Peggy King
Cordele Dispatch
Cordele —
City officials here adopted urban redevelopment plan boundaries for the downtown area at their Tuesday meeting, and set a city election for Nov. 5.
Acting City Manager Edward Beach said the redevelopment plan is being prepared by the River Valley Regional Commission based on recommendations from the Boomtown visiting committee. For the purpose of this plan, boundaries will include 1st Ave. on the north, 9th St. on the west, 5th St. on the east and 27th/28th Ave. on the south.
One block below 16th Ave., Beach said, the area narrows to follow 8th and 6th Streets.
Three commissioners' terms of office will expire this year, and a general election was set at Tuesday's meeting. Qualifying for these offices will be held in August with fees set at $363.05 for one commissioner who will be elected at large and $320.34 for Ward 2 and 3 representatives. Current holders of those seats are Chairman Zack Wade in the at-large position; Jeanie Bartee and Curtis Lucas Jr.
Beach presented an audit analysis overview for fiscal year 2012 which ended this past Oct. 1. While the audit showed a decrease in the city's net assets, and the general fund reflected an ending loss of $738,903, he said there were "no material weaknesses identified in internal controls, no significant deficiencies identified in financial reporting and no noncompliance issues considered material to the financial statements."
The acting manager told commissioners that Cordele/Crisp County is a finalist for a $330 million industry that will create 500 jobs. He and Public Works Director Steve Fulford already have met with industry representatives twice this month. "They are inquiring about infrastructure and utilities," he said. There will be another meeting this week. The industry will be a large electrical and gas user, he added.
As far as he knows, the industry is considering only one other site, Beach said, and that location is in Alabama.
In other business, Commissioners:
• Adopted a resolution for the 25th anniversary of the legislative fish fry in Atlanta. Wade read the resolution which said the fish fry is an "excellent opportunity to showcase the community."
• Made board appointments as follows: David Wildes to the Electrical Board; Carl Brown and Johnny Dennis to the Fire Code Board; Will Nesbitt and Tyrone Walker to the Plumbing Board; and Tom Carnes to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Board.
• Approved a license to allow consumption of beer on premises at 8 Ball Bar, 908 A&B 16th Ave. E., former location of the Sports Zone. Ownership of the business has changed, and the current owner is Theresa C. English.
