LULA –An interesting dichotomy seems to exist in Lula: the city of 2886-residents is a small rural community, yet large enough to experience big town concerns. The duplexity of issues on the agenda for Monday’s city council meeting offered evidence the twofold identity is genuine.
The meeting opened by recognizing recipients of the “Yard of the Month” award, an agenda item typical in small town America; moments later the matter of the city needing cyberterrorism insurance was discussed.
Then Mayor Jim Grier reminded the audience that the “Lula Area Ladies’ Friendship Gathering Luncheon” was less than two weeks away and all the ladies should tell their lady friends to be there, after which he called for a vote creating a “Development Authority”, something that is a big town necessity.
Later the mayor said, “One of the realities is that we have never incarcerated anyone” just before the vote was taken to renew the contract with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office regarding use of the county jail. “This should provide the framework for that should it ever happen,” Grier said.
Grier told those involved in the Railroad Days parade happening in May “to polish-up your antique vehicles and wash the mud off your tractor tires” moments after the council voted to delay selection of a revamped city logo and marketing strategy.
Small, big-town or big, small-town? Either way Lula and its leaders are possibly going through that awkward stage where coping with a new identity demands flexibility and perseverance.
ITEMS DISCUSSED AT MONDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING
City council heard from City Manager Dennis Bergin that four bids were received by the city for liability insurance coverage. The bids ranged from $29,516 to $54,262 per year for roughly $17-million of protection.
City Attorney Jim Homans urged the city to take the terrorism and cyberterrorism options that are available. Homans said recently several cities have been victims of ransomware attacks. “That’s what local governments are really faced with now. Several local governments, they were down, and they were without use of their computer…no email, no payments coming in.”
City Manager Dennis Bergin said of including cyberterrorism coverage, “That’s certainly one that’s not optional; it needs to be a part of our everyday life as far as liability goes. Unfortunately, that’s a sign of the times.”
Council agreed to delay selection of an insurance provider until members could study details in the four offers received.
Then Bergin updated the council on progress being made in the renovation of the Train Depot: “We really have seen a lot of activity; you’re starting to see brick go up, the rough-in electrical…and plumbing is done…but it won’t be done in time for Railroad Days.”
Additionally, the council voted to submit the updated Department of Community Affairs Plan to Atlanta; to begin the steps of creating a Development Authority Board, including the advertising and application process for filling board positions; to renew the contract with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office for housing inmates; to delay until additional input could be gathered the selection of a new city logo and marketing strategy; and to increase the number of meetings at which city council members are eligible for compensation.
Mayor Pro-Tem Marvin Moore said the move to begin the process of increasing the number of pay-eligible meetings did not include an increase in the amount paid. He explained that the ordinance currently in place caps the number of meetings that are pay-eligible based on the number of meetings held many years ago.
“We’re not voting ourselves a raise,” Moore said. “Now, sometimes we have committee meetings and we’re not able to get compensated.”
Written by Marc Edgars
