelances as a literary content writer and logodesigner, as well as a poll manager for the Toombs County Board of Elections. Her term will last until 2025, and she is eligible for a second term.

The Council also administered a first reading of a proposed ordinance amendment, which clarifies language in the previous ordinance regarding the moving of mobile homes within the city limits. According to City Manager Jason Hall, the current ordinance is contradictive in its price for mobile home permits, so the language needed to be edited. This ordinance will be voted on during its second reading at the next city council meeting.

Reports

City Manager Jason Hall announced that the upcoming City Council meeting and work session will be moved from their normal dates because of the upcoming Independence Day holiday and scheduled Council training. Because of this, the work session was held on Tuesday, June 14, and the next Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. Two “super kids” and the winner of each category of the Southeast Soapbox Derby will be going to the 84th Annual All-American Soapbox Derby in Akron, Ohio, which will be held on July 16. The Real Squeal Festival will be on October 7-8. Applications are now online for the event at the Lyons Main Street Association website. The Toombs County Development Authority will meet at noon on Thursday, June 16. The Greater Vidalia Chamber will host ribbon cuttings for Kelley Meister Insurance Services on June 16 at 3 p.m., and at the Low Country Cancer Care Center at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21. The Chamber will have its monthly board meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 23. Councilman John Moore Jr. spoke to the 2022 Cast of the “Tales from the Altamaha” production at their recent cast party. The first 5:05 networking opportunity will be held at Burgers on Broad at 5:05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15.

Public Comments

Councilman Tracy Johnson spoke to Council about the issue of shopping carts being left by the road throughout the community and requested that something be done about this issue. Citizen Jency Jeffers addressed Council regarding speeding on West Lincoln Avenue. She also questioned how citizens may find out the expected dates of road closures or road work. Hall told Jeffers that all road closures and work information would be provided to all citizens prior to the event through the TextMyGov program.