Mayor and Council to spend $550,000 on “new” City Hall

With a small crowd in attendance, the special called meeting of Mayor and City Council took place Monday, April 14, 2025, at City Hall. Following an invocation brought by Bro. Shannon Boula of Blundale Baptist Church and the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes from the previous meeting of March 3, 2025, were presented and approved. Councilmember Bobbi Collins brought two items forward that were inaccurately recorded in the minutes of the March 3, 2025, meeting and closed session. A motion was made and passed to correct those errors.

City Attorney Jon Levis introduced the second reading of the ordinance establishing the office of prosecuting attorney for municipal court in Swainsboro. A motion was presented to pass which reflected a last-minute revision to the ordinance. That notwithstanding, the motion was agreed to by council.

The next item under old business was the lingering issue of rental fees at the Swainsboro City Auditorium and the Vann Community House. Councilperson Bobbi Collins pled the case for a modest increase in rental fees combined with support from grant possibilities until a long-term plan could be developed for both city properties. In a pointed exchange, Mayor Greg Bennett argued that this would only lead to increased deficits to keep the largest auditorium in the area and the historic Vann Community House open. After a lengthy round table discussion, council passed a motion increasing rental fees on the auditorium and the community house to $1,000 and $500 respectively with a $300 and $100 refundable deposit for each venue. The motion passed 4-1 with councilperson Collins opposed.

Under new business, council considered the extension of services for the City Engineer. Council voted unanimously to continue to use the services of Turnipseed Engineers.

Next, council considered the transfer from part time to full time of an employee of the City/County Animal Shelter. Motion was made and approved.

Replacement of the fuel pumping system which provides administration fuel services for all city vehicles and equipment was discussed by council. The cost of a new system would be $12,862.39. Council also questioned why the city has not sought bids on fuel costs and delivery in recent years. Council tabled the issue pending the receipt of more information.

The final issue under new business concerned advertisement for a game room license for “Pop a Top Again” located on Central Street for coin-operated machines. The application for advertisement was approved.

Under the consent agenda, council agreed to grant approval for JM Management 208 LLC, dba Food Mart to operate coin-operated machines at 208 North Main Street, and also approved the Swainsboro/Emanuel County grant to spay and neuter animals.

At this point the council voted to enter closed executive session. As the council returned to regular order, Bennett revisited the subject first entertained in 2024 of purchasing the former Spivey State Bank building to replace the current City Hall. The new proposal would include buying the former bank property for $550,000.00 and moving all administrative operations to the North Main address from the current central location where City Hall has operated since 1965. In addition, Bennett proposed renovating the exterior to “make it pretty and safe” and renovating the downstairs lobby area of the historic building to use as a “place to meet”. Bennett said this limited renovation would be an expenditure of an estimated $650,000. Earlier in Bennett’s comments a wide-ranging figure of 2.8 to 3.5 million was quoted as the architect’s estimate for a comprehensive restoration of the historic building. However, the Mayor admitted that actual, finished estimates had never been completed or brought to council. Bennett concluded his proposal by suggesting that a 1.2-million-dollar purchase of new property and unspecified renovations at the current city hall was better than a higher cost renovation even though it has not been verified and is unclear as to what that estimate might be. Following the Mayor’s comments, there were no questions or discussion from the council. Councilmember Johnny Ray Stafford made the motion to move ahead with the $550,000.00 purchase which was seconded by Councilmember Julian Sconyers. The motion passed 5-0.