Lyons City Council Reviews Leash Ordinances
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A conversation with a citizen led to a discussion regarding leash ordinances at the regular monthly meeting of the Lyons City Council on Tuesday, December 5. Richard Jeter, who has been living in Lyons for around two years, addressed the Council to learn more about the recent revitalization of the downtown area, including two city parks, and also made the Council aware of an ongoing problem with dogs running unleashed in his neighborhood.
During the conversation, Mayor Willis Ne-Smith, Jr. told Jeter that the city did have an ordinance stating that dogs need to be on a leash or within a fenced area, but that the ordinance was very leniently policed. He asked Jeter for his address, and assured him that an animal control officer would be sent to patrol the area and get the issue under control.
City Manager Jason Hall reminded the Council members that the normal regular monthly work session is canceled for the month of December, as the group has nothing to discuss, and the next regular monthly meeting will occur at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, during which the newly-elected and reelected councilmen will be sworn in. He also informed the Council and the public that the work anniversaries for the month of December will be recognized at the January meeting of the Council, and explained that former Lyons Police Department Social Worker Shakeema Kent will be returning to the Department. The position has remained unfilled since her first departure.
“She left us for a little while because of having a different career opportunity; that opportunity ended up not being the right fit for her, so we are excited to welcome her back,” Hall remarked.
During the Main Street report, Executive Director Daphne Walker told the Council that the group recently received a Façade grant application from the Seeds of Hope organization, which is located at “The Garden House” along Highway 280. The grant would be used to help update the exterior of the facility.
She also spoke to the Council on the success of the recent Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby rally race, which featured 42 racers – including a racer from California – and five new families. “The program is really growing well,” she emphasized. “We even have one family from Thomasville whose local soapbox derby race would be in Florida, but they choose to come here because they like racing here.”
Walker shared that the Derby is currently selling tickets to a Gun-A-Day giveaway raffle in which a name will be drawn at random each day in January to determine the winner of a gun. During the event 31 total guns will be given away. Tickets are $25 and available at Lyons Main Street Association. These funds will be used to help purchase new soapbox derby cars.
According to Walker, the Tales From the Altamaha committee has continued to work with playwright Laurie Jo Upchurch on finishing the script and recently selected a name, which will be released at a later date. The group also participated in several parades where they won several awards for their float.
Walker emphasized the success of the Lyons Christmas Parade on December 1, as she stated that many had reported that almost the entire route was completely lined with people.
Greater Vidalia Chamber President Michele Johnson was unable to be at the meeting because of a scheduling conflict, as she was attending a Heart of Georgia Regional Commission meeting at the time of the council meeting. City Manager Jason Hall shared that he had spoken with Johnson and the only item she asked him to share was the reminder of the Chamber’s annual Legislative Luncheon, which will be held on January 4 at the First Baptist Church of Lyons.
