By Ashley Biles

editorial3@thomastontimes.com

The Thomaston City Council unanimously approved a resolution for the 2010 Employment Incentive Program (EIP) Application at its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 20. The application is for $500,000 in funding from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the construction for a rail spur for Animal Health Sciences, Inc., the company which is moving into the old Yamaha building.

In other business, after hearing a recommendation from City Manager Patrick Comiskey, the council approved awarding the Tree Removal Bid for tree trimming and removal to South Tel for $16,200 for the removal of 29 trees. The company was also awarded an hourly trimming rate of $100 an hour for the pruning of trees.

The final order of business Tuesday night was the approval of the purchase and installation of columns at South View Cemetery. The council unanimously approved the contract of $54,084.60 to Duncan Monument Company for the installation of 10 Cherokee Marble columns beginning on Veterans Street to Zorn Street. Comiskey stated that part of the chin length fence will be taken down and the columns and new metal fence should reach about halfway to the tree line on Zorn Street. Council member Wallace Rhodes said that this had been on the council's agenda for a long time and he was encouraged to see some work being done.