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Duluth council approves $1.55 million paving contract, parking changes and benefit plan shifts
Summary
At its April 13 meeting, the City of Duluth council approved a $1,552,924.45 LMIG paving contract funded by state LMIG and 2023 SPLOST funds, adopted parking ordinance O2026-18, authorized a RedSpeed camera contract extension, accepted the FY25 audit, and approved employee benefits changes shifting health, dental and vision plans to Anthem.
The City of Duluth Mayor and Council on April 13 approved a series of routine and budgetary items, including a $1,552,924.45 award for the 2026 LMIG paving project, changes to employee health plans, and new parking controls in the downtown area.
Director of Public Works Audrey Turner told the council staff had evaluated seven bids for the LMIG (Local Maintenance Improvement Grant) paving contract and recommended Allied Paving for the base streets and six alternates. The council approved the contract award and a budget amendment (BA‑FY26‑39) to add $58,365 and $1,194,346 in unallocated 2023 SPLOST Transportation funds to paved‑streets line items to cover the city’s portion of the project. Turner said funding will come from State LMIG administered by the Georgia Department of Transportation and 2023 SPLOST Transportation funds.
On employee benefits, Ashley Gilder of MSI Benefits presented the annual review and the Employees Benefits and Audit Review Committee’s recommendation to move the City’s health, dental and vision plans to Anthem. Gilder said Anthem provided a $55,000 administrative credit that reduced the overall premium increase to 18.4%. The council voted to approve the contracts as recommended.
The council also approved a consent‑agenda package that included a Republic Services contract amendment acknowledging a 2.5% solid‑waste rate increase effective May 1, 2026 through May 1, 2027; authorization for the Mayor, Chief of Police and City Attorney to execute an MOU creating a Joint Special Response Team with Lilburn, Norcross and Suwanee police departments; and ordinance O2026‑18 to amend Duluth Code Sec. 8‑67, which adds three‑hour customer parking in front of Main Street City Hall and overnight parking restrictions in certain city‑controlled parking deck spaces.
During public comment, resident David Carrazzo urged the City to maintain consistent enforcement and communication around the overnight parking ordinance and suggested the Police Department consider issuing warnings for first‑time violations as a courtesy. Jyot Singh used the public‑comment period to announce his candidacy for State House District 97.
Auditor Josh Carroll of Mauldin and Jenkins presented the FY25 audit, which covered the City, the Duluth Downtown Development Authority and the Urban Redevelopment Agency. Carroll reported an unqualified (clean) opinion, stating the City’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The council voted to accept the audit.
The council authorized a contract renewal with RedSpeed Georgia, LLC., to continue the school‑zone enforcement camera program, approving an initial four‑year term with an option to renew for an additional four years.
All motions reported in the minutes passed with the four voting councilmembers present (Park, Thomas, Doss and Graeder); Councilmember Cummings was recorded as absent. The meeting adjourned at 6:46 p.m.; the next work session is scheduled for April 27, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
