VALDOSTA— The Valdosta City Council meeting Thursday covered various topics, from community-focused projects to administrative matters — and ended with resolution to an ethics complaint.
The meeting began with the consideration of several key ordinances and resolutions. In its second reading, the council reviewed an ordinance amendment to Chapter 6 — Alcoholic Beverages regarding licenses and operations within the Downtown Valdosta Entertainment District. The board is still considering options for this amendment, which will be a point of interest in the next city council meeting.
Additionally, the council approved a resolution requested by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority. This resolution authorized the acceptance of the Transportation Investment Act Supplement Agreement No. 1, allowing the construction of a new air traffic control tower to proceed.
Several bids and contracts were evaluated, focusing primarily on enhancing the Valdosta Police Department’s vehicle fleet. The council approved bids for the purchase of seven rear-wheel-drive pursuit vehicles, three rear-wheel-drive investigation vehicles, and three sport utility vehicles.
The board approved a public ingress/egress easement agreement for the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Roundabouts Project at the Five Points property.
The meeting concluded with the council considering the recommendation of an Ethics Complaint Board that met July 16 and 23.
Anetra Riley, the neighborhood development and community protections manager, had filed the complaint against Councilwoman Vivian Miller-Cody May 21. While presenting evidence to the ethics board July 16, Riley described multiple encounters with Miller-Cody dating back to 2021 that Riley perceived as threatening, breaking of protocol, and unjust assumptions of fund misappropriation.
The board determined all but one of the allegations were frivolous. Miller-Cody’s allegation that Riley had misappropriated funds, however, was inappropriate, the board decided. It recommended a private reprimand for the councilwoman.
The mayor and board broke off in an executive session at the end of Thursday’s meeting to discuss the ethics board’s recommendation. They returned, stating that it would instead be a public reprimand, with Miller-Cody issuing a formal apology to attendees.
“I can certainly assure you that we will not meet again in this form regarding anything of this nature again,” Miller-Cody said. “I have learned that when things go wrong in your command, start searching for the reason in an increasingly large surface around your desk.”