TIFTON — The Tifton City Council unanimously approved the 2017 tax digest, Maintenance and Operation levy and setting the final millage rate.

Mayor Julie Smith said that the 2017 tax digest is $339,709,666, which is a decrease of $807,392 from the 2016 adjusted digest.

Tift County Tax Commissioner Chad Alexander recommended setting the millage rate at 9.731 mills, which is a decrease in the millage rate of 0.028 mills.

After setting the millage rate, the M&O levy will be set at $3,305,714.76, a decrease of $17,391.21 from the 2016 tax levy.

The council unanimously approved amending the FY2017-2018 budget.

The amendment allows for a contingency amount of $100,000 to cover unexpected changes in the upcoming fiscal year.

The council voted to postpone making a decision about equalizing the water and sewer rates indefinitely.

Council member Wes Ehlers emphasized that this postponement is in place so that the water and sewer commission can meet to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with regard to water and sewer.

The council also discussed the resolution authorizing City Manager Pete Pyrzenski to negotiate an agreement with a fire engine repair company to use the Southside Fire Station to use as a satellite office.

At the July 3 workshop, Tifton Fire Chief Bobby Bennett said that the company is very interested in renting it and that he is in favor of the proposal.

Pyrzenski also informed the council about a proposition brought to him by the county to use the Southside station.

At the July 10 county commissioners meeting, Commissioner Grady Thompson said the county was considering using the Southside fire station to house an ambulance in order to provide better, quicker service to the west side of the county.

The council voted to postpone making a decision on this matter until the next workshop so they can discuss terms with the county.

Steve Hyman with the Tifton Police Department was recognized on his promotion to Captain. Hyman has been with the TPD for 34 years and was a Lieutenant for 25 of those years.

Pyrzenski said that Hyman will be overseeing the uniform patrol division while Captain Raymond Drennon will be supervising the administrative and special services part of the department.

The council approved a resolution designating the July 29 Rock the Block Beach Party as a festival.

The festival ordinance will allow alcohol to be purchased and consumed within the boundaries of the festival area.

The event will feature Jimmy Buffet cover band A1A, and Mayor Julie Smith said that ESG is going to be bringing in sand to put on 1st Street in front of the stage.

“It’s going to be an actual beach party,” Smith said.

Two people addressed the council during citizen input.

The first was Kathy Baker, who wanted to address the council about the water issues in the Pebblebrook neighborhood.

That neighborhood is in the county but has city water.

According to Baker, the water turns red at least a couple of times a month, which means that residents of that neighborhood are unable to use the water for anything. She said that she has been living in that neighborhood for over four years and that the water has been an issue for at least that long, if not longer.

“I’m curious as to what the plan is to rectify the situation,” she said. “We’re having to pay to run water to flush the lines, and then I have to buy water from Publix to drink and cook with.”

Pyrzenski said that the city is aware of the problem.

He said there is a six inch water main that goes around the neighborhood but that the lines that run through the area to bring water to the houses are very small, less than one inch, and very old.

“Without correcting some of the inside portions it’s hard to come up with some kind of quick remedy,” Pyrzenski said, emphasizing that the water quality is good, but the system the water passes through is the problem.

“It really is something that needs to be designed. It is a SPLOST project and it’s going to be extensive in the way of cost,” he said, referring to replacing the pipes running through the neighborhood

When Baker asked if he could give her a time frame, Pyrzenski said he hadn’t started working on that yet but that he would communicate with the county and try to develop a time line and cost estimates.

He also suggested having a neighborhood meeting to try and address complaints and answer questions.

Bubba Harrison, whose wife was hired at the caterer for The Great Race, addressed the council express appreciation for how well the event turned out.

He said that he was proud that Tifton won Best Overall Stop for the great race, and said that the city was a gracious host.

“I know that I saw the mayor all day,” he said. “I saw the city clerk all day. I saw the police chief all day.”

He said that the city employees were welcoming and helpful and that the event went off with no problems.

Harrison addressed the council about putting up banners to welcome back the college students who are going to be returning to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for the fall semester in August.

He also said that he wanted to say that while he knows there have been complaints about Golden Environmental, he has had no issues with the service.

The council approved the consent agenda unanimously, which included:

• Awarding a proposal to Don Jackson Chrysler Dodge Jeep for the purchase of two vehicles for the Tifton Police Department. This purchase is already in the budget, but purchasing these will save more than $6,000.

• Authorizing Pyrzenski to execute the Strategic National Stockpile memoranda of agreement with the Tift County Health Department. Having this agreement in place will identify what activities or assets may be requested before, during or after an emergency event.

• Approving a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with ESG Operations, Inc. The amendment says that ESG will manage, operate and maintain the city’s wastewater treatment facilities and perform inspections maintenance and repairs on the city’s none elevated storage tanks. The base fee will be $6,402,360.

• Approving a resolution providing for the 2017 election. The 2017 election will be held Tuesday, November 5 for Districts 1 and 3. Candidates can file a notice of candidacy beginning at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 21 and ending at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 25. The fee to file is $207.

• Approving a resolution providing for an alcohol license at Gravity Pinthouse, LLC, located at 139 Love Avenue.

Lamarice Taylor was sworn in as a board member of the Planning and Zoning Board, and Chad Tullos was sworn in as a board member of the Historic Preservation Commission.