Published Wednesday, September 23, 2009

City hires consultant for Lynch pool project

By Winston Skinner

The Newnan Times-Herald

The Newnan City Council voted Monday to hire consultant Josh Brener to help with plans for a replacement swimming pool at Willie Lynch Park.

Brener is the founder of Water Solutions, an Atlanta firm. He has met with the committee making plans for the pool.

Members of that committee are Mayor Pro-tem Cynthia Jenkins, Councilman George Alexander and Councilman Rhodes Shell.

At Monday evening's meeting at city hall, Planning Director Cleatus Phillips recommended hiring Brener as a consultant to help with plans for the pool. Brener will be paid $175 per hour for his services.

Mayor Keith Brady said the city could easily save what it spends for Brener because of the costs for pumps and other aspects of pool construction.

"His credentials were really good," Alexander said. Jenkins said it was very helpful "having someone there who knew those processes."

Shell said Brener is a water engineer who has been seen as an expert on swimming pools for more than 25 years. "He's been all over the world," Shell said.

City Manager Richard Bolin said Brener could be paid from the $750,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds set aside for the pool project.

In other business, the council:

* Approved a resolution regarding the Urban Redevelopment Plan. The resolution outlines the need for redevelopment and designates four areas within the city as the redevelopment area.

Jenkins said she wanted to make sure some of the members of the redevelopment committee live in the area. "There needs to be some input from the people who live in those areas," she said.

* On the recommendation of Community Development Director Cleatus Phillips denied a request from Eastlake Townhomes for a variance regarding parking near mailboxes. The council approved a plan for parallel parking at the townhouse development -- provided the plans are approved by the city's engineering department.

* Approved two resolutions at the request of Newnan Utilities. The first related to power sales contracts. The second amended an agreement regarding the Municipal Competitive Trust.

* Approved the annual contract with the Coweta County Recreation Department. The county operates recreation program at city facilities. Jenkins made the motion to approve the plan, with the proviso that the county continue to allow certain "open gym" times at the Wesley Street gymnasium.