Tuesday’s snowfall caused a one-week postponement of the monthly meeting of the Winder City Council. The rescheduled meeting is set for Tuesday, March 9.
Not only will the council vote on several items of significant public interest, but if Monday night’s work session was an indication of things to come, there may be a political tsunami under way.
The council’s newest member, at-large councilman Bob Dixon, is keeping his campaign promise to work for more open communication and improved public relations. And in the process, he is making waves.
Dixon is asking lots of questions – in front of everybody – and it appears Winder’s era of quick meetings and perfunctory votes is over.
Winder council probes plan
Monday night, during a presentation about a new automated phone answering system at city hall, Dixon demanded to be provided a list of the direct phone numbers for all department managers.
His public demand — it was not a request — on the surface may have seemed a little over the top, and that was the implication expressed by a political insider who on Tuesday called a Barrow Journal reporter.
But Dixon’s tone more likely indicated that he is experiencing some internal resistance to his direct involvement in city affairs.
The mayor and the city administrator handle the city’s day-to-day operations. Dixon’s very public insistence for easier access to department managers indicates he is challenging that status quo.
Appearing to join his effort during Monday’s meeting were councilmen David Maynard and Sonny Morris.
Morris was more vocal than usual, asking several questions. And Maynard openly challenged the mayor and staff, warning them not to try to slip through the council any code changes as a result of the recently completed Livable Cities Initiative.
On the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting is a vote on the final LCI plan that is recommending more than $50 million in improvements in central Winder over the next couple of decades.
Mayor Chip Thompson told the council that he and planning director Barry Edgar already had paid a visit to the offices of the LCI study’s sponsor – the Atlanta Regional Commission – and had laid out the city’s funding priorities for recommended projects. Local governments who participate in the LCI program are eligible to apply for up to $5 million in funding for up to two transportation projects.
The major said the city would submit a funding pre-qualification application in the next 30-60 days, then compete regionally for the money, and know by September if any of the city’s projects would receive ARC-designated funding.
A COUNCILMAN’S CHALLENGE
Maynard surprised many in the room by challenging the consultants’ recommendations to redevelop privately owned properties. And he warned the mayor and staff not to use the study to try to slip in code changes to restrict what owners can do with their properties.
As the owner of a construction company and the brother of the leading real estate broker in Winder, Maynard’s perspective is understandable. In addition, his father developed Holly Hill Mall, which is one of three areas for which the LCI consultants created concept plans for potential redevelopment.
The councilman asked whether the LCI consultants during the study actually talked to the people who own the properties that are being suggested for redevelopment.
“Did they pick up the phone?” Maynard asked.
The mayor said the revitalization initiative would be a joint effort.
“This is a joint effort. The city of Winder had this study done, but none of it will be reality unless business people, landowners…. are willing and want to join in this activity,” Thompson said. “We are not forcing anybody to do anything.”
The mayor said he thought the concept plan for the Holly Hill Mall area looked fantastic, but acknowledged that it is only the consultants’ concept and the property owner might have a totally different idea.
“We are not going to go out and condemn Holly Hill Mall,” Thompson said.
He said the city would have to make some code changes in order to implement some of the study’s recommendations and city administrator Bob Beck noted that the final LCI plan is only a study.
But Maynard said he wouldn’t want the council’s adoption of the final LCI plan to be interpreted as a blanket approval to pursue everything in it.
“Before you go spending money, I want to vote on this. You are going out to apply for money to do specific things. I want you to run it by us.”
The mayor explained that the projects discussed with the ARC staff were only recommended transportation improvements.
Said Thompson: “What we are pursuing deals with traffic. It is transportation improvements. We are dealing with our part. We are not dealing with anything that would force somebody to do something with their property they don’t want to do.”
Maynard said, laughing, “You are not going to sneak up on me.”
Councilman Ridley Parrish quipped, “If we are sneaking, you are going to be sneaking with us.”
The mayor suggested that all council members get back in the habit of meeting with him once a week.
“I’ll sneak up on you less if we have a chance to talk,” he said.
ALSO ON THE AGENDA
Also on the agenda for discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting will be public recognition for a Winder police officer, the city’s new automated phone service, the planned changes to the city’s utility bills, and the North Broad Street streetscape project.
The voting items on the agenda are:
•An amendment to the Code of Ordinances that would remove the requirement for a four-inch layer of gravel underneath concrete slabs that are installed directly on the ground. The amendment, which was requested by Maynard, would require the gravel layer only when a city building inspector “deems it necessary for the safety and stability of the building.”
•A financial commitment letter, along with two resolutions, to allow the city to apply for $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding that would be used as a revolving fund to improve blighted buildings. The first project would be the Granite Hotel. The local match would be $729,000.
•A proclamation in support of the 2010 U.S. census.
•A permit for the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life 5K event.
•A pawnbroker’s license for Title First Title Pawn at 64 E. May St., Suite 2.
•An auctioneer’s license for Larry’s Auction at 354 E. Broad St.
•A beer permit for Hondumia LLC, which is doing business as El Arco Iris #2 at 232 N. Broad St.
•A rezoning application by Carol Ann Soukup-Grealish and Debora Frost of .54 acres at 104 S. Broad St.
His public demand — it was not a request — on the surface may have seemed a little over the top, and that was the implication expressed by a political insider who on Tuesday called a Barrow Journal reporter.
But Dixon’s tone more likely indicated that he is experiencing some internal resistance to his direct involvement in city affairs.
The mayor and the city administrator handle the city’s day-to-day operations. Dixon’s very public insistence for easier access to department managers indicates he is challenging that status quo.
Appearing to join his effort during Monday’s meeting were councilmen David Maynard and Sonny Morris.
Morris was more vocal than usual, asking several questions. And Maynard openly challenged the mayor and staff, warning them not to try to slip through the council any code changes as a result of the recently completed Livable Cities Initiative.
On the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting is a vote on the final LCI plan that is recommending more than $50 million in improvements in central Winder over the next couple of decades.
Mayor Chip Thompson told the council that he and planning director Barry Edgar already had paid a visit to the offices of the LCI study’s sponsor – the Atlanta Regional Commission – and had laid out the city’s funding priorities for recommended projects. Local governments who participate in the LCI program are eligible to apply for up to $5 million in funding for up to two transportation projects.
The major said the city would submit a funding pre-qualification application in the next 30-60 days, then compete regionally for the money, and know by September if any of the city’s projects would receive ARC-designated funding.
A COUNCILMAN’S CHALLENGE
Maynard surprised many in the room by challenging the consultants’ recommendations to redevelop privately owned properties. And he warned the mayor and staff not to use the study to try to slip in code changes to restrict what owners can do with their properties.
As the owner of a construction company and the brother of the leading real estate broker in Winder, Maynard’s perspective is understandable. In addition, his father developed Holly Hill Mall, which is one of three areas for which the LCI consultants created concept plans for potential redevelopment.
The councilman asked whether the LCI consultants during the study actually talked to the people who own the properties that are being suggested for redevelopment.
“Did they pick up the phone?” Maynard asked.
The mayor said the revitalization initiative would be a joint effort.
“This is a joint effort. The city of Winder had this study done, but none of it will be reality unless business people, landowners…. are willing and want to join in this activity,” Thompson said. “We are not forcing anybody to do anything.”
The mayor said he thought the concept plan for the Holly Hill Mall area looked fantastic, but acknowledged that it is only the consultants’ concept and the property owner might have a totally different idea.
“We are not going to go out and condemn Holly Hill Mall,” Thompson said.
He said the city would have to make some code changes in order to implement some of the study’s recommendations and city administrator Bob Beck noted that the final LCI plan is only a study.
But Maynard said he wouldn’t want the council’s adoption of the final LCI plan to be interpreted as a blanket approval to pursue everything in it.
“Before you go spending money, I want to vote on this. You are going out to apply for money to do specific things. I want you to run it by us.”
The mayor explained that the projects discussed with the ARC staff were only recommended transportation improvements.
Said Thompson: “What we are pursuing deals with traffic. It is transportation improvements. We are dealing with our part. We are not dealing with anything that would force somebody to do something with their property they don’t want to do.”
Maynard said, laughing, “You are not going to sneak up on me.”
Councilman Ridley Parrish quipped, “If we are sneaking, you are going to be sneaking with us.”
The mayor suggested that all council members get back in the habit of meeting with him once a week.
“I’ll sneak up on you less if we have a chance to talk,” he said.
ALSO ON THE AGENDA
Also on the agenda for discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting will be public recognition for a Winder police officer, the city’s new automated phone service, the planned changes to the city’s utility bills, and the North Broad Street streetscape project.
The voting items on the agenda are:
•An amendment to the Code of Ordinances that would remove the requirement for a four-inch layer of gravel underneath concrete slabs that are installed directly on the ground. The amendment, which was requested by Maynard, would require the gravel layer only when a city building inspector “deems it necessary for the safety and stability of the building.”
•A financial commitment letter, along with two resolutions, to allow the city to apply for $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding that would be used as a revolving fund to improve blighted buildings. The first project would be the Granite Hotel. The local match would be $729,000.
•A proclamation in support of the 2010 U.S. census.
•A permit for the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life 5K event.
•A pawnbroker’s license for Title First Title Pawn at 64 E. May St., Suite 2.
•An auctioneer’s license for Larry’s Auction at 354 E. Broad St.
•A beer permit for Hondumia LLC, which is doing business as El Arco Iris #2 at 232 N. Broad St.
•A rezoning application by Carol Ann Soukup-Grealish and Debora Frost of .54 acres at 104 S. Broad St.
Maybe you would rather not support local stores, and spend your money outside Barrow County.
Or maybe your jealousy is showing.
Besides, I don't believe the Maynards own Holly Hill any more.