Becky Crissman
Cordele Dispatch
Vienna —
VIENNA — During their regular meeting Monday night council members here discussed the future of the old Vienna Elementary School building on Hwy. 27 E.
The city’s long range plan has been to convert the building into a community center which would include a public swimming pool. Unfortunately, a lack of funds has kept the project from materializing.
Janet Joiner presented council members with an offer from the Development Authority of the City of Vienna asking that they sell the building to the authority for $5,500 and allow the group to move forward with the development.
“The Development Authority qualifies for more grants than the city on its own,” said Joiner. “Grants could help this.”
One of the grants available is to cleanup environmental issues on the property such as the removal of lead paints and getting rid of asbestos.
Joiner estimated that those abatements alone would cost between $80,000 to $135,000. She informed council that as time passes those estimates could change. The environmental issues must be taken care of before moving any further.
Mayor Emerson Lundy and council all agreed that they want to see some progression with the project . The longer the building sits the further into disrepair it will fall, they said.
A concern was raised by council member Beth English. “We want to move forward with this project,” she said. “What if it does not come to fruition and then the Development Authority decides to sell. It will be out of the city’s hands.”
After some discussion, city officials voted to sell the property with the stipulation that if at any time the Development Authority cannot pursue the project and decides to sell the building, the city government gets the first opportunity to buy it back.
Council members also accepted a bid for handling the city’s wastewater treatment from Earthscapes Inc. The bid, for $2,113,961 was presented by City Administrator Gail Bembry as the lowest bid for the job and was within the budget of grant funds available.
A budget change request from DCUTS for the coming year was also approved by the board. The increase, in the amount of $4,280 is the city’s 10% of the cost of a new van.
Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Daniels mentioned a growing issue with the disrepair of the bridge over I-75 at exit 109.
“DOT has pushed the rebuilding of that bridge back for some time,” said Daniels. “The bridge is cracking in several places. I was driving over the bridge myself one evening and it almost felt like it was wobbling when a semi truck passed me.”
Daniels suggested that they make plans to request a meeting with DOT or speak with legislators regarding the situation.
“We cannot just wait for the bridge to collapse,” concluded Daniels.
