Hope City Board
The Hope City Board met in the City Hall Boardroom on Tuesday. A highlight of the meeting was the showing off of a new ladder truck purchased for $105,000. Once the necessary upgrades are included the total cost will be $150,000.
Other business included choosing which bid to accept for the airport hanger. The board chose the one from 2L of $285, 950.
Assistant City Manager Daniel Shelman presented various marketing materials produced for the Hope for the Future marketing campaign. Their primary slogan is “Vote Yes ×3 for the Change You Want to See.” Spelman said yesterday the reel on Facebook had 500 views alone. The website is up and video will be posted on it as well as images and answers to frequently asked questions.
Bonnie Raff was at the Board meeting for a reading of a proclamation about constitution week.
Police Chief Kim Tomlin said the Department had been approved for the STOP violence against women grant. She asked the Board for permission to accept the grant. The Department will receive $26, 760 in federal funds and be required to put up $10,960 in return. Permission was granted.
City Manager JR Wilson talked about what the city needs to address going forward after having addressed the urgent need of the hospital. Energy conservation was one of these areas. He offered a vision of the city using the money saved from energy savings to finance changing streetlights to LED. Wilson talked about doing using a bond to do it all at once rather than piecemeal.
City Manager Wilson said one of the most critical needs for Hope is affordable housing and argued the city shouldn’t be held back by lack of a grant, federal funding or private investors. The city could build possibly involving seizing or condemning a rundown block then look for a private investor to purchase afterwards. As $1 million dollars was set aside for the hospital, $1 million dollars could be set aside for housing. Housing is needed for middle income as well as lower income.
The city also needs to annex in order to grow and there are communities that have expressed interest in being annexed.
The industrial park sign has been power washed and mowed around. An image was displayed.
A lease for Dana-Suttle of 3.5 acres for $15,000 with an annual increase of 5% was approved.
There was a train derailment September 17th with an estimated cost of $20,000 to remove the cars and it’s estimated an equal amount to fix the track. A bad switch is thought to have caused the derailment.
The financial report was included to be taken home and reviewed.
The municipal league conference is Jan 15th-17th. Board members were asked if they wanted to attend so hotel reservations could be made. Four members wanted to go.
The race-track course will begin at 9:30 or 10:00 and bring business to the city in terms of money spent on food and hotels.
Marsha White spoken in appreciation of the work City Manager Wilson was doing, especially in regards to affordable housing.
The meeting adjourned.
