Alamo City Council Discusses Park Updates and Swears in New Police Officer

The Alamo City Council discussed road pavement operations, East Side Park updates, and swore in Cameron Cates into the Alamo City Police Department during their monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 17, at the Alamo City Hall.

The Council reviewed recommendations regarding engineering bids for the East Side Park update project. M. E. Sacks recommended the bid from Altamaha Building Systems, Inc., which had been lowered from $3,574,174 to $1,994,381.

Councilmember Dondrea Geter also mentioned several downsizing measures the project had undergone to warrant a lower bid, such as a less elaborate amphitheater. The park renovations would also require the implementation of a water supply for irrigation and the move of the current two inch splash pad, which would cost $39,350 from the SPLOST fund.

Geter offered a motion to accept the Altamaha Building Systems bid, which passed unanimously, and Councilmember Laura Brownley offered a motion to install the water supply, which passed unanimously.

Next, the council considered the developments for South Jefferson Street, Magnolia Lane and Pearl Avenue, paid for by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Councilmember Patricia Woodard offered a motion to continue the development, which passed with Councilmember Bobby Cox against.

The council also reviewed an engineering bid for the development of Towns Avenue. Only one bid was submitted, and Geter offered a motion to table the bid, which passed unanimously, due to the council’s dissatisfaction with the bid.

According to Alamo City Manager Jeffery Floyd, he had spoken to the family who owned the roadside park across from the local Dollar General, and claimed the family was uninterested in working with the city on the park. Representatives for the owner did say the owner was willing to do anything with the city that was “responsible,” according to Floyd.

The council also discussed buying new parts for the ultraviolet light system for the waste plant. According to Floyd, the replacement parts purchased over one year ago cost $19,000, while the current bid for the same parts cost $14,519.

Councilmember Steve Jones offered a motion to accept the bid, which passed unanimously.

The council also reviewed the May 2025 financial report. According to the report, in May, the 2025 general funds spent $60,781.92; the water and sewer account spent $52,884.16; payroll spent $30,313.13 and TLOST spent $1,091.29.

In bank balances, the general fund totalled $742,679.45; the water and sewer fund totaled $148,848.04; the fines and fees fund totalled $8,235.49; the SPLOST fund totalled $148,848.04; the school safety fund totalled $591.07; the TLOST fund totalled $132,095.36; the general fund savings account totalled $79,195.88; the general fund savings CD totalled $78,726.90; the water and sewer savings CD totalled $210,126; the bond and sinking CD account totalled $280,559.20; the ARP savings account totalled $20.39; the East Side park project account totalled $249,978.69 and the new city hall account totalled $884.28.

The council heard the monthly city manager report, delivered by Floyd. Floyd, while giving his report, asked attendees to call Alamo City Hall regarding problems the city is responsible for, rather than posting on FaceBook.

The Council also heard reports from the Alamo City Police Department and the Alamo Fire Department.

The Alamo City Police Department received 51 calls in May, including 18 traffic stops, four tag calls, three miscellaneous reports, two commercial alarms, two animal calls, two suspicious persons, two downed trees, two vehicle thefts, one four wheeler, one break in, one welfare check, one driver’s license, one open door, one medical call, one brush fire, one gun, one informational call, one lockout, one meet in person, one missing person, one motor vehicle accident, one suspicious vehicle, one transport call and one call to assist another agency.

The Alamo Fire Department received seven calls between Thursday, May 15, and Monday, June 16, including three downed trees, one brush fire, one structure fire, one reignited structure fire and one vehicle accident with injuries. The Department also held four training sessions and activities in that time, including ropes and knot training, building construction, pulley systems and firework safety.

The Alamo Fire Department will also host the Alamo Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 2 p.m. Fire Chief Brian O’Quinn clarified to the council the vendors at the celebration will not be checked for political affiliation, in response to Councilmember Woodard’s concerns regarding rumors of a potential No Kings demonstration during a “serious political climate.”

Councilmember Woodard also offered a motion to pay fire department employees $15 per training trip they attended at the end of the year, which passed unanimously.

During public participation, Johnny L. Moore Jr., asked about any discussions regarding merging the Alamo City Police Department and the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Department and how the merger would save the county money. According to City Attorney Avery, the merger would save money by spending less money than two departments, but no decision on the matter had been made.

William Hewell asked if the city would resume picking up tree limbs. According to Floyd, the city had discussed fencing in an old dog pen area for citizens to drop off limbs at a dedicated time.