In other matters, the council approved a sister city partnership with Savalu, Benin. This partnership aims to foster cultural exchange, educational opportunities, economic development, and international collaboration between the two communities. The council expects this alliance to create opportunities for residents, businesses, and future partnerships, following a recent visit from the king of Savalu.

The meeting also included the approval of a legal action against a property owner on Exora Road for allegedly operating a commercial vehicle rental business in a residential neighborhood, which violates zoning regulations. The council authorized the city attorney to enforce these regulations to maintain the character of residential areas.

A proposal to transition utility billing from a quarterly to a monthly cycle was approved, aimed at providing smaller, more manageable bills to water and sewer customers. This change is expected to improve payment timeliness and reduce overdue balances.

The council also addressed infrastructure needs, approving sanitary sewer system repairs totaling $3.6 million and authorizing federal lobbying services to support the proposed expansion of the Winston Water Treatment Plant, which is important for increasing the city’s water treatment capacity and supporting future growth.