Pat Donahue/Times-EnterpriseFrom left to right, Thomasville City Council members Jay Flowers, Todd Mobley, Greg Hobbs, Terry Scott and David Hufstetler take their oaths of office Monday night from city attorney Tim Sanders.

THOMASVILLE — Among the first actions by two new Thomasville City Council members, mayor and mayor pro tem was to reject on proposed utilities rates increases.

Council member Jay Flowers made a motion to approve second reading of an ordinance to increase water, natural gas, sewer and sanitation service rates. Flowers’ motion died for lack of a second.

Council member Terry Scott made a motion to deny the increases. The motion was approved.

After the meeting, Scott said he made the motion to deny the hikes because senior citizens cannot afford increases.

“It seems like a small amount, but to them, it’s a large amount,” said Scott, who pastors a Thomasville church.

Scott said that the city has $127 million that can be pulled from if needed.

“I didn’t vote,” Flowers said Tuesday, when asked if he voted for Scott’s motion.

If revenue approved by the council in December is removed, the increase in payments for services is lost, Flowers said.

“When it is a 4-1 vote anyway, there’s nothing to be gained by voting against it,” he said.

A Dec. 11 motion was made by then-Council member Don Sims, with a second by Flowers, to approve the increases on first reading. Meeting minutes show the vote was unanimous.

When asked Tuesday why he voted in favor of the increases in December and against them Monday, Mayor Greg Hobbs said his vote changed because new council members had not been included in all rate hike discussions.

Hobbs said the Monday vote was against a rate hike “at this time.”

Scott could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Hobbs was re-elected mayor by the rest of the council and Scott was chosen as mayor pro tem. The mayor and mayor pro tem are elected every two years by council members.

The meeting was the first for David Hufstelter and Todd Mobley, who were sworn in as new council members.

In other Monday business:

• Hufstetler made a motion to approve a resolution to update signatures on the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia Competitive Trust with the mayor’s signature.

“Does that match up with the bylaws and requirements?” Flowers asked.

Hobbs said it will be looked into to ensure his signature is acceptable.

• Flowers made a motion to approve the appointment of the assistant utilities superintendent to the South Georgia Governmental Services Authority. When there was no second, Hufstetler made a motion to table the appointment until it could be discussed further.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820