Alamo Council Updated on Rec Facility
An update on construction at the recreation department, contract renewals and the selection of a new Mayor Pro Tem were on the agenda for the Alamo City Council’s regular session on Tuesday, January 18. City Manager Jeff Floyd and Councilman Dondrea Geter provided a report on work at the City Recreation Department on Railroad Street. Geter told the Council a recent cleanup day held at the site yielded two roll-off containers of debris. The City received a matching $200,000 grant to refurbish and upgrade the old Recreation Department with plans to include a basketball court, picnic area and pavilions. The project is on hold until an architect is hired to draw plans for the site. In other business, the Council elected Thomas Lott as new Mayor Pro Tem, and renewed contacts for City Attorney Russell Clark and City Accountant Chris Milton. The Council also voted to increase the salaries of the City Court Clerk to $325 a month, and the Magistrate Judge to $200 per court appearance. The Council also approved a new Business Ordinance and an amendment to an existing Parade/ Events ordinance. The City’s Business Ordinance was reworked to include a $25 administrative fee. The City’s Parade/ Events Ordinance was amended to increase an administrative fee from $25 to $50 for vendors. Churches giving away food would be exempt from this fee. The issue of whether to renovate or build a new City Hall came up once again at the Council’s last session. The Council has debated for some time whether to remodel an existing 100-year-old, cityowned structure on U.S. Highway 280 or demolish that structure and build a new facility. The existing City Hall is accommodated in a former convenience store and is located adjacent to the City Police headquarters at the corner of Highway 280 and Georgia Highway 126. Space is tight in both structures and upgrades to City Hall, including more efficient office arrangements and a larger public meeting room, are needed.
Floyd reported that members of committee formed to research the issue have visited communities in the area to view their city halls and recommended considering the structures in Mount Vernon and Twin City as potential design concepts that would fit Alamo’s requirements. Floyd said he and the architect for the project would follow through on this recommendation. Regardless of whether a structure is remodeled or built new, a basic floor plan already in existence would be used. Commissioner Bobby Cox commented that he was “ready to see some figures” for the project which has been in debate for some time.
During reports on municipal services, the Alamo Police Department reported that officers answered 175 calls during December, served 11 warrants, and wrote 28 speeding tickets. The department reported that crime is down by 50% for this period as compared to 2020, vehicle accidents are down, but traffic violations are up.
The Alamo Volunteer Fire Department reported answering three calls during the period between December 20 and January 17, including responding to a downed power line that caused a brush fire and vehicle accident due to a fallen tree during a storm. The department also participated in 9 hours of training during the period.
Also, during the Council session, a new officer was sworn in for duty with the Alamo City Police. Brandon Zuckerman was sworn in by City Attorney Russell Clark. Zuckerman is a native of Alma and began his career in law enforcement as a jailer. He recently completed training at the Georgia Public Safety Center in Forsyth.
