By BEN GRAFTON
At a brief Freeport City Council meeting of July 28, City Planner Latilda Henninger opened the session by introducing a request for a special use permit to cover the dedication and naming, on Aug. 12, of the Freeport Community Health Center, a federally qualified dental and health facility, located on SR-20. A tent will be set up on the property where hamburgers will be served and the ceremonies conducted. Henninger said all requirements for the permit have been met. The Council approved the permit.
Henninger distributed a memorandum to the Council outlining provisions of House Bill 7207, Revisions of the Growth Management Act. The intent of the bill is to improve the state’s ability to compete for economic development projects by streamlining growth management regulations, eliminating the mandate for concurrency for roads and schools, and providing incentives for development. Henninger estimates that the time to review development applications will be reduced by one-third.
Engineer Charles Peters gave Council members a written update of the status of projects being managed for the city by Praestare Engineering.
Cliff Knauer of Preble-Rish Engineering reported that a meeting was scheduled with the Water Management District staff to make sure that all of the changes made by the Wagon Wheel Road water well project will fit the requirements imposed by four-laning U.S. 331.
Knauer also reported that work on the North Bay water line project is on hold pending finalization of the bond for the project. It is expected that the hold will be lifted in about two to three weeks and field work will begin.
City Clerk Robin Haynes reported that the wording of the draft request for qualifications for professional engineering services will include a paragraph stating that the city can either accept one or more of the firms responding or that it may reject all proposals submitted. A motion to approve the proposed addition was approved. Advertising for the request for qualifications was approved at an earlier meeting.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Brannon made a proposal to update the city’s web site. The cost for this work is estimated to be less than $1,000. The Council agreed to the project.