FLOWERY BRANCH – The Flowery Branch City Council was divided Thursday evening on taking the next step toward construction of a new city hall despite the fact that they all agree something needs to be done to alleviate inadequate and crowded conditions facing city staff and the Flowery Branch Police Department.
“It’s year 2016; I think the citizens of Flowery Branch deserve to have a city hall that has a restroom,” councilman Fred Richards said. Richards was in the 3-2 majority that voted to proceed with the building project as presented.
Architectural and engineering firm Wakefield Beasley & Associates Project Manager Jennifer Franklin had just presented council with final concept drawings and an animated “fly-by” video of the 18,000-square-feet split level facility to be constructed on vacant city property bordered by Church, Chestnut, Railroad and Pine Streets.
Concern over cost, however, was the primary divisive issue.
Councilman Joe Anglin moved to table the decision, to allow for more time to study the financing requirements of the project, and was joined by fellow Councilman Chris Mundy. The effort to table until a later date failed 3-2.
“This is the largest capital project the city has ever undertaken, and being that we’ve had this information for two or three days now it would be nice to have a little more time to vet through it,” Anglin said.
Richards then moved to have the mayor sign the contract with Wakefield Beasley and proceed with the project as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Monica Beatty and passed with Councilwoman Mary Jones’ vote, 3-2.
“Based on what I have now I see this as an over-extension of what we can afford,” Anglin argued.
Anglin acknowledged that Finance Director Jeremy Perry explained clearly how the funds could be made available, but did not feel comfortable creating new and additional debt.
“I’ve heard some things that we can borrow from ourselves, and I appreciate the staff coming up with that, that’s what they’re here to do, to be creative and innovative,” Anglin said.
“But I feel like we’re robbing Peter, and maybe even Phillip, and maybe even Pontius Pilate, to pay Paul,” Anglin said, roughly paralleling a famous pre-Reformation expression.
“I think the city should present a better face to the public than a dilapidated city hall,” Richards responded. “The longer we wait the more expensive it’s going to get to build and I think the time is right.”
Anglin replied, “I agree with you on the fact that we need a new city hall…I just think that $6.3-million is a bit much. I’d like to see it (with) reduced square footage, put something over there that you can build on to in the future, and not extend yourself quite so much.”
Richards asked Perry if he was truly comfortable with the numbers he presented. “Jeremy, are you sleeping at night with these numbers?”
Anglin asked Perry if there would be a need for an extension of the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, SPLOST 7, to pay the building’s mortgage over its 13-year life span. “I would guess we’re banking on SPLOST 8?” Anglin asked rhetorically since SPLOST 8 doesn’t exist at this time and would need voter approval.
“I can do the city hall without even talking about SPLOST 8,” Perry replied to Anglin, and in response to Richard’s query about his sleep patterns, “Yes, I talked to two financial institutions today and we’re pre-approved.”
City Manager Bill Andrew said he hopes construction on the new city hall complex (which will include a new police headquarters) can begin in October.
