The Baxley City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 22. Mayor Steve Rigdon announced that Jeff Baxley was absent from the meeting, but read aloud the city manager’s report and announced that Jeff Baxley had met with representatives from Norfolk Southern Railroad and the City of Baxley had received some bad news once again. Norfolk has informed the City that plantings along the tracks that are higher than 30 inches must go.

The City has already transplanted every possible tree accessible by the transplanting machine. This will be devastating but the city doesn’t have any other recourse than to remove them. The City has been given a couple of weeks to remove the plants or Norfolk Southern will. The manager recommends that it will be in the City’s best interest to do it instead of them. The manager was very disappointed and was hopeful that this matter had gone away. The manager wanted to let the public know what is going on and why.

New business

A special request made by Martin Cooper at the council meeting was approved by a three to two vote to extend closing times for the Heavy Chevy Show events and concerts for Friday, July 30 from 12:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and Saturday, July 31 from 12:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. for closing. Cooper said there will be a concert on Friday, with a car show at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday with a concert that night, all being held at the old Jr. High Gym. No beer or alcohol will be allowed in the gym. Cooper stated he would be taking care of the security there. The three council members voting to approve this request were Walker, Hall and Livingston. The council members voting against were Varnadore and Bass.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Esco Hall made a request to have the RDC draw up a proposal to close off a certain part of the road that goes to the north side pool between East Allen and Sursson Streets to prevent through traffic at the pool area. The council unanimously approved this request.

The City Council approved the request made from County Manager Lee Lewis to give $1,000 to the fireworks for Fourth of July. The total cost for the fireworks is $10,000.

Old business

The second reading and adoption of an ordinance granting a variance on property owned by William and Margaret Redwine, located at 8 Johnson Street, from its Residential (R-15) zone to a Business (B-2) zone, with amendments to item E of the ordinance inserted in to allow for Saturday and Sunday was unanimously approved.

Mayor Pro Tem Hall made a motion to approve the request for easement with the three conditions to be met for the Holland property located on Donnie Lane. Council member Mickey Bass made a second and the item was approved. The three conditions are to have the correct lot number, easement to be relinquished when the work is done and has to be a domesticated business (licensed).

City manager report (given by Mayor at meeting)

Jeff Baxley reported that after talking with County Manager Lee Lewis, Lewis suggested that the city might want to make a formal request to the SPLOST committee at their regular meeting in July. The manager believes the Appling County Commissioners meet on the 4th Monday in the evening. The manager said he will be glad to make the presentation, but would certainly yield to anyone else that wants to give it. They would like to meet one more time specifically about SPLOST before the presentation.

The manager gave an update on the purchase of the dirt and timber and is still waiting to here from McLendon Enterprises on the environmental clearance for the property they wish to cut timber and remove dirt from. Their superintendent did indicate that this was something they certainly thought could be worked out.

He was pleased to report that Altamaha Building Systems is off and running with the construction of the new park. The manager has already heard many positive comments.

The manager reported that there are changes concerning procedures for DOT projects for cities and counties. The DOT uses a formula statewide for grant funds which is based on mileage, population and the amount of paved and dirt streets. The City of Baxley’s annual allocation, based on the state’s formula is $32,000 and is for both resurfacing and state aid projects. Appling County received approximately $500,000.00.

He reported to the council members that if they received any complaints about the hours of operation of what the manager refers to as the Vixen Club, located at the northeast of U.S. 1 north and Surrson Street, please be advised that this establishment is not in the City of Baxley. A lot of folks assume it is.