City of Homerville now caught up with audits
By Ben Murray
The City of Homerville is caught back up with their audits.
At Thursday’s Homerville City Council meeting, Roger Nixon with the CKH Group informed the council that they have completed all of the audits, and that they are free and clear to start applying for grants again.
The city had been out of compliance with their audits since the start of 2022, and thus ineligible for many state and federal grant funds.
Nixon described the process of completing these audits as “extremely complex,” but stated that “it was a privilege to work with Sam (Interim City Manager Samantha Rittenhouse).” He would go on to state the he has “yet to see somebody so dedicated,” in finishing these audits that started with their first meeting on August 10, 2023.
In other action from the meeting, held at the Homerville Municipal Complex, the council:
•Approved adopting the resolution put forward about increasing the city council’s pay, which would go into effect January 1 2026.
• Approved dates for hearings for opting out of House Bill 581. The dates will be February 20 at 6 p.m., February 27 at 9 a.m., and February 27 at 5 p.m. to be held at council chambers.
• Approved a contract with the Department of Transportation through the Transportation Investment Act, that will cover if the DOT has to effect any city utilities during their widening of Highway 441 through the city. The contract will cover $606,000 at the DOT’s cost.
. Discussed advertising applications for City Clerk position due by February 21, and tentative interviews on February 24.
. Tabled discussion about getting a quote for replacing a culvert pipe on Courtland Avenue, Rose Street, and Elna Street.
. Approved bids for replacing the roofs at the library and the airport from Best Choice Roofing out of Valdosta Georgia. The bid was $30,250 for the library roof, and $4,800 for the airport roof.
. Approved the financial reports from last month.
. Approved spending up to $300,000 to replace three of the police department’s patrol vehicles.
. Heard from City Manager Samantha Rittenhouse on receiving 50% of funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency totaling $813,460.60 next week, and waiting to receive the other half from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
. Heard from Councilwoman Amanda Webb, who informed the council that there are two dead trees in the cemetery that need to be removed, there is a hole on the cemetery grounds that needs to be filled in, and that three more trash cans are needed for the cemetery for the cleanup crew to use.
. Heard from Mayor Tom Kennedy, who wants to hold a budget workshop with the city council in April, as well as wanting to ride around the city and check the ditches to see which ones need to be cleaned out. Mayor Kennedy also wants to get in touch with FEMA to see how they need to bid out getting the rest of the debris picked up in the city of Homerville, since the contracts have expired with the last round of debris removal.
