By Renee O’Quinn
At the regular Baxley City Council meeting held August 30, council members approved a motion for City Manager Jeff Baxley to negotiate with a company that will collect all bad debts on water and sewer accounts. The manager stated that the bad debts for water and sewer amounts to $99,383.17. The city will write off the debts for auditing purposes and the company will begin the collection process.
Company to begin collecting bad debts for water and sewer
New business
Chief of Police James Godfrey introduced three new police officers to the mayor and council and they are Michael B. Thompson, Adam Pruitt and Steven Smith. The mayor and council welcomed the new officers to the City of Baxley.
The council approved the first reading of an ordinance annexing the property of Purvil Patel located at 1075 Blackshear Highway and establishing a Business (B-2) zone.
The city received eight bids for a CDBG project (storm drainage and street improvements). Manager Baxley stated that Elmer Thrift Construction was the low bidder with a bid of $762,004.00. The projected budget for this project was $551,523.00 for the construction, as well as the engineering and administration. The manager told the council he had met with Elmer Thrift and discussed possible ways to lower the cost and not diminish the integrity of the project. The manager stated he feels somewhat confident that the construction costs can be lowered to approximately $680,000.00, which would leave the city an additional $213,654.00 in cash match. After further discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Hall made a motion to accept the low bid from Elmer Thrift Construction contingent upon the reduced bid price of $680,000.00, and to pay the cash match out of the city’s general fund and repay these funds from SPLOST, as it is received that has been allocated for street improvements. This motion was seconded by Councilwoman Betty Livingston and was unanimously approved.
Nine bidders gave bids on the new aviation building. The council approved the low bid of $385,500.00 from Roy E. Bass Company. This project will be paid from the SPLOST funds the city has already received for this project.
A public hearing date concerning the proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget is set for Sept. 13 at 6:00 p.m.
The city council set a public hearing date for Sept. 27 at 6:00 p.m. for the following two items: a petition filed by Greg Herrin to annex his property located at 190 Corey Street and establish a residential (R-15) zone and a petition for annexation filed by Xavier M. Stevens, Sr. to annex his property located at 909 Ben Carter Road, and establish a residential (R-15) zone.
Councilman Mickey Bass made a motion to hold a closed-door session at the end of the meeting to discuss personnel and possible litigation. Councilman Tim Varnadore seconded this motion and the council approved it unanimously. No action was taken following the session.
Old business
The council adopted an ordinance to amend the charter of the City of Baxley so as to reapportion council districts.
Mayor Pro Tem Hall reported that he attended a development authority meeting and there were no new developments. He brought greetings from the city to the Jack Summerall family reunion on behalf of the city. Hall complimented the mayor and city manager on the presentation made to former Councilman Eugene Walker, Jr., at a recent ceremony honoring Walker at St. James AME Church on August 28.
City manager’s report
-Baxley reported that seven city employees and seven county employees were involved in a work ready community test that took place Friday, Aug. 26. He feels the city needs to require any new employee to take this test.
-He reported that the dredging at the Baxley Waste Water Treatment Plant is complete.
-The manager stated he attended a reception for Eugene Walker at St. James AME Church and enjoyed it very much.
-Baxley stated qualifying began Monday, Aug. 30 and will last through Friday, Sept. 2 at 4:30 p.m.
-The manager also reported that the city has contacted the owners of Harvey’s parking lot and they are going to fix the pothole when they complete the building renovations.
Chief of Police James Godfrey introduced three new police officers to the mayor and council and they are Michael B. Thompson, Adam Pruitt and Steven Smith. The mayor and council welcomed the new officers to the City of Baxley.
The council approved the first reading of an ordinance annexing the property of Purvil Patel located at 1075 Blackshear Highway and establishing a Business (B-2) zone.
The city received eight bids for a CDBG project (storm drainage and street improvements). Manager Baxley stated that Elmer Thrift Construction was the low bidder with a bid of $762,004.00. The projected budget for this project was $551,523.00 for the construction, as well as the engineering and administration. The manager told the council he had met with Elmer Thrift and discussed possible ways to lower the cost and not diminish the integrity of the project. The manager stated he feels somewhat confident that the construction costs can be lowered to approximately $680,000.00, which would leave the city an additional $213,654.00 in cash match. After further discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Hall made a motion to accept the low bid from Elmer Thrift Construction contingent upon the reduced bid price of $680,000.00, and to pay the cash match out of the city’s general fund and repay these funds from SPLOST, as it is received that has been allocated for street improvements. This motion was seconded by Councilwoman Betty Livingston and was unanimously approved.
Nine bidders gave bids on the new aviation building. The council approved the low bid of $385,500.00 from Roy E. Bass Company. This project will be paid from the SPLOST funds the city has already received for this project.
A public hearing date concerning the proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget is set for Sept. 13 at 6:00 p.m.
The city council set a public hearing date for Sept. 27 at 6:00 p.m. for the following two items: a petition filed by Greg Herrin to annex his property located at 190 Corey Street and establish a residential (R-15) zone and a petition for annexation filed by Xavier M. Stevens, Sr. to annex his property located at 909 Ben Carter Road, and establish a residential (R-15) zone.
Councilman Mickey Bass made a motion to hold a closed-door session at the end of the meeting to discuss personnel and possible litigation. Councilman Tim Varnadore seconded this motion and the council approved it unanimously. No action was taken following the session.
Old business
The council adopted an ordinance to amend the charter of the City of Baxley so as to reapportion council districts.
Mayor Pro Tem Hall reported that he attended a development authority meeting and there were no new developments. He brought greetings from the city to the Jack Summerall family reunion on behalf of the city. Hall complimented the mayor and city manager on the presentation made to former Councilman Eugene Walker, Jr., at a recent ceremony honoring Walker at St. James AME Church on August 28.
City manager’s report
-Baxley reported that seven city employees and seven county employees were involved in a work ready community test that took place Friday, Aug. 26. He feels the city needs to require any new employee to take this test.
-He reported that the dredging at the Baxley Waste Water Treatment Plant is complete.
-The manager stated he attended a reception for Eugene Walker at St. James AME Church and enjoyed it very much.
-Baxley stated qualifying began Monday, Aug. 30 and will last through Friday, Sept. 2 at 4:30 p.m.
-The manager also reported that the city has contacted the owners of Harvey’s parking lot and they are going to fix the pothole when they complete the building renovations.
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