The Griffin Board of Commissioners voted to award the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and conducted other business at its meeting Tuesday.

The commissioners voted to award a $470,050.10 contract to Ronny D. Jones Enterprises Inc. for Phase One of North Griffin Infrastructure Improvement.

“This is the Thomaston Mill Water-Sewer-Street Project,” said Griffin Director of Planning and Development Services Frederick Gardiner.

The project will involve a major rehabilitation of the water and sewer lines in the area. City Manager Kenny Smith said the bid has already been awarded; this is just the formal contract.

In the evening, Stacey Cotton, who serves as the president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, recognized the Griffin Police Department for receiving its third State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification.

“It is indeed an honor,” he said.

He said there are fewer than 100 agencies in Georgia that have earned this status. In order to earn it, a department must meet 118 standards in eight categories.

The commissioners also voted to purchase a new Caterpillar Model 953B loader engine for $21,524.54. Griffin Director of Central Services Phill Francis said the current engine no longer works and needs to be replaced. Replacing the entire machine would cost $300,000; replacing the engine is much cheaper.

The commissioners also voted to contract with POND and Company to develop a transit-oriented development overlay district and create a unified development code. This will cost $80,000 to $100,000, which will be reimbursed by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Griffin Mayor Dick Morrow applauded the effort, saying that Griffin’s zoning code is outdated.

Smith said that the city has installed defibrillators in several locations throughout the city and trained employees in their use. He hopes they will never be needed but if they are necessary, they will be available.

The Rev. Clay Padgett, who gave the invocation at the meeting, spoke about a planned assembly of local pastors entitled “Together for Griffin” at the Griffin Auditorium at 7 p.m. Oct. 29. He said they will be praying for economic revival.