Mundy Mill amendment gets first reading

GAINESVILLE - An effort to make the recession ravaged Mundy Mill development what it was intended to be met opposition before Gainesville City Council Tuesday night.

Council put developer Wendell Starke's zoning amendment request to build apartments instead of condos on first reading; former city school board member Kelvin Simmons is opposed.

"I disagree with bringing in small apartments close to our sub-division," Simmons said, urging council members to think about their decision.

Simmons lives in Maple Forge where homeowners fear falling property values if Starke builds the apartments; Starke said it won't happen.

"Maple Forge is a very nice subdivision and we certainly don't think that anything we will do will devalue anyone's property," Starke said.

Starke's amendment request has already won approval from the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board, which imposed several conditions; Council gave it first reading approval with Councilman Bob Hamrick opposed. The final decision on the request comes at Council's next regular meeting January 18th.

A FIRST STEP RESOLUTION

Council began the New Year in their new Public Safety Complex meeting place by passing a resolution they hope will return more sales tax dollars to the city. City Manager Kip Padgett said a city/county sales tax study led to state legislation that allows cities to share information from business licenses with the State Department of Revenue.

"This resolution would authorize us on behalf of that bill passed by the General Assembly to do that," Padgett said.

Mayor Ruth Bruner said the resolution is an important first step toward the Revenue Department sharing information with cities on sales tax collections.

FRANCHISE FEE CONFUSION

Councilman Hamrick said he wants to clear up what he called confusion about county residents paying city franchise fees. Hamrick suggested getting Georgia Power officials to issue a statement that the franchise agreement is in place.

"No person outside the incorporated areas pays franchise fees," Hamrick said.

City Manager Kip Padgett said Georgia Power is notified about annexed property so utilities are clear on what is in the city and what is outside the city.