Calhoun Mayor Jimmy Palmer said city officials look forward to the challenges of 2010.

He delivered the annual “state of the city” address during the Monday, Jan. 11, city council meeting, during which, he acknowledged the lagging economy has affected city operations.

“Every department has reduced operational cost and delayed all capital purchases,” he said.

Although the city has dipped into reserves during the past two years, the council members still dropped the general fund budget $1,500,000 from last year, and the utilities budget $3,932,217.

The city workforce, he pointed out, is down by 40 employees from 2.5 years ago. “All departments heads and salaried employees have taken reductions in pay,” he noted.

Money from building inspection permits, water taps, sewer taps and utility usage was down, but he said, “Even in slow times the work of the city does not stop.”

Palmer pointed out that grants abounded this year. The police department received $327,000 to hire two officers and employ them for three years, he said. The department also brought in $105,000 in grants and surplus property; the money will be used for equipment and training.

Phase II of four-phase streetscape revitalization downtown has been completed, and the city will use a $250,000 grant for the third phase, Palmer said.

Revitalization efforts in West Calhoun continue. Palmer estimated the Community Development Block Grant project is 75 percent complete; three structures have been removed from the area.

Utilities

The Lovers Lane/ Dews Pond Road intersection is 85 percent complete, Palmer said.

The utilities department is working on phase II of the automatic meter reader project for water and electric meters using a $900,000 grant, he said.

He noted the Belmont Creek Replacement and Sewer Project were completed with 4,000 feet of old lines replaced and 2,500 feet of new line added. The Big Spring clear well project is 90 percent complete, he said.

Variance requests

A variance request by Thane Langille for a three-foot setback to the right-of-way for a pump house at his Dogwood Drive residence was withdrawn.

The pump house, located in Langille’s front yard, had drawn objection from his neighbors due to its appearance.

Langille had said in a letter to the council that he installed the well underneath the structure in hopes of offsetting water shortages when drought conditions make drinking water scarce throughout the state; he offered to share water with his neighbors should the need arise.

Council member Al Edwards pointed out that this need is unlikely, given historically high water availability in the city.

Council members did approve another variance request by Larry Henderson to set up a mobile building for use as a classroom at Tom B. David Airport. City Attorney Bill Bailey told Henderson he will need to renew his application for variance yearly with a maximum limit of three years.

Edwards said although the trailer is unattractive in appearance, “it appears to be something that there’s a need for.”

Also during the Jan. 11 meeting, council members:

- Approved a taxi license request Jose Manuel Lima Alveno for Taxi Service Emanuel’s.

- Approved a taxi license renewal request by Romauldo Rojo Martinez for Taxi Latino.

- Approved pawn license renewal requests for Clifford Cochran for Pete’s Music & Pawn and Tracy Young for Title Max of Calhoun, Inc.

- Approved a manager change request for Renis Barrett Memorial Home, Inc. from Edna Talley to Ira L. Rich.



2010 Department Heads:

Eddie Peterson – city administrator

Alicia Stewart – director of finance

Garry Moss – police chief

Lenny Nesbitt – fire chief

Kevin McEntire – director of public works

Ronnie Reeves – recreation director

Eric Stewart – golf professional

Harold Franklin – superintendent of maintenance

Suzanne Roland – mainstreet director

Kelly Cornwell – director of utilities

Andrea Bramlett – director of finance/ utilities

Larry Vickery – electric director

Brad Carrick – director of telecommunications

Ray Dudkowski – director of customer service

Jerry Crawford – director of water and sewer

David Burnett – engineering department manager

Danny Stephens – water treatment superintendent

Kenneth Logan – water construction superintendent

John Banks – sewer treatment superintendent

Mark Williamson – sewer construction superintendent

Bobby Robertson – water and sewer maintenance superintendent

2010 Appointments:

George Crowley - mayor pro tempore

Bert Vaughn – city chaplain

Bill Bailey – city attorney

Suzanne Hutchinson – municipal court judge

Rebecca Paris – indigent defense attorney

Randy Jackson – town marshal



Police: Clinical investigations department worked 33 fraud white collar crimes and made 26 felon arrests during 2009.

Department solved more than 700 theft and aggravated assault cases during 2009.

Special ops officers seized 13,000 counterfeit items and 133 pounds of marijuana during 2009.

Fire: Fire fighters responded to 760 calls including fire, rescue, industrial events, accidents, leaks and spills, hazardous materials and other property calls during 2009.

- Department brought in a $40,000 continuation of GSAR grant; finished GSAR building and is now the host agency for the Northwest Georgia GSAR team during 2009.