Alamo City Council Discusses Library Budget and Park Renovation Bids in May Meeting

The Alamo City Council discussed budget issues with the Ocmulgee Regional Library System, bids relating to updates to the Eastside Park and various road pavements among other agenda items in their monthly meeting on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Alamo City Hall in Alamo, Georgia. 

Mayor Pamela Lee began the meeting by asking for motions to approve the minutes from the meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, and to approve the agenda for the current meeting. Both approvals received motions from Councilmember Patricia Woodward and Councilmember Brian Cox respectively, and both were passed unanimously.

Next, the council reviewed the April 2025 financial report. According to the report, the city spent $132,654.85 in total general funds; $122,343.27 for water and sewer; $23,671.07 for payroll and $4,800 for SPLOST. 

In addition, the report also listed bank balances as $788,617.85 for general funds; $159,536.83 for water and sewer; $954.20 for fines and fees; $148,901.50 for SPLOST; $591.07 for school safety; $130,023.37 for TLOST;  $79,195.88 for general fund savings; $75,000 for general fund savings CD; $200,178.72 for water and sewer savings; $267,277.64 for bond and sinking CD; $251,665.80 for APR savings; $251,665.80 for the Eastside Park project and $884.28 for the new city hall.

Councilmember Geoffery Villegas offered a motion to accept the financial report, which passed unanimously.

Next, the council considered bids for the Eastside Park update project. The council had received three bids for the project from Altamaha Building Systems, the ICB Construction Group and Pro Construction of Georgia after opening up for bids the week prior. 

According to City Manager Jeffery Floyd, Altamaha offered the lowest bid overall, but when disregarding an alternative turf field, ICB’s bid was the lowest. The council decided to wait for recommendations and decide on a bid during a meeting at a later date.

The council then moved on to new business, beginning with the Transportation Investment Act. According to Floyd, the city government has four road pavement projects scheduled for 2031, regarding South Jefferson Street, Magnolia Lane, Pearl Avenue and Towns Avenue. The bid documents for South Jefferson Street, Magnolia Lane and Pearl Avenue will be drafted by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

“This is fully funded by GDOT,” says Floyd. “It won’t cost us anything, except for the advertising.”

While South Jefferson Street, Magnolia Lane and Pearl Avenue’s renovations will be funded by the GDOT, Towns Avenue will require the Alamo city government to hire an engineer.

Councilmember Woodard offered a motion to advertise the bid documents for South Jefferson Street, Magnolia Lane and Pearl Avenue, which passed unanimously. Councilmember Jones offered a motion to hire an engineer for Towns Avenue, which passed unanimously. 

Councilmember Laura Brownley offered a motion to pave sections of Lakeview Drive, Lucille Avenue and Nellie Street with Local Road Assistance funds, which passed unanimously.

Next, the council considered bids to replace a pump at Lift Station #4. The lift station is the main station which services the city’s sewer system, pumping wastewater to the nearby treatment plant.

“It’s bad,” says Floyd. “It’s not rebuildable.”

The council received three bids for the pump replacement, and Councilmember Woodward offered a motion to accept the lowest bid of $8375 from Glenville Electrical Motors, which passed unanimously.

The council then discussed the Alamo Independence Day Celebration, which will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Next, the council heard from Ocmulgee Regional Library System Director Kim Spencer regarding the system’s budgetary concerns. According to Spencer, the system was facing a shortfall of approximately $5,000 going into the July 1 fiscal year, even after making several budget cuts.

“There’s really nothing left to cut in our budget,” says Spencer.

According to Spencer, the budget issues stem from both decreased federal and state funding, as well as rising costs for necessities, such as books and electricity. She had also approached the Wheeler County government and the Wheeler County Board of Education for assistance with funding, although neither organization had pledged any funds at the time. 

According to Floyd, the City Council usually pays $4,000 to the system at the end of every month, and suggested the council could give that money in advance. Councilmember Woodard offered a motion to give the system $9,000; the original $4,000 with an additional $5,000; but the motion ceased without a second. Councilmember Villegas offered a motion to give $6,500, which passed unanimously.

Next, the council discussed restoring the roadside park between West Railroad Avenue and West Main Street. The privately owned land was originally leased to GDOT for 50 years to be used as a park, and the landowners are in favor of the city restoring it, according to Floyd.

“I’ve talked with the landowner’s family about the roadside park, and they’re all for us if we want to take it back over, clean it up and make it a roadside park again,” said Floyd.

Councilmember Brownley offered a motion to begin a 25-year lease on the land, which passed unanimously.

Next, Floyd offered an update regarding the city’s certificates of deposits (CD). According to Floyd, the city’s CDs would roll over on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Next, the council heard reports from the city manager, the Alamo Police Department and the Alamo Fire Department, all of whom provided printouts of the reports for attendees.

According to the City Manager’s report, city services performed several cleaning operations around the city, including picking up trash, and clearing storm drains, curbs and gutters. The city also performed repair work on lift stations #2, #3 and #4; several road signs; company vehicles and both well houses. The city also reported assisting with the Annual Chamber Banquet held by the Wheeler County Chamber of Commerce, the Quarterly Advisory Committee meeting, the sidewalk project and the paving project.

In addition, the City Manager reported making contacts with individuals from the Wheeler County Library, ERAssist, FEMA, ME Sack, the Wheeler County EMA, Concrete Construction Incorporated, the Georgia Department of Transportation, Sikes Construction, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the National Historic Society, the City of McRae as well as an attorney and an architect.

According to the police department’s report, the Alamo Police Department received 42 calls between Tuesday, April 1, 2025, and Wednesday, April 30, 2025, including 23 calls for traffic stops, 4 calls for lockouts, 2 calls regarding harassment, 2 calls regarding suspicious vehicles, 2 calls regarding vehicle tags, 2 calls regarding theft, 1 medical call, 1 call regarding downed lines, 1 call regarding a mechanical breakdown, 1 call regarding a missing person, 1 call regarding a suspicious person, 1 call regarding transportation and 1 hangup call. 

According to the fire department’s report, the Alamo Fire Department received 8 calls between Tuesday, April 22, 2025, and Saturday, May 17, 2025, including 4 calls regarding bush fires, 2 calls regarding a landing zone for air evacuation, 1 call regarding a tree on fire and 1 medical call.  The department also held three training meetings in the same time period, including a Wildland 1 Pump Maintenance meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025; an Extrication Equipment Familiarization meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025; and an SOP/Code of Ethics Review meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025.

In addition, the department reported participating in the Senior Graduation Parade and a reminder of the Alamo Independence Day Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 28, which the department will host.

Mayor Lee did not have a report, but did thank the council members, the city manager and city workers for their contributions to the Senior Graduation Parade. Following public participation, the meeting was adjourned.