By Samantha Sinclair
Baldwin is set to make a decision on Cook Construction’s request to annex 45 acres into the city limits and rezone it Highway Business after a second round of public hearings on the request Tuesday night.
Mayor Doug Faust said after the meeting that the city council will vote on the matter at its meeting scheduled for Sept. 15. Although Habersham County Board of Commissioners objected to the annexation and rezoning at its Aug. 17 meeting, bringing the decision to an arbitration panel, Faust said that the city must still vote yes for the arbitration panel to be set by the Department of Community Affairs.
In its presentation during the public hearing Tuesday night, Cook Construction Attorney Vince Fitzgerald revealed that Cook now owns all parcels part of the annexation request — closing on the last parcel, which was owned by Martha Stuckey, was held earlier in the day.
Fitzgerald even brought Stuckey to the podium to speak to the board as part of developer’s presentation.
“They have been very good to me,” Stuckey said.
There were two people who spoke in favor of the annexation, and three against. For the rezoning, there was one person who spoke in favor and two who spoke against.
In other business, the city approved entering two Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) with the county — a Radio Maintenance IGA and the Animal Control IGA. The Radio Maintenance IGA was approved after City Manager Tiera Morrison reported she confirmed with County Manager Tim Sims that the city will not be cut off from the radio system for nonpayment.
For the Animal Control IGA, there was more uncertainty from council. Morrison reported the county was unwilling to amend the IGA, but recommended the city sign the agreement, and if it doesn’t work out, terminate it. City Attorney Sammy Tomasello said the city can terminate the agreement with 60 days notice.