City of Graceville holds December Commission meeting announces 2024 election dates

The City of Graceville held its monthly commission meeting on Tuesday, December 12 at City Hall. The meeting began with prayer and the pledge of allegiance. The meeting swiftly began with the agenda being approved as presented.

The first item on the agenda was approval of the 2024 holiday schedule. City Manager Michelle Watkins noted that the days were the same as the previous year. City Hall will be closed the following Mondays in 2024: New Year Holiday (1/1), MLK Holiday (1/15), President’s Day (2/19), Memorial Day (5/27), Labor Day (9/2), Columbus Day (10/14), and Veterans Day (11/11). City Hall will also be closed for Good Friday (3/29), Juneteenth (6/19), and Fourth of July (7/4) as well as two days for the Thanksgiving Holiday (11/28-11/29) and Christmas (12/24-12/25). The schedule was approved unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was approval of the 2024 Election Resolution. The resolution notes that the 2024 City of Graceville election will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Groups 2 and 4 will be up for election with those seats currently held by Commissioner Walter Olds (2) and Commissioner Marshall Davis (4). Qualifying for the election will be from Noon Monday, January 29, 2024 to Friday, February 2, 2024. To qualify candidates must file paperwork with the Graceville City Clerk. The resolution was passed unanimously.

City Manager Michelle Watkins continued the meeting giving the Manager’s Report. She noted that there had been progress with the Fire Department grants with specs and such ready to submit along with other needed items. She also noted that the City will be working on the bridge behind Tiger Park but hopes are that Brown Street and Cliff Street paving projects will be completed in the next 60 days. Watkins finished noting she felt the Christmas parade and festival was “very well attended, a lot of positive feedback about it, there were a lot of people. More people this year than last year.”

During the citizen comment portion, County Commissioner Edward Crutchfield informed the City that the county is looking updating Boney Bridge which is located on the dirt road behind McNeil Technologies (the old VF Outlet). He commented that there was some confusion between the Jackson and Holmes County residents on lines and when the bridge would be fixed. He noted that while it doesn’t look the best it is structurally sound, but Jackson County Commission is aware of the issues and working to fix them.

The meeting ended with everyone being wished a Merry Christmas. To view the meeting in its entirety visit The Graceville News Facebook Page.