Centerville Council challenged to participate in “Beards for Brandon”

Hadden went on to explain that the members of Centerville Police Department were extending the challenge to anyone who would like to participate along with the police department by growing a beard throughout this month, and maybe into next month. “Each participant is chipping in $20 in an effort to get up as much money as we can to give to him.” Hadden went on to say, “I also want to extend the offer to sponsor the mayor and council; to any of you who wants to participate by growing a beard, I will pay your $20 entry fee and will be glad to do that for Brandon and his family.”

Other new business that was discussed was a request presented by Fire Chief Jason Jones for council’s approval for the Centerville Fire Department to apply for and submit fiscal year 2019 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG).

Jones explained that the reason he was requesting approval to apply for the grant is because it’s a 5 percent match grant, meaning the city will have to match funds, if awarded. “We’re asking for a $500,000 fire truck with this grant,” Jones said. “If we are awarded this grant, the city will have to pay 5 percent of this, and that’ll be around $24,000.” Jones explained that the cost to the city could potentially be a little less or a little more than the figure he provided based upon the actual cost of the truck; however, the current estimated cost for a new fire truck is $500,000.

Mayor Harley inquired as to how long it would be before the truck was received if approval was granted. In response, Jones explained that the grant award period is from May 2020 until May 2021 and said notification could fall anywhere within that time span. He went on to clarify that it would actually fall within the next budget year. Wright requested a brief explanation of the 5 percent match, and after Jones clarified, the request to apply for the grant was unanimously approved by council.

Director of Economic Development Kate Hogan took the stand to present a Rescission of Resolution (2020-1) Hotel/Motel Tax. Hogan explained that a resolution for the aforementioned tax had previously been adopted for a 7 percent hotel/motel tax. That resolution was going to the local delegation for a local act of legislation. Hogan said that they are rescinding it for now due to the fact that they don’t have a directed marketing organization that can be utilized for the additional 4 percent of the hotel/motel tax.

Clarification of the term “directed marketing organization” was requested by Armijo. In her explanation, Hogan said, “The authorization paragraphs as written in the Georgia state code says that we have to use a certain type of organization, which is a 501c6 for us to be able to use that 4 percent because that 4 percent of taxes collected needs to go directly to a tourism development product.” She went on to explain that a tourism development product was something like what’s already being utilized with the Robins Regional Chamber Magazine, and that would be similar to what that funding would go to if they had that opportunity. According to Hogan, unfortunately, they do not have that opportunity to use the directed marketing organization; thus the city of Centerville can only recapture 3 percent of the hotel/motel tax that can go directly back into the general fund.

Wright posed the question of who had been approached about being the direct marketing organization, and Hogan stated that there were multiple community partners that were approached about the subject, and many of them said that they did not have the capability. Evans requested the specific identities of those partners, and Hogan listed them as the Regional Commission, the Houston County Development Authority (both of whom stated that they did not have the staff capacity for it) and the Robins Regional Chamber. Council unanimously approved the request to rescind the resolution.

Hogan went on to present a request for approval for a Transient Lodging Tax Ordinance in the amount of 3 percent. In her request, Hogan explained that this 3 percent tax on transient lodging would go toward the Airbnbs. When she’d brought it to the council as a 7 percent tax previously, Hogan said it was for a couple of Airbnbs in the city, but with the Town Center development plan, some short term lodging is expected. “This is just one of the things we need to do to keep up with the times,” Hogan expressed, further pointing out that Warner Robins, Perry, Macon-Bibb and all the surrounding communities already have one.”

Evans asked whether anything was changing in the ordinance, and Hogan revealed that the authorization paragraph changed to reflect the percentage change. “On paper,” she concluded, “the only change that’s happening is bringing the 7 percent down to 3 percent, and all of that funding collected can go into our general fund.” Council unanimously approved the request for the 3 percent Transient Lodging Tax Ordinance.

Following the completion of new business, comments from council included an announcement from Wright regarding the return of the Farmer’s Market this Saturday from 9:00 until 1:00 at City Hall. Armijo then shared a few announcements, which included, but was not limited to, the mentioned that the ongoing collection of 2019 property taxes was still active. According to Armijo, over $2,157,271 in revenue has been collected. Additionally, Armijo reminded listeners that boot drive to benefit Muscular Dystrophy by the fire department was in progress. He urged citizens to donate if they saw Centerville Fire Department members collecting. In Mayor Harley’s final comments, he spoke on how much he enjoyed participating in the Dr. Seuss Day event on Monday with the children who gathered at the library in Centerville.

Mayor and council adjourned into an executive session to discuss potential pending litigations. The private session lasted about 20 minutes. When mayor and council returned, no resolutions or new items were presented and the general meeting was officially adjourned.