Another intense discussion was held at the Sept. 16, City council meeting as Councilwoman Diana Reid, once again, requested the City Manager, Kenneth Howard place a suggestion box up to allow City employees to express their opinions.
Reid said the City is about to spend $15,000 that was placed in the budget for total quality management (TQM) training on how to process employees’ comments or suggestions without the fear of retaliation.
“You all resorted to spend $15,000 instead of getting a box?” Reid asked.
Councilmember Jason Floyd said TQM is being utilized in many companies as a means to track issues and how issues are being processed.
“I think TQM could benefit the City,” he said. “And I think that is what the funding is for.”
Councilmember Keith Jenkins said it was the first time he heard that the City was planning on spending $15K for TQM.
“Put the box up,” Jenkins said to Howard. “Go on and put the box up. It is a suggestion box. I didn’t come to the City Council meeting to continue to hear about something that should have been or could have been done. The suggestion has been made by a councilmember. She wants the suggestion box up and to me that is all it is, a suggestion box.”
A suggestion was made to place the box in a remote area.
Councilmember Riles agreed saying the City should put up the box and see how it works before spending the $15K for the TQM tracking process.
Howard said they’ve had several discussions on this matter to include the implementation of the TQM.
“And it was at the very last meeting that this body told me to proceed with what was being presented,” Howard said.
Howard said the City had used TQM before and that he was proceeding with the Councilmembers request to include training to boost employees’ morale as well.
Howard also clarified the $15K was for training. Howard said placing a suggestion box was fine but, “We have to have a plan for what we do with the suggestions,” he said. “That is what I am trying to get to.”
Mayor and Council approved a bid to buy two transit buses to Creative Bus Sales in the amount if $199,744.00.
Mayor and Council approved the 2020 HUD Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The City of Hinesville obtained designation as an Entitlement Community in 2004 making it eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding directly from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding provides an annual allocation designed to revitalize neighborhoods, expand affordable housing and economic opportunities, and/or improve community facilities and services that benefit extremely low- to low-to-moderate income persons. At the close of each program year, the City of Hinesville is required to submit a CAPER, which details the allocation and expenditure of CDBG funds as well as how goals and priorities were met.
They approved to issue a peddler’s license to Terrence Tyler to operate a food truck called Bless 4 Less.
Mayor and Council approved to place into surplus a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria and a fire safety house that was built in 1995. The surplus items were being utilized by the Hinesville Fire Department.