Tifton City Council members unanimously voted last night to pass a joint resolution in support of an economic round table which will focus on economic development in the community.

City Attorney and 2008 chairman of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce Greg Sowell said the round table will provide a focus of goals for the community with actions steps, accountability standards and will serve as an outlet for the communication of ideas.

Sowell said that the request for a joint resolution comes from the Tift County Development Authority, which requested a format of focus for economic development in the county which could provide community direction and focus as to how to spend and apply local resources.

“What the community has been saying is let’s get together, work together and get on the same page...” Sowell said to City Council members during the Monday night meeting, “This is the mechanism we suggest to you to begin that process.”

Sowell said that the resolution for the round table will last one calendar year, ending on Dec. 31, 2009. At that time the round table will go under review to determine is the process has worked and any changes or improvements that can be made.

According to the resolution, the group will serve only as a recommending board and will have no budget, receive funds or spend money.

The members of the Economic Round Table will include the CEO of Tift Regional Medical Center; the president of ABAC; the president or vice president of economic development of Moultrie Technical College; the associate dean of the Tifton Campus of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science; the chairman of the Tifton-Tift county Tourism Association; the manager for Tift County; the manager for the City of Tifton; the superintendent of the Tift County Public School System; the chairman of the Tift County Board of Education; the chairman of the Tift County Airport Authority; one member of the Downtown Development Authority; one member of the Tift County Development Authority; as many as three county commission members; as many as two city council members; and as many as six Chamber members who will represent a cross section of the Chamber’s membership.

Any of these members may also appoint a designee of their choice from the community to take their place.

Mayor Jamie Cater appointed himself and Council member Joe Lewis to the Round Table at the close of the discussion and approval.

In other business, city council members:

— approved resolutions for Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for Hilton Garden Inn, El Sabino Grocery and Meat Market and DM Food Mart.

— Appointed April Dukes to the Tift County Board of Health to replace Mary Smith who has resigned for health reasons.

To contact reporter Chivaun Perez, call 382-4321.