Qualifying for McDonough’s municipal elections is six months away, but the details have been ironed out.

  The McDonough City Council voted at its February 4 regular meeting to set the qualifying period as August 16-20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day except for 1-2 p.m. The fee is three percent of the annual compensation for each contested seat, which comes out to $540 for the mayor’s race and $360 for council races. The mayor’s seat and three council seats – District I, District II and at-large – will be on the ballot for the November 2 election.

  In other business, the council approved a $36 million bond issue by the McDonough Housing Authority. The city government has no financial or other obligation whatsoever, according to its legal counsel, but federal law requires that a publicly financed residential development get the official approval of the city.

  The revenue bonds are intended to finance a 288-unit workforce housing development on South Zack Hinton Parkway. The action was made necessary by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), approved during the Reagan administration.

  Various expenditures approved by the council at the same meeting include up to $60,000 for Hwy. 20 dual roundabout utility relocation, $20,610 for repair work at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, $13,653 for the purchase of a new Kubota tractor, a total of $5,200 to complete needed sprinkler system maintenance and repairs at the public works building and a fire station, and $1,130 to renew a contract for digital recording systems at the Municipal Court.

  The council also approved a reclassification of personnel in the police department that adds a position title of captain, although no employees are being added to the force.