Report on equalizing admin. service fees expected

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville city officials are expecting to get a report around the first of the year on equalizing administrative water/sewer service fees in Gainesville and Hall County.

Mayor Ruth Bruner and City Manager Kip Padgett answered questions about that and a wide range of topics during an appearance Monday on The Local Hour on WDUN NEWS TALK 550.

Padgett says it was discussed at a public utilities retreat earlier this year and "we hope by January to come out with some plan to equalize that fee over a time frame."

CITY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Padgett said the city will look at benefits for new hires as it continues to wrestle with the impact of the recession but he said we will "leave current employees alone and let them keep what they have."

Retired Certified Public Accountant Martin Ellard recently appeared before the city council and suggested that reducing employee vacation time would be one way to help reduce expenses.

Padgett also said the city is "holding its own" right now and he does not foresee anymore layoffs and budget reductions.

COUNTY MOVE OUT OF DOWNTOWN

Mayor Bruner again expressed disappointment in the decision by the county to buy the Liberty Mutual building which is at Browns Bridge and McEver roads, several miles from downtown and centralize a number of county offices now scattered around town at that location.

Bruner repeated that it will be an "inconvenience to citizens and (hurt) downtown businesses."

Padgett added the city has not been approached by the county about selling its share of the Joint Administration Building to the city but said right now "we have all the space we need." However, he said it would be nice to have the additional space should it be needed for future growth. Padgett said the city owns 60-70 percent of the building and the county the rest.

MIDTOWN TRAIL

A new grant from the state has given the city's Midtown Trail a financial shot in the arm.

Padgett said the money will be used to finish the trail as well as the restoration of Flat Creek, which runs alongside the trial.

Meanwhile, work has begun on the trail which has been in the works for at least six years. Padgett says it will be about 18 months before the trail is finished.

When completed it will connect Midtown to Industrial Boulevard and Queen City Springs and eventually the Hall Central Trail. It will be an 18-foot wide, multi-use trail.