Perry waives fees for tentative Project Sleep

Tuesday, at the first regular meeting of May 2020, Perry Mayor and Council heard a request from Economic Development Director Ashley Hardin in regard to Project Sleep, in which a company, whom Hardin said would not like to be publicly recognized at this time, would lease land on the property of the Georgia National Fair Grounds and Agricenter to build a hotel to be tied into the Miller Murphy Howard Building. The project is not yet set in stone.

According to Hardin, the company would lease two and a half to three acres of land on the fair ground’s property, and is planned to be equipped with 100 rooms, a meeting space, a business center, pool, food and beverage service with a full bar and wireless internet. Hardin said that the private investment would be estimated to be greater than $10 million.

Hardin explained that the development would generate profits for the city under the hotel/motel tax, and though the land itself could not be taxed, the structure itself would be taxable generating property tax revenue. In way of employment, Hardin said that the hotel would also come with 25 to 30 new jobs for the city. Hardin also pointed that the hotel would bring more opportunity for statewide conferences to be held in the area.

Hardin asked, on behalf of the unnamed company, that an estimated combined total of $63 thousand in utility connection and all local permitting fees related to the project be waived by the city, as well as the review and permitting process—which Hardin estimated to be three weeks—be expedited. The company also requested that the city construct a road on the property connecting the hotel to General Courtney Hodges Boulevard, the cost of which, engineering services manager Chad McMurrian estimated at $80 thousand to $100 thousand.

Executive Director for the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter Stephen Shimp did not advocate for the idea of the public roadway, stating that it was state property, and said that he would discuss that with the company. Shimp did ask that council give the project the utmost consideration. Shimp shared that the project was an unknown venture for the interested company, and the company fell in love with the city during visits to the area, and sees potential for Perry’s growth.

City Manager Lee Gilmour made the point that the notion of a hotel being available on the fair grounds has been around for years and that council has historically been supportive of the possible opportunity of expansion for the city as well as the fairgrounds itself. Gilmour also recommended that council not agree to the roadway request.

“That does not fall within our regular policy of what we do. We normally only extend utilities to the property line, and then it’s up to the developer or builder to continue on with that,” Gilmour said, further recommending council to proceed with the incentives for expediting the permit and review process, as well as waive the requested fees, stating that the trade-off would be beneficial.

Councilman Robert Jones made a motion to approve the incentive package, excluding the roadway request and including stipulations relative to connecting water and sewer to the fair grounds.

After a second to the motion, the request was unanimously approved.

In other business, City Manager Gilmour directed council’s attention to a memo written by Gilmour, asking authorization to amend the city’s fee billing process in relation to stormwater and fire protection fees.

Gilmour proposed that these fees for properties that contained infrastructure, yet had no meter or active account for more than 60 days, would become the responsibility of the property owner, who would be billed for the expenses. Gilmour clarified that this policy would not apply to properties that were completely vacant, and gave the example of a house (though the policy would also extend to commercial properties) that was vacant with no tenant or active account for more than 60 days. The property owner would then be responsible for the stormwater and fire protections fees. Gilmour stated that if a tenant was found and the account was transferred to that tenant, then the property owner would be refunded for the excess of time for which they were billed. Gilmour later clarified and gave the example that other communities bill a year in advance; therefore, the property owner would only be billed for the amount of time that there was no tenant and be refunded for the rest.

“What we are interested in doing is continuing to have equity; that each developed piece of property pays its fair share. But, if the owner can shift it over to another payee, with the account, then they get the credit back,” Gilmour explained.

Councilman Darryl Albritton asked Gilmour if there was an event that had transpired to inspire this adjustment.

Gilmour shared that there were currently around 50 or 20 properties in the city that fell under this situation, and further explained that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unsure of the future of the real estate market. Gilmour said he wanted to avoid a missed opportunity to provide the funding for the fees, and noted that the stormwater fee helps to fund stormwater operations, while the same goes for the fire protection fee in relation to the fire department.

Mayor Pro Tempore Willie King raised the concern of sufficiently notifying those affected by this adjustment.

“Any time we make an adjustment, we want to make sure that all the property owners—whoever it effects—we get the information to them so there will be a clarity, and that they’ll understand what we are doing,” King said.

Gilmour assured that property owners would be advised of the adjustment so that it would not come as a surprise, and that there would be documentation that those affected were so advised.

Council approved the adjustment unanimously.

HHJ News