Byron City Council changing firearms ordinance

BYRON -- City Council is changing laws about firearms being discharged in the city.

Council members heard the first reading this week of an amendment to the city’s firearms discharge ordinance that will change the standing ordinance.

Under the new ordinance, the full range of exceptions to the prohibition of discharging firearms in the city is:

In defense of a person, a home or other property;

By an officer in his official duties;

By people engaged in military duties;

With permission of the mayor;

At an indoor commercial shooting range licensed by the city;

At a municipal shooting range;

By an owner or authorized employee of a Byron business that is licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the manufacture and/or repair of firearms, firearm parts and accessories during gun testing, parts and/or accessories.

The new ordinance is available at City Hall for public view. Council members likely will vote on the amendment Oct. 12.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:

Authorized Mayor Larry Collins to sign documents regarding an up-to $4 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority for ongoing city water projects;

Agreed to pay $129,820 to buy a radio reporting system and have Electric Machinery Industrial Controls Corp. install it for three city wells, budgeted through 2004 special purpose local option sales tax funds;

Heard from representatives of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission regarding plans for a new service delivery strategy and comprehensive plan that must be completed by 2017;

Gave final, unanimous passage to an ordinance raising hotel and motel room taxes from 5 percent to 6 percent;

Appointed Jeffrey Grube as judge pro tem for the city’s Municipal Court, Betty Sims as absentee ballot clerk for the city, Steve Humphry to the city planning and zoning board and re-appointed Willie Frank Hamlin to the planning and zoning board.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Byron City Council changing firearms ordinance ."