Grantville City Council bans skateboards from sidewalks, names Jordan police chief
By JOHN A. WINTERSjohn@newnan.com
Roller skates, roller blades and skateboards are now banned from Grantville sidewalks and recreation paths after a unanimous vote by the Grantville City Council Monday night.
The Grantville City Council also named Interim Police Chief Doug Jordan as the permanent chief and gave him a $4,000 raise. In another personnel matter, council made an offer to the former utility director to hire him back at his old pay.
Cooks was absent from Monday’s meeting.
The ordinance also includes changes to golf cart fees, with the fee going from $12 to $15. Also, the permit is required to be renewed every year instead of the current five years.
After a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters, council unanimously agreed to name Jordan as the new chief with the pay raise.
“He (Jordan) had offered to take the job at his lieutenant’s pay because of our budget problems, but we want to keep him here and raised his pay,” said Mayor Jim Sells. “He is doing an outstanding job and it was a unanimous vote.”
Jordan has served as interim chief since August, when council unanimously voted to fire former chief Clyburn Halley.
Council also made a counter offer to rehire Joe Jones, the city’s former utility director. Jones asked for his old job back at a new salary of $52,000.
Two council members, Rochelle Jabaley and Selma Coty, voted to offer him the job back at $50,232. Councilman Barham Lundy abstained. Council is waiting to see if Jones will accept, Sells said.
In other action, council:
• Approved a $200 Christmas bonus for all employees with more than one year of service, and $100 for all employees with less than one year of service.
• Approved selling several old surplus vehicles and mowers to the high bidders.
• Delayed any action on purchasing an extended cab four-wheel drive pickup for city departments. Currently the city is renting a truck for $800 a month. The action was delayed because there was no second.
• Approved the second and final reading to a new sign ordinance. The amendments deal with non-conforming signs, prohibited signs, fees, exemptions and variances.
• Approved a new lease agreement with Comcast for property where a tower is located for television services. The monthly rental will go from $388 to $525 per month and increase about 3.5 percent annually for the next five years.
