For the first time in 41 years a new mayor conducted the meeting of the Colbert City Council.
After opening the Jan. 4 meeting and disposing of old business, outgoing Mayor John Waggoner swore in new Mayor Chris Peck and slipped into his new role. Waggoner is not through in Colbert. He has been named city advisor. He offered to do anything the city needed him to do.
Waggoner extended thanks to the Good Lord for looking out for himself and the city, to his family for letting him be away from home, and to his friends and supporters for all they had done.
Mayor Peck praised Waggoner saying “If I can do half as well as he, we will be OK.”
The council approved the list of city government nominees. Roger Fortson will serve as mayor pro tem. Vicky Smith is city clerk, while Ann Waggoner is the assistant clerk. The city auditing firm is Hawkins and McNair. Maintenance will be handled by Jack Scaffe. The city attorney is Dale Perry and the elections superintendent is Pam Fowler.
Council members were given their assignments as well: Evelyn Power will represent the city to clubs, county and landscape maintenance. Bert Robinson will oversee the fire department. Tim Wyatt will be in charge of the street department and Roger Fortson is responsible for building and maintenance.
Old business brought forth by Mayor Waggoner included the replacement of the broken granite marker at the eastern city limits on Hwy. 72. The council agreed to pay Old South Granite of Elberton $1,500 to produce and install the marker. They also agreed to purchase pipes and supplies from the county for $800 and pay Adams Construction $3,750 to complete the Crystal Creek drainage project.
Mayor Peck then announced the organization of the council. The council formally renewed all ordinances and contracts now in force, and received brief reports from each council member.
Mayor Waggoner, acting as city advisor, reported progress in the repair of the old school and a gift from Merchants and Farmers bank of $2,200 to the city park system in the name of the late John Terrell. He then presented two gifts to the incoming mayor. Mayor Peck received a brass name plate for his desk, although he does not currently have a desk. He also received a new pair of blue overalls in a package tied with shoe strings as a reminder that the city operates on a “shoe string” budget.
Mayor Waggoner ended the evening by reading his favorite poem which he once found on the editorial page of an old newspaper:
I’d Rather Be A Could Be
If I Couldn’t Be an Are
For A Could Be Is A Maybe
With A Chance For Reaching far
But I’d Rather Be A Has Been
Than A Might-Have-Been By Far
For A Might-Have-Been Has Never Been
While A Has Been Once Was Are.
