The Hinesville City Council agreed Thursday to contract with Liberty County to hold a special election on Sept. 21. The city must fill the District 2 council seat vacated by former Hinesville City Council Member Bobby Ryon when he qualified in July to run for Liberty County Sheriff.
Two candidates stepped forward this summer to campaign for the empty council seat.
Jason Floyd, a first vice president at Heritage Bank in Hinesville, and local businesswoman Charlene L. Parlett are vying for the seat.
In addition, the council approved two special alcohol permits and scheduled a number of upcoming public events.
Council members approved a special alcohol permit for the Blues & BBQ festival, organized by the Hinesville Area Arts Council. The festival will be held from 4-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Bradwell Park in downtown Hinesville.
The council also approved a special alcohol permit for the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority’s Second Annual Oktoberfest celebration. The event will be held from 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, Oct. 15; from 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, Oct. 16, and from noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. Alcohol may be served outdoors Friday and Saturday only, and inside Zum Rosenhof German Restaurant on Sunday.
Since Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, city council members scheduled trick-or-treating for the children of Hinesville from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. Fort Stewart will observe the same hours, city officials said.
Hinesville City Manager Billy Edwards informed the council Bryant Commons Joint Management will host a design charette on Sept. 8-9 to consider alternatives for the proposed new entry road into Bryant Commons. Bryant Commons is across from the Liberty County Development Authority on Highway 84.
Edwards said a swearing-in ceremony for the candidate elected to the District 2 council seat will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 in a second-floor conference room inside the Hinesville Police Department.
“Since we only have two candidates we don’t expect a runoff,” he said.
The next regular city council meeting will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16.