Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

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.

================ ======== ===============

This meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.



*** *** ***

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.



*** *** ***



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.



*** *** ***



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.



*** *** ***



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.



*** *** ***

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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