Community News
News from Tuesday's city council meeting.
By Dave Whitaker
Nov 11, 2020, 15:28

Cochran City Council held their monthly meeting Tuesday night in the city auditorium. As per usual, attendance was restricted due to COVID-19 concerns. It was streamed via Facebook. The entire meeting (including the work session) can be seen by going to
https://www.facebook.com/cityofcochrancityhall/videos/3430823357141846/

Johnny Raffield from Public Works was city employee of the month. Mayor Billy Yeomans thanked Mrs. Leo Lefussell for her service to the zoning board. Yeomans said she was moving to Hawkinsville.

Approved was an amendment to the city charter which would change the name of Jointly Owned Natural Gas Partnership to Midstate Energy Commission. The name change must be approved by other city councils.

Two recommendations from the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) committee of Richard Newbern, Gary Ates, and Willie Farrow were approved. Falcon Design was selected as the architecture group to do CDBG work. The firm was recommended by the committee.

Council also approved the committee recommendation to hire Gilbert and Sullivan to prepare a CHIP (Community Housing Income Program) grant. The grant application will take place in January.

An ordinance amendment was passed that will require non-residential and non -farm enterprises (IE: businesses) to tie into the city water system. New residential properties would only be required to tie into the city system if the property is less than 1.5 acres and has a septic tank.

Passed unanimously was extension of supplemental pay for the next two pay periods for full-time public safety (police and fire department) as well as public work employees for two pay periods. The money will come from the COVID-19 CARES fund. On a suggestion by council member Carla Coley, the supplemental pay was also extended to part-time employees who were working full-time hours.

During the closing remarks portion, council member Ates suggested the need for a curfew. He cited COVID-19 numbers as well as older residents who were being kept awake at night by people on the streets.

Coley mentioned there was already a youth curfew on the books. Newbern said he and police chief Jeff Trawick could research a curfew and present the findings next month. Yeomans advised they should also consult city attorney Leo Phillips on the matter.


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