During this past Monday’s Calhoun City Council meeting, Mayor Jimmy Palmer led off with his condolences to the family of Calhoun City Schools 56-year employee, Paul Campbell, who passed away Friday, April 20. He also offered his condolences to the family of Bill Lackey who was a former City Electric Development employee.

Mayor Palmer also noted that the 2012 City Zoning Map is now posted in the Council Chambers at the Calhoun Depot and is on display at City Hall. According to council members, the zoning map was updated in-house using the city’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) department. By using the GIS department, it has allowed for a better and accurate image of how the city is broken up.

New Business

The City Council voted to move the second City Council Meeting in May from May 28 to May 21 in honor of Memorial Day.

The council also reappointed Philip Beamer to the Calhoun-Gordon County Airport Authority; his current term expires June 30.

Work Session and budget

The Calhoun Police Department (CPD) Chief of Police Garry Moss addressed the council in regards to the CPD getting a new fleet for his officers.

Moss stated that the CPD is looking to purchase new Dodge Charger Pursuits.

“Ford has made the best patrol car for years, but they have stopped making it,” said Moss. “I’m looking at officer safety, the best buy for the dollar for the taxpayers of Calhoun, and officer comfort because that is their office for 12 hours a day,” said Moss.

Due to the cost of parts, gas mileage, and labor, the CPD is looking to buy a new fleet that will address its needs and help serve the community better.

Moss said that the numbers of the Dodge Charger compared to the Ford Crown Victoria is more efficient for the CPD, since Ford is no longer going to make that particular model of patrol car.

According to CPD Detective Lieutenant Tony Pyle, the CPD is still in discussion with which choice of patrol car to go with; the CPD is leaning towards the Dodge.

The Calhoun City Council has also begun its 2012-1013 budget negotiations.

On the general side of the budget there is not any increased salaries, no additional employees, no capital, according to City Administrator Eddie Peterson. He also said that there would not be a property tax increase. For Calhoun Utilities, the budget is up, but, according to Director of Utilities Larry Vickery, it is due to electrical revenue, added industries, and power cost.

The governing body and Calhoun Utilities are in the early stages of working through the budget, and will continue discussion in the near future.