Commission meeting includes paving projects and citizen request for response

The City of Graceville Commission held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 15 at Graceville City Hall. The meeting included discussion on grants and paving as well as citizen issues with transparency and commissioner communication.

The meeting started with information about the 2024-2025 audit. Manager Michelle Watkins noted a $400,000 increase noting it was “certainly a movement in the right direction.” She continued that the commission should remember that these numbers include, not just cash, but it also includes assets, such as physical buildings, treatment plants, stations, and city-owned facilities.

Watkins continued speaking on the findings in the audit as well as previous audits speaking on the issue of Segregation of Duties. This item has been addressed previously noting that it is not financially feasible for the city to hire enough staff to segregate all duties and this is not an uncommon scenario for small municipalities. She finished that the city has substantiated their position on these respondents to the point that the city no longer has to answer for them to the Chief Financial Officer of the State.

The next item discussed was a Debris Interlocal Agreement with Jackson County. The agreement has been entered into in the past with Jackson County and allows for aid in debris pickup in catastrophic situations similar to Hurricane Michael. The board approved the motion.

Watkins went on to inform the commission that the City of Graceville had some Rural Infrastructure Funds that are no longer needed and can be used for other projects. She commented that around $50,000 dollars was left, and staff recommendation is to move that to Patterson Circle/Pelham Court paving. The commission voted to approve to reallocate those funds to the Patterson Circle/Pelham Court project. After the vote, Watkins went through the paving packet that was provided to the City Commissioners. She noted that the paving company currently working on Highway 77 was able to quote cost for paving the Patterson Circle/Pelham Court. She noted that the company would be able to do it for around $96,000, this would include both the north and south sides of Patterson Circle. The cost would also include a few other small sections of College Drive. Watkins noted that “paving is an expensive venture”. The board approved the request.

Updates were given on various projects. Watkins informed the commission of important dates including Ethics Training scheduled for August 14. There was not a representative from the Police Department at the meeting to give updates on GPD activity or code enforcement.

Citizen comments followed. Graceville citizen Regina Wolfgang used her three minutes to speak about the lack of transparency and refusal of City Administration to answer her emails and public records requests including simple items such as a copy of the night’s meeting agenda. She continued that morning after the City of Graceville posted about the meeting on its Facebook she sent both City Manager and City Clerk emails asking for a copy of the agenda and had received “zero response.” She continued to ask the commission as she had at previous meetings to provide an email to not only her but all Graceville citizens so they may contact them. She noted that Commissioner Marshall Davis had given her his email but had yet to respond to her email that had been sent months ago (Davis did not respond or acknowledge Wolfgang’s comments during the meeting). She finished adding that citizens should not have to go to commissioners’ homes or places of business to speak to them and an email for commissioners is supplied by almost all municipalities and counties in the area. She finished adding, “Maybe other people' that have lived here longer is immune to the pushback, the retaliation, and even in some cases, discrimination. But I'm just not going to go away. I'm just going to keep coming back until I'm treated professionally.”

Mayor Walter Olds finished the meeting asking for Commissioners’ Final Remarks. Commissioner Terry Nichols addressed Wolfgang’s comments asking for her to work with the city and commissioners. He commented, “oftentimes, when you get to dealing with public media, it can go sour fast and things that are said sometimes in public media are not always right.” He added, “I don't know if I want to have a public presence. I want people to be able to contact me, but I don't know...” Commissioner Davis thanked those who attended and the administration staff. Commissioner Pinkard offered to give Wolfgang his personal email and asked for all to pray for those affected by the floods in Texas. Commissioner McClendon spoke briefly about Wolfgang’s comments adding that he had given her his phone number. When she asked for an email he commented, “I honestly don’t want one… if you have something to say to me, I’d rather just talk to you face to face.” Wolfgang commented, “I can’t get a follow-up... I can vent to you but I’m not trying to vent, I’m trying to create normal communication back and forth.” Mayor Olds spoke thanking the administration adding, “somebody complains about something and the next thing you know the City is right there taking care of the problem.” He finished adding that the meetings are always the second Tuesday of the month unless there is an election so if people want to “come out” they know when the meeting is ending, “If people were really concerned about something, they would come to the meeting.”

To view the July meeting in its entirety visit The Graceville News Facebook page.

Publishers Note: Upon researching the comments made by Wolfgang on other areas having commissioners email and agendas/meeting minutes readily available, agenda/meeting minutes are available to view on the following in-county websites: Marianna, Sneads, and Cottondale’s website notes that agendas are available upon request. The Jackson County School Board and Jackson County Commission also have meeting minutes and/or agendas available on their websites. Emails to commissioners are only available on the Sneads website as well as the Jackson County Commission and School Board websites.

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