The regular meeting of the Climax City Council held on Monday, June 9, had several reporting on updates.

The City is changing to a new and more efficient water billing system. City Clerk Karen Toole reported she was working with United Systems Technology to get all of the accounts transferred over to the new system.

Mayor Charles Hadsock reported that Maintenance supervisor Greg Toole had attended Class for the City water recertification, and that Police Chief John Presilla would be attending Chief School at the end of July to receive his certification.

Fire Chief Jeff Kelly reported that the fire truck needed new tires. A motion by Councilman Bob Jones to purchase the new tires with money from the SPLOST account passed unanimously.

The Mayor asked the council to make a decision on which Streets in the city limits they thought needed to be resurfaced and bring a list to the July meeting. The city has until August 2015 to get all paper work and justification completed.

New Business

Hadsock reported an update on the comprehensive plan. There will be public hearings and many meetings to satisfactorily complete a plan that will be approved by Community Services. The plan will be prepared as a Community plan consisting of Decatur County, Attapulgus, Brinson, and Climax. The Mayor has asked for assistance from Southwest Georgia Regional Center.

The Mayor also reported on a meeting at the Decatur County Administration building held in May. The discussion was on the new cost structure for inmate’s Municipal use. Effective June 30, 2015, it will cost the cities, Hospital Authority and Board of Education, $91 per week per inmate. Payment will be $13 per day for a seven-day week. Climax will only use one inmate for four days each week.

Judge Josh Bell notified the city that as of May 11, 2015, the contract with Red Hill Community Probation Company would be terminated.

After a request by the Mayor, a motion carried to pay $10,000 on the firetruck this year and then pay the remaining balance in 2016.

The City Clerk asked if she could acquire an estimate on how much it would cost to repair the air conditioning in the office area of the depot so the city employees could use their gym. She stated that the employees had the equipment, but could not use it due to the heat and cold in the winter. The clerk asked about using the old air unit that was in theCity Hall that is useable. A motion carried for the Clerk to get an estimate on the cost of repairing the unit or install the other one.

Mayor Hadsock asked the council to vote on updating the business application. He stated that the council was not to approve the business licenses. He said anyone that wished to open a business in Climax must first fill out an application and then it was to be turned over to the county for inspection and then returned to the city for issuing. The person opening the business must have a federal tax ID number or open the business under their social security number.

Council members Sandra Thomas and Vanessa Martin requested time to read over the information before voting. Mayor Hadsock stated that it was already an ordinance he was just asking for an update. Council Woman Elizabeth Phillips made the motion to approve the update and it was seconded by Robert Jones. Vanessa Martin and Sandra Thomas abstained from voting due to their reason of needing more time to read the ordinance, making for a tie vote with Robert Jones and Elizabeth Phillips voting yes. Mayor Hadsock broke the tie voting yes and the motion passed.

Reporters note: A special thank you to City Clerk Karen Toole for her assistance and contribution to this article.