Friday, October 29, 1999
Friday, October 29, 1999 |
The City Council of Peachtree City at last week's regular monthly meeting unanimously approved a contractor for the design of its new police station. Cobb and Associates, a Peachtree City design group that has worked successfully with the city on recent projects for leisure, fire and police services, was the low bidder at $108,500 and had received the recommendation of city staff, and the council agreed. Other projects the firm has worked on include the Gathering Place, the city's recreation administration building, the new fire station now under construction, and the renovations of the Glenloch recreation center. A total of 27 design firms were contacted about the project, and 11 responded. The initial submissions were evaluated by city staff according to their experience with public safety and municipal projects, their references, and their staff availability. Seven firms responded with price proposals, ranging from $108,500 to $198,000 with an average of $130,557. Proposals from Cobb and Associates and PRAD Group, who has also worked with the city in the past, came in under budget. In other business: ” Council unanimously approved changes in the administration of the occupational tax for businesses. Recent changes to the state law require the city to amend the occupational tax ordinance as it pertains to late fees. These taxes are currently due each Dec. 31 with a 1.5-percent interest penalty imposed each month they're late. A 10-percent late penalty is imposed after March 31 along with a 100-percent reinstatement fee. City staff recommended that the interest penalty be eliminated. In accordance with the new state law, staff also recommended that the 100-percent reinstatement fee be eliminated and that a 10-percent fee be imposed after the tax is 120 days past due. There were no changes to the tax rate or structure, as that would require a formal public hearing before adoption. Action on the occupational tax was first suggested by the city's quality improvement team, which was commended on its work. “I'm amazed at what the quality improvement team comes up with to keep saving the city time and money,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Annie McMenamin. ” The council adopted an ordinance that provides for the city's own rules on conducting meetings, including the use of a consent agenda. By using a consent agenda, several items that require quick action and little or no discussion can be grouped together and voted on at the same time. Any council member or citizen who expresses a desire to remove a particular item and consider it separately may do so, without needing a majority vote to do it. The city has a good system in place, according to city clerk Nancy Faulkner, without the “chaos” she hears about from other cities. There was simply a need for official adoption of the city's methods, she added. Mayor Bob Lenox said that Fayette County already uses a consent agenda, and it is a good idea. The vote to adopt the ordinance was unanimous. ” Council unanimously approved the change in ownership of cable television provider MediaOne, which was recently acquired by AT&T. MediaOne has been serving about 25 homes in Peachtree City. City staff reported that there have been no customer complaints received concerning MediaOne so far this year, which council members pointed out was a good record no matter how small the service area is. An AT&T representative was present at the meeting, and he assured the council that the company is “doing everything we can” to bring high-speed Internet service to the entire metro Atlanta area, including Peachtree City, as quickly as possible. In voting to approve the change, the council also reiterated its hope that a rate increase is not coming along with the other changes. ” Following the recommendation of city staff, the council voted unanimously to add Willow Road to the city's ordinance restricting heavy trucks. A neighborhood collector, Willow Road cannot handle such vehicles, but it is becoming a popular alternate route for motorists looking to avoid traffic congestion at the intersection of Ga. highways 54 and 74, according to staff reports.
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