News Line for Columbus

Housing Authority commissioners approve revised BTW plan
The latest plan to redevelop the aging Booker T. Washington public housing complex won the unanimous approval of the Columbus Housing Authority board of commissioners Wednesday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Housing authority brings new plan for BTW revitalization that steers clear of Liberty District
Columbus Housing Authority CEO Len Williams gave Columbus Council a preview Tuesday of his new plan for revitalizing the Booker T. Washington Apartments, a plan that steers clear of the Liberty District.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City suggests increasing downtown parking tickets, event parking
Parking tickets in downtown Columbus might get a lot more expensive, if Columbus Council approves a series of proposed changes to downtown parking policies.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Georgia Supreme Court rules against Columbus, in favor of billboard companies in tree-cutting dispute
The Georgia Supreme Court in a unanimous ruling issued Monday morning has reversed a 2012 Muscogee County Superior Court decision that restricted billboard companies from cutting trees along the Georgia right of way.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Tomlinson to propose smaller city budget for fiscal 2014
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson will propose cutting the city’s budget by 1.5 percent for fiscal year 2014, she said today.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Opponents of Housing Authority's plans state their case at City Council meeting
Opponents of Housing Authority of Columbus’ now defunct plans to build 100 apartments around the historic Liberty Theatre showed up in full force to a City Council meeting Tuesday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City's new recycling center will include educational features
Columbus's new Recycling and Sustainability Center, set to open Oct. 2, will add an educational component to the process in hopes to encourage growing participation, city leaders said Tuesday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City worker health clinic opens for business today
The health clinic devoted to city government workers opens for business at 9 a.m. today, said retired city personnel director Tom Barron, who is working part-time to get the clinic running.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus' first black police sergeant, Joseph 'Joe' Robbins, dies at 75
Joseph "Joe" Robbins, the first black promoted to sergeant at the Columbus Police Department and who was known for writing speeding tickets to high-ranking government officials, died of natural causes Sunday at his Columbus home.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Council approves sale of "growlers"
Columbus Council unanimously approved an ordinance to allow the sale of refillable 32- and 64-ounce jugs of draft beer for people to take with them.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Reather Hollowell to be nominated as new city HR director
City Manager Isaiah Hugley will nominate Assistant Human Resources Director Reather Hollowell to replace her former boss, ex-director Tom Barron, who recently retired.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Increase in property tax lawsuits an anomaly
A perfect storm of sorts passed through Columbus in 2012, causing a flood of lawsuits against local property owners, filed by the city's Board of Tax Assessors.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City denies request for new furniture, approves sale of growlers
The first recycling to be done at the city's new recycling center might be in the form of furniture.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Tour takes in ‘Heart and Soul’ of downtown Columbus redevelopment
Billy Parrish has been working on and consulting on city redevelopment efforts for the better part of three decades. Thursday, standing outside the Eagle & Phenix complex in a slight mist overlooking the Chattahoochee River, he made an observation about downtown Columbus and its soon-to-be-completed whitewater course.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Doctor hired to practice at city's new employee health clinic
Consolidated Government leaders today introduced the physician who has been chosen for the city’s new Employee Health and Wellness Center.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Longtime Columbus Airport director Mark Oropeza retires suddenly
The sudden departure of longtime Columbus Airport director Mark Oropeza will trigger a nationwide search for a replacement, a process that could take up to two months, the airport’s commission chief said Monday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

You may be able to grab a growler soon in Columbus
If Columbus Council approves an ordinance that’s to be presented at its meeting Tuesday night, specified alcoholic beverage sellers will be allowed to fill and refill 32- and 64-ounce jugs with draft beer for people to take with them.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor rallies BTW residents to support Liberty District plan
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson fired up a crowd of about 100 residents at the Booker T. Washington apartment complex Monday, urging them to fight for proposed apartments around the Liberty Theatre despite opposition from a small group of leaders trying to block the development.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Reactions vary at property tax assessment freeze sunset plan meeting
A handful of movers and shakers offered different reactions to Mayor Teresa Tomlinson’s property tax assessment freeze sunset proposal at an information meeting for policy makers Wednesday
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor Tomlinson to host tax freeze sunset meeting Wednesday
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson will host a meeting with public officials Wednesday concerning her proposal to place a “sunset” on the city’s property tax assessment freeze, according to a city release.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson's forum draws small 'but intense' crowd
A sparse crowd attended Mayor Teresa Tomlinson’s first quarterly forum of 2013, with city employees easily outnumbering the two dozen or so citizens who came to Brookstone School for the event.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Bibb neighborhood group seeking artifacts for museum at Comer
The Bibb Village Neighborhood Association is seeking historical artifacts relating to Bibb City and in particular the old Comer Auditorium, according to Rick McKnight, president of the association.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Busy spring calendar for downtown Columbus
Get ready to celebrate spring with live music, 5K races and more.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

More litigation pending in Barngrover case
The attorney for Dr. Kenneth Barngrover, whose 20-year legal battle with the city appeared to be wrapped up early this week, said he has further litigation pending against the city and plans to move forward with at least one pending suit soon.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Counting the cost of coming city projects: City Service Center, natatorium by the numbers
It's been about 50 years since ground was broken for the old Columbus Square Mall, about 10 years since it was demolished and about 18 months since ground was broken for the city's $32.5 million city service center, natatorium and parking deck project.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City to propose returning 10th Street to two-way traffic
The Consolidated Government will propose to Columbus Council that 11th and 12th streets remain one-way, east and west, respectively, and that 10th Street be returned to two-way traffic, Deputy City Manager David Arrington said Thursday night.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City announces three public meetings on downtown parking, traffic issues
The Consolidated Government has announced three public hearings over the next three weeks to deal with traffic and parking issues that have arisen from a consultant’s recommendations for downtown Columbus.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Council asked to consider extending MLK Boulevard to Macon Road and the river
Columbus Councilors heard a request Tuesday from local activist Ronzell Buckner to consider more than doubling the length of Martin Luther King Boulevard from its current 2.2 miles to about five miles.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson to ask Council to revoke Club Majestic's alcohol license
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson will seek Columbus Council approval to revoke the alcoholic beverage license at Club Majestic, the nightclub where a 24-year-old man was killed and six others were injured by gunfire on New Year's Day.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

New city service center, natatorium nearing completion
Columbus’ $32.5 million city complex on the grounds of the old Columbus Square Mall is nearing completion and is expected to be open by early June, Deputy City Manager David Arrington said Thursday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus Council: Private company to manage natatorium
Columbus Council voted Tuesday to enter negotiations with a private pool management company to operate the city's new natatorium.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Stats show city's crime rate continues to drop
Columbus crime statistics are continuing a drop that started when the city began hiring 100 new police officers with Local Option Sales Tax funds, according to figures released Monday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Downtown Columbus named 'renaissance' area by Georgia Trend magazine
There was a time when being lumped in with Hinesville, Ga., was not a good thing. And, truth be told, Hinesville might have thought the same about Columbus.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus leaders discuss effects of Mayor Teresa Tomlinson’s tax freeze proposal
A group of about 20 community leaders gathered Thursday to hear a presentation of Mayor Teresa Tomlinson's proposal to sunset the city's property tax assessment freeze and to pose questions.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Chemical tank cleaning causes rotten odor in downtown Columbus
A rotten smell in the downtown area apparently came from a chemical storage tank at Omega Partners near the Columbus Civic Center, a city official said Tuesday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor, council expected to pass resolution opposing 3rd Brigade cuts
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and the Columbus Council are expected to approve a resolution Tuesday opposing any move to reduce the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus recognized as a Runner Friendly Community
Alicia Roubicek jogged on relatively new territory Tuesday afternoon."We actually just found this. It's a great place for strollers," said Roubicek, 28, referring to Columbus' Fall Line Trace rails-to-trails route.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Sixth Avenue work to end in summer
The current phase of Columbus' $36 million downtown flood-abatement project continues to disrupt traffic flow on the eastern edge of downtown.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Council to decide who will run natatorium
With the opening of the natatorium about four months away, the Columbus Council expects to decide next month who will manage the building.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor unveils new 'sunset' plan for city tax freeze
It's been validated in the courts and upheld, resoundingly and repeatedly, in polls both official and informal.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Mayor: End property tax freeze for new home buyers; freeze would remain for current homeowners
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson presented a three-pronged approach for Columbus’ future Tuesday, one of which would place a sunset on the city’s controversial property tax assessment freeze.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Georgia law allowing sign companies to clear-cut public land under fire
Billboard companies in Georgia can go on the public highway rights-of-way and clear-cut trees that block their signs, under a law OK'd last year by the state Legislature.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Old Claflin School could become resource center for homeless
Columbus Council will be asked this afternoon to accept the deed to the old Claflin School from the Muscogee County School District so the city can investigate the building's suitability to use as a multi-purpose homeless resource center, according to council's agenda.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

The Loft downtown to unveil renovations tonight
Owner Buddy Nelms says the renovated upper floor of The Loft downtown is going to have a bit more of a restaurant feel, but the "honky tonk bar will still be in its soul."
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Leaders bring new ideas to the table for whitewater rafting course
With whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River less than six months away, about 120 business, political and education leaders from both sides of the river came together Thursday to discuss ways the region can capitalize on what they hope will be a flood of visitors.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Housing Authority of Columbus gets 'exclusive' federal designation
The Housing Authority of Columbus has become only the second such authority in the state to receive the "Moving to Work" designation from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, the authority announced Wednesday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Feds to assess Columbus police on community policing
The U.S. Department of Justice has chosen the Columbus Police Department for a program that assesses "community policing" policies and suggests ways to improve, city officials announced Wednesday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Bibb City residents speak out at mayor's forum
Bibb City, on the cusp of "renaissance," spoke to city leaders Tuesday night about the issues attendant to a historic community trying to shake off its recent past while preserving its earlier character.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Council OKs contract for city worker health clinic
Columbus Council unanimously approved a contract Tuesday with a Georgia health care company to operate a medical clinic for city employees.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Weracoba Park roundabout opens
With little fanfare and a little cosmetic work left to do, the city removed the barricades and opened the roundabout at the northern end of Weracoba Park to traffic Friday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

One Columbus joins mayor's commission on diversity, unity
The independent "One Columbus" initiative created in 2001 to smooth relations between people of different cultural backgrounds today becomes part of a city commission appointed by Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, its mission now to address economic divisions that segregate city residents.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

City to ask for leeway in property assessments
The Columbus Consolidated Government wants to ask state lawmakers to allow the city some leeway when dealing with properties that are sold at bargain prices in foreclosures or "distress sales," city leaders said last week.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Council votes to settle Expedia lawsuit for $586,000
Columbus Council voted tonight to approve a settlement of the city’s lawsuit against online travel websites Expedia.com and Hotels.com for approximately $586,000.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Commission eyes areas of city in need of development
An appointed city commission of local real estate and investment experts has identified areas of Columbus that are in dire need of creative ways to attract development, and has developed a series of strategies to do just that, Mayor Teresa Tomlinson said Monday.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Gov. Deal appoints mayor to commission on state's 911 funding
Facing deficits in funding the city's 911 system and explosive growth from cellphone users, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson has been appointed by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to serve on a state commission to study and make recommendations on funding.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer