Warner Robins City Council moves ahead with veterans monument, City Hall renovations

WARNER ROBINS — The City Council voted 5-1 Monday night to move ahead with renovations to City Hall and the construction of a veterans monument on the lawn for a total price of $4.11 million.

City Councilman Chuck Shaheen, who has been vocal in his opposition to a veterans park outside of City Hall, voted against contracting with Warren Associates Inc. for the projects. He said $900,000 should have been dedicated to the veterans monument, but instead it will cost $600,000.

"In 2012, when we passed the (special purpose local option sales tax) ... we went to the people and went to every public hearing and told the citizens we were going to give them $900,000 for a veterans memorial park," Shaheen said. "Is this the best we can do? That's all I'm asking. I think we can do better than a $600,000 courtyard."

Councilman Keith Lauritsen said he's not against the project, "but I, too, think we can do much, much better."

In Monday's pre-council meeting, Warren Selby Jr., president and chief executive officer of the construction company, explained details of the project and answered questions from the mayor and four members of City Council.

The renovation of City Hall is planned in five stages, and the time frame for completion will depend on the city's ability to temporarily relocate some of its departments, Selby said.

"Starting is dependent on you," Selby told the council. "We're anticipating starting in the first part of December, and we're looking at probably a 12-to-15-month schedule."

Construction on the veterans monument planned for the front lawn of City Hall isn't likely to begin until after February, Selby said.

City Councilman Mike Davis said he'd like to see the monument completed in time for Veterans Day next November.

Selby said it will be the focus of the company to pick a dry time to start and finish the exterior of City Hall.

"We're going to do everything from look at the Farmer's Almanac to watching the weather predictions, and then we'll come up with a game plan," Selby said.

Both projects will be paid for using 2012 special purpose local option sales tax.

Mayor Randy Toms said the veterans monument is "not a memorial," but a place for events to draw people to the city "as we revitalize this whole part of town."

"This is not necessarily a place where we'll have a memorial for those that have died, but it's a way for us to thank all members of our military," Toms said. "We want this to be part of our park system, not just a memorial."

There are plans to bring a large screen to the lawn for the public to watch movies, Toms said.

In other business, the council unanimously voted to approve the payment of $925,687 to the Haskell Co. in response to the contract price adjustment it requested last month. The company was expected to finish improvements on the Sandy Run Water Pollution Control plant last December, but the completion was delayed for months due to the weather and the unexpected removal of pre-existing infrastructure.

Councilman Tim Thomas said he would not have voted to approve the extra cost, but it is "fiscally responsible" to do so because the cost of litigation could outweigh the price adjustment.

Thomas also added there are plans in the works for a Vietnam veterans' memorial park off Russell Parkway, "and we'll get into that in the next few weeks."

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Warner Robins City Council moves ahead with veterans monument, City Hall renovations ."