Council considers expanding districts

Mayor and council held its first work session of the new year on Monday, which was suspended due to a lengthy agenda. The meeting resumed on Tuesday night.

Discussions were held in consideration of council for adjustments of solid waste collection in the downtown district, expansion of the Perry City Council districts, the landscaping of Interstate 75’s Exit 136, the construction schedule for the new city hall and municipal court, and the sale of Westwood Trailer Park.

Citing perceived growth, Gilmour suggested that council consider adding a fourth district to the city. Gilmour also noted that there is a portion of constituency that believes they are citizens of the city of Perry, specifying that the reasoning could be from having a mailing address of Kathleen.

Gilmour explained that there have been at least four unsuccessful attempts to change this with the United States Postal Service. Councilwoman Phyllis Bynum-Grace suggested holding town hall meetings in that area to give those constituents a voice and a way to receive information. Gilmour elaborated that this area will provide more growth coming into the city, which could, without the addition of a fourth district, make it more difficult for council to be effective elected representatives with so many more people. He indicated that the city of Perry historically has had a majority African American district represented on the council, and that this district may be split between the other two as a result of diversification of the districts, depending on the results of the 2020 United States Census.

Gilmour said the only way that this may be avoided, if desired, was through an act of redistricting. He stated that residents may be accustomed to historic neighborhoods and historic representation and access, and that the census could adjust that.

Gilmour also advised that there are other options that could be taken. The General Assembly would need to approve whatever changes might be made, and all populations and demographics needed to be considered.

Gilmour also asked council to consider approving the addition of several new employment positions to the city government including a building custodian, personnel technician, public works superintendent, and a landscape equipment operator. It was also recommended that the part time police department secretary be changed to a full time position. The funding for these positions would come from various funds, including but not limited to property taxes, general fund franchise taxes, general purpose of increase in accommodation excise tax, and the general fund franchise. The building custodian position would be paid for; half from property taxes, with the other half coming from possibly doubling the price to rent the Perry Arts Center.

Peterson inquired on how the doubling of the art center’s rent would affect the number of rentals of the campus. Mayor Randall Walker explained that the price would still be below the market, referencing other venues that charge $500 to $1,000 in rental fees, as opposed to the current $200 all-day rental fee for the Arts Center, “When we set the rate years ago, we didn’t have the upgrades that have been done to it,” Walker said, alluding to additions such as the sound systems, bathrooms, and meeting rooms.

Bynum-Grace supported the addition of the positions and wanted to know how soon those positions could be filled. Gilmour explained that if council decided to proceed with the positions, the formal vote would be taken at this coming Tuesday’s city council meeting. Council approved the recommendation.

In other business, council previously approved landscaping at Exit 136, located at Interstate 75 and Sam Nunn Boulevard. A grant was received from the state for $50,000. There have been delays regarding requirements from the Department of Transportation, including approval by billboard owners and property owners. The proposed landscaping must be approved by the Department of Transportation as well as the irrigation system needed to assure the survival of the selected foliage. Gilmour said that the estimate for the project, as of December 13, 2019, is $147,900, which, outside of the grant money, leaves almost $100,000 needed. Gilmour explained funds would be taken from SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) revenues. “Before we go any further, I wanted to get you [mayor and council] to come back and confirm that you were interested in spending that much money for that,” Gilmour said.

Councilwoman Joy Peterson posed the question of scaling back the cost of the project. Gilmour said the landscaping could be done in quadrants, but that would pose the risk of a future change in federal regulations and not completing the remaining quadrants. In addition, Gilmour pointed out that this could also increase costs by only running irrigation to one quadrant as opposed to all four. “I don’t think the cost of the landscaping would get any less,” Gilmour said.

Citing possible requirements attached to the landscaping permit issuance, Gilmour pointed out that the maintenance cost could also increase. He advised that if no action was taken, the Department of Transportation would take back the $50,000 grant for the project.

Engineering services manager, Chad McMurrian, explained that the city would have to sign a right of way maintenance agreement, holding the city responsible for the maintenance of the designated area. McMurrian also clarified that the grant is pending, and the city has approval through the Department of Transportation to claim the grant if the project is completed. “We just won’t exercise gaining that money if we choose not to move forward,” McMurrian said.

Mayor and council decided not to follow through with the project at this time.

When council reconvened on Tuesday night, the subject of the sale of Westwood Trailer Park arose. The city currently has a lien of over $107,000 on the property for code violations that have not been corrected that accrues daily on a basis of $100 per day. A potential buyer for the property approached the city to attempt to work out a judgement enforcement agreement in which the city would agree to not foreclose the lien, or require the lien be paid in exchange for the property being brought up to code. City Attorney Brooke Newby said she was informed the Bank of Perry, the lender for the purchasing transaction, would require a subordination agreement from the city, in which the bank would have a first lien on the property to finance the sale. This would, in turn, take away some of the leverage council has against the purchaser if the property was not brought up to code. It was noted later that council reserved the right to deny the issuance of water meters to the property in the event that the inherited violations were not addressed.

In the event that council does agree to be the subordinate, Gilmour added that the bank would have the first claim on the property, and the city would be entitled to what was left. “Most of the time there isn’t anything left,” Gilmour stated.

Walker added, “The easiest thing that you can do is subordinate to the bank and take the second position.” Walker explained that in that case, it would be a matter of putting faith in the purchaser to be true to their word in bringing the park up to code.

Wood further explained that the intent of the purchaser was to clean up the property, and there is willingness to comply with the improvement expected by council. The intent is to improve the property and make it a safe place. The purchaser has, in writing, the expectations of the city and what needs to be done.

Council gave the recommendation that council is comfortable with subordination of the lien, but asked that Gilmour and Newby negotiate the best deal that they can on behalf of the city.