WR rescinds Perkins Field lease land agreement

Warner Robins Mayor and Council held its meeting Monday by teleconference due to recent concerns and circumstances issued by federal and state officials regarding Coronavirus COVID-19.

Each council member phoned in while Mayor Randy Toms, Interim City Clerk Kim Demoonie, and City Attorney Fred Graham were physically present in the council chambers at City Hall. The public was not allowed to attend, but the city live streamed the meeting on its Facebook page as well as on local Cox cable network. Media was able to be in attendance but had to stand outside the council chambers and listen over the PA system.

Beginning the meeting, council agreed to take off the agenda discussions regarding the city charter as well as matters with the project of A2D, which is the upgrade to the city’s wireless network capabilities. Mayor Randy Toms said after the meeting, he believes the discussion for the city charter was placed on the agenda before State Representative Heath Clark (R-District 147) sent to the council a suggested charter change from the Houston County State Delegation.

“They want us to take a look at this suggested change, review it, make any changes as we see fit and then send it back to the state,” Toms said. “To which really when we send in our recommendations and changes, the state can still do as they please and move forward with their recommendations.”

Council, during the meeting, came to a vote on whether to rescind the land lease agreement of Perkins Field. In a 3-3 vote, Toms broke the tie in favor of rescinding the agreement. Councilmen Daron Lee, Clifford Holmes, and Larry Curtis voted against rescinding the agreement.

The resolution to rescind states, “Whereas, on August 5, 2019, the Mayor and Council adopted the following resolution: “Be it resolved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Warner Robins authorize Mayor Randy Toms to execute the attached Development Agreement by and among the City of Warner Robins, Georgia, The Development Authority of the City of Warner Robins, Georgia and Woda Cooper Development, Inc. pending the grant being lifted; and whereas, said “grant,” being a limitation of use related to the property known as Perkins Field and other recreation facilities, remains in place as of this date. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Mayor and Council of the City of Warner Robins rescind the said August 5, 2019 resolution in its entirety. This 16th day of March, 2020.”

Denis Blackburne, senior vice president of Woda Cooper Companies, at the March 2, 2020 meeting said the resolution of Aug 5, 2019 was resolved that the city would transfer the land to the Development Authority of Warner Robins, to enter into a lease agreement with Woda Cooper Companies.

“It was subject to Department of Natural Resources’ release, which they were already working on. The city already has a contract with the Development Authority of Warner Robins to lease the property. The Development Authority of Warner Robins can’t sign it until the property gets transferred to them, and this was the resolution that was to do so. Nothing has happened since then, and we’re not sure why. We were asked in April of last year, to explain who was going to live in these apartments because there had been a concern of the housing being section 8, low income, but it is not section 8.”

Before taking the vote at the March 2, 2020 meeting, Councilman Daron Lee said the motion to revoke the land lease agreement was not brought before the council properly. Citing Robert’s Rules of Order, Lee said the motion to reconsider the project came too late and that the decision to cancel the contract could’ve only been made during the last session of council last year. Toms tabled the matter until Monday’s meeting (March 16, 2020).

On Monday, City Attorney Fred Graham said that he and Development Authority of Warner Robins Attorney Dan McCrae came to the conclusion that the council could vote on the matter. Toms then shared with Lee that Roberts Rules of Order were a guide for the council to follow the meeting, and that it is not a law.

In other business, council approved a resolution to provide for the financing and/or refinancing of certain capital projects in whole or in part; to prescribe, revise, and collect rates, fees, tolls, or charges for the services, facilities, or commodities furnished or made available by such financing and/or refinancing; and for other purposes. The bond is in the amount of $25,000,000.

Details of the bond are as follows: “The Series 2020 Bonds shall be issued under and pursuant to a bond resolution (the “Bond Resolution”) to be adopted by the City Council. The Bond Resolution shall contain the forms of the Series 2020 Bonds, interest rate details, and details related to the payment of principal of and interest on the Series 2020 Bonds. The Series 2020 Bonds may be issued in one or more series or subseries. The Series 2020A Bonds shall be issued for the purpose of providing all or a portion of the funds necessary to undertake the Projects and to pay costs of issuing the Series 2020A Bonds and the Series 2020B Bonds shall be issued for the purpose of refunding all or a portion of the outstanding Series 2012 Bonds and to pay the costs of issuing the Series 2020B Bonds; provided, however, that the Series 2020B Bonds shall provide at least 3% interest savings. The security and source of payment for the Series 2020 Bonds shall be the net revenues of System.”

After the meeting, Toms said that mainly part of the bond would go toward the upgrades of sewer services for the Bonaire, and near Kroger grocery store on Highway 96. He said with the current situation that the nation is in, there are low interest rates on bonds, and that this, in the end, could save the city around $1 million in interest.

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