Mayor Jimmy Palmer swore in Tony Swink to the Calhoun City Board of Education.

Swink was chosen at the school board’s January 15 meeting to fulfill the term of Debra Moyer at Post 5, which ends on December 31, 2015.

According to board chairperson Amy Atkinson in a previous story, Swink served eight years on the Board and received more than 100 hours of school board training.

Atkinson added, Swink knows the budgeting process and has been involved with the construction process for the new middle/high school complex since day one.

Swink has served the community on both the Chamber of Commerce and the United Way Board of Directors.

Mayor Palmer commended the School Board for their dedication and service.

Mayor Palmer announced that the Calhoun Fire Department had received a $50,000 Federal Homeland Security grant.

Fire Chief Nesbitt said that this was a continuation grant to help acquire or sustain equipment to support the City’s Georgia Search and Rescue Program.

According to Mayor Palmer Calhoun Police Department had been notified by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety that the CPD would receive a grant to fully fund a new intoxilyzer.

The grant will be roughly $9,000.00 to purchase the new intoxilyzer. According to the mayor the current model of intoxilyzer used by CPD will no longer be allowed after this year.

Jerri Kitchings addressed the Mayor and Council concerning the needs of the homeless in Calhoun and Gordon County.

Kitchings said she would like to see more done to help the elderly, veterans and homeless in the community.

She mentioned many stories from across the country of homeless people dying from lack of food and the cold weather.

The mayor thanked her for her concern and discussed some of the positive responses to these problems by our local faith based organizations and nonprofit organizations. He also added that there is the possibility of future public-private partnerships to further assist the homeless in the future.

The mayor and council reviewed and approved the Georgia Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network Agreement, a mutual aid, for Georgia Water Systems.

Director of Utilities Larry Vickery said that this agreement is a similar agreement utilized by the Electric Department that helps to facilitate utilities helping other utilities in times of need such as tornados, flooding, and other natural disasters.

The mayor and council approved a resolution and authorization form for the mayor and The Calhoun City Director of Finance to continue to be the authorized signatories for the MEAG Trust on the city’s behalf.

Also at the meeting:

The mayor reminded the public of a sign variance request by Phillip Beamer for Arby’s Restaurant, 1098 Red Bud Road. The 30 foot height variance is needed to relocate the existing sign to comply with a Georgia Department of Transportation request. The Zoning Advisory Board will meet on February 7 and the public hearing will be on February 11.

The mayor reminded the public of a sign variance request by Haley Stephens, 1052 Red Bud Road. The variance request is for a 185 square foot sign. The current ordinance allows for a 120 square foot sign. The variance being request is for 65 square feet. The Zoning Advisory Board will meet on February 7 and the public hearing will be on February 11.

The mayor gave the second reading of an annexation and zoning of R-1 for 8.04 acres at 527 Henderson Bend Road for Tolbert Brooks Gallman. The Zoning Advisory Board meeting will be on March 7 and the public hearing will be on March 11.

The mayor gave the second reading of a taxicab license request for Isidro Sanchez Barrera, owner of Taxi El Aguila, located at 820 North Wall Street. The Public hearing will be on February 11.

The mayor gave the second reading of a beer pouring request for Steve Bayzid at Paisano’s Mexican Restaurant located at 803 South Wall Street. The public hearing will be on February 11.