September 9, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes                                                                                                               September 9, 2025

The Mayor and City Council held their regular City Council meeting on September 9, 2025 at 6:00pm at the Winterville City Hall, 125 N. Church Street, Winterville, Georgia.

Attendees:

Mayor Dodd Ferrelle, Bruce Johnson, Timothy Pierce-Tomlin and Municipal Clerk Wendy Bond. City Attorney David Ellison and Jonathan Mosley were unable to attend.

Mayor Ferrelle called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Minutes:

Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin moved to approve the minutes of August 12, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Johnson and approved.

Old Business - None

New Business

The First Item of New Business: Mayor Ferrelle swore in Heidi Spratlin as the newly elected

member of City Council.

The Second Item of New Business: Blacksmith Shop Change Orders. Councilperson Pierce

Tomlin moved to not approve any change orders for the blacksmith shop. The motion was

seconded by Councilperson Johnson and unanimously approved.

The Third Item of New Business: Interim Art Gallery Director. Mayor Ferrelle turned the

meeting over to Mayor ProTem Johnson. Mayor ProTem Johnson entertained a motion to vote on appointing Cameron Ferrelle to the position as the interim art gallery director. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin. Councilperson Spratlin voted in favor and Councilpersons Johnson and Pierce-Tomlin voted against and the motion did not pass.

Councilperson Johnson moved to amend the agenda and add a fourth item of business. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin and added unanimously.

The Fourth Item of New Business: Cultural Center Compressor Replacement: Councilperson

Johnson moved to approve $4200 SPLOST 2020 funds for Spratlin HVAC to replace a heat pump at the Cultural Center. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin. Councilperson Johnson voted in favor, Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin abstained, and Councilperson Spratlin recused herself, therefore Mayor Ferrelle voted and the motion passed.

Committee Reports:

Public Finance – (Councilpersons Mosley & Johnson): Councilperson Johnson stated Clerk Bond has prepared statements through August 31, 2025. These documents are available for public review upon request. Budget meetings will continue until the 2026 budget is finalized.

Public Safety (Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin) Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin gave a verbal report.

Fire Department – Chief Michael Gabriel submitted a call report. Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin gave a verbal report.

Police Department –

Public Works – (Councilperson Johnson and Mosley) – Councilperson Johnson gave a verbal

report.

Communications – (Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin) Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin gave a verbal report.

Cultural Center – No report.

Museum Report – Jonathan Scott gave a verbal report.

Marigold Market & Food Hub – Sarah Hovater gave a verbal report.

Library Report – Sam Watson gave a verbal report.

Clerk’s Report – No report.

City Attorney’s Report – No report.

Mayor’s Report – Mayor Ferrelle read aloud a resolution declaring September 17-23, 2025, as Constitution Week in Winterville. He presented the resolution to Barbara McConnell on behalf of the DAR.

Public Comments – None.

Executive Session: Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin moved to go into Executive Session at 6:23pm for discussion of a legal matter. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Spratlin and unanimously approved.

Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin moved to close the executive session at 6:33 pm. The motion was seconded by Councilperson Spratlin and unanimously closed.

Adjournment: Councilperson Pierce-Tomlin moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by

Councilperson Spratlin and unanimously adjourned at 6:33 pm.

Wendy L. Bond, Municipal Clerk