Coley addresses concerns about city water, billing and management

Following escalating tensions surrounding several city issues, Cochran Mayor Carla Coley held a town hall meeting last Tuesday where residents were allowed three minutes each to address the mayor.

Many of the questions raised throughout the meeting related to the interim city manager and communication between the city and business owners.

Billing Error

One of the most anticipated topics of conversation was the city’s utility billing. The week prior, the city published a vague statement on social media announcing errors with multiple water meters in the city and how residents were being billed.

On Tuesday, Coley provided an update, saying the issue stemmed from the way newer water meters were programmed to read gallon usage.

“The software was using one consistent conversion factor, but the various meters were importing readings that varied from gallons to tenths of gallons to hundredths of gallons,” she said. “Unless the meter’s programming is correctly identified and communicated, the reading can be interpreted incorrectly.”

Though the error cost the city a substantial amount of money, Coley stated that Cochran residents will not pay the price.

“Due to the coordination issues, the city has potentially suffered a substantial loss,” she said. “With that said, no one is being back charged, and no one will be upcharged. The difference in your billing, if any, is the result of ensuring meters, meter readers and billing software are aligned.”

According to Coley, City Hall is still working on the issue and will put out another statement in the near future. 

City Manager

Last Tuesday, Coley also addressed the topic of the city manager position, including new information about the current interim manager’s time in Cochran.

According to Coley, after previous City Manager Richard Newbern resigned back in February, the city reached out to a hiring firm to help identify an interim candidate. The city interviewed two candidates the firm recommended, however, after completing the interviews, both candidates rejected their offer.

City council later interviewed Angela Redding, who previously served as the City Manager in Cordele, and she was hired on a one year contract. To make the position more appealing to her, said Coley, the council agreed to let Redding use the city car to travel to and from her home in Cordele.

Redding officially began work on April 6, three days prior to her formal appointment by city council.

Around the same time, city council approved working with an executive hiring firm to identify a candidate for the permanent position, but before they put pen to paper, City Clerk Candace Summerall resigned, leading the firm to recommend they delay the search until they could hire a replacement.

Months later in September, city council voted to reverse their decision to work with an outside firm altogether.

According to Coley, City Attorney Jim Elliott is now continuing the search for a permanent city manager, but in the meantime, Redding will continue to serve as the acting city manager.

“I believe this position should undergo a nationwide search and thorough vetting, but that decision will rest with council,” Coley said.

Many of the concerns raised on Tuesday related to the city manager position, with one resident saying that whoever inevitably takes that position should live in Bleckley County and be “a part of the community.”

“If you’re going to have that much control and influence over the operations of this city, it shouldn’t just be a paycheck,” she said.

City Water

Coley also spoke on concerns about the city’s water. 

According to Coley, the ongoing issue of brown water some residents are experiencing is tied to the city’s aging infrastructure. Though she says a grant application has been submitted to fund pressure testing and mapping of the city’s water lines, she assured that the water is safe for consumption. 

“The safety of the water cannot be determined without recent official laboratory tests,” she said. “Our daily and monthly testing is handed out to council members at every month’s council meeting, and we have the opportunity to review those.”

“Having a history in water and water safety,” she continued, “I can tell you that our lab results are always where they need to be.”

The mayor also shared that the pressure testing and mapping of the water lines is just the first part of a plan council formed to address the issue.

Towards the end of the town hall meeting, some residents called attention to the lack of city council members present. Of the six total sitting council members, only Councilmen Shane Savant and Lonnie Tedders were in attendance. 

Savant, who represents District Three, spoke at the end of the meeting, urging people to show up to regular council meetings and “be vocal” with their council members when there is an issue they’d like to address.