HOGANSVILLE – In quick fashion, the Hogansville City Council voted unanimously on Monday evening to adopt a storm water management ordinance as well as a soil erosion and sediment ordinance. Both ordinances were read through a second time by city attorney Jeff Todd and received no discussion at the meeting. 

The soil erosion and sediment ordinance adopted and incorporated the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual’s most recent edition, and allows the city to furnish additional policy as needed. The adoption of the soil erosion and sediment ordinance was driven by an order from the Environmental Protection Division’s Watershed Protection Branch, which is now requiring local issuing authorities to amend prior local ordinances. Both votes passed with no discussion. 

The council also approved phase five of the tower trail agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which was not on the agenda but was approved to take advantage of a shortened timeline given by the state. 

“This is the contract that is provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. It is due shortly back to the state,” Hogansville Mayor Bill Stankiewicz said. 

“This does not obligate the city to any additional funds, and the terms of this contract have been previously approved by the council.”

The contract will work well with existing plans, according to city staff.

“The state has actually moved this process up, they have notified the city they are ready to give us a notice to proceed, which is invaluable,” City Manager David Milliron added. “This is invaluable because right now, the existing amphitheater project should be finished by Thanksgiving. We are utilizing that extension as the city’s match (funds). Since [Hogansville City Council’s] next meeting isn’t until in November, we will get the notice to proceed and then be able to attach all billing of that amphitheater project to this, which is why there will be no out-of-pocket expense.”

The vote to approve the contract was also approved unanimously. 

During the city manager’s report, Milliron updated the council on the future city hall building, FEMA projects currently out to bid as well as an Elm Street Bridge project update, amongst other news. 

Of the news shared by Milliron, none was more important than the notification that the city has now fully funded its 1993 bond obligations, which now will allow the city to move forward with the $8.7 million waste water treatment expansion project.