The City of Blue Ridge purchased Highland Baptist Tabernacle’s property at 631 Industrial Blvd., Blue Ridge, during a regular meeting Tuesday, March 10.
Councilwoman Rhonda Haight made a motion to purchase property from Highland Baptist Tabernacle, LLC. for $750,000. She said the city had been looking to purchase property and already have a contract, which had to be approved, and will be under a 60 day due diligence period with the final purchase and sale agreement.
There was no further discussion on plans for the property.
After coming out of exective session, Haight motioned to add employee evaluation points to section eight of the executive session from the December 17, 2015 special called meeting.
“This will be a points category that’s added to that just to more clearly clarify how we give raises, and this will be exhibit employee evaluation point system,” Haight said.
In other action, the city will be pavings parts of Mountain Tops subdivision.
“Water cuts” are visible across the streets in the Mountain Tops community and “every time it rains it washes the gravel out,” said Mayor Donna Whitener.
The paving will be paid out of the water account not SPLOST, Whitener said.
Council members approved a quote with Johnson Paving of $14,995.60 to fix the problem.
During discussion, Whitener explained that City Hall has issues with leakage, mold and bathrooms.
“What was your plan?” Councilman Nathan Fitts said. “‘Cause we ... I didn’t have anything to do with it, so I didn’t know what you want to do with it.”
Whitener said they were originally going to clean up the ceiling, but due to mold, they’re having to tear the walls out.
Currently, $5,000 has already been spent on improvements, and Whitener said she wants to move all meetings to a room near the front entrance and take down Utility Director Rebecca Harkin’s office and relocate her.
“We need to put a plan together. I’m not in favor of just going at it and spending money,” Fitts said.
Whitener said she needs to know what the council would like to do before moving forward with the project. Councilwoman Rhonda Haight said she thought it was a good idea, while Councilwoman Robbie Cornelius asked if it were necessary.
The city needs to put a budget together and see what they have to work with before heading up a project, Fitts said.
“In the future let’s don’t start projects like that without us having a plan in place,” he said.