Minutes
COUNCIL BRIEFING
Meeting
August 16, 2005
Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors R. Gary Allen,
Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Nathan Suber
and Evelyn Woodson (arrived 8:52 a.m.). Also present were Mayor Robert S.
Poydasheff, City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Deputy City
Manager Lisa Goodwin, Finance Director Angela Cole, Traffic Engineering
Director Ron Hamlett, Assistant Engineering Director Donna Newman, Purchasing
Division Manager Andrea McCorvey, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and
Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.
Members Absent: Councilors Charles E. McDaniel, Jr. and Evelyn Turner Pugh
were absent.
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This meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m., in the Council Chambers
Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.
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Cherokee Avenue:
City Manager Hugley distributed around the table a memorandum concerning
Cherokee Avenue. (A copy was submitted and is hereby made a part of these
minutes.) City Manager Hugley called attention to six incidents where cars
have ended up in the creek on Cherokee Avenue. He reported that the bid for
guardrails came in at $150,000. He recalled the discussions on the safety of
installing guardrails. He said in the thirty-day delay, he had the opportunity
to examine some other alternatives. He then recommended constructing Cherokee
Avenue into a four-lane road instead of a three-lane and monitoring it for one
year. He explained the fourth lane would be converted into a bicycle
lane/pedestrian walkway. He pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of
the recommendation. He estimated the cost for this concept would be between
$20,000 and $25,000.
In response to a question of Councilor Allen, City Manager Hugley advised that
we would be in contact with the residents to get their input.
City Manager Hugley called attention to the construction that is currently
happening to reconstruct failed piping in the area.
In response to Councilor Anthony with regards to enclosing the entire section,
at which time, City Manager Hugley advised that it is not part of this process,
but we need to look into getting some hard numbers in that field. He
maintained that staff has estimated a cost between $14 million and $15
million.
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Rigdon Road Elementary School:
City Manager Hugley advised that he spoke with the School Superintendent and at
the School Board Meeting last night, the Board approved the construction of a
new Rigdon Road Elementary School and would like to use those two ballfields
back there, which belong to the School Board. He reminded the Superintendent
that we invested about $142,000 in one of those fields with sales tax money.
He said that he would like to know that they would rebuild the field with the
same quality of what the City invested in that property.
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City Service Center:
City Manager Hugley called attention to the correction in the Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer with regards to his comments on our City Service Center.
Councilor Suber asked about the Ardahilia Mack Center. He said there has been
no discussion with the citizens in the area regarding the center. City Manager
Hugley said that he believes that it is on School District Property but the
City owns the building. He said that he would look into this because if so, he
would have the same concerns in replacing this center.
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HOPE IV:
City Manager Hugley recalled the commitment the City made of $5.6 million for
HOPE IV. He then called upon Mr. Len Williams, Housing Authority to make
comments regarding the use of local vendors to assist with the projects and
they have run into some problems in that respect.
Mr. Len Williams, Executive Director of Housing Authority, came forward and
spoke of the job opportunities that were available, but regarding the onsite
development we would be constructing 366 units with an additional 62 units from
the original plan. He said an additional 26 public housing units and 25
additional market rate units and 11 tax credit units. He reported that the
first phase would be 184 units; the tax credits have been approved and
construction would begin late this year. He explained the buildings must be
completed by December 2006 to allow us to remain in compliance with the tax
credit requirement.
He maintained the funding of $5.6 million provided by the City would consist of
water, sewage, streets and combined sewer system relocation. He then spoke of
the bid advertisements and announced the general contractor, Integral
Contracting Company. He said the chances of getting local participation are
far better than was estimated earlier.
In response to a question of Councilor Davis, Mr. Williams advised that we had
some interest from local contractors, but they indicated that the combined
sewer work was not something that they could do.
St. Mary?s Road Rezoning Petition:
City Manager Hugley advised that we need a delay on St. Mary?s Road, because
the petitioners are changing the scope of what they are trying to do out there,
but we will discuss it during the Council Meeting.
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There being no further business to discuss and with the dialogue being
concluded, this meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
________________________
Sandra T. Davis,
Deputy Clerk of Council
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