Council Trades Road Projects for Buildings

The met tonight for its second business meeting and work session of September. Here's a play-by-play of regular business:

• Councilmen conducted a first reading and public hearing on a special use permit application by Russell and Audrey Hawkinson, who own the 1892 Queen Anne Victorian home at 119 South Ave. formerly known as the Neel House. The couple, citing historic preservation costs and upgrades, intends to conduct weddings, receptions and other events on the 1.6-acre property using the existing structure to realize income from the home. They say the community and downtown businesses also would benefit from special events held at the home.

While Cartersville Downtown Development Authority and officials and at least one neighbor support the permit, at least 27 Olde Town residents signed a petition opposing it.

Several nearby homeowners spoke in opposition to the permit, citing traffic, parking, safety and excessive lighting concerns. At least one woman said if approved, the permit could set a precedent.

Proponents say events at the home would be no different than gatherings at nearby homes, other than the Hawkinson's would profit from weddings, receptions and the like.

The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 3-to-2 vote.

A second public hearing is set for Oct. 6, and the council is expected to vote on the measure during that meeting.

• City staffers updated the council on the approved in 2010. See the letter in the agenda attached to this article for the update, highlights of which include:

• The city’s receipt of a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant to be used for improvements to owner-occupied residences in an area including and adjacent to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive as well as Mary Street;

• With CDBG Supplemental Disaster Recovery funding of nearly $750,000, the city is constructing single-family homes in the North Towne area in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the . Construction on the first structure was completed earlier this year at the corner of Porter and Courrant streets and future homes are proposed for Johnson Street and MLK Jr. Drive.

• Since December, Americo Manufacturing, Applied Thermoplastic Resources (ATR), Aquafil USA, Southern Yarn Dyers, and ThermoTex have taken advantage of state tax credits available via the city’s designated Opportunity Zones. An incentive for industrial growth, businesses in the Northwest Industrial area, adjacent to Redcomb Drive, and the South Industrial area, adjacent to South Erwin Street, receive state job tax credits of $3,500 per job for hiring two or more full-time employees. The city is working Tilley Properties to expand the Northwest Industrial Opportunity Zone boundaries to include the former Goodyear mill property on Cassville Road. They have submitted the boundary amendment application, which has been reviewed by state officials, and the city hopes to receive approval by the end of the year.

• City leaders discussed the possible foreclosure of a First Time Home Buyers Program home at 78 Quail Run. Shannon Lowe received a five-year forgivable loan, but has lived in the home only three years and owes the program $4,000 in penalties. If Lowe does not complete a quick sale on the house, it will go into foreclosure. Staffers say Wells Fargo is offering the program, administered by the city, $2,500 and leaders should have agree to the quick sale. Otherwise, as has been the case with other homes in the program, the city would lose the entire amount.

The city approved the short sale.

A real estate agent involved in the deal says Lowe can no longer afford to stay in the home, the reason for short sale application, and would have no choice but to allow it to go into foreclosure if the quick sale does not proceed.

• The council re-appointed Daneise Archer's to the Cartersville Historic Preservation for a three-year term.

• Councilmen approved a land acquisition for .

• The council approved an agreement with Southern Natural Gas Company is to support its sale of company facilities upstream of its Toca Compressor Stations.

• It also approved an agreement with the city of White to distribute natural gas to White residents and businesses.

• Councilmen approved an annual report to the Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration on expenditures and revenues under the Equitable Sharing Agreement for seized funds.

• Leaders agreed to as a result of higher cost estimates for the new public safety headquarters planned for Cassville Road and new fire station to be built on MLK Jr. Drive. 

The latest prices are about 12 percent higher than initial estimates two years ago. An additional $800,000 in site work is expected for the new fire station.

The maximum guaranteed price for both projects is a combined $14.866 million. 

Two councilmen abstained from the vote, and Mayor Matt Santini voted in favor.

Officials are hoping to hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the first of October.

• They also approved a $9,600 contract with Cornerstone Demolition and Grading to demolish the old fire station on MLK Jr. Drive.

• The council approved another $60,000 for work on cleaning railroad ditches, which serve as drainage passageways in the city. Leaders had previously approved no more than $70,000 for the work, but Public Works officials say field condition, which are listed n the attached agenda, have necessitated more work and more funding.

• In other purchases, councilmen approved the following:

• Air conditioning replacement at the Water Treatment Plant from Preferred Heating & Air Conditioning for $ 9,250;

• A number of chemicals, which are typically fixed prices from designated vendors, for water and wastewater treatment to be ordered on an as-needed basis through July 2012;

• To replenish stock, two pallets, at 120 each, of standard, electronic-read electric meters, which equates to 240 meters at $54 each, totaling $12,960;

• Also to replenish stock, power poles from Cox Wood totaling $9,345.68;

• Also for Electric operations, two sets of single phase reclosers and a replacement unit from Florida Transformer, totaling $10,500; and

• A 300kVA padmount transformer to serve the new public safety headquarters building on Cassville Road from IRBY, which was the lowest Total Ownership Cost bid of $18,517 (an actual expenditure of $8,684 taking into account energy losses).

• A business at MLK Jr. Drive and Tennessee Street has experienced sewer service interruption due to a failing sewer. The city approved a contract with Corley Contractors for $17.678.77 for repairs.