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The Bainbridge City Council met at City Hall on Tuesday for their December meeting. The first item of new business on the agenda was an update from Anovion Technologies, presented by Chip Dunn. Dunn stated there were three areas he wanted to provide updates on: a broad business update, the Bainbridge project itself, and the capital raising.

When it came to the overall update on the business, Dunn spoke about impacts made by the Biden administration; specifically a waiver granted to the automotive industry through the Inflation Reduction Act, specifically aimed at preventing EVs from using minerals from countries like China and Russia. This waiver made an exemption for the use of minerals like graphite until 2027. This had an impact on Anovion’s business model, Dunn stated. He also spoke about the implementation of tariffs from the first Trump administration on EV batteries and parts being implemented this past year, which Dunn described as “good for us”.

He then moved on to discussing the Bainbridge project itself. Anovion is currently working with Georgia Power to install a 150 megawatt substation, with the potential to expand to a 200 megawatt substation. Dunn explained the reason for these power needs is the intense heat needed for the ovens as part of their synthetic graphite production, which are heated to over 5000°F.

He also spoke about Anovion’s customers, which include companies like LG and Panasonic, “all require that we pass through certain barriers of performance with the battery material.” Dunn stated that Anovion had met five of the six “key parameters” required by these clients, and hope to meet the sixth in either January or March of next year.

“Once we have that technical qualification done with the customers, we then can enter into conversations about commercial contracts… which of course would then trigger our ability to get the kind of capital to build the facility in Bainbridge,” Dunn said. He also told the council that Anovion is being considered as a replacement for Chinese-supplied graphite.

They are also working on a “mini-mill” concept. “That’s a concept that we developed so that we can build our first commercial line in Bainbridge faster,” Dunn explained. “It’s smaller than what it would be at the full-scale, but still full-scale equipment, so that we can actually get through all the remaining pieces of the technical qualifications and what have you, before commissioning the plant.” Anovion’s goal is to start construction on the mini-mill by the middle of 2025 and finish by the middle of 2026, with the full plant to be in full production by the beginning of 2028.

Other topics Dunn touched on included sources of capital for the project, such as potential Department of Defense programs and the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Dunn’s full update remarks can be viewed in the meeting recording, which can be found on the City of Bainbridge website (https://www.bainbridgecity.com/documents/your-government/agendas-%26-minutes/2024/12%2F17%2F2024—city-council-meeting/733634).

Following this update, Mayor Reynolds delivered a proclamation to the Laymen Brotherhood.

Next, the council considered the adoption of an amendment to the cemetery trust ordinance. Steve O’Neil, Director of Community and Economic Development, took to the podium. “If you look at it currently, the language in the city code is specifically for Oak City Cemetery, and we’re proposing to amend the city code to include all of the cemeteries,” he explained. “The way it’s going to be laid out is we’ll have one general account that will cover any and all cemeteries, and each cemetery will have its own individual account that folks can donate to, if they so choose.”

Additionally, O’Neil explained, funds from the general cemetery trust account can be transferred to the city’s general fund for use on any city cemetery, but funds from a specific cemetery account must be used on that cemetery. The council voted to adopt the amendment.

Following this, the city heard an introduction of an amendment to the current electrical codes, which would bring the city’s code up to the state minimum code. The council voted in favor of this.

The next item on the agenda was the potential renaming of a street. O’Neil again spoke to the council about the matter. With the 9-1-1 services transitioning from analog to digital, one issue that was discovered is that there are currently two 800 blocks for Alice Street. One contains multiple businesses, while the other only has one residential address, with the decision made to change the residential street name. O’Neil stated he had discussed the necessity for a street name change with the residents, who submitted their own suggested names for the street. The council ultimately chose to change the name to Stadium Drive, with the effective date being March 1.

Next on the agenda was an intergovernmental agreement involving the Marshal’s Office with the City of Climax. The previous contract ended in November, with Climax seeking to renew it. O’Neil stated that the only thing different about it now is the price, with the city having been losing money on the previous contract. The council voted to adopt the agreement.

O’Neil next addressed the council about the most recent Planning Commission recommendations. There were two conditional use applications, one for an Air BnB on Broughton Street, and one for a detatched single-story garage apartment on Independence Street. The Commission had voted to approve both of these applications, and the Council likewise voted to approve their recommendation.

Next, Gabe Menendez presented a lease agreement to the council, that being with RDK Assets, Inc.

“Several years ago, we entered into leasing our garbage trucks, that’s five side-load vehicles, and three front-load vehicles,” Menendez explained, “and the reason for that was because we were saving money, in terms of owning the vehicles versus the maintenance obligation to keep the vehicles running.”

The lease payments will remain the same; “The only caveat to that is that we will keep the existing trucks running, and if and when they have a mechanical problem, within 24 hours we will get the new replacement vehicle for the remainder of the term.” This, he stated, would save the city $2,000 per side-loader, and $2,500 per front-loader. The council voted to approve the lease.

Following this, Bainbridge Public Safety Director Frank Green introduced Dwight Tomlin as the new BPS Chaplain. Tomlin, a Bainbridge native, served in the Navy for 20 years, has previously served as a military chaplain, and became a Minister and Associate Pastor while at New Beginnings Apostolic Faith Ministries.

“I just have no words,” Tomlin said, “I’m happy to be back in my city after leaving here 30+ years ago… I thank God for being here, and I look forward to serving each one of you.”

Director Green was then joined by Chief Redell Walton, who both gave a presentation about the possibility of implementing a Downtown and Park Patrol Zone. This zone, centered on downtown Bainbridge and the Boat Basin, would have one officer dedicated to patrolling it year-round. Green said he expected positive feedback from this initiative.

Following this, the council heard consideration for 55 alcoholic beverage license renewals, as well as one new license application filed by Martinez Galvin for a Mexican cantina. Councilwoman Glennie Bench recused herself from voting on two of these applications, those being Susntop stores, on account of conflicting financial interests. Additionally, Councilman Keenan Adams raised an issue with the Off the Hookah lounge’s application. The council first voted to approve all of the remaining applications, before approving the Sunstop applications, sans Bench, followed by a brief discussion about Off the Hookah, with downtown businesses and establishments complaining about noise and the disruptive behavior of the patrons. Following a brief talk with Director Green about recent complaints, Adams put forward a vote to deny the application, which did not go through, and the council ultimately voted to approve the application, with Adams voting against.

Next on the agenda was a bid to outfit 10 new police cruisers, with the lowest bid being by McLaggin from Hahira, at $182,770. The council voted to approve.

Lastly, the council approved two mayoral appointments, those being the reappointment of Chip Hall to the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County, and the appointment of Darrell Hall to the Bainbridge Decatur County Recreation Authority.

Following this, the meeting was adjourned.