Politics & Government
Cumming Aquatic Center Project--Stream Update
During Tuesday night's city council meeting leader's approved a bid for environmental consultants to conduct a five year post-restoration monitoring project of the aquatic center site.
During Tuesday night's Cumming City Council meeting, leader's approved a bid Tuesday by Register-Nelson Environmental Consultants to conduct a five year post-restoration monitoring project of the aquatic center site off Pilgrim Mill Road costing $28,500.
There had been some earlier restoration work completed by the Stockbridge-based company, but more needed to be done to satisfy the settlement reached with the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) organization in early 2010.
The UCR sued the city for violations of the Clean Water Act and the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act.
The post-restoration monitoring project also includes requirements by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
According to Scott Morgan, city director of planning and zoning, over the next five years the monitoring project will include annual visits to the site by Register Nelson to make sure the restoration is functioning properly.
"That the plant life and aquatic life is surviving at the proper rates," said Morgan. "Basically just to assure all those agencies that the natural stream methodologies that were use in that restoration are still functioning as they were designed and installed."
Other city business that council approved (Ralph Perry was absent due to illness) included the following items:
- Mayor H. Ford Gravitt announced that Universal Studios offered the city $23,000 to use Mary Alice Park this week to shoot scenes for the movie "American Pie Reunion."
- A public hearing regarding the City of Cumming's Comprehensive Plan was presented by planning consultant Jerry Weitz, of Weitz and Associates, but no comments or questions were asked by those in attendance. The resolution of the City of Cumming's Comprehensive Plan authorizes the transmittal of the Community Participation Program and Community Assessment portions of the city's plan to the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission for review and comments. This authorization is a requirement of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Weitz explained to council, "In order to maintain what they call a qualified local government status which allows you (the city) to be eligible for certain state grants and loans, that it is a requirement in order to maintain that eligibility."
- Inter-governmental agreement between the city of Cumming and Forsyth County as it relates to the conduction of elections for the city of Cumming.
- Mayor Gravitt said that the two or three polls that have been in use in the past will be closed and all registered voters will vote at City Hall.
"Cumming is going to have its own precinct, if you live in the city of Cumming whether you are voting on county issues or city issues you will vote at City Hall," Gravitt said.
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- Mayor Gravitt said the city is currently looking to reappoint new members to revive the downtown development authority.
- The Lanier Beach South Bid Results (the city utilities department recommends that the city accept the lowest bid from Lanier Contracting in the amount of $664,581 because the city has worked with this company before and has been pleased with their work) was postponed for 30 days.
- The Civic Participation Proclamation (which encourages all citizens to participate in their community and government) also was postponed until September's city council meeting.Â
- Council approved the recommendation by the Recreation and Parks Department to accept the low bid of $3,600.54 by The Graphic Edge to work on the fall programming brochures.
- Council approved the recommendation by the Recreation and Parks Department to accept the low bid of $6,500 from Southern Flooring to perform the basketball court resurfacing project (the company handled the city's last resurfacing work in 2008).
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