City of Grovetown issued the following announcement on Sept. 19.
Good morning, everyone. Here are the Significant Activities ending September 17, 2021.
During this week we have all reflected on the 20-year anniversary of 9/11 and the images etched in our memories of that day. Moving forward has been hard for all those affected by this unspeakable tragedy and most of us are still trying to sort out all questions that do not have answers. We recognize all the brave public servants who answered the call that day. Heroism is alive and well.
On Wednesday a much-needed street sweeper was delivered and our employees in that department will be trained on its use.
Quantice Samuels was named Employee of the Month for August 2021. He is a loyal and dedicated employee who does a great job in the Streets and Sanitation Department.
Many thanks to our Council and employees for their dedication and hard work.
Please be aware that there is an ordinance against illegal parking. Please be aware that this ordinance is being enforced.
**We ask all employees and visitors to our offices to observe all PPE requirements related to COVID-19 and thank all those who comply. **
Human Resources
Personnel Count.
• Number authorized = 142 full time.
• Number employed = 125 full-time.
• 1 part-time (Museum).
• 4 part-time/as needed (Fire Fighters)
Vacancies (17)
• 4 Road Patrol Officers
• 1 Traffic- Road Patrol Officer
• 1 Investigator
• 3 Dispatchers
• 1 Sewer Plant Operator Lic.3
• 2 Light Equipment Operator- (Sewer Dept.)
• 1 Light Equipment Operator- (Water)
• 1 Light Equipment Operator- (Storm Water)
• 1 Light Equipment Operator- (Leisure & Rec.)
• 1 Water Service Asst.
• 1 IT Tech
Hiring Actions
• 2 Conditional Job Offers are still outstanding
• 3 employees started on Monday, September 13, 2021 (Streets)
o Expected start date 09-20-2021 (1 employee)
• Waiting on one applicant to give notice and submit required, pre-employment paperwork
Complaints
• Nothing to report
Safety / Training/Wellness
• Safety Talk: Working in Cold Weather
Worker’s Comp Claims
• One minor injury (thumb)
o Has returned to full duty
• One minor injury (Thermal burn to ears)
o Has returned to full duty
Additional information
• Received drug screen information
• Processed additional applications and preparing for interviews
• Received most of the Employee Emergency Contact Forms and will be processing them accordingly
• The job description for the IT Technician II was approved by Council
o We will be diligently soliciting applications from qualified candidates and scheduling interviews
• The Streets Department has completed their log sheets for the Job Analysis Study in their area
o Should be receiving these log sheets next week and begin the analytical portion of processing them
• Developed and/or revised several HR related forms to current standards
Finance
• Met with Verizon representative regarding fleet tracking abilities. Fleet Manager, Staff Accountant and Finance Director presented solution to City Administrator. The city will be implementing fleet tracking in the coming weeks.
• Attended meeting with Councilwomen Martin and Smith to discuss future plans for a City of Grovetown Senior Center.
• Completed funding source and received new street sweeper.
• Business manager completed preliminary review of commercial dumpster audit. Receiving clarifying information from vendor then Utility Billing will move forward with proposal for any necessary changes to charges for commercial dumpsters.
Public Safety
• The Police Department arrested 13 subjects during this period:
(1) DUI 2nd offense
(1) Child Molestation
(1) Burglary
(1) Battery
(1) Possession of schedule IV drugs
(1) Disorderly conduct
(1) McDuffie County warrant
(3) Grovetown probation warrants
(1) Grovetown failure to appear warrant
(2) Court ordered arrest
• The Criminal Investigation Division had 7 cases assigned and closed 2 cases.
• The Fire Department responded to 19 calls: 9 fire calls and 10 medical calls.
• Congratulations to Troy Fields for passing his NPQ Apparatus Operator testing
• Fire Department personnel continued with fire hydrant testing.
Leisure and Recreation (L&R) Services
General
• Leisure and Recreational Shop: cut grass, cleaned shop, and cleaned vehicles.
• City Hall: cut grass
• Euchee Creek trails: cut grass, blew off walking trails
• Planning and development: cut grass
• 201 east Robinson: cut grass
• Municipal Court: cut grass
• Wildflower Garden: cut grass
• 122 2nd Avenue: cut grass
Rental & Member Updates
• 11 new rental contracts with 11 return payments/contracts
• Facilities and fields were utilized a total of 70 hours
• 3 new gym memberships
Fleet Maintenance
• Public Safety
o Tahoe: routine service
• Storm Water/Sewer
o Ford F150: replaced taillight
o Ford F250: replaced side window
• Street Department
o Hustler Mower: replaced blades
• Fire Department
o Ford F150: routine service, repaired windshield washer fluid, and repaired window leak
• Recreation Department
o Silverado: replaced battery
Facility Maintenance
• A total of 14 work orders for this week: 3 at Liberty Park, 2 at public safety, 2 at museum, 5 at City Hall, and 2 at Municipal Court.
Up-Coming Programs
• Maverick’s Fitness will be held every Monday and Wednesday 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM and Martial Arts classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday 6 PM – 7:30 PM.
• Zumba classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursdays at 6 PM – 7 PM
• Xtreme Hip Hop with Tujuana will be held 7th every Tuesday and Thursday 7:15PM – 8PM
Up-Coming Events
• Trunk or Treat: Friday, October 29th 6PM – 10PM come join us for a hayride, Trunk or Treat, DJ, vendors, inflatables, and farm animals.
Information Technology
• Conducted a successful City Council livestream on Monday
• Attended a webinar on CloudCop for awareness and overview of the updated CloudCop application for Public Safety
• Attended three meetings with Corsica, our managed services and cybersecurity provider
• Conducted an ethernet cable rewiring of our Municipal Court
• FOIA request
Water / Sewer and Stormwater Departments
Water Department Report
• 8 histories’
• 20 locates
• 179 work orders
• 1 leak repaired.
• All meters read (radio and manual)
• Road cuts in several areas were patched
• Preparing Dodge Lane water tank for scheduled maintenance
• 5 water quality samples taken (10 of 15 required monthly)
• Cut grass at the water office
Wastewater Treatment Dept.
• Worked on Robinson Ave. lift station
• Sewer blockage repaired on Luton Dr.
Stormwater Dept.
• Assisted with work on the Robinson Ave. lift station
• Cut grass and cleaned up the area around beside station #2
Infrastructure Inspections
• City of Grovetown Jobsite Inspections
• Daily Inspections Report (Contractors)
Streets and Sanitation
• 13.98 tons of bulk waste
• 4.95 tons of yard waste
• Litter: 45 bags
• Cut grass throughout the city
• ROW was cut on Newmantown Road
Planning and Community Development
General
• 75 total building inspections.
• Planning and Community Development has begun issuing utility permits for any utility encroaching into the City’s ROW. The application can be accessed at the following link: 
https://cityofgrovetown.com/.../Utility-Permit-Application
Meeting Update
• Planning Commission:
o October 5, 2021, Special Called Meeting:
- Annexation and Rezoning—316 Newmantown Road
- Annexation and Rezoning—408 Newmantown Road
- Annexation and 3 Rezoning’s—301 Old Berzelia Road
o October 16, 2021, Regular Meeting: No Agenda
• BZA October 7, 2021, Meeting:
o Conditional Use Permit request—211 West Robinson Ave
o Conditional Use Permit request—103 East Robinson Ave
o 3 variance requests—103 East Robinson Ave
Code Enforcement Update:
• 1 sign removed from Public ROW
• Overgrown vegetation
o 3 NOVs
o 12 warnings
• Inoperative/abandoned Vehicles
o 2 NOV
• Property Maintenance
o 1 warning
• 4 cases deemed in compliance
City Wide Projects
Pump Stations
Euchee Creek pump station: waiting on materials.
Milton Hitt
Georgia Power running power to site.
Gravity Sewer & Force Main
All gravity sewer and force mains have been installed. Performed low pressure test on 18-inch sanitary sewer line behind treatment plan. All sanitary sewer lines past four psi at 17 minutes.
Caroleton Townhomes
Roads have been paved.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Working on building foundation.
Public Information Officer
• Connected Georgia DOT with CSX Railroad regarding railroad maintenance
• Added new links to Planning and Community Development website
• Connected Planning and Community Director with Columbia County Economic Development Director (meeting sometime next week).
• Assisted Grovetown Department of Public Safety
• Leadership Columbia County Community Support and Diversification (exposure to various non-profits, exploring diversification of Columbia County)
• Resignation of Chief Scott Wheatley posted to social and press release sent to all local media outlets (The Augusta Press and FOX 54 interviewed Chief Wheatley on Friday).
Upcoming Events/Programs
• Maverick’s Fitness will be held every Monday and Wednesday 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM at Liberty Park
• Martial Arts classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday 6 PM – 7:30 PM at Liberty Park.
• Zumba class will be held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 PM – 7 PM at Liberty Park
• Xtreme Hip Hop with Tujuana held every Tuesday and Thursday 7:15PM – 8PM at Liberty Park
• American Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday, September 17th, 2021, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Liberty Park community center.
• Trunk or Treat: Friday, October 29th 6PM – 10PM come join us for hayride, Trunk or Treat, DJ, vendors, inflatables, farm animals
Closing Comments
Over the past few years, you may have driven by Grovetown Museum and noticed a green wooden cart parked beside the flagpole. This past week one of our maintenance employees restored the cart and adapted it to hold some blooming flowers. This cart is about 100 years old. It came from the old Grovetown Depot and was used to haul luggage for passengers who got off the train at the Grovetown stop. Celebrate Grovetown’s history – we are 140 years old!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Mayor Gary E. Jones
(Posted on behalf of Mayor Jones by Public Information Officer Ashley Campbell)
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up