City Council Approves Routine Items Before Election

At the last meeting with a regular agenda prior to the Nov. 8 election, approved routine agenda items and recognized local community members for great work.

Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak presented two budget changes dealing with the Oak Street Streetscape Project to city council for approval Monday night. Even with the AT&T change order for utility relocation and agreement to remove an overhead Comcast line, the previously budgeted $1.4 million project still comes in about $9,000 under budget, Acenbrak told the council.

The council okayed the project and budgeted funds earlier this year. Approximately $1 million of project funds were designated from a Community Block Grant, making the city responsible for just under $400,000.

"We’re tying to bring some of the beauty and econominc vitality from Canton Street down to another quadrant of our city,” said Acenbrak.

Other council news:

-Earlier in the meeting, which only lasted just over an hour, council also approved a roof replacement for the in the amount of $276,495. The city had previously budgeted $290,000 for the replacement, but a bid by Progressive Roofing came in under budget. The roof will be replaced with an environmentally sustainable white roof.

-The council also recognized several local groups, including Friends of Bulloch and the Magnolia Ball Committee for their ongoing contributions to the preservation of Bulloch Hall. In 14 years the groups have raised enough funds to reconstructed two well houses, two privies, a summer house and two slave cabins on the property.

-Students from were also recognized by the council for recently obtaining the world record for the largest game of hide and seek by the Guiness World Records.