While the project is still several months from the restaurant serving food and the hotel taking guests, City Manager Lanier Dunn told council members at Monday night’s monthly meeting that the project seems to be ahead of schedule.
“It really seems to be ahead of schedule,” said Dunn. “They are hanging sheetrock and finishing it, especially on the guest floors.”
Dunn also said crews were working on the outside, pressure washing and cleaning.
Along with that, the city’s water department will be replacing the water main in the rear of the building prior to the parking lot being paved.
“There are various decisions to be made, such as picking out the room door locks and keys and simple things like that you don’t think of, but it is ahead of schedule,” said Dunn.
Dunn also said concrete had been poured for the courtyard in the rear connected to the conference room, which made the conference room appear larger than it actually is.
Council members also heard the second reading of a resolution to add $25,000 to the On-Bill Financing Program as well as allow loans to be used for additional projects. Dunn had suggested the increase as well as the addition of other energy-saving projects.
After the reading council members voted 5-0 in favor of Dunn’s recommendations.
The program’s fund, which allows city utility customers to borrow money for energy and water conservation projects and development of energy efficient facilities, had been set at $175,000 in August 2014.
The additional $25,000 raises that fund to $200,000.
The city was notified recently that Tom Robinson was resigning from his seat on the Development Authority of Elbert County, Elberton and Bowman.
Robinson’s term was scheduled to expire in October 2016.
Mayor Larry Guest recommended Barney “Skip” James Jr. to replace Robinson for the remainder of the term. Council members voted 5-0 in favor of the recommendation. James will likely be asked to continue to serve in that capacity before the term expires.