The Rockdale city council distributed $34,580 in Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds to a few organizations who had petitioned to receive them.
The Girls Softball Association will receive $18,150 for district and state tournaments. The association had originally asked for $60,000 which included new fencing, but that project does not qualify for HOT funds. All of the council members agreed that they should find a way to help with the fencing since the city owns the softball complex. They are looking into the possibility of using leftover ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to pay for the fencing.
The Rockdale Chamber of Commerce received $16,475 for two separate projects, Chamber on Tap Summer Music Series and having a visitor’s center at the farmers’ market at Wolf Park.
The Rockdale Historical Society had asked for $10,000 in HOT funds but the discussion was tabled because the council members had a lot of questions and there was no representative available at the meeting to answer them.
David Melton was sworn into his spot representing the East Ward before the meeting began, and Lin Perry was voted by his peers to the position of mayor pro tem.
Mayor Brett Boren read a proclamation declaring the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Rockdale.
A workshop was held to discuss the council’s priorities and timeline for the fiscal year 2023-2023 budget which will be adopted on Sept. 12. Public safety and the “wish list” of Police Chief Jerry Meadors was set as a priority.
A special event application was approved to close East Bell Avenue between Ackerman and Main Street on the fourth Thursday of each month for the Chamber on Tap Summer Music Series at the East Bell Taphouse.
Elissa Benford-Roberts petitioned the council for a replotting of the Washington Heights neighborhood several months ago. The city responded positively at the time and action was taken to get every homeowner to agree to the replotting. However, only 30 percent of homeowners have signed on to the project. The council decided to invite Benford- Roberts to a planning and zoning meeting to see what else could be accomplished to get more buy-in.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.