COLUMBUS, Ga. — Rookie city councilor Joanne Cogle (District 7) was sworn-in during the first city council meeting of the year on January 3, 2023 — and boy, did she get right down to business.

With family members at her side and her hand on the Bible, Cogle took her oath to faithfully serve as a city councilor. When provided with the opportunity to say a few words after being sworn-in, Cogle kept her remarks short, sweet, and to the point. “Thank you for all the familiar faces; for coming out today — and I look forward to serving Columbus,” Cogle said.

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Cogle then took her seat among her fellow city councilors as the meeting's agenda continued.

RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS

One of the items on the agenda was of particular interest to Cogle's district. During the city manager’s portion of the meeting, city manager Isaiah Hugley requested that the council vote to renew their ten-year contract with Uptown Columbus, Inc. The contract outlines the responsibilities of Uptown in their public/private partnership with the city.

The city manager’s move for a hasty renewal of the contract caused some serious controversy among several members. 

Cogle — on her very first day in the chair — recognized the importance of the item, as it was a ten-year commitment that pertained to her district in particular.  

Speaking up for the first time from her new chair — and with encouragement from all her fellow councilors — Cogle diligently stated that she wished to delay the approval. Cogle said that since it was literally her first day as a city councilor, she would like to take the responsible approach by properly wrapping her head around the issue.

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“Ten years is a long time,” Cogle stated, “and we want to make sure we kind of hash out the details for trash pickup and maintenance down on what is the face of our city.” 

AN INAUGURAL ACT

As her first official motion made as a city councilor, Cogle then moved to delay the renewal of Uptown’s contract with the city. Cogle’s motion was then seconded, and the delay was passed by a vote of the council. 

Glenn Davis (District 2) would then move to have the city audit Uptown’s past performance before the council voted on the renewal whatsoever. Davis’ motion was passed by a vote of the council. Uptown’s contract with the city is now pending a report from the city’s internal  auditor’s office.  

Let the record show that Joanne Cogle’s first official motion made as the legislative representative for Columbus’ downtown district was to delay the city’s renewal of its contract with Uptown Columbus, Inc.

There may yet be hope for responsibility in this city’s government. Time will tell. Good job, Cogle.

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

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