The Baldwin City Council held its second millage rate public hearing during its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 15. The first public hearing was held on Tuesday, October 8, during its work session.
City Attorney Jack Samuels opened the millage rate public hearing for the city council and the public.
Andrea Harper was the only person to address the council during the public hearing. “ I understand that the millage rate increase will, those funds are going to go to law enforcement. Is that correct?” she asked.
“They go to the general fund,” Mayor Stephanie Almagno responded.
Harper inquired further asking if the funds would be used for law enforcement for night time policing?
“We have 24 hour policing now but we also have a code enforcement,’ Almagno responded.
“Do you have specific uses that you’re going to use the increased funds for?’ Harper asked the council.
Almagno responded, “It’s across the board (for the budget).” She explained that it was for staffing, additional personnel, and paying the city’s bills. Almagno gave an example of one thing that she didn’t realize before coming on the council was that the city had to pay for the street lights that come on every evening to light up city streets.
“So this is just to balance your budget basically?” Harper asked. “Yes,” Almagno responded.
Council member Maarten Venter added to the conversation. He explained that with the cost of living having gone up, it has an impact on what the city pays, be it for fuel or cost of living for employees. “Everything is just more expensive at this point,” he said. He added, “It’s just ridiculous. Hopefully, some sanity will return to the world and prices will stabilize.”
The Baldwin City Council will hold its third and final millage rate public hearing during its October 28 council meeting.
Other business
The council approved several items during its meeting after the public hearing closed.
The council approved the first reading of the water and sewer use ordinance. The original ordinance was quite old and had several amendments added over the years. The council took those documents and updated the ordinance. The council will revisit the water and sewer use ordinance at its second reading.
The city entered into a fire service mutual aid agreement with Lee Arrendale State Prison’s fire department. The agreement will provide personnel and equipment from the prison’s fire department and respond to Baldwin fire calls.
The council approved a paving contract with Ryals Brothers, LLC of Clermont, GA to pave Davis and Batson Streets as well as Homer Drive. The paving contract will cost $135,022.60. The project will be paid for using LMIG and SPLOST 7 funds.
Water pump repairs
The city approved the replacement of a pump at the Regency wastewater lift station. The replacement pump will cost $47,790 and includes removal, labor and the new pump. The repairs will be paid for through the water and sewer fund.
The council approved the repairs for two water pumps at the water intake facility on the Chattahoochee River. The combined price for both pumps to be rebuilt will be $111,225 which includes rebuilding the pumps and the electric motors. City Engineer Fletcher Holliday from EMI explained to the council that the operators were hoping to put this expense for these repairs in next year’s budget. However, they fear that may be too long of a wait.
The water intake facility has three 350 horsepower pumps. The two pumps that are requested to be repaired were installed in 1987 and are the original pumps to the facility.
Holliday explained that the cost for the repairs includes removal of the pump, which will require a crane to pull the pump and a tractor trailer to haul it to the repair facility. He cautioned the council that the cost is an estimate for what staff know needs to be done. However, there is a possibility that more work may be required once the pumps are taken apart, requiring additional expense. His hope is that staff would not have to come before the council to request additional funds and any additional costs can be absorbed through the water plants O&M fund.
He explained that the company would only repair one pump at a time, leaving two operational pumps at the plant. The turnaround time for each pump repair would be at least 60 days. Councilman Venter asked how much a new pump would cost? Holliday said that a new pump would cost approximately $175,000 to $200,000.
Community room
The council approved a contract with SERVRO in the amount of $2,998.97 to perform mold remediation in the City Hall community room. The room experienced a roof leak that was repaired this past summer. The contract will be paid for through the maintenance and operations fund.
