By Renee O’Quinn
The Baxley City Council held discussions about the installation of solar panels at City Hall at the regular meeting held Dec. 11. Mayor Rigdon presented pictures of a building with solar panels and stated that he and the city manager have been meeting with representatives of Hannah Solar about potential savings to power bills if they went with solar panels.
City approves installation of solar panels at City Hall
Mayor Steve Rigdon stated this is a direction I would like to go in. The total cost $112,533.00, and will pay for itself in ten years based on Kilowatt hours used and basically have a very little utility bill.
Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Esco Hall, Jr. made a motion to proceed with installing the solar panels at City Hall and to pay for it out of reserves. This motion was seconded by Councilman Kenneth Waithe and approved unanimously.
Manager Jeff Baxley explained that Hannah Solar is interested in a public/private partnership with the City and lease five acres of land. They would use this land to harvest power to sell megawatt back to Georgia Power.
The council also approved for Attorney Alex Johnson to negotiate the proposed lease terms with Hannah Solar.
Errol Haughton came before the Council to ask to have hours of operation extended for his business (Golden Touch Restaurant). Haughton asked the council if he could have the hours of operation extended to 2:00 a.m. instead of 1:00 a.m. and the premises vacated by 1:30 a.m. Dr. Hall asked what the occupancy of the restaurant is at 12:00 a.m. he stated it would be around 30-50 people. City Attorney Alex Johnson reminded him that his current license is for a restaurant only and that a lounge would be different requirements. There was no action taken on this request.
New business
Dale Atkins, Executive Director of the Appling County Development Authority requested the City to consider execution of an Economic Development Agreement. Atkins explained that Dr. Y.R. Reddy of UMA-Buffellow Consultants, LTD has requested assistance from the authority regarding tax abatement. Atkins stated Dr. Reddy had been here for 30 plus years and has never asked for help, his new facility is the reason for the request. The six million dollar facility would be taxed at 0% in the first year, would be tied to a minimum number of jobs (15) to be generated within that period.
Atkins explained that the agreement helps to develop and promote trade, commerce, industry and employment opportunities for the public good and general welfare within the County.
For each year the Company will pay amounts equal to the corresponding payment percentage, set forth, of the normal ad valorem property taxes. Such payments shall constitute payments in lieu of taxes.
The applicable payment percentages and savings percentages are as follows:
1st Year – 100% Savings Percentage and 0% Payment Percentage.
2nd Year – 80% Savings Percentage and 20% Payment Percentage.
3rd Year – 60% Savings Percentage and 40% Payment Percentage.
4th Year – 40% Savings Percentage and 60% Payment Percentage.
5th Year – 20% Savings Percentage and 80% Payment Percentage.
6th and Thereafter – 0% Savings Percentage and 100% Payment Percentage.
The savings applies to all ad valorem property taxes (city, county, state and other) with respect to property comprising part of the Project titled to the Issuer in connection with the Project Bonds.
Following discussions the Council unanimously approved that the City execute the agreement.
City Manager Jeff Baxley spoke to the council about water-tap installation fees. Baxley stated it had been brought to his attention that the City’s actual cost for water meters and related materials has changed significantly, especially with larger meters. The existing tap/installation fees are as follows: inch - $250.000; 1 inch - $300.00; 1-1/4 inch - $400.00; 1-1/2 inch - $450.00 and 2 inch - $550.00. The materials only costs for a two-inch tap priced last week were $700.00. The meter alone was $495.00. Fees have traditionally covered all materials and some of the labor. If a paved street has to be cut and repaired, we charge additionally. We received notice from Badger Meters, which is the Citys primary source, which even the smaller meters are going up 15% to 20% beginning January 1. The manager stated there is no urgency in addressing the fees, however, we are currently losing money on our larger meter installations. The last increase implemented concerning water meter installations was in 2004. At the latest I would recommend that we consider amending our installation fee structure along with our inflation of adjustment of water/sewer rates in March of next year.
Mayor Ridgon asked the city manager to bring back a recommendation for a new fee schedule to the first meeting in January for review.
Old business
A second reading and adoption of an ordinance annexing property owned by Roy Bass, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and First Avenue and establishing a business (B-2) zone in District 5 was approved by a five to one vote. Betty Livingston, Pat Williams, Tim Varnadore, Mayor Pro Tem Esco Hall and Kenneth Waithe voted in favor. Council Member Mickey Bass abstained.
Hall stated he attended the National League of Cities meeting last week and he stated it was a very positive uplifting meeting and very well attended.
Mayor Ridgon stated unless some business came up that needed taking care of the Dec. 25 regular council meeting will not be scheduled and the next regular meeting will be Jan. 8.
Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Esco Hall, Jr. made a motion to proceed with installing the solar panels at City Hall and to pay for it out of reserves. This motion was seconded by Councilman Kenneth Waithe and approved unanimously.
Manager Jeff Baxley explained that Hannah Solar is interested in a public/private partnership with the City and lease five acres of land. They would use this land to harvest power to sell megawatt back to Georgia Power.
The council also approved for Attorney Alex Johnson to negotiate the proposed lease terms with Hannah Solar.
Errol Haughton came before the Council to ask to have hours of operation extended for his business (Golden Touch Restaurant). Haughton asked the council if he could have the hours of operation extended to 2:00 a.m. instead of 1:00 a.m. and the premises vacated by 1:30 a.m. Dr. Hall asked what the occupancy of the restaurant is at 12:00 a.m. he stated it would be around 30-50 people. City Attorney Alex Johnson reminded him that his current license is for a restaurant only and that a lounge would be different requirements. There was no action taken on this request.
New business
Dale Atkins, Executive Director of the Appling County Development Authority requested the City to consider execution of an Economic Development Agreement. Atkins explained that Dr. Y.R. Reddy of UMA-Buffellow Consultants, LTD has requested assistance from the authority regarding tax abatement. Atkins stated Dr. Reddy had been here for 30 plus years and has never asked for help, his new facility is the reason for the request. The six million dollar facility would be taxed at 0% in the first year, would be tied to a minimum number of jobs (15) to be generated within that period.
Atkins explained that the agreement helps to develop and promote trade, commerce, industry and employment opportunities for the public good and general welfare within the County.
For each year the Company will pay amounts equal to the corresponding payment percentage, set forth, of the normal ad valorem property taxes. Such payments shall constitute payments in lieu of taxes.
The applicable payment percentages and savings percentages are as follows:
1st Year – 100% Savings Percentage and 0% Payment Percentage.
2nd Year – 80% Savings Percentage and 20% Payment Percentage.
3rd Year – 60% Savings Percentage and 40% Payment Percentage.
4th Year – 40% Savings Percentage and 60% Payment Percentage.
5th Year – 20% Savings Percentage and 80% Payment Percentage.
6th and Thereafter – 0% Savings Percentage and 100% Payment Percentage.
The savings applies to all ad valorem property taxes (city, county, state and other) with respect to property comprising part of the Project titled to the Issuer in connection with the Project Bonds.
Following discussions the Council unanimously approved that the City execute the agreement.
City Manager Jeff Baxley spoke to the council about water-tap installation fees. Baxley stated it had been brought to his attention that the City’s actual cost for water meters and related materials has changed significantly, especially with larger meters. The existing tap/installation fees are as follows: inch - $250.000; 1 inch - $300.00; 1-1/4 inch - $400.00; 1-1/2 inch - $450.00 and 2 inch - $550.00. The materials only costs for a two-inch tap priced last week were $700.00. The meter alone was $495.00. Fees have traditionally covered all materials and some of the labor. If a paved street has to be cut and repaired, we charge additionally. We received notice from Badger Meters, which is the Citys primary source, which even the smaller meters are going up 15% to 20% beginning January 1. The manager stated there is no urgency in addressing the fees, however, we are currently losing money on our larger meter installations. The last increase implemented concerning water meter installations was in 2004. At the latest I would recommend that we consider amending our installation fee structure along with our inflation of adjustment of water/sewer rates in March of next year.
Mayor Ridgon asked the city manager to bring back a recommendation for a new fee schedule to the first meeting in January for review.
Old business
A second reading and adoption of an ordinance annexing property owned by Roy Bass, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and First Avenue and establishing a business (B-2) zone in District 5 was approved by a five to one vote. Betty Livingston, Pat Williams, Tim Varnadore, Mayor Pro Tem Esco Hall and Kenneth Waithe voted in favor. Council Member Mickey Bass abstained.
Hall stated he attended the National League of Cities meeting last week and he stated it was a very positive uplifting meeting and very well attended.
Mayor Ridgon stated unless some business came up that needed taking care of the Dec. 25 regular council meeting will not be scheduled and the next regular meeting will be Jan. 8.
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