Tucker’s Mayor and City Council held a work session and meeting Monday night, their last scheduled gathering of September. They opened the work session with a discussion on the 2021 city meeting calendar. While nothing was officially decided, there was talk about adding Columbus Day as a city holiday or simply giving staff a floating holiday. Parks and Recreation Director Rip Robertson then briefed Council on a variety of activities and initiatives happening this fall, including signups for a youth basketball league to begin on October 1.
The re-opening of City Hall was the next topic discussed by Council. City Hall, which is located in Suite 350 at 1975 Lakeside Parkway, has been closed to the public throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Council coalesced around a plan to open the building to the public on Monday October 5. They then heard a presentation on financial policies, as well as received an update on revenues for the current fiscal year.
The two main issues of the night were capital projects and CARES Act-funded programs. City Engineer Ken Hildebrandt presented on capital projects, detailing the City’s efforts on intersection radii improvements, MARTA bus pad installation, Tucker Streetscape construction, sidewalk construction, traffic studies, dam repairs and SPLOST-funded road resurfacing. The CARES Act conversation centered on how the City should allocate the more than $4.1 million granted to the City through the federal CARES Act via DeKalb County. About half of the money is expected to be given out through a small business grant application program. The City will also partner with local nonprofit NETWorks to distribute food aid, as well as mortgage, rent, and utility assistance to residents in need.
The lone issue decided in the City Council meeting surrounded an ordinance to amend the City Code to allow the City court to use any professional bail bondsmen that are approved by the Sheriff. The measure passed on a unanimous vote.
Following an executive session, Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to acquire the old county library property on Church Street from DeKalb County.
The next meeting of the Mayor and City Council will be Tuesday October 13 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex (4228 First Avenue).
