(Jan 3)-- Several Lyons citizens showed up at the first city council meeting of the year Tuesday night to protest a city council decision regarding public works director/fire chief Daryl Corley. In November, the council voted 3-2 to relieve Corley of his public works duties while retaining him as fire chief. Meanwhile, the city is advertising for a new public works director which Mayor John Moore says will cost the city at least $50,000 in pay and benefits plus a city vehicle. Corley had been doing the public works job for a $6,000 supplement to his fire chief salary. Councilman Ivey Toole Jr. brought the motion in November because he claimed Corley was "streteched too thin." Councilmen Drayton Oliver and Dickie Alexander voted with Toole with opposition from councilmen Ben Mitchell and Carlton Robbins. After hearing citizens argue for Corley and reviewing an employee petition in his favor, Robbins says he will make a motion at the February meeting to keep Corley in both jobs, "if Corley still wants them." Corley replied, "We'll discuss it later."

The council also approved the first-ever Lyons city budget to exceed $3 million. Mayor John Moore says some $400,000 was added this year to help pay for water-sewer service to the new industrial park north of town, and to finance a new city lift station. He also renewed his contention that city water, sewer and trash pickup fees need to be increased in order to make those city services self-supporting.

(Jan 2)-- Toombs County Commission Chairman Charles Rustin started his first term of office with some good news for county employees. Rustin chaired the first commission meeting of the new year Tuesday and suggested that the county "put on hold" a previous decision to increase the share of health insurance premiums which employees pay each month. The decision would have required employees to pay $10 more for their own insurance, plus another $10 per month if family members were covered. The commissioners went along with Rustin's suggestion and agreed to delay the increases for 60 days while other sources for the estimated $25,000 in savings are found.

Commissioners also signed on with elected leaders in Vidalia and Montgomery County in approving the sale of Development Authority property in the Montgomery County Industrial Park in west Vidalia. A 20,000 square foot building on five acres of property is being sold for $200,000 to Ray Hamilton and Dane Thigpen of Vidalia Box Company.