Warner Robins council approves personnel moves, property agreements and finance consulting; amends fire department classification plan

The Warner Robins City Council unanimously approved a package of personnel, property and administrative measures at its first meeting of 2025, including amendments to two previously executed purchase-and-sale agreements, a resolution to hire a finance consulting firm to modernize the finance department, and changes to the city classification plan for the fire department.

The council also appointed Christopher Rooks as interim director of general administration and swore in a new police officer, Katie Askarate.

Why it matters: The classification plan change reassigns and reclassifies several fire-department positions and grants specified incumbents a 10% pay increase, altering internal ranks and authorized strengths. The Sumter Local Government Consulting engagement is aimed at restructuring the finance department and modernizing its systems; the council authorized the mayor to execute the agreement. Together these items affect city personnel, departmental organization and city finances.

The consent agenda, approved by motion of Councilman Bibb and seconded by Councilman Curtis, included routine personnel actions: Cassidy Sullivan — court effective Jan. 6, 2025; Antonio Burley — promoted from maintenance worker II to equipment operator effective Jan. 6, 2025; and Ashley Storm — promoted from police officer to detective effective Jan. 6, 2025. The council followed with a public swearing-in for Officer Katie Askarate.

Councilman Holmes moved and the council approved a resolution adopting an employee assistance program. The council then approved an amendment to a purchase-and-sale agreement originally executed Oct. 7, 2024, with Rob Electro LLC for the property at 111 North Davis Drive (motion by Councilman Curtis). The council also approved an amendment to a purchase-and-sale agreement with Provisions Enterprise Incorporated for property at 1003 Young Avenue (motion by Councilman Lawrenson). All of those motions were carried by voice vote and declared unanimous; the meeting did not record individual roll-call tallies.

Councilman Lashley moved a resolution declaring certain Warner Robins Police Department property with value over $500 to be surplus and donated to the City of Cochran Police Department “in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.” The council approved the surplus donation by unanimous voice vote.

On the ordinance amending the City of Warner Robins classification plan, Councilman Mack moved the ordinance and the council approved it unanimously. The ordinance text presented to the council reclassifies and retitles multiple fire-department positions and lists job-class numbers, grades and authorized strengths. Among the changes recorded in the meeting transcript:

- Change the title of Fire Captain in Training, job class 513, to a training and safety officer position, job class 528, grade 20, authorized strength 2.
- Reclassify Fire Lieutenant in Training, job class 512, grade 18, to training and safety officer, job class 528, grade 20, authorized strength 3; incumbents named in the item were to receive a 10% pay increase where specified.
- Reclassify assistant and deputy chief roles: assistant chief suppression (job class 503) and battalion chief of operations (job class 530) and create or retitle administrative positions including deputy fire chief of administration (job class 531, grade 24).

The council amended the agenda during the meeting to add Item 8, the appointment of an interim director of general administration, and Item 9, a resolution authorizing an agreement with Sumter Local Government Consulting for finance director services. Mayor LaRonda W. Patrick moved to appoint Mr. Christopher Rooks as interim director of general administration; the motion was seconded by Councilman Mack and carried unanimously.

Councilman Bibb moved and the council approved a resolution authorizing Mayor LaRonda W. Patrick to execute an agreement with Sumter Local Government Consulting to provide finance director services, including restructuring the finance department and modernizing finance systems to current industry standards. The motion was seconded by Councilman Holmes and carried by unanimous voice vote.

During the citizen-comment period, Dan Rhodes, identified as president and CEO of the Museum of Aviation Foundation, thanked the council and said the foundation was “looking forward to working together” and had “some pretty cool stuff lined up” for the coming years.

Votes at a glance (all motions recorded as carried by voice vote and declared unanimous; individual vote counts were not specified in the meeting record):

- Consent agenda (personnel promotions, effective Jan. 6, 2025): Motion by Councilman Bibb; second by Councilman Curtis; outcome: approved unanimously; details: promotions of Cassidy Sullivan, Antonio Burley and Ashley Storm; swearing-in of Officer Katie Askarate.

- Resolution: Employee Assistance Program: Motion by Councilman Holmes; seconded; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Resolution: Amend PSA with Rob Electro LLC (property at 111 North Davis Drive; original PSA executed 10/07/2024): Motion by Councilman Curtis; seconded by Councilman Holmes; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Resolution: Amend PSA with Provisions Enterprise Incorporated (property at 1003 Young Avenue; original PSA executed 10/07/2024): Motion by Councilman Lawrenson; seconded by Councilman Curtis; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Resolution: Surplus property donation to City of Cochran Police Department (items valued over $500): Motion by Councilman Lashley; seconded; outcome: approved unanimously; authority cited: laws of the State of Georgia.

- Ordinance: City of Warner Robins classification plan amendment (fire department reorganization and reclassifications, specified job-class numbers/grades/authorized strengths, specified incumbents to receive 10% pay increases): Motion by Councilman Mack; seconded; outcome: adopted unanimously.

- Appointment: Interim director of general administration — Christopher Rooks: Moved by Mayor LaRonda W. Patrick; seconded by Councilman Mack; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Resolution: Authorize agreement with Sumter Local Government Consulting for finance director services and finance department restructuring: Motion by Councilman Bibb; seconded by Councilman Holmes; outcome: approved unanimously.

What the record shows and what it does not: The council’s actions were taken by voice vote and called unanimous; the transcript does not show roll-call tallies or dissenting votes, and the meeting provided no detailed budget figures tied to the classification changes in the ordinance item. Several agenda items referenced previously executed purchase-and-sale agreements dated Oct. 7, 2024; the council authorized amendments but the transcript did not include the amended contract language. The surplus donation cites compliance with Georgia law; no statute section was specified.

The council recessed for an executive session to discuss personnel matters and reconvened; the executive session content was not disclosed in the public record. The meeting concluded after brief remarks from council members and a citizen comment from Dan Rhodes of the Museum of Aviation Foundation.