Robert Tate with Tate Properties addressed the Manila City Council on Monday evening requesting a lot be rezoned from commercial to residential.
Tate said he is interested in purchasing a half acre lot behind Subway in Manila to build a single home dwelling. He said he had talked to Jeremy Gamble who had the property designated as commercial.
"I talked to Jeremy and he said he had no problems with the property being changed," Tate said.
Tate went on to say anything he would build on the lot would fall into the same line with the houses already in the subdivision. He said he would install a fence between the lot and Subway.
Mayor Wayne Wagner said he had informed Mr. Tate that the council hears requests and once it is run in the newspaper, which gives neighbors the opportunity to submit any objections, the council usually acts on it at the next meeting.
The council then accepted a bid for a rescue truck for the fire department at a cost of $159,250.
Mayor Wagner opened two sealed bids on an old pick up truck the city is no longer using. Council members voted to a accept the high bid of $350 from Zachary Dearen.
Council members present were Wendell Poteet, Donnie Wagner, Dale Murphy and Jason Baltimore. Steve Milligan and William Barnhart were unable to attend.
Mayor Wagner said the city has several other old items that need to be bidded out and taken off the inventory list.
Mayor Wagner said they have met with the architect and are ready to advertise for bids for the construction/expansion at the fire station. Bid requests will run on March 31 and April 7. Bids will be opened on April 20 at City Hall.
"We may need to have a special meeting after the bid opening," Mayor Wagner said.
Mayor Wagner informed the council they are in the first steps to get a new well drilled. It will be located next to the water treatment plant. The old Girl Scout Hut will have to be torn down.
"The area is getting prepped and hopefully they can start drilling in July or August if all goes well," Mayor Wagner said."
The council also agreed to contract for Coca Cola products at the park. The company will give the city/park $15,000. Mayor Wagner said the city will get $5,000 this year and $2,500 a year after that until the $15,000 is awarded.
"The products will be delivered every Tuesday and Christy Dillon will do the ordering and the paying," Mayor Wagner said.
The council voted to approve the purchase of a new freezer for the senior center and a refrigerator for the concession stand from Stallings.
"We have a part ordered for the freezer in the senior citizen building and once it is repaired it will be used," Mayor Wagner said.
The council voted to hire Janet Fields and Matthew May to take up the slack at the pool/park area while Director Darrell Birmingham is on medical leave.
Mayor Wagner asked the council to be thinking about painting the old gin building. He said he would have bids at the next meeting.
The council then agreed to finalize the purchase of the Southern Bancorp building on Main Street to house City Hall.
"If everything goes right, we should close on May 18," Mayor Wagner said. "Then we can move in by July 1. We will keep the police department and the revenue offices in the present city hall building. We will remodel the conference room at city hall and continue to have our meetings there."
Mayor Wagner said he had received a letter from Laura Haddock who owns property at 226 East Olympia Street. She is requesting a variance to place a modular home on the property. She has been made aware there is an ordinance that does not allow mobile homes to be moved in for rental property.
The council will discuss it at the next meeting.
Mayor Wagner, city attorney Wes Wagner and treasurer Cathy Huddleston have been working on paving grants for Olympia Street from the school to the end of the street.
If the grant is approved there will be paving on Lake Street and Olympia all the way to Ray Dill's road. Plans are to widen the street from the post office to the school are being reviewed. There is a need for sidewalks from the post office to the school.
Mayor Wagner commended maintenance supervisor Danny Davis, fire chief Brandon Bollinger and police chief Chris Hill for the way they handled removing the ice and snow from the streets.
"I want you all to know your work did not go unnoticed," Mayor Wagner said.
Chief Bollinger said he would like to get the word to the residents of Manila to not put leaves and limbs in the ditches. It causes drainage problems.
Mayor Wagner said the city will designate the first two weeks in April as clean-up weeks. Residents are encouraged to place any unwanted items near the street and the city workers will pick it up. If anyone needs help with items they cannot move, city workers will help during those two weeks.
After April 15, if the workers have to pick up large items such as discarded furniture or appliances, the resident will have a charge placed on their water bill.
He said he would like to get the school groups and other organizations involved in a clean-up effort throughout the town.
Chief Bollinger asked where they are on storm sirens. Mayor Wagner asked them to test the sirens on Tuesday if the weather is good to make sure they are working. They also discussed looking into adding two more, one near the school and one along the highway near Farmers Addition.
"Let's get what we have fixed and then we will look at adding two more," Mayor Wagner said.
The Manila City Council meets the third Monday of each month.