Hiram City Council Holds April Meeting

Hiram City Council held its work and regular sessions for April Tuesday night. The council’s regular meeting was rescheduled from April 5.

Municipal Judge Chad Plumley took his oath of office. Plumley was voted in by the council on March 22, but had not yet been sworn-in during a regular council meeting.

The council then heard a presentation from a representative of Blue Wave, an information technology company, regarding IT service for the city, but tabled their decision pending a review of the contract terms by city Attorney Glen Stinson. According to Hiram Operations Manager Jody Palmer, the city has been contracting IT support as problems have come up, rather than proactively maintaining system issues through a dedicated service such as that provided by Blue Wave.   

Michael Carter, director, Paulding County Water System addressed the council regarding sewer possibilities in downtown Hiram. Carter offered an overview that included three possibilities that would allow for growth to the downtown area. The council’s consensus was to consider the scope, design and feasibility for a project that would best suit the city in the longer term.  

The council also voted in favor of granting a request from Gary Davis with the Give a Kid a Chance program. Davis was awarded a donation of $1,000 to assist the program, which is slated to be held on July 23.   

Kathie Stancil from Hiram Ruritan addressed the council regarding funding help for their football field damaged during the 2009 flood event. The field will need repairs within the next six to eight weeks in time for the start-up of their football program.

Stancil was seeking about $37,800 in a contribution, or as a loan from the city to make needed repairs to the playing field, which could be paid back out of Ruritan SPLOST proceeds when they become available in July, she said. The council decided to table their vote for two weeks at which time they will hold a special called meeting to decide the issue. The city is considering actually purchasing the property and assuming the needed repairs. Ruritan would continue in the same capacity and, according to Stancil, had considered that sort of arrangement and would review the option with the Ruritan Board prior to the council’s special meeting in two weeks.  

And the council also voted in favor of awarding a Center Street Culvert repair project to low bidder Red Clay Enterprises. The project will cost just over $22,000 and the motion was passed by the council with the caveat that it be completed in no more than 14 days.