Byron moves toward new departments and economic development director

The City Council unanimously passed ordinances this week giving final approval to creating two new city departments.

Mayor Larry Collins has said what currently amounts to a single planning and zoning and public works department will be split to create a separate planning and zoning department and a separate public works department.

He said the move will provide improved management capabilities for the departments and services for Byron residents.

The single department is now headed by Billy McDaniel, who is expected to lead the new public works department.

Council members have been working since early this year to create the two departments, which will begin operations in June.

Also since the first of the year, council members have been moving toward hiring an economic and community development director. During its Monday meeting, the council voted unanimously giving final approval to a job description for the post.

In discussing the matter, members expressed hopes they can advertise the position and begin looking at candidates before June.

Among other duties, the new economic and community development director will advise city officials on outside programs, grants and other funding available for economic and community development, provide coordination and direction for strategic planning and development, and be a liaison between the city and industries and businesses and other groups.

The new director also will coordinate and oversee Byron’s Downtown Development Authority, the convention and visitors bureau, redevelopment authority and development authority.

In other matters Monday, the council:

▪ Approved annexation of property at 80 Arrowhead Trail;

▪ Heard from John Lester, owner of property on Edgemere Lane, about having the dirt road paved. McDaniel said the city street is on a list for improvement and is the last unpaved city street in Byron;

▪ Approved re-signing an ongoing statewide mutual aid and assistance agreement through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency-Homeland Security;

▪ Agreed to begin proceedings to abandon two city streets, Frances Drive and Jerres Court, which Councilman Michael Chidester said had become little more than parking lots for Woodbury Apartments;

▪ Agreed to hire Georgia Water and Environmental Services to conduct studies and provide engineering toward the city’s creation of a stormwater utility.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Byron moves toward new departments and economic development director."