Byron council buys industrial lots for $300,000

BYRON -- The City Council has approved buying four lots in the Benjamin Hawkins Industrial Park for $300,000.

The purchase is from the Byron Development Authority for about 5 acres along Benjamin Hawkins Parkway.

Previously, the city had agreed to loan the development authority $300,000 but is now purchasing the lots instead.

Mayor Larry Collins said the purchase proved a better way to get money into the hands of the authority, which needed the funds for a variety of improvements at the industrial site.

Collins said it's uncertain whether the city will resell the new property or make use of it in the future.

The new industrial park, near the west side of Interstate 75, primarily is undeveloped. Authority officials still must sign documents to finalize the purchase.

The vote to purchase the property was 3-0 with Councilmen James Richardson and Alan Dorsey absent from the special called council session Thursday.

Also at the meeting, new and reappointed members -- Dave Sams, Steve Humphry, Jeff Ervin and Bill Gresham -- were named to the authority.

City Council members also held a personnel committee meeting to discuss job descriptions for the city's soon-to-be separate Public Works Department and the Building, Planning and Zoning Department.

Currently, Public Works Director Billy McDaniel oversees what amounts to a department that handles public works as well as planning and zoning. The council is working to break functions into two departments with McDaniel expected to lead public works.

A new department head will be hired to oversee building, planning and zoning issues.

Collins said the new arrangement is simply an attempt to better manage city work and serve residents.

Council members also briefly discussed the job description for the head of another department it recently created: an economic development department.

Officials said filling the director positions for both the building, planning and zoning department and the economic development office will begin in earnest once job descriptions are finalized.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Byron council buys industrial lots for $300,000 ."