Perry rolls back tax rate

Perry City Council members voted on Tuesday to roll back the millage rate for the 2013 year to 14.08. Last year’s millage rate was 14.13.

The city is rolling back the millage rate based on the results of a reassessment.

“On average the millage rate has to be reduced,” said Randall Walker, councilman.

The council also authorized the mayor and city manager to carry out a contract to fix various sidewalks throughout the city. “This will be the last Tea (Transportation Economic Assistance) Grant project,” said Lee Gilmour, city manager. Gilmour shared that sidewalk repairs would take place near Keith Drive, Kings Chapel and Rozar Park. They would also connect the sidewalk on Macon Road. These will be all brand new sidewalks.

The Council adopted a resolution to authorize Municipal Gas Authority to hedge natural gas if the City of Perry ever needs hedging done. The city already has a contract with this company.

“We haven’t done hedging in the past few years because there was a natural decrease in gas,” said Gilmour. “Gas is cheaper than it was five or six years ago, but it is still going up.”

The council voted on a resolution to authorize a cost effective contract for maintenance of highways with the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Council said previously that it would only approve this contract if the Georgia Department of Transportation agreed that the city would not be responsible for the right of way maintenance on I-75. The city was already maintaining 22.9 miles out of the total 38.53 miles on the Georgia Department of Transportation routes. The city will gain $5,115 in income for work that it is already doing.

“It is a positive benefit if we enter this,” said Gilmour.

A bid has been accepted to start the roof work at treatment plant #2, which is located at 110 Woodlawn Dr. The bid includes the removal and replacement of the existing roof on the Chemical Building and the Old Influent Building located at 110 Frank Satterfield Rd. Out of three bids, the council accepted the bid from Superior Exterior Roofing and Siding located in Griffin. These replacements will cost $81,160.

Gilmour expressed that at first he was concerned by the low amount the company was willing to do the work for. “I researched the company and everything checked out,” he said.

In other business, the council adopted an ordinance that states no person shall occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle while intoxicated. This includes if the car is not turned on and is parked in the city.

The Council also voted unanimously to amend a new fee schedule to accommodate the approval of use for the James E. Worrall Community Center.

Next week is the last to qualify for mayor and three city council positions. Qualifying starts at 8 a.m. on Monday and closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

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