HOGANSVILLE – The Hogansville City Council moved forward on a number of decisions at its city council meeting on Monday night, including the adoption of a corridor plan, a decision to vacate a court order on a condemned home in the city and a vote to reallocate SPLOST funds.

To begin the meeting, the city council received a visit from representatives from Meriwether County, who confirmed that Meriwether County’s $1.6 million contribution to the city’s new wastewater treatment plant had been transferred to the city on Friday, Nov. 2. The new plant, which the Environmental Protection Division mandated the city build approximately six years ago, will pump 1.5 million gallons per day when finalized and has a tentative completion date of November 2019.

In new business, the city council voted to adopt a corridor plan in an effort to capture federal tax credits that would clear the way for DASH of LaGrange to construct 36 one-story apartment units for low-income seniors.

“It doesn’t commit the city to any expenditures, but does open the city up to some opportunities,” Hogansville City Manager David Milliron said. “DASH of LaGrange has proposed to construct 36 apartment units for low-income seniors on Lincoln Street, but this cannot be developed without federal, low-income tax credits. These tax credits require a revitalization plan.”

Once the adoption of the corridor plan passed, the city council held some discussion about how best to move forward on the property located at 815 East Main Street, which has come up for discussion a number of times before. The Hogansville Municipal Court authorized demolition of the condemned home after the property owners failed to abide by the directives of the judge, however no action has since been taken by the council and thus a motion to vacate that court order is now moving forward, which was approved by the council.

“I think it would definitely not be a good thing to demolish this property. I think we need to give them every opportunity, whatever it takes, and hold off on legal proceedings,” City Councilwoman Theresa Strickland said.

“I agree with that, except I believe we need to draw a line in the sand, say six months, for them to make changes,” added City Councilman Fred Higgins.

“If we wait long enough, we won’t have to demolish it, it will fall down,” Mayor Bill Stankiewicz added.

In other business, the city council voted to approve the reallocation of SPLOST dollars. As time passes between the genesis of a SPLOST project and completion, variation can take place in the cost estimates of those projects. As a result, the City of Hogansville staff recommended the city council approve the re-allocation of $40,000 from Neighborhood Stabilization to Water and Wastewater, which was negative $32,731 prior to the transfer, $30,000 from Neighborhood Stabilization to Lake/Recreation and $45,000 from Neighborhood Stabilization to Amphitheatre Improvements.

“All you’re doing is re-balancing a little bit in-between authorized funds,” City Attorney Jeff Todd said. “You’re not taking all the money out of Neighborhood Stabilization. This is something that cities and counties do routinely between authorized buckets.”