Cedartown offers one‐time early retirement option to small employee group

The Cedartown City Commission approved a plan that would allow a handful of employees to retire earlier than their expected 65-plus date, if they so choose to take the option now.

City manager Bill Fann explained the one-time incentive would allow upward of nine employees who qualify for taking benefits early, but said that it was more than likely there will only be four or five who actually take the option.

He explained the one-time deal would allow those who have worked for more than 25 years with the city – and some of those already past retirement age qualify now – to what he calls a “rule of 75” rather than the standard “rule of 80.”

That is, using Fann’s explanation, if an employee were 50 and had worked for 25 years for the city, they could qualify with a score of 75 made up of the employee’s age and time of service under the city’s employ. Typically, employees put in 30 years plus their age to make up the retirement

score of 80. The benefit to the employee is they get to retire early and receive the same benefits, and the city gets to replace those higher paid employees with new hires at a lower rate.

“Potentially some costs long term to the city, but in this case the costs might as well be zero,” Fann said.

He pointed out that because the city was not planning to increase salaries anytime soon, those eligible for the program now would not miss out on potential increases in their benefits if they stayed, since monthly retirement payments are based on what an employee made during the last five years on the job.

City commissioners approved the plan unanimously at their Feb. 8 session.

Commissioners also approved a resolution allowing for a public hearing during their March session seeking comment on a proposed property transfer to Missouri Machine and Plow LLC, the owners of Rome Plow Company in Cedartown.

Fann explained the process was needed to allow the city to deed over a small portion of land the company needs and Cedartown doesn’t, they agreed to complete a transfer.

However, because this slice of right of way originally was intended for roadway access and was never used, Fann said the city had to go through extra steps by submitting a resolution and calling for public comment.

“They needed to move the fence over to increase staging area for equipment being shipped out,” he said.

Fann said the city had plenty of right way in the area to allow them to take the small sliver of property over once the process is done.

City commissioners voted unanimously for the resolution.

In other business, commissioners approved a new beer and wine license for Josie Kilgore, who wanted it for the Save-A-Lot Food Mart convenience store at the corner of East Avenue and Main Street in downtown Cedartown.

The commission also approved permission for the Junior Service League to hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt in Peek Park on Sunday, March 20. The board approved Marsha Jean White as the new member of Cedartown Tree Commission, and a proclamation for the Georgia City and County Managers Association’s 60th anniversary.

Commissioners unanimously approved the job description for new assistant city clerk Edward Guzman as well.