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Wastewater treatment plant replacement filters delayed
Hinesville City Hall
Hinesville City Council meets in City Hall at the corner of Commerce Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. - photo by File photo

During a Sept. 19 regular Hinesville City Council meeting, councilmembers were informed that air diffusers which were installed in the bottom of the Fort Stewart Wastewater Treatment Plant treatment tanks needed to be replaced after failing. The normal lifespan of these EPDM rubber air diffusers are said to be 4 to 7 years, but these have failed ahead of time, according to city staff. It was recommended that the Hinesville City Council approve the purchase of 2,200 new air diffusers which would be purchased from Aqua Aerobics or SSI for $57,260.00. An investigation was launched in February 2019 to look into the failing diffusers, but, after a lengthy discussion, councilmembers determined that the issue needed to be looked into further before a decision could be made. 

Ordinance #2019-01 was adopted and Chapter 3, Article II, Section 3-106 (d) (8) of the Code of the City of Hinesville was amended. This allows Hinesville to amass $250 late fees from Class I, II, and IV licenses. These licenses refer to alcoholic beverage and food sales. The city council also approved the addition of Section 3-106 (d) (9) which would automatically place a nonrefundable mailing fee against aforementioned licensees every time the city is required to mail a late notice or similar notification. 

The city council approved a request made by Leah Poole of the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce to sell beer and wine at the Low Country Boil event. 

The city council and mayor have also accepted a $129,000 Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Emergency Solutions Grant. The grant is to further four initiatives. These initiatives are, according to city of Hinesville public records: Hotel/Motel vouchers with a grant amount of $50,000, rapid re-housing with $30,000, homeless prevention with $30,000, and coordinated entry with $19,000. The city must match the grant amount for a total cost of $258,000. 

Hinesville became an “Entitlement Community” in 2004 and has been eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding allows the revitalizing of neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing and economic opportunities, and improving community facilities that benefit extremely low to low-to-moderate income persons. 

The city council approved the submitting of a CAPER report which details the spending of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The 2018 CAPER report covers July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019. 

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