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BY CHARLOTTE REAMES

The city of West Point approved the proclamation recognizing the Valley Haven School’s annual fundraising event, Hike/Bike/Run, during its April business meeting this week. For the week of April 27 to May 3, the city will recognize Hike/Bike/Run Week. 

“We call upon all citizens of our city to join with thousands of other individuals in generously helping to provide the funds for support of our Valley Haven School,” said Mayor Steve Tramell.

After that, Tramell recognized the Senior Hunger Awareness Month with a proclamation. The program encourages citizens to support seniors in their community by ending senior hunger. According to the latest report on senior hunger by Feeding America, there are nearly 191,000 seniors in Georgia “who do not know how they will purchase their next meal.” 

Tramell said 8.5 percent of the GA senior population is at risk for hunger. Food-insecure seniors tend to have poor nutrient intake, more chronic health conditions, poor self-health reported status, more extended hospital stays, greater hospital readmissions and greater out-of-pocket medical expenses. 

“And therefore I, Steve Tramell, Mayor of the City of West Point, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Senior Hunger Awareness Month in the city of West Point,” Tramell said. 

Steve Davis, the West Point Active Life Center manager, thanked the city council for their support and involvement at the senior center. 

“A lot of seniors feel left out but they’re not, and y’all make them a high priority and we just thank y’all for your concern for them,” Davis said. 

On the topic, Tramell announced a Pay It Forward senior food drive at the LaFayette Christian Church in LaGrange, which is open to West Point and Troup County seniors. 

Next, the city council reviewed and approved the applications for several board seats on the  Hawks Library Board, Board of Adjustments and Municipal Planning Board.

For the Hawkes Library board, Marshall Sapp and Erin Anderson both submitted applications. Sapp is applying to serve another term on the board, while Anderson is a new applicant. With two seats available, both applicants were approved to serve a term. 

As for the Board of Adjustment, Dianne Davidson and Don Cleveland were both approved to serve another term as well. 

Bill Gladden also applied and was approved to serve another term on the Municipal Planning Board. 

Next on the agenda was the Zoning Text Amendment. The city council approved an amendment to the Zoning Text in a city ordinance. This amendment would add a zoning district known as LUCO, a limited-use commercial and office district. 

A second amendment to a city ordinance was to add a zoning district known as OI, office institutional district. 

The city council then approved an amendment for the use of real estate located within city limits and owned by Capital City Bank. The property consists of 1.4 acres on West 10th Street to be reclassified from I1 zoning to CBD, commercial business district. 

The city council next approved two ordinance amendments, one to the section on illegal parking and one to the section on animal control. 

The amendments to the illegal parking ordinance would prohibit vehicles from remaining upon any section of the railroad tracks, among other additions. Whereas the amendment to the animal control ordinance would prohibit the use of tethering and require a secure indoor or outdoor area that allows for free movement. 

The council also approved a proposed amendment to the EZ Blockchain agreement, an electrical service agreement. EZ Blockchain has been a customer of the city since 2020. 

Some additional costs have been incurred that the city is being charged with. The amendment would require the company to pay those expenses or any costs that are added to the city for providing these services as a customer.