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The Americus City Council met on February 20. Bill Harris, Jr. was invited by Mayor Lee Kinnamon to serve as the Honorary Council Member for the month of February, and was presented with a proclamation.

President of the NAACP Eugene Edge spoke during citizens comments, commenting on the recent gun violence that claimed the life of a 19-year-old and a five-year-old girl. He learned from Chief Mark Scott that the two security cameras in the complex where they were killed were inoperable. “What I’m asking the City is, come up with some type of ordinance in place that if you’re going to operate in the City of Americus with a multi-family complex, that you have some type of security camera in place, and that would help the Police Department.”

He gave an example of the effect of cameras. “Chief Scott also informed me that once my brother George Edge, with the Housing Authority, put those cameras in the Housing Authority complex, crime went down.”

The Council then heard a proposal for an Eagle Scout service project by Zach Cook. The proposal involved replacing the rocks in the memorial area in front of the Public Safety Building with pavers. Council member Daryl Dowdell made a motion to approve, seconded by Council member Kelvin Pless, which passed unanimously.

The Council then voted on a resolution to opt out of House Bill 581. Pless made a motion to opt out, seconded by Council member Terrence Clemmons, passing unanimously.

City Manager Diadra Powell gave updates. “As most of you are aware, we spent yesterday at the Capitol with our delegation. The delegation from Americus included a variety of different organizations, including the County and the City, One Sumter and several other entities.”

She gave an example of the trip’s benefit. “Community Development and I were able to meet with the Director of Community Development, who gave us some insights on how best to move forward if we were looking at tackling blight or even. . .affordable housing.”

Powell emphasized the need to build good relationships. “If we’re going to continue to focus on moving Americus forward, ensuring that, you know, we have decent wages, decent housing and things of that nature, we’re going to need individuals at the state level to assist us with that.”

Mayor Lee Kinnamon also commenting on the delegation. “It’s just a good showing of unity. And that’s one thing that they champion. Members of the Senate spoke to me after my remarks and after we were presented a resolution, and a lot of cheering us on for working together.”