Last Updated on 2/9/2012

Published on 10/14/2009
Written by Scott Harper

Georgetown City Council, on Thursday, will consider a proposal to annex the 18 acre tract it recently purchased on Highway 17.
If it is not annexed, the planned  Maryville fire station will be outside the city limits on county property.
The old Eagle Electric site, purchased by the city for $1.07 million is adjacent to the current southern city limit boundary.
City officials are hoping to take care of that detail at their monthly meeting Thursday night.
Council will consider a resolution and then an ordinance that, if passed, would make the property part of the city.
“City Council understands all public property owned by the city government belongs to the citizens and therefore should be located within the municipality,” the proposed resolution states.
If the resolution to annex is passed, then council will consider first reading of an ordinance to annex the property which, if passed, will require a second reading in November.
The property is to be used for a new fire station to replace the deteriorating building on South Island Road.
Other city services are also expected to be relocated to that site but a decision of which services will make the move has not yet been decided.
Once the property is annexed, it must be zoned as Public Service.
A public hearing and vote on that will take place during the City Planning Commission meeting Oct. 27.
The purchase of the property has been a hot topic for candidates, especially those seeking the mayor’s position.

Budget amendment
When city leaders were putting together the 2009-10 spending plan, the rate of additional pay for employees who were on call was to be cut from $100 to $50 per week.
Then, in September council had a change of heart and instructed staff to leave the pay at $100 which meant that money had to be recouped from somewhere else.
City Finance Director Jessica Miller will present a budget amendment proposal Thursday.
She deducted money from each department’s fund balance to make up for the $17,700 needed to keep the on call pay as is.
Councilmember Peggy Wayne said she feels the workers need at least $100 per week for being on call because of the restrictions it places on them. She said during the on-call week, the worker cannot be no more than 15 minutes away from the city.
Councilman Brendon Barber agreed.
“They are on lockdown. They are restricted. They should get compensated,” he said.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Georgetown City Hall.