Winder Seeks to Diversify Its Housing, Shopping, Employment and Recreation Offerings

• Who met: Winder City Council
• Where:
• When: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011
• Who was present:  Council members Bob Dixon,  Frank Dunagan, Charlie Eberhart, David Maynard, Sonny Morris, Ridley Parrish; Mayor Chip Thompson; City Clerk Sabrina Wall; City Administrator David Toms
• Top agenda items:

1. The council unanimously voted to support an application for planning funds from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative program. The program is designed to diversify Winder’s city housing, shopping, employment and recreation options for residents by improving transportation options. The grant could pay for 80 percent of the cost of improving the realignment of Jackson Street and Midland Avenue, pedestrian crosswalk restriping at the May Street traffic signal and the connection of residential and downtown areas for bicycle and pedestrian use by widening and lengthening several downtown sidewalks.
2. The council voted unanimously to amend the city’s alcohol sales code. The amendment defines the time of closing and operation of businesses in addition to other regulations.
3. The council voted unanimously to change the dates of the work session and business meeting for the month of November to not overlap with Election Day on Nov. 8. The work session will be held Monday, Nov. 14, and the business meeting will be held Tuesday Nov. 15.
4. Council members voted unanimously to request competitive bids for a new city solid waste removal contract. The city’s current contract with Republic Services Inc. ends Feb. 28, 2012.
5. The council unanimously approved an event permit for Come Alive Ministries for the National Life Chain. The event will not require the closing of any city streets and will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 2 along May Street.
6. The city council unanimously accepted a bid of $87,215 from Ohmshiv Construction for the Lee Street Culvert replacement project and all associated utility work.
7. The council unanimously approved a list of surplus equipment to be put on the market for sale. The full list will be placed on the city’s website as well as outside city hall.

The Winder City Council will meet again at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the .