Political Notebook: Laughter takes over Macon-Bibb County Commission meeting
From a tongue-in-cheek question about alcohol in Bibb County to a reference of Donald Trump and the length of a pregnancy, Macon-Bibb County commissioners had several moments of levity during this week's pre-commission meeting.
There were no renewals for commissioners to approve at Tuesday's meeting, which came two weeks after a long discussion over how much control commissioners can have on alcohol license renewals, Typically, commissioners have at least a few renewals or new licenses to consider during their regular meetings.
"Believe it or not, there are no alcohol license renewals," Mayor Robert Reichert said Tuesday.
Commissioner Larry Schlesinger's response drew laughter from others in attendance: "Can we become a dry county?"
Meanwhile, Commissioner Elaine Lucas has remained strident in her efforts to ensure that a planned east Bibb County fire station in her district is built as soon as possible.
One of the resolutions from Tuesday's meeting involved transferring $400,000 of bond money for the Jeffersonville Road station to the renovation of the former Sears Roebuck building downtown.
Two other resolutions that evening moved $2 million of leftover money from completed fire stations to the account for the east Bibb station. Reichert, however, knew as soon as Lucas started talking that she was going to remind him to not put the station on the back burner.
"You're not going to get my scalp on this," Reichert said. "We're getting it moving."
If there are more delays, Lucas said, then there would be a "serious conversation" about it.
"It'll be like a Trump rally," she said.
And another humorous moment ... Reichert has been an accomplished attorney and state legislator, but there may be a reason he didn't major in mathematics.
He said it would take six to nine months to complete the Filmore Thomas Recreation Area project, or as he characterized it, "it's like having a baby." Reichert was called out by county officials for that time frame being off, but he received some reassurance from County Commission Clerk Janice Ross.
"It was a good try," she told him.
BILL TO HONOR FORMER MACON MAYOR EXPECTED TO PASS
State legislators are expected to pass a bill that will allow a portion of Interstate 75 to be renamed after former Macon Mayor Lee Robinson.
State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, said the bill that calls for the Interstate 75 crossing between 1690-1760 Riverside Drive to be named the "Wm. Lee Robinson Memorial Bridge" will likely be approved before the legislative session ends next week. Robinson, who passed away Nov. 4, 2015, is a former Georgia state senator and was Macon's mayor from 1987-1991. He also was the public defender and was a decorated war veteran, earning three Bronze Star Medals and an Army Commendation Medal.
The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved a resolution in February supporting naming the bridge crossing after Robinson.
RETIRED JUDGE TO SERVE ON BOARD
Retiring Houston County Superior Court Chief Judge George Nunn isn't done with public service just yet.
The Houston County Commission on Tuesday appointed Nunn to the library board. Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said he was "pleasantly surprised" when Nunn offered to serve on the board.
Stalnaker said a friend of Nunn's had suggested it to him, and he agreed. He said Nunn had family members who had been closely involved with the library system.
HOUSTON BUYS EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
The Houston County Commission bought a half-million dollar piece of equipment for the county landfill Tuesday.
The board approved a bid of $564,200 for a 2016 Komatsu D85EX-18, after a $47,000 trade-in allowance, from Tractor & Equipment in Macon.
It was actually the higher of two bids. Yancey Brothers of Macon bid $525,282, after a $55,000 trade-in allowance, for a 2016 Caterpillar D7E. However, purchasing agent Mark Baker recommended the higher bid because the county has had "major problems and down time" with the Caterpillar D7E it bought in 2013.
Tractor & Equipment is also issuing the county a $30,000 parts and service credit that can be used on any piece of county equipment.
Telegraph writers Stanley Dunlap and Wayne Crenshaw contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 7:53 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Laughter takes over Macon-Bibb County Commission meeting ."