The Commissioners recognized Tim Newman with the Electric Department, for 30 years of dedicated service to the City of Griffin and congratulated him on his retirement as of May 1, 2016.
The Commissioners approved a Proclamation declaring April 2016 to be Confederate History Month and April 26, 2016 to be Confederate Memorial Day. The proclamation was accepted by Mr. Kelly Barrow of the Sons of the Confederacy.
The Commissioners approved a request from Ms. Ann Imes, a Griffin resident, to vary the eligibility requirements of the Griffin Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery so that her brother, Senior Master Sergeant Jimmy D. Bowen, USAF, Retired could be layed to rest there. He spent 20 years in the U.S., Air Force then another full career as an Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms ATF agent. He retired to Griffin but later lived with a son in Kentucky so he could receive specialized health care. He died there April 12, 2016 and was cremated.
With a 3/4 vote the Commissioners DENIED a request for a special use permit to construct single family homes on seven (7) lots on Lynn Lane submitted by Square Foot Ministries. The properties are zoned High Density Residential-A which requires a special use permit for single family construction. Square Foot Ministries is a non-profit organization that has built several new houses in this area that are owner occupied houses. The homes are 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with 0% interest and $350 monthly payments including property tax and insurance.
Commissioner David Brock was fearful of the size of the lots not giving children enough play room.
After the vote: Commissioner Cora Flowers asked, “What is going on? The Land Bank tore down houses and donated the land.”
The Commissioners approved an agreement for lease of Fiber Optic Cable between the City of Griffin and Atlantic Fiber Networks a provider with a primary focus on public education. Atlantic Fiber Networks provide Griffin-Spalding County Schools with their programing.. This agreement will bring additional revenue to the City of Griffin maximizing the City’s excess dark fiber at an annual cost of approximately 70K.
The Commissioners approved the renewal of a Standard Office Lease between the City of Griffin and The Whalen Law Firm for suites #520 and #524 of One Griffin Center in the amount of $11,170.00 per year.
Also approved was the purchase of .82 acres located at 310 N. 12th Street, Griffin, in the amount of $30,000. This parcel is an eyesore to the Experiment Street corridor and will be demolished and cleaned to enhance the corridor. This is in conjunction with city intersection improvements.
Mayor Dick Morrow congratulated the Griffin Fire Department on their ISO.1 rating. There are about 48,000 fire departments in the U.S. Only 178 departments have an ISO.1 rating. There are 14 departments in Georgia with an ISO.1 rating. Griffin is one of those 14.