Council hires new city clerk

Dorothy Rozier broke into a big smile as she shook hands with Superior Court Chief Judge Jon Helton after she was sworn in as the city of Dublin’s new city clerk.

The ceremony took place at the beginning of last Thursday’s meeting, after the council approved Rozier by voting her into the position.

“Thank you mayor pro tempore, mayor and council for your trust and confidence,” Rozier said. “I am honored to serve as the city clerk for the city of Dublin. I am looking forward to working with each of you in the new capacity. To my fellow appointees and colleagues, I look forward to collaborating as we serve our community. To my family and friends, thank you for being here. I thank you for your support. It means more than I can say. I’m honored by this opportunity and committed to the work ahead.”

Mayor Pro Tem Bennie Jones began the meeting asking everyone to keep Dublin Mayor Joshua Kight and his family in prayers with the passing of his father, Billy Kight, who was also the Laurens County attorney.

Also, the council approved a contract with Foresite Group LLC to develop a comprehensive safety action plan for Safe Streets 4 All grant.

“We were notified that we were awarded this grant,” said Dublin City Manager Josh Powell. “The Foresite Group was highly recommended and very well qualified to do this work for us.”

Powell said the group has helped other communities develop safety plans. The purpose is to try to eliminate and reduce pedestrian and bicycle incidents and deaths.

“They will be coming in and looking at everything from our city ordinances, policies, road construction, development and regulations that we have in place,” Powell said. “They’ll make recommendations and will come up with a plan that we can actually do in the future when it comes to safety.”

They will take this plan and use it to apply for implementation funds as they may become available in the future.

“I’m very excited to get started on this,” Powell said.

City Councilwoman Tess Godfrey announced that new councilman Brandon Chain will be on that particular board.

“We look forward to hearing what he brings back to us,” she said.

Powell added that the public will be engaged in this process as well.

In other business, the city council:

– Approved the purchase of a new pump for the trickling filter at the wastewater treatment plant from Xylem Water Solutions USA Inc. in the amount of $23,105.95.

– Approved a Visin Zero Safety Action Plan. Powell said they want to have a plan in place by the beginning of June.

– Approved the terms and conditions for the Dublin Police Department to apply for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic Grant for 2027. If awarded, the grant period would begin in October of 2026.

– Approved items as declaration of surplus that will be sold on GovDeals or for scrap.