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Politics & Government

Winder Downtown Development Authority Considers Possible Part-Time Position

A recap of the Sept. 20 meeting of Winder's Downtown Development Authority.

  • Who met: Winder Downtown Development Authority
  • When: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011
  • Where:
  • Who was present: Chairman Mike Rice, Winder City Councilman Bob Dixon, authority members Mace Strickland, Ronney Massey and Sherry Miller, City Planning Director Barry Edgar and Ambrose Jackson
  • Agenda items:

 

1. Winder City Councilman Bob Dixon advised the authority to enter contract negotiations with the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia, which would help plan and execute city plans. Danny Bivens with the institute spoke to the authority at its August meeting.

“We owe him that for the time he gave to see us,” Rice said.

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The council received a contract draft from Bivens, which estimates a $37,000 proposed budget, including all services and travel. Parts of the proposed contract have already been completed, which would bring that cost down. Also, the project could be completed in phases.

2. Dixon also recommended hiring a part-time staff member to help the chairman and authority with projects and coordination. The city of Monroe had a director of its Downtown Development Authority, and the city only has two empty storefronts. Winder will soon have 16.

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“Volunteers can’t do it all,” Rice said, adding that most communities Winder’s size have a person on staff in this position.

3. Barry Edgar updated the authority on the streetscape project and the Old Granite Hotel. He now expects construction to begin on the streetscape by mid-year 2012. The DOT is now looking at using the superslab system instead of traditional asphalt. The system is more expensive than the $170,000 anticipated budget, but the asphalt can be immediately driven on.

The Old Granite Hotel is being assessed structurally, and a demolition plan should be available by Sept. 30. Once the plan is received, the project will go to bid.

“Many contractors have already called us,” Edgars said.

4. Rice expressed his frustrations regarding FDIC-owned buildings in Winder. The FDIC currently owns three buildings, and the lawns of the buildings are not being maintained. Rice said he has called for four months to get a price on one of the buildings with no response.

“I’m tired of them coming in and destroying our town,” he said. Rice suggested the city clean the lawns up and send the FDIC weekly bills. If no payment is made, he would recommend put a lien on the buildings.

“I’m not the mayor, so I can’t do it,” he said.

5. Two authority members are nearing the end of their terms. Ronney Massey and Mace Strickland’s terms end Dec. 31. Massey informed the council that he will not seek reappointment.

6. Dennis Pitts, North Georgia Field Representative for Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, may attend the next DDA meeting, according to Rice. He plans to call to confirm and mentioned that Cagle could also attend the meeting.  

The Downtown Development Authority will next meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Winder Community Center.

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