The Longview City Council has agreed to hire Longview-based GC4 to conduct a safety audit of the city’s Public Works Department. The council requested the safety audit following the workplace death this year of Buddy Powell, who was part of the city’s Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection crew. GC4, a workplace safety and security firm, will work with another consultant, Beckville-based SafetySpire, to complete the assessment. With the council’s decision to hire GC4, council members asked to receive weekly updates on the audit process. “If you recognize something (that’s an issue), we want to immediately ask (City Manager Rolin McPhee) and (interim Public Works Director Rick Evans)” about the finding, said Jody Berryhill, District 5 councilman.