Valdosta City Council retreating in Moultrie

Published 5:00 am Thursday, January 8, 2015

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Mayor and City Council Annual Retreat is set for this weekend in Moultrie.

The two-day event will feature discussion of issues that Mayor John Gayle and the City Council want to focus on in the coming year, as well as priorities for the legislative delegation and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

In addition, the results of a city employee compensation study will be released and discussed at the retreat.

The number one issue listed by the council for the current year involves funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a levee and pump proposal.

According to the city, USACE has recommended a levee to handle the city’s flooding problems that follow heavy rains.

These levees would not prevent floods, but would reduce the “depth and duration” of floods, according to the city and USACE.

The city also intends to discuss potential cameras at city red lights.

Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress explained that there would be headaches associated with the cameras, but he thinks the program would improve safety.

“My concerns on this subject would be negative feedback from citizens and the manpower to handle red light cameras,” Childress wrote to city manager Larry Hanson. “Regardless of what vendors tell us, there will be some records work to ensure these tickets are processed properly.”

Childress also explained that some of the issues involving these red light cameras include a lack of an accuser to confront a violator in court, technical issues and the legality of third party operators to enforce these state laws.

The city will also discuss a feasibility study for a roundabout on the intersection of US 41 and the N. Oak Street Extension, in front of the Five Points shopping center.

The results of a classification and compensation plan will be discussed.

The study, performed by Condrey and Associates, reviewed the classification system and pay plan for city employees, and collected wage survey data, and produced a recommended pay plan based on job analysis, job evaluation, and this survey data.

Three salary scales have been proposed, with 27 pay grades and four pay scales per grade.

The event will take place at the Sundown Farms Plantation on

Friday and Saturday, with the Friday event starting at 9 a.m. with a breakfast and concluding at 8 p.m. with dinner, and the Saturday event starting at 8:30 a.m. with breakfast and concluding at 5 p.m. after a closed door executive session with the mayor and council.