Clarkston, GA — The Clarkston City Council met for a work session January 25 to discuss the appointment of a new city clerk and allocation of American Rescue Plan Act money among other matters. Final decisions will be made at the upcoming regular council meeting.

The city has sought a new City Clerk since Tracy Ashby retired in September after serving as City Clerk for 22 years. Karen Sessoms filled the position temporarily until resigning for personal reasons, and since then, Tomika Lewis has carried out the duties of City Clerk. After reviewing applications, the city plans to hire Lewis permanently for the position.

“Ms. Lewis has done a great job and I look forward to continuing to work with her,” said Vice Mayor Awet Eyasu.

Other appointments under discussion include Herbert Clark as the new Planning and Zoning Board member, and re-appointing Dean Moore to the Clarkston Historic Preservation Commission. The council will also be appointing members to the Early Learning Task Force, Youth Advisory Council, Senior Resident Advisory Committee, Police Community Task Force, Preventive Health Task Force, Public Art Advisory Committee, and Charter Review Committee.

In addition, council members will be appointed to various standing committees, including Public Safety and Legal Committee, Transportation and Environment Committee, Housing and Infrastructure Committee, Community Development Committee, Equality Inclusion  and Opportunity Committee, and the Marketing and Civic Innovation Committee. Members of the public may apply to be members of those committees as well.

The city council is considering allocating $30,000 in ARPA funds to the Healthy Community Clarkston Outreach Initiative submitted by the Veterans and Community Outreach Foundation, Inc. Several council members requested a more detailed plan for how the funds will be spent, in line with the purposes of ARPA.

In other business:

– The city may allocate ARPA funds for the purpose of home repairs or weatherization, in an amount not to exceed $5000 per household.

– Alcohol licenses have been applied for by Olympic Cafe dba Abyssinia Cafe and Restaurant (926 Montreal Rd.), Thulungbros LLC dba Chevron Food Mart (1109 Montreal Rd.), and Samaira Investment Incorporated dba Chevron Food Mart (3635 Church Street).

– The council discussed a change order for SPLOST 4 projects for a pedestrian enhancement  trailhead and a mailbox replacement on Rowland Street. Additionally, engineering services for the SPLOST 6 Mell Avenue Crossing project are also under discussion.

The Tucker Observer is a community news website owned by Decaturish.com. We provide locally sourced news about Tucker, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.