UPDATE: Council approves Felker Construction for new police station

The Calhoun City Council approved Felker Construction Company for building the new Calhoun Police Department station, vehicle service building, and a new recreation parks maintenance building. Felker Construction had the lowest bid at $4,802,490 out of 11 total bids. Funding for the project will come from the 2018 SPLOST funds.

The new police station would be 13,700 square feet, allowing patrol and investigations to be housed in the same building. It will also feature an indoor/outdoor kennel for the K-9 unit.

“We’ve never had that before,” said Worley. Worley commended Calhoun Police Chief Tony Pyle and Major Randy Gallman for working well with the city to ensure the needs of the department were met.

Worley said the current maintenance center at the Calhoun Recreation Department would be demolished and much needed basketball courts built. The maintenance building and the wash bay would be located at Recreation Drive and McDaniel Station Road.

Early voting

Early voting began Monday and will continue through Friday, October 30.  The 2020 Presidential election is Tuesday, November 3.

“If you haven’t been to Piedmont Street, when I went by there, the line was out the door to the parking garage,” Palmer said.

Financial reporting

The City of Calhoun was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.  The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  Andrea Bramlett, director of finance, received the individual award of Financial Reporting Achievement for her work with making the city eligible for the certificate.

Council updates

Mayor Pro-Tem George Crowley updated the council on business related to electric department, specifically telling the council that the city had sent one team from its electric department to Abbeville, Louisiana to assist with power outages caused by Hurricane Delta.

“The city of Abbeville requested them, so they are apparently doing a good job,” Crowley said.

Councilman Al Edwards updated the council on construction of the new Calhoun City Schools Early Learning Center which will be built at 380 Barrett Road. The site is former site of Calhoun City Schools Pre-K and Eastside School, which was demolished recently.

“It will take about two years to finish the project,” Edwards said.

GORDON COUNTY GETS $89K FROM STATE BLUNDER

Edwards also told the council that the Calhoun Police Department charged five people with driving under the influence.

“That’s the lowest we’ve seen in a while,” he said.

Rezoning

The board approved several rezoning and annexation requests as well as one alcohol license. Included were:

• Approved an annexation and zoning request of PRD for 2.43 acres, at a location of Henderson Bend Road (parcel 042-026C), by William D. Edwards Revocable Living Trust.
• Approved an annexation and zoning request of R1-B for 0.37 acre, at a location of 108 Cherry Street, SW (parcel GC27-110), by Julia Moore.
• Approved an annexation and zoning request of C-2 for a combined total of .70 acre, at a location of 125 and 127 Thomas Street (GC21-014 & GC21-013), by Johnathan Stone.
• Approved an application for  beer, wine and distilled spirits pouring at location of 235 W Line Street, by Guadalupe V Bejarano DBA: Lupitas Mexican Restaurant. The proposed store manager is Hector Holguin.

WATCH THE MEETING

New Business

The council heard a first reading on the following. All will be eligible for a public meeting on November 9.

• A beer, wine, and distilled spirits package license at a location of 960 North Wall Street, by Dilip Patel doing  business as Calhoun Liquor. Patel will also serve as the store manager.
• A beer, wine, and distilled spirits package license at a location of 241 Highway 53 East, by Kamlesh Patel doing business as ABC Liquor & Tobacco Outlet. Patel will also serve as the store manager.
• A beer, wine, and distilled spirits pouring license at a location of 165 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 5, by Craig Johnson doing business as Guacamoles. Johnson will also serve as the store manager.