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LANETT — In its Monday meeting, the Lanett City Council annexed some property into the city, held a first reading on a zoning designation for the Lanett Mill site, approved a street paving list for the current fiscal year and appointed a new member to the Chattahoochee water board and two new members to the city planning board.

The property that’s being annexed is at the airport and is owned by the city. It’s in the form of several small parcels, all of which are contiguous with the city. Code Enforcement Officer Johnny Wood said that new maps that are being prepared will show that these sites are now in the city. The annexations were approved in a unanimous vote following the second reading or an ordinance to do this.

Wood told the council that it would be good for future development of the mill site for the 22-acre parcel to have a B-3, or mixed-use, designation. The land has been in the city since 2016. “The B-3 designation is multi-use,” Wood said. “Having this designation will allow us to negotiate with anyone interested in commercial development.”

The mill property is widely seen as a place that’s ideal for new business. One of the highest traffic counts in Chambers County is on four-lane Highway 29 in front of the site. Tractor Supply has had a commercial zone since it has been in business on the site.

Chris Clark Grading & Paving issued the low bid for the street resurfacing that will take place in 2024-25. Nine city streets are on the list. They are 8th Avenue SW, 16th Avenue SW. 19th Street SW, 20th Street SW, 21st Street SW, South 13th Street, North 3rd Street, North 4th Street and North 12th Avenue. The bid that was approved was for $233,876.

“Since it came in at lower than we expected, we could add some more streets to the list,” said Mayor Jamie Heard.

Chris Busby was appointed as the new member representing the city on the Chattahoochee Valley Water Supply District’s board of directors. The new planning board members are Ron Pless and Teresa Woody.

In council member communications several members of the council expressed concern and asked for continued prayers for the recent victims of Hurricane Helene. They asked local residents to keep the people of Florida in their prayers as Hurricane Milton is fast approaching. It’s truly a monster.

Council Member Tamalita Autry thanked city firefighters and police officers for having turned out and made great presentations at a recent event at Lanett High School.

Council Member Ronnie Tucker thanked Narfunda Ross and members of Team WHIP for the great work they do every year in the cause of breast cancer awareness. Tucker also invited residents of District 3 to attend a Neighborhood Watch meeting. It will be taking place at 6 p.m. EDT on Monday, October 28. “It would be good to have a Neighborhood Watch meeting for the whole city,” he said.

Council Member Angelia Thomas said she had gotten some calls from her constituents asking why their utility bill for September was higher than it usually is for this time of year. City Clerk/Treasurer Deborah Gilbert said it was because of the way the calendar fell this year. The most recent bill covered a period of 41 days. The next bill to go out will cover around 20 days and won’t be as much.

The Labor Day holiday weekend made the billing cycle longer than normal.

Thomas asked Johnny Wood about some suspected drug activity not far off Highway 50 and if anything was being done about it.

Wood said there were warrants on a suspected dealer linked to the case and an arrest was forthcoming.

Mayor Heard said the city could have a new airport manager on board in the very near future. Craig Stapleton of New Mexico had been offered the job several weeks ago but asked for some time to stay there to sell his house. That took place recently. He and his family should be relocating here soon. Stapleton’s wife is originally from Lanett.

Thomas asked the mayor about a plan that had been discussed with Chattahoochee Humane Society board members on some needed improvements at the local animal shelter on Fairfax Bypass. Heard said that a kennel expansion was being looked at. It will cost an estimated $80,000. The City of Valley has agreed to pay their portion. The cities of Lanett and LaFayette would have equal shares if they chose to participate.

The new kennel space will be going to the cities that pay their share.

Council Member Tony Malone said he’d like to talk to Humane Society board members on this subject. They could be invited to a work session to do that.

Council Member Tifton Dobbs said he wanted to comment on a report that’s been going around on social media that appears to involve him. “I feel like it has targeted me,” he said, “and I want everyone to know that what has been alleged never ever happened.”

The social media report stated that a local bus company was transporting lots of illegal migrants to the local area.

Dobbs owns a bus company that’s located behind Sara Jay’s not far from city hall. He said that he’s not in the practice of transporting anyone who is in this country illegally.

Mayor Heard thanked Chris Busby, Ron Pless and Teresa Woody for accepting the appointments to serve on boards. “I also want to thank our employees for the jobs they are doing,” he said. “I want to thank members of our beautification committee, too.”

Recreation Director Trent McCants said there will be a fall festival in Lanett on October 31st.

Robin Pierre, executive director of the Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project (CFCP), said that the CFCP will be giving away free Halloween costumes this weekend. “We will be at the West Point Housing Authority office from 10 a.m. till noon this Saturday,” she said. “We will be in the parking lot outside the ReUse Store from 4 to 6 on Sunday. We will be giving away 100 costumes each day.”