November 4, 2019 – Chairman Phillip Beard called the November meeting for the Buford Commission to order at 7 p.m. at Buford City Hall. Following the pledge, the agenda and minutes from the October 2019 meeting were approved. City employee Levon Thomas was recognized for his twenty years of service to the citizens of Buford and given a plaque and watch for a job well done.
The first piece of business was a rezoning request for North Harbor Storage, LLC located at 6673 McEver Rd. They requested rezoning from M-1 to C-2 with a special use permit to allow a boat and RV storage facility. The request was approved with conditions. A special use permit was requested to allow a cheerleading tumbling facility for Allstar Titans, LLC/Laura Pruitt at 5115 Poplar St. The request was approved.
The Commission approved the final plat for the Chestnut Park subdivision and approved wastewater allocation for Lanier Islands car wash at 4915 Lanier Islands Pkwy. The voluntary termination of SUP-19-12 at 245 W. Moreno St. for Complete Andy Electric LLC was accepted.
Dedication of sewer easements west of I-985 at Palmero Court and east of I-985 at The Reserve at Bogan Lakes subdivision was approved. The Commission also approved a one-year extension of the annual contract for construction and maintenance of water lines and gravity sewers with John D. Stephens, Inc.
The Commission accepted a land donation to the City by William and Maxine Drake and authorized the City Manager to issue a land donation letter.
The City Manager and City Attorney were authorized to purchase 6.18 acres on South Street and Elliott Street from Buford Church of God. The City is looking at options with the Buford Housing Authority to relocate some existing housing units to newly constructed units.
The Commission approved the ratification of action requiring 23.7 acres known as N.E. Pugh Street, City of Buford, Georgia, Gwinnett County Tax Parcel No. R7293 097 for the sum of $300,000 and authorized transfer to the Downtown Development Authority. This will allow the DDA to find bidders for the land intended for industrial use.
The Chairman and City Manager were authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the City with the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC for purchase of gas from the Southeastern Trail Expansion Project. The pledged funds with Peoples Bank & Trust were authorized to be released. The City Manager and City Attorney were authorized to acquire property for a Jones Alley street widening project at the new city parking deck so that people may better access the parking deck.
The Commission authorized payments for the Southside Trunk sewer project, SR 316 at Harbins Road gas relocation project, SR 324 at SR 124 gas relocation project, Buford parking deck project, Bona Road Gym renovation project, Legion field improvements, and the Bona Road sidewalk project.
Amy Brown from the Buford Community Center gave a brief update on what has been going on there. Christmas decor is being installed and a Frank Sinatra concert will take place in mid-November. The Christmas Traditions event on November 30 is sold out and A Christmas Carol play by Theatre Buford will run November 30 – December 16.
City Manager Bryan Kerlin gave his report which included updates on various projects. The parking deck project is progressing well and the contractor is working hard to wrap up the project as soon as issues with street widening are resolved. The Commonwealth Industrial Park traffic signal warrant study at the intersection of Roy Carlson Boulevard and Buford Highway did not find the justification for a traffic signal. There are various gas and electric projects in different stages of completion. The renovations to the ball fields are coming along nicely which includes the high school baseball field and the softball field. Tennis had several players in the playoffs and the city will be resurfacing some of the courts as routine maintenance.
This concluded the November 2019 Buford Commission Meeting. The next meeting will be on December 2, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Buford City Hall in the Commission Chambers.
— Staff Reports
