---
date: 2009-10-23
title: October 23, 2009 Minutes
source: 2009-10/2009-10-23_October 23, 2009_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

October 23, 2009

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE OCTOBER 23, 2009
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA SPECIAL MEETING

A Special Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held on October 23, 2009 at 4:30 P. M. Mayor R.
G. Kelley presided and members present were Harold Cochran, Fred Evans, Shirley Dabney, Kathryn
Gilbert and Vernon Moss.

Mayor R. G. Kelley welcomed guests.

Mayor Kelley stated that this special meeting was called to discuss the relocation of the Police Precinct. All
of the Council has been given the packets with information regarding the relocation. Mayor Kelley stated
that the main problem is the parking on Burke Street location the location previously selected for the new
police precinct. Jim Vann, general contractor, A. J. Welch, city attorney, started looking at existing buildings
that the City currently owns. The buildings being considered are the old City Hall, currently being used as
the Municipal Court and the old library which is not being used at all.

We can add on to the rear of the old City Hall for the police precinct and renovate and move the Municipal
Court over to the old Cochran Library.

Mr. A. J. Welch, City Attorney, stated that they wanted to make sure that we are using all of the existing
facilities and were concerned about the cost over on Burke Street and also the lack of parking. Jim Vann
said he thought the old City Hall was very suitable to convert into a police precinct and we could add the
two story building behind it that would accommodate all of their present and future needs for some time.
He also pointed out that we have additional land there that we can use for a third expansion to the building
without affecting the existing parking. He did a layout and met with the commissioner and police chief and
they are very happy with the design and it will even be better because it will give them a visible presence
on North Henry Boulevard. It will give them access to the back of the building from Lee Street and the
traffic light. They thought this is a very good plan.

Jim Vann says we need to secure the outside of the building so the basement can be fully used for offices
and the upper level can be converted into a courtroom and office facilities for employees. We can use the
existing parking that we have and we can make extremely good use of the building. He has designed the
outside of the building to match the existing City Hall. The brick can be dyed to match the color of the new
City Hall. The Council has already approved Jim Vann to act as the contractor for the police precinct and
he has been approved to construct the Fire Station, if the Council goes forward with those plans. Henry
County has decided to build the Fire Station and the City will provide the land. The Council has previously
approved Jim Vann to act as the City’s contract manager, not at risk. After all of the contracts have been
bid out, then he would come up with the accumulative bid and everyone would be under bond to the City
and he would manage the project for the City. Jim Vann said if he could get started right away we could
benefit from the good prices available. The construction companies are willing to work for reasonable fees
and by bidding on both buildings he can save a lot of money. As an example: someone doing the foundation
in one building can move over and do the sidewalls at the other building.

Mr. Vann said he can get this done and keep it within budget but we won’t know the exact figures until he
puts it out for bids. Staff’s recommendation to the Council is to approve the use of those two buildings as
recommended by staff and to authorize the Mayor to execute the contracts with Jim Vann to go forward
with the remodeling of these building as our construction manager, not at risk, but all contractors employed
to build the facility are required to be under bond.

Councilwoman Gilbert stated that she has a couple of questions. She reminded the Council that the City
spent approximately $17,000 to put new upholstery on all of the seats in the old court room. Can they be
moved across the street? Mr. Welch responded “yes” and Jim has already planned to lay the courtroom
out so all of the seats will be used as well as the Judge’s bench. She asked if there is a possibility since
we are recycling a building that we could look into LEED certification or some other type of “green”
certification. Mr. Welch responded that Jim Vann is the absolute expert on green certification. Mr. Welch
will call Jim Vann for the Council and let him respond to this question. She stated that with both of these
buildings and given the times that we are in, it would make sense that the City would take the lead at looking
at sustainability certification and it doesn’t have to be LEED certification, there are other programs out there.
The City should set the example if it’s not cost prohibitive.

Mr. Welch stated that saying Jim Vann is a little bit tight is putting it mildly and he will probably bid it both
ways and the Council will know what they are doing. What will the City do with the property on Burke Street
where the Police Station was supposed to go? Mayor Kelley responded that there is no plan at this time.
Councilwoman Gilbert said we are just going to hold on to it for future use. Mr. Welch responded that he is
sure the City will have needs for public buildings down the road. Mr. Welch has not talked about going any
further because they did not know what the Council was going to do today. Councilwoman Gilbert replied
that’s a reasonable stance to take. Councilwoman Gilbert said we just approved Ole Stockbridge Days in
that area and she is thinking there is room over that we can expand and have additional for the festival.
Mayor Kelley said down the road if we don’t need the Burke Street property and someone wants it worse
than the City does then we can sell it. Ted Strickland said the property could be used to build a senior
citizen center. Mr. Welch stated that it would be an excellent place for it. Mayor Kelley responded that the
City of Stockbridge is the only city that the County has not put in a building for senior citizens. Mayor Kelley
said he brings the matter up every chance he gets when he is with County Commissioners. They always
say Stockbridge has a senior center at Fairview. It should be in Stockbridge because this is where the
people are. Mayor Kelley said it is a good idea if we can get them to build it there and he would recommend
the City donate the land. Councilwoman Gilbert said we might have a problem with parking there, as do
the police. Mayor Kelley responded a senior citizen center building would not be as large as the police
precinct was going to be; and therefore, there would be more parking.

Kathryn Gilbert made a motion to adopt the plans for the relocation of the police precinct and the municipal
court; Harold Cochran seconded, and passed unanimously.

Kathryn Gilbert made a motion to authorize the employment of Jim Vann to construct the remodeling
facilities as a general manager, not at risk, but having all of the contractors under payment and performance
bonds, Mr. Vann will be responsible for advertising the projects as part of his fee, then Mr. Vann will bring
the bids back to the Council and the Council will decide if the Council wants to go forward with the contact
that Mr. Vann presents; Shirley Dabney seconded, and passed unanimously.

Kathryn Gilbert asked how much money was the Council going to spend on the original proposal for these
two buildings. Mayor Kelley responded $2,500,000 but the revised plans should come in cheaper when we
get the revised bids for the cost to remodel these buildings. Mayor Kelley said the big thing is the City will
be utilizing the old library building. Councilwoman Gilbert said there is some question of how the library
building could be used because of the grant money that was used to purchase the facility. Mayor Kelley
responded there was no grant money used to purchase the building.

Harold Cochran made a motion to adjourn; Vernon Moss seconded, and passed unanimously. The meeting
adjourned at 4:50 P. M.

Respectfully submitted,

Merle Manders, CMC R. G. Kelley
City Clerk Mayor
