By Ella McGalliard

HAWKINSVILLE — The Hawkinsville Board of Commissioners approved five new business licenses, awarded a major road paving contract and signed off on more than $16,000 in Opera House renovations during two meetings earlier this month, with Chairman Ken Clark presiding over both sessions.

Among the most notable actions at the March 2 regular meeting was the addition of Southern Bridge Counseling to the city’s roster of licensed businesses. Co-founder Brittany Stubbs addressed commissioners during the citizens comments period, addressing the mental health services the practice will bring to the community at 112 Broad St. The board added the business to the agenda the same night and approved its occupational tax certificate without opposition.

Four other businesses also received occupational tax approval at the March 2 meeting: B&C Farms 2001, The Grill at 125 Commerce St., Triple HHH Concrete Finishing and The Rundown, Inc. All five passed unanimously.

On infrastructure, the board awarded Reeves Construction the contract for a combined paving project covering the 2025 Supplemental LMIG, 2026 LMIG and T-SPLOST programs. The work is funded through state and local transportation dollars and represents one of the city’s primary road improvement efforts for the year.

The Hawkinsville Opera House will also see additional repair work after commissioners approved funding at the March 9 called meeting. According to City Manager Sara Myers, the original renovation request for the restrooms and Kimberly Room wall was $12,300. An additional request of $4,121.95 was approved at the called meeting, bringing the total to $16,421.95.

The March 9 called meeting was convened primarily to advance the city’s application for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a federal grant the city is seeking to fund sewer improvements. Commissioners approved a $90,000 local match, authorized the formal application and signed a memorandum of agreement with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission to administer the grant funds. A contract with Still Waters Engineering for engineering services on the CDBG project was also approved. The board additionally approved a Joint Comprehensive Plan Amendment and a Community Work Program Amendment tied to long-range planning for Hawkinsville and Pulaski County.

At the March 2 meeting, commissioners approved the implementation of Edmunds Utility IVR and Finance & Utility ViewPoint Dashboard tools on three-year hosting terms, a move aimed at modernizing the city’s utility billing and financial reporting systems. The board also approved an Archway Partnership Memorandum of Understanding and reappointed Ken Clark to the Downtown Development Authority.

The March 2 meeting briefly entered executive session at 6:37 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken following the closed session. Commissioner Shelly Berryhill was absent from the March 9 called meeting; all other members were present for both sessions.

The Hawkinsville Board of Commissioners will hold its regular monthly meeting on April 6 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

---

Editor’s note: The Rundown, Inc. was among the businesses that received occupational tax certificate approval from the Hawkinsville Board of Commissioners at the March 2 meeting. This article was reported from public meeting minutes. Ella McGalliard is the founder and executive director of The Rundown.