Evans Takes Oath of Office For Vidalia City Council
Service to Others Recognized
An oath of office, recognition, and teamwork packed the agenda of the Vidalia City Council meeting on April 12. The first order of business was the administration of the oath of office for Jennifer Evans, a recently elected Council member for Ward 2, who will fill the unexpired continued from page
term of Greg Johnson. Evans was sworn in by Probate Judge Tina Lindsey.
Evans told The Advance during her campaign that her three specific goals are to grow the economy by keeping the tax rate down, to ensure public safety, and to promote efficiency in local government operations. Mayor Doug Roper welcomed Evans to the Council.
Toombs County EMA Director Lynn Moore reported that after 50 years in one location in Lyons, the EMA will be housed under one roof with the EMS on Meadows Lane and Maple Drive. The renovated building will provide twice as much square footage as the old building. “This will be a great public safety facility for Toombs County and for Vidalia” when it is completed by September, Moore said.
The second Sweet Onion Citizen award was presented by Roper to Shirley W. Curl, who has served in many capacities in the Vidalia auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Roper said, “When asked why she has worked so many hours to serve these years, she said it’s the least she could do in the memory of the 22 years her husband, Ken, gave to serve our country.” Roper agreed with the quote Curl gave to him: “It is because of our veterans that we can speak our opinions, say our prayers and go to our churches and get a good education.”
After receiving her award, Mrs. Curl emphasized that no one does anything by themselves, and credited her VFW associates for the work that they do. “Our veterans are such a special group of people, Curl said. “When the VFW visits the VA, the most important thing given to the veterans there is human contact. It’s good to be a part of an organization you can be passionate about.”
In a second presentation by the Mayor, a multitalented musician and top scholar at Vidalia High School, Reagan Miller, was recognized for his receipt of the Gates Scholarship, which gives Miller full funding to attend Berry College in Rome for four years. Miller, the son of Kim Griffin and Jason Miller, plans to return to Vidalia after his higher education to teach music to the next generation.
For a combined 50 years of service, four firefighters and three police officers were recognized for the public safety that they provide in Vidalia. Making the presentation was VFD Chief Brian Sikes, who himself has recently celebrated 29 years of fire safety service.
During a personnel executive session, Council members confirmed the appointment of Scott Strickland as permanent Director of the Vidalia Recreation Department. Strickland has served as Interim Director since February 17. City Manager Nick Overstreet said, “Scott has done a tremendous job managing the department’s activities and facilities. He has also taken on the administrative duties of the position and handled them in a professional manner to ensure an efficient operation of the department.”
Further appointments to Boards were also approved: Shannon Hart to the Toombs County Board of Health to fill the unexpired term through December 2022 of resigning Dr. John Talton; Seneca Underwood to the Vidalia Convention and Visitors Bureau to fill the unexpired term through December 2022 for the resigning Jason Colbert; and Missy Owens to the Toombs County Library Board of Trustees through March 2024.
Each year, the Vidalia Onion Festival (VOF) receives an “all hands-on deck” teamwork treatment to achieve a successful event for local folks and visitors alike. This year’s VOF Committee Chair Andy Woodruff summed up the April 22 – 25 event by saying, “Everything's coming together nicely. Our team has put a lot of effort into planning the event.” To the Council, Woodruff said, “Thank you for your support. We’ll get you a Festival shirt!”
In support of the Festival, the Downtown Association, led by Tonya Parker, is selling “Sweeten Your Ride” car decals to promote the VOF and to raise funds for Safe Kids car seat program, and will sell Vidalia onion rings on Friday of the event weekend.
Action pact, the Toombs County Senior Center agency, requested a flooring replacement at the Community Center where the agency is located. The Council approved contracting with low bidder Terry’s Contract Flooring for $5,600, using SPLOST funds, to recover flooring in a side room and the dining room for action pact use.
The Water and Sewer Committee made a recommendation to the Council to replace the 25-year-old pump, rework parts and rebuild the motor on city water well #1, using SPLOST. Mobley’s Well & Pump Service will be contracted for this project. Due to a family relationship, Councilman Loyd Mobley abstained from voting in the Committee and in the Council decision as well. The Council approved this action. Overstreet gave reports on two activities the City of Vidalia will stage in cooperation with Toombs County and the City of Lyons. The first is a tire amnesty to be held May 3 – 6, during which citizens throughout the county can put scrap passenger or truck tires on the curb for free pick up on Friday, May 7. These scraps will be taken to the landfill. The second activity is a combined, concerted effort to clean up trash and debris along roadways and public places throughout the year, with all municipalities participating in the 2022 Spring Clean-up Day. Overstreet reported that the uneven and potholed roads in Pinecrest Cemetery have been spread with new dirt and gravel by ESG personnel. Additionally, County Coroner Ron Hall, in a citizen’s capacity, is leading a $161,000 fundraising project to pave the roads in the cemetery. Interested citizens may direct funds for this project through the City, which will act as a vehicle to hold funds until writing a check to the contractor, McLendon Enterprises.
At the March Council meeting a resident made a plea, and presented photo evidence to Council members, about the need to clean up living conditions at Raymonia Apartments. Since that time, Overstreet contacted the apartment’s manager, Abe Dehry of New Jersey, who flew to Vidalia to meet with the resident and the local manager. The resident’s request for a safer apartment, with two bedrooms so her children may live with her, was accommodated by the management.
Overstreet has sought counsel with City Attorney Justin Franklin about the future of Raymonia Apartments, and a resolution to the ongoing unacceptable living conditions. Franklin will research how to approach the situation and will report back to the Council at the next meeting.
TOP SCHOLAR RECOGNIZED BY MAYOR – Reagan Miller, recipient of Berry College’s Gates Scholarship for four years of educational funding at the College, receives a proclamation from Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper at the April City Council meeting.Photo by Rebekah Arnold
BECAUSE OUR VETERANS SERVED, VFW LEADER SERVES – Shirley W. Curl, having served in many capacities for many years in the VFW Auxiliary, receives the 2nd Sweet Onion Citizen Award from Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper at the April City Council meeting.Photo by Rebekah Arnold
