Council committees clear path for ordinances on two property sales to AMHA and HVAC appropriation

Members of the Finance & Personnel committee reviewed two pending property sales to the Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority and an appropriation request for community-center HVAC controls during the Oct. 14 committee meeting.

City staff said two properties previously handled together (referred to in committee as ordinance 80-25) will be split into separate ordinances to meet legal requirements. The committee recorded a sale price of $144,160 for the Richland Avenue parcel; the sale price for 25 Central Avenue will be set at fair market value and appear in ordinance language next week. Director Stone told the committee that 25 Central was purchased with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, so proceeds will first be remitted to the CDBG fund (fund 248) and may require state-agency procedures to release or transfer those funds later.

Alan Swank, speaking as a member of the public, urged an independent appraisal and emphasized public attention to how city tax dollars are managed. The committee anticipated ordinances ready for first reading at next week’s regular session.

The committee also reviewed a $70,000 appropriation to upgrade HVAC controls at community centers; staff clarified the controls are 25 years old and that roughly $35,000 will come from the operations fund (271) and $35,000 from APR income tax (fund 273). The work will use an existing GSA contract and the vendor identified is Johnson Controls; staff said the procurement is functionally pre-bid under the GSA contract.

The clerk was instructed to prepare ordinances and legislation for the upcoming council session.