Published Sunday, July 20, 2008
Newnan Council will assess police and court space needs
The Times-Herald
Newnan City Council is expected to select a firm to assess the needs for a new police department and municipal court facility at Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. council meeting.
The meeting will be at city hall on LaGrange Street.
The assessment, which was requested by council members at their last work session on March 1, is to determine the size, possible layout and the amount of land needed to contain the complex.
In late May, council members authorized city staff to release a Request for Proposal to find a consultant to conduct the needs assessment. The invitations to bid were due July 8 by 10 a.m.
After receiving 13 bids ranging in cost from $7,800 to $162,285, city staff is recommending that council award the bid to Pond & Company -- Newnan's new on-call engineering firm -- because they are the low bidder and they are "well equipped to conduct this assessment."
The issue was put forth during the earlier work session by Councilman George Alexander because he doesn't find the current Newnan Police Department and municipal court facility conducive to the city's needs. Several council members have expressed a desire to keep those services in the downtown area. There has been no public discussion of a possible site.
Once the city has hired a consultant and has located a suitable site, Newnan would then consider moving forward with site acquisition.
Also during the meeting:
* Council will consider city staff's proposed prioritized sidewalk improvements list, which includes -- in this order -- portions of East Washington Street, Roscoe Road, Berry Avenue, VC Street, Fair Street, Bonnell Street, Savannah Street, Robinson Street, St. Clair Street (from W. Washington to Wesley St.), St. Clair Street (from Spring Street to W. Washington Street), Murray Street , Fourth Street, First Avenue and Ray Street.
* City council will vote on an ordinance imposing taxes for corporate purposes for 2008.