The Cedartown City Commission is back to work for their July regular session this evening, with several items on the list up for consideration.

Among them is resolutions that will allow the city to defer loan payments on their Georgia Environmental Finance Agency (GEFA) loans used for sewer projects in 2002, and those completed earlier this year.

City Manager Bill Fann explained that GEFA is allowing municipalities to defer up to six months of their payments and accrued interest to be deferred until year’s end to help with economic recovery after any potential shortfalls in revenue for cities and counties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He did say despite the ongoing crisis, the city’s coffers are still remaining overall healthy.

“Our overall revenue taken in during the past months has not been as bad as I would have anticipated given the situation,” he said. “I am glad to see that our sales tax numbers remain strong this past spring.”

He added that the city has been providing some help to residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turmoil that has resulted since by giving utility customers some help with their bills by not charging service fees on payments.

The two resolutions would go into effect as soon as they are signed if approved.

City Commisssioners are also celebrating another retirement this evening as Captain Henry Runyan with the Cedartown Police Department turns in his badge after 30 years of service. More to come on his career with the Cedartown Police later this evening.

One other item of note before the Commission is a request from the federal government for the city to put a new procurement policy in place for the Cedartown’s transit system. Fann explained the 50 page procurement policy would only apply to around $1,500 of the $50,000 budget, and mainly will only impact the purchase of supplies for the office. The transit system here in Cedartown has only two buses – one in normal use, and one as a back-up.

Additional business before the city includes a public hearing at the start of the meeting and a final reading of a annexation ordinance for properties owned by Jolo Homes in the Philpot Springs subdivision. They have two beer and wine package licenses to consider for Jagrutiben Patel at 329 N. Main St., and Shahid Inman at 844 N. Main St.

Commissioners will also hear and consider the FY 2019 Audit Review.