MANSFIELD, Ga. – Mansfield Mayor Pro Tem Bret Dunn oversaw his first meeting in the role as Mayor Jefferson Riley was out with the flu during the city’s regular council meeting Monday evening.
The council made multiple motions to table agenda items in an effort to find better prices on equipment needed in the city. Bids for repairs on a high ranger bucket truck, grapple and fork attachments for the city’s Kubota tractor and culvert pipe replacement on Sewell Road were all tabled until more bids could be received.
The council did take action on several items, including a special permit request from Belinda Wilkerson.
Wilkerson, a local hair dresser, requested the ability to work from her home after the overhead costs of her salon location became too much.
“I just recently closed my salon and I’m just looking to be able to continue to do my clients particularly in my home until I can get back on my feet,” she said. “It’s just the overhead of it was just too much for me to handle.”
Wilkerson said there should not be an impact on traffic at her home, as she is only able to work on one client at a time.
Theresa Smallwood said she was in-favor of Wilkerson’s request.
“I don’t see anything wrong with the number of clients that she can possibly cut in a set hour of a day,” she said. “She’s just a single girl and she’s trying to pay her bills and make a living – an honest living – and I think there’s a lot worse neighbors you could have other than a lady cutting hair at the house next door to you or down the street from you, so I am in-favor of her request. “
Brenda Campbell echoed Smallwood’s statements.
“The mayor has spoken many times about us helping our citizens and what other way could we show it?” she said.
The council unanimously approved the request, pending any outstanding utility payments were made at the salon location.
The council also approved the addition of three new speed humps in the city, which will be located on 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue and Kellogg Street.
“I’ve said before, we can’t speed bump the town to death, but at some point, you know, safety’s a pretty paramount issue and I hope that we can deliver that,” Dunn said.
The council also heard a report from Dale Rector of Rector, Reeder & Lofton PC. He presented the council with the annual financial report and independent audit report and said the city was in good standing.
Through his analysis, the city has not spending money frivolously and ended the year well overall.
