Live with the City Council

That’s a wrap on the meeting. For more details on specific items, see the agenda attached to this article.

8 p.m. Leaders verbally approve a request from the Baseball Dugout Club to host Perfect Game events at the city's Richard Bell Field. They requested four tournaments, which would cost renters aboout $3,000. Officials feel the events bring people to town, and the club puts the money it raises back into the fields.

7:59 p.m. The council denies an ante litem notice involving the deputies' shooting of a criminal suspect in the city about six months ago. officers were not involved, the city attorney said.

7:58 p.m. Councilmen approve an emergency ordinance to designate an administrator and policy statement for the Americans with Disabilities Act to go along with GDOT contracts also approved tonight.

7:52 p.m. The council also approves a measure to declare items surplus and will sell those on GovDeals.

7:50 p.m. Leaders approve the purchase of a transformer for the Water Department in the amount of $12,500 to CS of Cartersville. This could be reimbursed by FEMA.

7:46 p.m. The council approves a not-to-exceed-$90,420 contract with JJG Engineering Services for engineering work in stabilizing the foundation of the main pump stations. The building is cracking and moving down the hill, and this is one part of a larger project. It will be paid for in the budget, but officials may issue bonds.

Councilmen Jayce Stepp says most of the contracts from the Water Department don't use local companies and asks if officials could consider price comparisons, not necessarily with local companies. The problem is few firms are capable of doing the work required.

7:45 p.m. The council approves items to add to the agenda.

7:42 p.m. Several moves in water:

• The council approves a change order for an emergency river pump station at the Etowah River in the amount of $20,000 to add a site.
• A lower thrust bearing at the plant needed to be replaced in an emergency, and the council approves a $7,200 payment to Southern Machine and Fabrication Co.
• The council approves the upgrade of the solids collector at the water treatment plant for $14,500 to Masters Electronics.
• It contracts with Elite Roofing of Georgia to replace roofs and lift stations for $7,882. The council discusses the large differences in the bids—the amount of work the contractors had scheduled on other jobs and the amount of work required on the roofs.

7:35 p.m. The council approves the $10,450 purchase of services to relocate facilities—tapping and stopping maines—for upcoming work on Sugar Valley Road.

7:34 p.m. Leaders approve the purchase and installation of a natural gas generator for about $8,000 in case of power outages at the North Node on Industrial Park Road.

Councilmen also approve the $33,499 purchase of a new server and software for utility billing and the accounting and GIS systems.

7:33 p.m. The council approves a not-to-exceed-$24,000 purchase for materials for workplace sensitivity training from Employment Learning Innovations.

7:32 p.m. Councilmen approve changes to the Cartersville Pension Plan as recommended by the Retirement Board: a buyback benefit at termination and terminal pay.

7:30 p.m. Leaders approve a second grant of $179,544 from the Georgia Department of Transportation to the Cartersville-Bartow County Airport Authority for an environmental assessment and taxiway payment reconstruction. The local match is $6,867.

7:29 p.m. The council approves a $53,865 prepayment to Communit-Y Heath Network for the balance of the 2011 contract, which will save the city 10 percent of the contract, or $5,985.

7:27 p.m. Councilmen approve right-of-way agreements for the Main Street Gateway Project, including landscaping.

7:26 p.m. Leaders approve an $18,000 contract for the Eddie Lee Wilkins Youth Summer Program, maintaining the same amount of funding as last year.

7:25 p.m. The council approves an easement with holding company on North Tennessee Street.

7:24 p.m. Councilmen appoint Malcolm Cooley and David Caswell and reappoint Linda Brunt and Ken Wilson to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

7:22 p.m. The council held a public hearing and will hold another May 19 on adding the old Goodyear plant property to the Urban Redevelopment Plan, which provides state job tax credits for businesses setting up shop. No one spoke during the hearing.

So far there have been five properties approved for Opportunity Zones job tax credits in the city's redevelopment plan.

7:20 p.m. The council approves a rezoning request for 1009 and 1011 N. Tennessee St. from P-S to O-C to allow for greater potential uses of the properties. No one spoke during the public hearing.

7:19 p.m. The council approves a rezoning and annexation request for 42 Natchi Trail to city R-20. No one spoke during the public hearings.

7:11 p.m. The council recognizes 2010 outstanding preservation projects in honor of National Historic Preservation Month. They are:

• 305 W. Main St., home of Margaret Rose White.
• 35 Etowah Drive, an infill house belonging to William Hagler.
• 29 W. Main St., Specialty Accounting, owned by Dianne Burwell.

A 2 p.m. proclamation signing will be held Friday to allow Mayor Matt Santini and Bartow County Commissioner Clarence Brown to declare Historic Preservation Month.

7:09 p.m. The council recognizes 2012 with framed congratulatory resolutions for each.

7:09 p.m. Duck Derby talk.

7:07 p.m. Time for the pledge and a prayer.