Hogansville Council Discusses Lot Sizes

Prior to the start of the February 17 Hogansville City Council meeting, a public hearing was held for citizen comments on the proposed variance for Granite Street parcels 0213B004015B, 0213B004015C and 0213B004015D. A representative from CBD Investments spoke first, asking for the variance which would allow construction of three homes on lots under the usual 15,000 square foot requirement. The homes would be just over the 1,500 sq. ft. minimum required. Joanna Rawson and Al Prado, both of East Main Street, spoke against the variance. Rawson , besides being against the smaller lot sizes, said the company has not been transparent in their dealings and have been hard to contact. Prado said passing the variance in the city’s historic district goes against the purpose of  having a historic commission. Deann Lasalle of Granite Sreeet also spoke against the variance, citing the water problems in the area would be negatively impacted by the stress of three more homes added to the system.

After the regular meeting began, Evie Ketler spoke in a citizen appearance, asking the council to outlaw the unsupervised tethering of pets in the city. She first spoke to the council in 2015, but says she now knows much more about the negative impact the practice has on pets, and presented a packet of information for the council to consider. Next, Tamara Harden was presented a plaque for her five year anniversary of working for the city. She started out as a police dispatcher but now works in court services at the City Annex Building. The council and mayor then went into a twenty minute executive session.

After the meeting resumed, the Granite Street variance was discussed. City Manager Lisa Kelly stated it had been published in the LaGrange Daily News as required, and notices were posted on the three lots. The variance was then unanimously approved, which wasn’t warmly received by several in attendance. The second bit of new business involved the police department’s use of Office of Planning and Budget grant money. The department had planned to use the $308,000 on a robotic dog, but now wish to purchase radio upgrades, gps systems for cars, mobile light poles, training upgrade simulators, bullet proof vests, GEMA disaster phones, closed circuit cameras for city properties, AEDs for police cars and city buildings and various other safety upgrades. The OPB grant modification was approved.

Lastly, the city worked with the fire marshal, engineer and architect in order to get a lower price for the desired new doors for the Royal Theater. A lower bid of $95,331 was given, $34,000 of which will be paid by a grant. The remaining amount will be covered by money left in the Royal building fund.

Kelly then reported that March 22 is the probable date for the city workers’ retreat. City employee Doug Goins achieved his Class 2 Wastewater Operator license. A sewer extension on Collier Street is slated soon which will result in some road lane closures. She then thanked all the city employees and policemen for their work after the February 16 storm that toppled several trees and left some citizens without power for almost 36 hours. One officer was injured after striking a downed tree across East Main Street. He was slightly injured but was treated and released from the hospital.

In her closing comments, Council member Mandy Neese stated that the comments against the variance on Granite Street hadn’t fallen on deaf ears. She said another council had approved the platted lots and she thinks new homes will be good for the city. She also stated that she will not approve a variance for a setback change for the builder. She wants him to abide by the setback in place.