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Cochran council approves annexation, grants and multiple contracts in unanimous meeting
Summary
At its Aug. 13 meeting the Cochran City Council unanimously approved annexation and R‑1 zoning for a 2.5‑acre Paulk property, accepted a $500,000 HUD CHIP housing rehabilitation grant, awarded a $381,445 road resurfacing contract and approved several city service contracts and ordinance amendments.
The Cochran City Council on Aug. 13 unanimously approved a package of land‑use decisions, grants and contracts that city officials said will fund road and housing improvements and upgrade communications and water testing services.
The council voted to annex a 2.5‑acre tract on Mac Thompson Road owned by Paulk Investment Properties and to zone the parcel R‑1 Residential after a public hearing in which owner Casey Paulk said he intends to build single‑family homes consistent with the neighborhood. Mayor Billy Yeomans opened both hearings and no members of the public spoke during the annexation hearing.
Council members awarded a $381,445 contract to The Scruggs Company to resurface Mac Thompson Road from Colonial Road to Faulk Road, with $350,000 coming from T‑SPLOST funds and $31,445 from SPLOST. The council also accepted a $500,000 HUD CHIP housing rehabilitation grant to rehabilitate six owner‑occupied houses in Districts 1 and 3; the city's required match was listed as $15,893. Council approved the CHIP compliance documents required to accept the grant.
In other business, the council appointed Chris Carney to a four‑year term on the Downtown Development Authority, approved a contract with M.E. Sack Engineering for required water‑quality testing at $42,000 per year, and amended the alcoholic beverage ordinance to change distance requirements between package stores based on the city attorney's recommendation. Jeremy Hall of FirstNet presented a communications proposal aimed at prioritizing public‑safety traffic, and the council awarded a contract to FirstNet for phones and services after the fire chief reported improved coverage during testing.
City Manager Richard Newbern reported on an upcoming EPA wastewater grant for $700,000, a roofs/windows/doors program, and plans to bid a new city park project. City Clerk Candace Summerall said staff are reviewing utility billing processes, auditing aging meters with Public Works and will pursue changing to a local insurance broker after reporting performance issues with the current broker.
All motions reported in the meeting minutes were recorded as passing unanimously. The clerk noted a quorum at the start of the meeting. The council amended the agenda to add approval of the city's strategic plan and approved that plan during the session.
The council gave staff consensus to apply for a $7,800 safety grant from GMA‑GIRMA. The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss real estate matters and potential litigation under O.C.G.A. § 50‑14‑3(b)(1); no votes or details from the executive session were disclosed when the council returned to open session and the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
