Senoia selects architect for new police station

While news that Senoia was getting a new library was fantastic to many, it has turned into a headache for some.

Specifically Senoia Councilman Keith Harrison, who voiced frustration Monday that the city has had difficulties ironing out an agreement with the Coweta County Library Board to operate the new library.

The Coweta County Commission has already concurred on the new agreement, Harrison added.

“It’s very frustrating. To me it’s almost like Senoia has been held hostage by one or two people to put that library up,” Harrison said.

The library will be located on Pylant Street on a 1-acre tract next to the city’s newest park, it was announced in March.

City Administrator Richard Ferry said he felt the new agreement adopted Monday by the Senoia Council would be amenable to the Coweta library board because it was similar to one that was previously agreed on.

Ferry said Wednesday that the financial terms of the agreement, which call for Senoia to pay the county $20,000 a year for five years towards the library’s operation and maintenance costs, are unchanged from the agreement that was approved in May.

That initial agreement was put on hold for about three months after County Administrator Theron Gay communicated to the city that the $20,000 amount was low, Ferry said.

Ferry said that although he sits on the library board, he is still unclear what the initial dispute was. The only changes to the agreement were minor in nature in terms of wording including a provision that the persons who sign the agreement have the legal authority to do so, Ferry said.

Mayor Robert Belisle said that the changes were requested by the library board, and the hope is they will vote next week to avoid any further delays.

Councilman Larry Owens said he wanted people to know Senoia officials are not behind the holdup on the project.

“We have done all we can and have bent over backwards,” Owens said. “The mayor and Richard have spent a lot of time and sweat equity in getting this thing done. ... We’re just waiting on someone to agree to build the library. It’s not anything that has to do with this mayor and council. We are in a sense being held hostage.”

Council also approved the selection of an architecture firm to design the city’s new police headquarters.

Belisle said he would abstain from the discussion ... and later the vote on the matter ... because in the past he has done subcontracting work for the company being recommended for the job, JMA.

Ferry said he, Councilman Maurice Grover and several police officials met with a short list of 13 initial applicants for the job, and the top three on the “short list” were very similar in cost.

But JMA was chosen ahead of Precision Planning and JKH Architecture because of the detailed proposal they brought forth, Ferry said.

Grover said he personally spoke with some contractors that have used JMA on previous projects and that he felt comfortable with recommending the firm.

The city is applying for funding for the facility from the rural development program of the United States Department of Agriculture, Ferry said.

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