The Tioga City Council voted to move its banking business to PointBank, citing the bank’s investment in the community in the form of plans for a new branch in Tioga as a big determining factor.
The two other top applicant banks, SouthState Bank and First State Bank, were offering roughly the same banking services as PointBank.
“I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them,” City Secretary Donna Carney said. “I’ve put the breakdown in there for y’all to look at, and the interest rates. … I just think any one of those three would serve us well.”
Mayor Pro Tem Kurt Hall said, “the top three were all so close; if you look at the rates, they’re so close.”
Mayor Craig Jezek emphasized that PointBank’s investment in Tioga made the difference for him.
“We should support the bank that’s in our town, so long as we’re getting the same rates,” he said. “They’ve already made that leap and purchased the property.”
The members present voted unanimously to accept Point-Bank’s proposal.
Council members Heather Nesmith and Jim Coffey were absent from the meeting.
The council also approved the preliminary plat for the Red Oak Estates development, which will be at the corner of Buck Creek Road and Florence Street.
Brandon Burger presented briefly to the council about the plans.
“We’re going to put 29 lots over there,” he said. “They’re above the standard for what your requirements are, and we just plan on trying to develop the area and bring some more houses in for everybody.”
In addition, they will widen the roadways and will upgrade the water and sewer infrastructure in the area by the development.
The council also granted an application for a minor plat of Lots 1, 2 and 3 along Lamar Street, with the condition that “it’s the property owner’s responsibility to extend sanitary sewer to the property for service,” Hall said.
“The big lot off Lamar is where the house is, and they’re going to have those big lots on the back where they can build another house and then sell a lot.”
Applicant Cindie Vaughan came to the meeting, and she confi rmed that the family had already bid out the sewer work and asked for help on how to locate all of the utility lines before they dig.
“I just don’t want to disrupt water to anybody while we’re under construction,” Vaughan said.
Jeri Harwell with Republic Services was on hand to answer any questions regarding the fiveyear contract for the company to continue providing trash services to Tioga.
“I’m putting everything to you guys in writing,” she said.
Jezek mentioned that Washington and the rest of the crew have been great in their care of the city.
The council also approved an application to correct a surveying issue for 111 and 113 Smith Street that failed to assign a sliver of land to either property, which was split down the middle in the replat request.
Also at the meeting, the council accepted the resignation of Alton “Squirrel” Rhymes from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
County Commissioner Lindsay Wright, Precinct 3, came to the meeting, as well, to know what’s happening in Tioga and to connect with the community.
