Colbert to call election for vacated council seat

The city must advertise the open position this month, though it won’t hold the election until March 17.

Former councilman Jeffrey Roberts resigned from his seat Oct. 2 after losing his job at the Madison County Sheriffs Office amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

According to the Georgia code, the city must “call” an election 45 days after a council vacancy.

To comply with this stipulation, the city must publish an announcement that says an election will be held.

The announcement must run in November and again in February, 29 days before the actual election.

Qualifying dates will be in February.

The city council will further discuss the election at its December meeting.

BUDGET PASSES

The council adopted a $449,537 budget presented last month.

Within that budget, Colbert calls for $40,500 in advelorum taxes, but can’t set the coinciding millage rate to yield those tax dollars until the county tax digest is complete.

In other news from a 20-minute Colbert City Council meeting Monday, the council voted to change the zoning of the city’s old school from residential to commercial to accommodate a print shop owner that wishes to relocate his business there.

Council members agreed to rent the building for $350 a month.

The council also discussed areas within the city hindered by drainage problems and heard that there’s DOT grant assistance available.

In other grant news, mayor John Waggoner said he’s still working plans for a beautification grant from the DOT to plant trees and shrubs on Hwy. 72.

On the eve of election night, it was reported that 1,099 of the 2,472 registered voters in the Colbert precinct had cast their ballots early.