The City of Hinesville Mayor and Council approved the authorization to submit six identical grant applications to Walmart’s Foundation Community Grant Program on behalf of the Hinesville Fire Department and Hinesville police Department. The motion was approved during the City Council’s June 18 meeting.

The three identical grants on behalf of the Fire Department are expected to be used to purchase fire suppression tools that reduce the spread and damage caused by cooking related fires. The grants submitted on behalf of HPD will be used to purchase 9-1-1 Help Communicators. These

communicators allow users to connect directly with the local 911 operator with a push of a button and

allow for two-way communication. The communicators do not require installation or monthly maintenance fees. HPD will distribute the devices based on need.

The grants are requesting $1,000 each from the Walmart Super Center and the two Neighborhood Walmart Grocery stores.

Mayor and Council also approved the submission of the 2020 Emergency Food and Shelter Grant application on June 11, 2020, to United Way of the Coastal Empire for funding consideration of emergency assistance resources. The National Emergency Food and Shelter Program provides limited funding to local agencies for the purpose of supporting persons in need of immediate emergency assistance. The Community Development Department’s Homeless Prevention Program applies annually for this funding and utilizes the program’s resources to support its Hotel/Motel Voucher Project, which provides emergency shelter to individuals and/or families who are currently homelessness. The amount requested was $15,000.

Assistant City Manager Ryan Arnold requested the Mayor and Council approve the Liberty Transit Safety Plan.

Arnold said the Federal Transportation Administration required recipients of their funds to develop a safety plan based on Safety Management Systems (SMS) principles and methods.

Arnold said the plan they developed complies with the principles of SMS and meet the main objectives as follows:

 Increase the safety of our transit system by proactively identifying, assessing and controlling

Risks.

 Continually improve safety performance.

 Improve the commitment of transit leadership to safety; and

 Foster a culture of safety awareness and responsiveness.

Arnold said the plan developed by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and Liberty Transit has adopted it to comply with their legal requirements. The plan will be distributed to all transit employees and will be reviewed and update annually. Mayor and Council approved the plan. The entire plan can be found in the meeting book provided by the city beginning on page 30. It is posted online at: https://coastalcourier.com/

The Mayor and Council approved a new 2020 alcohol and business license to operate Party Package L-Store at 1415 W Oglethorpe Hwy, to sell beer, wine, and liquor for off premise consumption.

The Mayor and Council approved the purchase of nine 72-ich zero turn mowers to Claxton Saw for $99,450.00. Previously the city awarded the purchase of 12 Grasshopper lawnmowers to Quik Kut at the April 2nd council meeting. But after reviewing the warranty, oil system, service requirements, suspension systems, spindle housings, and after having a discussion with the current contractor the city advertised for bid on the zero turn mowers. Claxton Saw had the lowest price saving the City $19,602.

J.C. Lewis was awarded the bid for the purchase of a 2020 Ford F-250 Supercrew Cab Pickup Truck for $37,476.00.

Prior to the action items Krystal Hart present the Mayor and Council an update on where they stand for the 2020 Census. Hart said they are currently conducting a virtual outreach to those who have yet to fill out the Census online or by mail. She said local outreach will take place in July and Census workers file operators will head out in August. Hart said the new deadline to be counted is Oct. 31. She said, they plan to issue 5,000 stickers, mail out 1,000 postcards, place 500 door hangers and 200-yard signs to encourage everyone to fill out the Census.

Census replies as of June 15:

Nation 61.4%

State 57.4%

Liberty County 50.8%

Flemington 59.4%

Hinesville 54.4%

Midway 53.8%

Gumbranch 49.3%

Allenhurst 48.5%

Riceboro 45.2%

Walthourville 36.7%