[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6252783,"mediaKeyId","3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64","parentId",3186177,"title","Council moves to empower city marshal, approves in‑car video systems and amends vehicle financing; false‑alarm ordinance language under revision","audioSeconds",352,"startMs",5431000,"endMs",5783000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64&start=5431&end=5783","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64/thumbnail_5431000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252783/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/Council-moves-to-empower-city-marshal-approves-incar-video-systems-and-amends-vehicle-financing-falsealarm-ordinance-language-under-revision","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252783-f3ba295c9114fc4a865bd227adbd8d56/orig.mp4?Expires=1770987149&Signature=V1TATF28g48V9h8nLtTlTCyKSj1Vt7agUdexuKTSc8KkzTBYlPAeKhMv4eBNdXhX6eSn2pj~1Zd7LKRyyK27harweGdCeKC4QYq2l7kF~HISX-K-xiP~w05phPRFCBNUUBfiLpkvUyJ~lZHo7epEEwoj16HMGJjdBeIkWgprOZ1uVTwDTk7rnKH9XYo4Iolh0S7a~4HHU3rjMf1RLtR3XlVxVkGxQgG-Vs8ge9CqufyLsWny425pEK0wuZ0MeD3q9-n~RcmOX502N6vm8uJm78WrkY9J8SzolQc7PWwS~qSi-SrgBcnMBqyAX4I489A7bQKpIkNTgeRj3HP4XG0OGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-03T14:13:50.123Z","article","The Hiram City Council heard a package of public safety items that included a plan to place code enforcement under the chief of police as a city marshal’s office, approval to purchase five in‑car video camera systems, and an administrative amendment to include financing costs for a police vehicle.

Chief of Police (name not specified in the transcript) told the council the organizational change is intended to make the code‑enforcement function more self‑sufficient and reduce the need to call marked units to issue citations. The chief said the current code enforcement officer is able and willing to pursue state certification: “What we're trying to do now is get him into a position so and get that position, to a place where that they can be self sufficient without having to call a marked unit every time they need to issue a citation,” the chief said.

The chief also reported a technical amendment to a previously approved vehicle purchase. The council amended the prior approval for a Ford Maverick upfit to include the financing fee through the Georgia Municipal Association/GMA Magnolia Bank at 4.79% interest; the amended ceiling including administration fees was stated in the meeting as $41,003 plus interest.

On equipment, a motion to approve the purchase of five M500 in‑car video camera systems with body camera mounts and video storage—at a not‑to‑exceed cost of $65,720 funded by a police salary budget amendment—was made, seconded and approved in the meeting record: a councilmember moved to approve the purchase and the council voted in favor (motion passed; detailed roll‑call not recorded in the excerpt).

The chief said purchasing electronics via the state contract yields savings and faster delivery; he told council the department will use salary savings and a year‑end budget amendment to fund tablets and other electronics rather than financing them.

Separately, the chief reported that the city’s false‑alarm ordinance language is being revised after a judge expressed concern that the ordinance as written might require issuing a summons precisely on the third false alarm. The chief said staff has suspended application of the false alarm ordinance pending a change that clarifies a summons may be issued “anytime after the third” false alarm so that enforcement timing is discretionary rather than mandatory.

Why it matters: The marshal office change would broaden the enforcement tools available to code enforcement staff; in‑car video and updated vehicle financing ensure patrol vehicles and officers are equipped to modern standards. Rewriting the false‑alarm ordinance clarifies enforcement discretion and reduces the risk of unintended mandatory summonses for closely spaced alarms.

Next steps: The marshal office reorganization requires personnel certification and administrative updates; purchases will proceed under approved funding actions and funding source transfers noted during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Work Session April 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council discussed creating a city marshal\u000027s office under the police chief to give code enforcement officers authority to issue citations and approved five in‑car video systems; a vehicle financing amendment and a revision to the false‑alarm ordinance were also discussed.","taxTitle","Hiram City , Paulding County, Georgia","taxId",73712,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6252794,"City holds public hearing on Traighton Homes rezoning request for 30.56 acres; developer cuts units to 93",1533,1523000,3056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64&start=1523&end=3056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64/thumbnail_1523000.jpg","/articles/6252794/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/City-holds-public-hearing-on-Traighton-Homes-rezoning-request-for-3056-acres-developer-cuts-units-to-93","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252794-de174c4301e331f87905992403266dc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770987149&Signature=dMlxgvW18Gt~1s~kOPsMbLaaQBNPqzazp-dTsA~k8rAQYm5lqw7-oXjvm-GdsaBCYM7PGzxkVhs4Z6jf7EVXt-S5cmsc~fFX170r1DQNljSfmWjHdJJgmI9qcmqh-WRXp45zx9CG9OcLXYXydl5w4koWUnl-7Hi98nURuPzKYK~IWzDZ4xwvX9mMYU7ysJag0NfjWEaHYxVE6hnGNRqACJOs7K-81OPwS~9PK7KjGWU2CNc4hA5s7kFQeTuiT-PAZsbgM27OeXsvyCTOoWqMvDc5JHzmYELeYGRoVbSOuhg5-JoSbntT5Vmw7hk6HaUEQ8W32QpNuaMzxBUwNtp7Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hiram City officials held a public hearing on an application by Traighton LLC seeking to rezone 30.56 acres off Jimmy Lee Smith from R2 (suburban residential) to R55 (active adult residential) for a 55‑plus community.

City planning staff presented recommended stipulations and conditions for plan review. Staff noted the developer originally proposed 115 units but revised the plan to 93 detached homes and removed townhomes and a second access in response to residents’ concerns. Cliff, a city planning staff member, said the recommendation included coordination with Paulding County and Georgia DOT and a series of engineering and right‑of‑way dedications for Pace Road and Old Mill Road.

Kevin Moore, attorney for the applicant, said the revised plan has a single access onto Jimmy Lee Smith, no access to Pace Mill or Old Mill Road, and will preserve the wooded buffer along the rear property line: “This is 93 homes, sitting on individual lots that are detached, and it contains a single access point, a single entry, onto Jimmy Lee Smith with no access to Pace Mill or Old Mill Road.” Moore also told the council Traighton Homes agrees with the city’s added conditions except those requiring improvements to Pace Road and Old Mill Road because the developer will no longer access those roads.

Staff and the applicant discussed a set of stipulations the county had proposed (including right‑of‑way dedications, parking and amenity requirements, and traffic‑calming measures) and two additional conditions the city added. Staff said access details, utility ownership (streets and lighting to be HOA‑owned), and required plan review submittals would be determined during construction plan review.

Council members and staff discussed traffic and safety concerns raised by nearby residents at the Paulding County Planning Commission meeting. Moore said the removal of the second access and the reduction in units responded to those concerns and that the property’s limited frontage reduces its suitability for commercial development. He also said Traighton Homes would consider an emergency‑only access if the county would permit it: “Yes. It’s absolutely feasible for us to… limit to an emergency access only,” Moore said, noting any access onto county roads would require county approval.

No members of the public registered opposition at the hearing. The public hearing was closed; the transcript does not record a council vote on the rezoning during the meeting.

Why it matters: If rezoned and ultimately approved, the project would add a concentrated age‑restricted housing product and change the development pattern on a parcel identified in the city’s future land use map as potentially commercial. The item requires coordination with Paulding County transportation staff and Georgia DOT for roadside access and right‑of‑way matters.

Next steps: The matter was presented as a public hearing with staff recommendations; the record was closed and the council did not take a recorded final vote during this session. Any later action (map amendment, formal rezoning vote, or conditions acceptance) would be reflected in subsequent council minutes.","Hiram City officials held a public hearing on an application by Traighton LLC seeking to rezone 30.56 acres off Jimmy Lee Smith from R2 to R55 to permit an age‑restricted residential community.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6252788,"Council reviews multi‑part Ben Hill and Homer Leggett park upgrades; staff recommends restroom and pavilion bid awards",210,4803000,5013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64&start=4803&end=5013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64/thumbnail_4803000.jpg","/articles/6252788/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/Council-reviews-multipart-Ben-Hill-and-Homer-Leggett-park-upgrades-staff-recommends-restroom-and-pavilion-bid-awards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252788-d609e828cfca83fe1931263304d0e658/orig.mp4?Expires=1770987149&Signature=iJaBmM7X8TidOI2v9B4q8iB1oXr3HgJEvktBfRV6uC04v3tKKJsnyO4c9pvK7T5jVnhj3vmu7LM36omxExoCfeWi6gJ0ReWsz-9-VhUrqJdS5QYLr2cSZI-WYUj5DUdm8bZOLMDYefPRpD~STP07QrxDTbDwR-dqMU9HLsTePifGSJprs7Tj~2F6BhD7PoznPsrrFsw4ENn2MTY-KHvUcejVE52wWFnDc6UPB~Men0uC8c-WRNKw2srgHksShL5z13HYu-wuwKSMGJrHpNdIhvy4-VVaCvsaYevOvg0JSSPsNHYdYmLy4rEDq0vypHa1~hAnjAJzqQdvYwx1rDfWMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented an initial Phase 1 plan for Ben Hill Strickland Park and brought multiple park maintenance and capital items to the Hiram City Council, including recommended bid awards for restroom renovations and a new pavilion.

Public Works Director Michael (first name only in the transcript) told council the Ben Hill proposal prioritizes maintenance and operations to extend the life of existing amenities while preserving wetland and forested conservation areas. The plan recommends relocating and replacing perimeter fencing (staff estimated about 2,245 feet of fence), creating defined conservation zones and building boardwalks and educational signage through wetland areas.

Staff highlighted infrastructure needs at the park: two retaining walls requiring repair (staff estimated roughly $54,000 to rebuild both), a sinkhole near the basketball court, and persistent mud and runoff around the courts. To reduce ongoing maintenance the presentation proposed an artificial‑turf drainage surface for the court area; staff cited an installation estimate of about $42,000 for that surface.

For immediate capital work, staff asked the council to approve bid awards for restroom renovations at Homer Leggett Memorial Park and Ben Hill Strickland Park. The lowest responsive bidder for the consolidated restroom project was Contractors of West Georgia at $181,887; staff requested a 10% contingency of $18,188.70 and recommended award to that contractor. On Pavilion 3 at Ben Hill, staff recommended awarding the contract to Riley Contracting LLC for $82,200 plus a contingency of $17,800; staff said Riley was responsive on code and engineering questions and would deliver engineered plans for future reuse.

Staff also reported smaller park matters: continued work to finish Homer Leggett (fencing and gates installed), requests to surplus pews and folding chairs from a city building (staff proposed auction using a state contract platform), and an outstanding change‑order and final accounting for the Duncan Circle improvements (staff said unplanned storm‑water fixes totaled about $17,248).

On playgrounds and specialized equipment, staff noted an increase in the cost for dog‑park equipment at Homer Leggett because of changes in the state contract; staff requested an additional $9,195.55 to complete that purchase and said those funds are available in the parks budget line.

Several council members asked about timelines and design details. Staff said the Phase 1 infrastructure and maintenance items could be completed within the year, while forest management and educational programs would be multi‑year efforts. The boardwalk and larger master‑plan concepts would require additional consultants and design funds in the future.

Status: Staff placed the restroom and pavilion items on the consent agenda for council action; the transcript records staff recommendations and budget figures but does not include a detailed roll‑call vote on those specific awards in the meeting text provided.

Why it matters: The Phase 1 work focuses on safety (retaining walls, drainage), long‑term conservation (wetland and forest management), and facility improvements that affect park users and maintenance costs. The recommended contracts would move several park improvements into procurement if council approves the consent agenda.","City staff presented a Phase 1 plan for Ben Hill Strickland Park focused on maintenance, conservation fencing and drainage and recommended awarding bids to renovate restrooms at Homer Leggett and Ben Hill and to build Pavilion 3.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6252778,"Council reviews ordinance to streamline sales of small or irregular city parcels to adjoining owners",280,5903000,6183000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64&start=5903&end=6183","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186177-83033a896aac426cd0359d6a0e553a64/thumbnail_5903000.jpg","/articles/6252778/Hiram-City/Paulding-County/Georgia/Council-reviews-ordinance-to-streamline-sales-of-small-or-irregular-city-parcels-to-adjoining-owners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252778-9d9fa297bc7fefeca467da6b6c7a6169/orig.mp4?Expires=1770987149&Signature=SkxFsTOELIsHrrL6txoINErBxXkhKj~k4kGOSxW3YciO87AExZGTv427FTWS-I24-BiyvBIi~pJP-pJglko-n1qeOgPRYyRJPXZHuCYvHfWxhsAaDapzPLfS5cu~1GNKTKqe-pAK8gwb0ErNKe2HLlBWXtOSkXCaMRcyjdBJRz9r40tOMaCCJC7hYhIOC8AMJxLodh65vF7qxKObaBc-3-qYYfkib-AcvwAV1cprwbvppJ~ZAerYWUt4RLy-520u8I~755YDK-jF3W07ap0wmu8kpnpsf1a82vPHa182Rlhnaqy5hGTXwwz8bbmggzuy-gtUqGAJAN7K5HWHV8mGyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City attorneys presented a proposed ordinance that would let the city use a special procedure to sell small, narrow or irregular parcels that have little or no independent market value except to adjoining owners.

Under the draft, when the city manager finds a parcel qualifies as a small or narrow strip not independently usable under zoning or subdivision rules, the city would publish notice to adjoining landowners inviting them to submit bids. Adjoining owners would have 30 days to submit bids; the city manager would open responsive bids and recommend the highest responsive bid to council. The city could reject bids, negotiate for higher offers or proceed with the recommended award.

The city attorney explained the approach is based on a state‑law exception that recognizes some small or irregular parcels have no practical market value to the general public and that selling to adjacent owners by direct notice is an accepted practice in other Georgia jurisdictions. The attorney noted the statute does not prescribe exact dimensions for ‘‘small’’ or ‘‘narrow’’; rather, the test is whether the parcel is incapable of independent use under local zoning or subdivision regulations.

Why it matters: The ordinance would allow the city to clear title and reduce maintenance obligations for unusable parcels while giving adjacent owners a prioritized, time‑limited opportunity to purchase property that primarily benefits them. The council did not record a formal adoption vote in the transcript excerpt; staff presented the draft and answered council questions about notice, bid timelines and statutory standards.","City staff presented a draft ordinance that would let the council approve an expedited sale process for small, narrow or irregularly shaped municipal parcels by soliciting bids from adjoining property owners, citing a state‑law exception to the typical public auction or sealed‑bid requirements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves to empower city marshal, approves in‑car video systems and amends vehicle financing; false‑alarm ordinance language under revision

City holds public hearing on Traighton Homes rezoning request for 30.56 acres; developer cuts units to 93

Council reviews multi‑part Ben Hill and Homer Leggett park upgrades; staff recommends restroom and pavilion bid awards

Council reviews ordinance to streamline sales of small or irregular city parcels to adjoining owners