During last week’s work session Hiram City Council members prepared for the regular meeting scheduled for December 10th. One public hearing is also scheduled on that date.
In preparation for that hearing the council did a review of the 2016 Alcohol License applications/renewals. The 2016 licenses will be presented for the public hearing during the December 10th session.
Ms. Catherine Fox, Fox Environmental, addressed the council regarding the annual Stormwater Management Program Update in order to provide an overview of the successes and challenges of the city’s stormwater management program over the last 18 months. The update was part of the requirements for the city’s current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. Cliff McGrady, New Unity Christian Fellowship Church, presented a request to the council for authorization to host “Music in the Park” events at the Ben Hill Strickland Sr. Memorial Park Amphitheater in 2016.
Olde Town Hiram Business Association (OTHBA) President Gary Weekley updated the council regarding the 2015 Hiram Christmas Tree Lighting. OTHBA will take on the event, which will be down-sized this year somewhat due to the ongoing downtown infrastructure projects.
And council members discussed amending or replacing Resolution 2014-03 regarding the process for designation of the position of Mayor Pro Tem. According to City Clerk Cynthia Geyer, next up in the city’s revolving schedule according to the resolution would have been incoming council member Jeff Cole, sworn-in earlier this month. Cole agreed to pass the baton to Post 4 Councilman Derrick Battle. Cole was recently sworn-in to take over the unexpired term of Teresa Philyaw who defeated current Mayor Doris Devey and will take over as Mayor in January.
The council also discussed the surplus disposal of the 2008 Ford Expedition via the GOVDEALS Auction site. This item will be presented on the December 8th Regular Session.
Jody Palmer, director of public works/zoning administrator, updated the council on several ongoing infrastructure projects including the Hiram Sewer Project, the Main Street Improvement Project, the South Forty Stormwater Project and the Nebo Road Paving Project.
The Hiram Sewer Project has been in the last phases of connecting to the Lift Station. The Lift Station has recently been tested successfully and Haran construction was expected to finish the connection and be able to test soon. The Main Street Improvement project had been putting up the erosion control fencing and marking the project/construction easements along Main Street and the South Forty Stormwater project recently reached the phase of talking to property owners about construction easement and purchases for detention pond requirements prior to advertising for construction bids.
And the Nebo Road Paving Project Bid contract was on the November 10th regular session agenda for consideration and the council approved awarding the contract to C.W. Matthews for the Nebo Road Resurfacing project for $698,998.93 with $34,949.95, a 5 percent contingency authorization for unforeseen costs and incidentals. This project is to be funded by Street SPLOST, Nebo Road Money Market funds, and a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant.
The council was updated on Employee Insurance Renewal Policies for 2016. This item will be presented for Council approval in December. The council also made a review/update of the FY16 budget and the 2016 meeting calendar.

CITY MANAGER JOB POSTED
One of the first projects for Hiram’s council in 2016 will be to replace their city manager. Robbie Rokovitz was named as city manager in August of 2012 after the council changed its charter to allow for the addition of a city manager. Rokovitz stepped down in September of this year, opting to take a job offer in the private sector.
Hiram’s charter calls for a city manager to be appointed. On Tuesday Nov. 17 the job posting for permanent city manager went up, according to Ms. Geyer, who added that no interim manager was being sought. One offer for that position was extended previously by the council, but the offer was turned down. The posting, she said, was through Dec. 18th. No further action was planned through the end of the year. Several candidates will be considered by the new council as it gets underway in January. Another new face in 2016 will be Post 1 Councilman-elect Frank Moran, who defeated incumbent Prather Rollins.
The council’s next regular session is scheduled for December 8, at 6:00 p.m.

pictured above: Jeff Cole