Mayor Julie Smith is sworn in by City Attorney Rob Wilmot.

Tifton's first female mayor took office Monday, Jan. 4, along with two new members of City Council.

Julie Smith, formerly the District 4 representative on City Council and a local business owner and Realtor, took the oath of office before a standing-room audience at City Hall.

 "I'm looking forward to a wonderful  four years together," Smith said.

She read a  poem that she said was dear to her late grandfather, noting that each of us in life is  given a shapeless mass to form either a "stumbling block or a stepping stone."

Councilman Jack Folk

The new mayor said she is hopeful the new council will be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block.

Grady Thompson, Tift County County Commission chairman, rose to speak to council and pledged  cooperation between the county and city.

"I'm looking forward to working with y'all," Thompson said. "It's a good day in Tifton, and we will work together."

Also taking office were District 2 Councilman Jack Folk and District 4 Councilman Frank Sayles Jr.

The conference room at the Downtown Welcome Station on Main Street will host a gallery of local art, allowing visitors to experience local culture and giving local artists another venue to display their works.

The Tiftarea Artisans organization is working with the Main Street office to install lighting and move the art into the conference room this month. A grand opening of the exhibit will be scheduled later in February.

In 2014, after nearly 30 years, the Tiftarea Artisans, formerly the Atlantic Coastline Artists Guild, vacated the Atlantic Coastline Depot in Downtown Tifton, developing a partnership with the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Gallery to display local works of art.

The Downtown Welcome Station will once again give local artisans a downtown presence.