The McDonough City Council voted at its March 2 regular meeting to pass a resolution opposing a piece of legislation currently being considered by the Georgia General Assembly.
House Bill 517, known as the Georgia Homeowner Opportunity Act, was rejected by the city “to prevent damage and harm to Georgia’s homeowners, municipalities and counties by rejecting attempts to limit the local regulation of affordable housing,” according to city officials.
The vote was 6-0 with one council member absent from the meeting.
In other business, city administrator Steve Morgan presented photos showing damage to the restrooms at Richard Craig Park, then requested the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay for the repairs at an approximate cost of $26,150. That request was approved with a 6-0 vote.
Mayor Sandra Vincent said that 49 individual loans for up to $3,000 each were provided to business owners in the city through the Downtown Development Authority during the pandemic, on the terms that payments would come due when all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Vincent pointed out that those restrictions have been lifted for more than a year, yet the city continues to carry the debt from the loans.
The mayor asked the council to consider using ARPA funds to relieve that $146,500 debt if it is permissible to use those funds for that purpose. A motion was made in that regard, with the added stipulation that other funding is identified if necessary and the lone business owner who has already repaid the loan be reimbursed. The measure passed 6-0.
Three zoning cases were presented to the council at the meeting, but none were voted on.
Mark Smith for Lake Dow Retail Development requested a rezoning for 937 Highway 81 E. from C-2 (Central Commercial) with conditions to C-3 (Highway Commercial).
Chelsey Pippin has petitioned to rezone the property at 87 Sims Street from O-I (Office Institutional) with conditions and variances to R-85 (Single Family Residential).
Brian Brakefield for Eastwood City Project requested a rezoning for 20 Jonesboro Street from O-I (Office Institutional) to C-I (Neighborhood Commercial).
A request is in place from Stephen Moore for Turner Church Road – David Weekley Project to rezone 343 Turner Church Road from RA-200 (Residential Agricultural) with conditions to R-50 (Single Family Residential).
All four applicants were in attendance and addressed the council. Public hearings for each item will take place at the council’s March 20 meeting.
Police Chief Ken Noble and City Attorney Emilia Walker presented a request for the adoption of two ordinances amending city codes to regulate and reduce panhandling within the city and also to regulate and reduce loitering at city convenience stores. Both will be brought back with additional requested amendments for consideration at the next meeting.
