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The Bainbridge City Council met last Tuesday afternoon for their monthly meeting. The first item on the agenda was recognition of visitors, the only one for the evening being Al Kelley. Kelley addressed the council about a semi-truck that has been left parked in his neighborhood. He stated that he had approached the owner about moving it, and after no change, he and some neighbors filed a complaint, after which there was a dispute over whether the truck was operational. Kelley requested the city look into an ordinance for these sorts of issues, citing that other cities like Thomasville and Tifton have them. Mayor Edward Reynolds informed Kelley that the process to adopt such an ordinance would take several months, as it requires being presented at one council meeting, before being voted on at the following month’s meeting.

Following this, Jamie Sinko from Memorial Hospital and Manor, spoke to the council about the Georgia HEART Program.

“Essentially, it is a program that gives you the choice of where your state tax dollars go,” Sinko said, “and my request to y’all is helping me spread the information, is to get the word out that everyone in this community and the State of Georgia has a choice where their state taxes can be spent, and that they can keep them here in their hospital.”

She further explained, stating that the state has set aside a $100 million pot for 54 eligible rural hospitals to receive, and explained how citizens can make a pledge to Georgia HEART. The program has been extended to 2029. Memorial has received roughly $2 million over the past few years through the program, which has gone to funding various “projects we would not have been able to do otherwise.”

The next item of business was an update on a Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) grant, presented by City Engineer Gabe Menendez. This grant will provide the city with $3,437,858 for 50 generators, as well as $25,000 for additional management costs, and the city would be eligible for $146,892 in reimbursements for management costs.

After this, the council heard consideration of a resolution that, according to City Manager Roy Oliver, “authorizes the city to reimburse itself for any prior expenditures made regarding future infrastructure projects, preceding issuance of any tax-exempt funding.” The council voted to adopt the resolution.

Next on the agenda, the council approved three alcoholic beverage license applications. They then heard a street closure request for portions of both Broughton and Water Street for a wedding on May 3, 2025. It was confirmed that there would be traffic access for residents who lived in the neighborhood. The council granted the street closure request.

Lastly, the city council considered mayoral appointments for the Downtown Bainbridge Development Authority. These appointments included Sterling Widner, Spencer Thomas, and Don Whaley. These were approved, with Councilman Whaley requesting to abstain.

Following this, the meeting was adjourned.