Special session slated to discuss SFD
By JACQUIE BRASHER

Swainsboro city council will hold a special called meeting Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. to discuss issues pertaining to Swainsboro Fire Department. On the table to be discussed at that meeting will be 1. Promotion of Wendell Powell to assistant fire chief; 2. Promotion of Frank Nasworthy to captain; 3. Re-alignment of Fire Chief Mike Strobridge's salary; and 4. Hiring of a new firefighter.

Council members expressed confusion Monday night over the current firefighter positions held at the fire department. Chief Strobridge said he was at least one firefighter short for each shift. Some council members asked if it was necessary to have a captain or an assistant fire chief. Councilmember Rita Faulkner said she was under the impression that the position of captain had already been eliminated in favor of distributing that salary to the rest of the department. Councilmember Cleve Edenfield said the numbers being discussed, especially the re-alignment of the chief's salary, needed to be studied further. A motion was made by Councilmember John E. Parker to approve all four requests. Motion died for lack of a second. Another motion was made to postpone this issue and discuss it at a called workshop session instead. Motion passed with Councilmember Parker opposing.

David Auger of American Broadband was present to inform council of the change at Northland Cable. American Broadband is expected to take over by Feb. 15, 2008. Auger told council that the main changes would include maintaining the local team, being involved in the local community, upgrading the networks and adding programming to the existing line-up. "We anticipate a great relationship with you and look forward to a good partnership," said Mayor Schwabe.

Sam Sullivan of Sullivan Environmental Services was present to request a rate adjustment beginning January 2008 for residential and commercial rates for its garbage service. Sullivan said that increases had not been requested since June 2004, but that rising diesel fuel costs, especially after Hurricane Katrina, warranted the request. He asked for a 7.7 percent increase for residential rates and a 35-cent increase per cubic yard for Dumpsters, which come in three different sizes. He said similar increases are being asked throughout Emanuel County and other counties. He said adjustments could be made to either residential or commercial if council did not want to raise both rates. Council decided to study the options and make its decision at the December meeting.

In other business, council:

• Adopted a resolution to submit an application for a grant from Georgia Department of Natural Resources Trails Program for a city park located on Hwy. 80 West near the intersection of Kite Highway. The city will agree to fund 20 percent of the project. The grant is in the amount of $100,000 to build walking trails.

• Amended a misprint in the Utilities Code Book in Section 102-104 of the Federal Pretreatment standards as requested by OMI.

• Heard the second reading of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Code to change signage regulations for the Downtown Historic District.

• Approved the rezoning from commercial to residential for three acres on Industrial Way.

• Approved a partial street closure from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Wrens and Lewis streets (Gumlog Park) for a Youth Appreciation Day sponsored by the Optimist Club.

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