In Monday night's Washington City Council meeting, city leaders began the conversation that will lead to the writing of a Service Delivery Strategy document by which the county and city governments will determine which entity pays for which service, and keep taxpayers from paying for services twice.

City Administrator Mike Eskew passed out the last iteration of the strategy, a 1995 list of who does what for whom, he said, and requested that council members go over the proposed list to study and discuss items before meeting with the county next week. Leaders from Washington, Wilkes County, Rayle, and Tignall will meet next Monday night to determine how to proceed with the development of a comprehensive Service Delivery Strategy. The strategy has to be complete by June 2009 to be submitted with the county's comprehensive plan, Eskew said.

"These are not decisions to be made in 2008," he said. "This just starts the process."

Mayor Willie Burns met with Councilmen Pamela Eaton, Nathaniel Cullars, Maceo Mahoney, Ed Pope Jr., and Ames Barnett, along with Eskew, City Attorney Barry Fleming, and City Clerk Debbie Danner in Monday night's meeting at the Pope Center before a crowd of about 30.

The council also considered policy changes that would comply with federal regulations for identity theft in utility accounts. Fleming said that the federal regulations are largely commonsense precautions. The council agreed to consider the policy change in depth at the upcoming November 21 city council retreat and vote on it then.

Councilman Cullars asked Washington Police Lt. Benny Johnson if anyone had been caught in the vandalism of one of the new park benches just installed in Booker Park. "OMI put new benches in the park," Cullars said, "and somebody has already set one on fire." Johnson reported that police are investigating.

Councilman Pope asked if a public meeting could be organized to talk with the public about a curfew ordinance. "We need to have an open meeting so people can see what's in this document and get their input on the curfew," Pope said. Eskew said a meeting would be arranged.

In other action, the council gave its approval to a request from the Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to light its "Christmas Tree of Love" on The Square on November 25.

Assistance for people needing help with utility bills will be available at the Third Shiloh Center on November 13 and 14, Eskew said, and those needing help could apply through Kim Evans at City Hall.

Main Street manager David Jenkins reported that the city will be hosting the 2008 Eternal Places Conference next week, with guests in town from the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The conference, designed to promote the preservation of cemeteries as well as their promotion as cultural heritage tourism locations, will be at The Pope Center Thursday and Friday.

Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Director Ashley Barnett opened the meeting with a report of the full schedule of events and holiday activities, and urged everyone to shop at home. "Do your Christmas shopping here first."

Linda Echols of the CSRA Area Agency of Agency said that a public hearing was set for 10:30 a.m. January 14 at the Wilkes County Senior Center concerning programs and services for older adults.