Warner Robins City Hall renovations, veterans memorial could cost more than $4 million
WARNER ROBINS — Early projections for City Hall renovations and the construction of a veterans memorial show the job will cost $4.12 million. The City Council previously contracted with Warren Associates Inc. for the job in July.
The veterans memorial is projected to cost about $600,000, with City Hall renovations and contingencies accounting for the remainder of the $4.12 million. The projects will be funded by special purpose local option sales tax.
"We need to be careful when we spend this money because it's coming in a lot less than projected," Councilman Chuck Shaheen said of the SPLOST funds.
The council will vote on the final cost of the project in two weeks.
"I'm sure we have the money," Councilman Tim Thomas said.
The council also voted to annex 11 properties in The Willow subdivision on Ga. 96 despite protests from some residents.
Two residents of The Willow, on Willow Bend, said they were unaware of the '90s-era covenant and did not want to pay city taxes.
City Councilman Clifford Holmes made a motion to waive the second reading and make the annexations official Nov. 1. Annexed properties include 1202-1211 and 1213 Willow Bend as well as 1249 S. Houston Lake Road.
"The only way I believe this subdivision would have happened is with our sewer," Thomas said.
The council also approved the creation of a 355-parcel tax allocation district for 170 acres beside state Ga. 247. The creation of the special district would allow property values within a defined district to increase incrementally over 15 to 20 years.
Taxes collected on the original property value would feed into the city's general fund while overages collected from increased values would go into a special fund for redevelopment within the district.
The council postponed its response to The Haskell Co.'s request for extra time and about $928,000 more to finish the city's Sandy Run waste water treatment facility.
The $28.5 million in upgrades began in December 2012 and were supposed to be finished by December 2014.
The council will vote on the matter at the next meeting to allow City Attorney Jim Elliott time to review the contracts.
In other business, the council approved a contract with Maryland based Public Safety Corp. to help enforce a recently adopted ordinance regarding false alarms.
"This company is going to do a report on your home so when you alarm goes off, we will know exactly what home it is so we can contact you," said Shaheen.
The service is provided at no cost to taxpayers.
To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.
This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Warner Robins City Hall renovations, veterans memorial could cost more than $4 million ."