The Stockbridge City Council voted at its Oct. 10 regular meeting to approve a change order that will save the city more than $50,000 on amphitheater improvements. The agreement for parking lot improvements on North Lee Street was altered from the original amount of $801,554 to $750,007.81, according to a staff report. The funding source is SPLOST.

The council tabled a proposal to amend the city’s amphitheater policy to create a non-compete clause for private events and concerts while also providing for revenue sharing on for-profit events. According to the proposed changes, nonprofits must partner with the city for concerts and partnerships must be presented to the council for approval.

In other business, a new lieutenant position was approved for the Stockbridge Police Department. The stated reason for the request was to more efficiently manage police operations and reduce costs associated with administratively uncontrollable overtime.

Also approved was the renewal of a one-year contract for  police chief Frank Trammer, who was first hired in September of 2021 to spearhead the formation of the department, which officially began serving the public July 1 of this year.

The council approved a $591,294 bid award to Diversified Construction of Georgia for water control office and lab renovation services, and the $131,787 purchase of a Caterpillar track loader, or skid steer, for the Water and Sewer Department. The cost of the vehicle will be split evenly between the Water and Sewer accounts.

An Adopt-A-Road Program agreement with James E. Acey Lodge No. 600, to adopt Campground Road from Winbrook Drive to Hwy. 42, was approved.

The council amended the city’s FY 2023 LMIG road improvement list to remove Northbridge Drive and replace it with Burke Street and the portion of Davis Road that was impacted by the Burke Street sewer project.

City officials will proceed with the application process for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant program through the U.S. Department of Transportation after the council voted to authorize it. If received, the grant would support planning activities and preliminary engineering for the construction of a pedestrian bridge alongside the ML King Sr. bridge. The total project cost of $205,239.10 would require a 20 percent city match of $41,047.82 with the remainder of the money coming from federal funds. The city’s portion would be covered by TSPLOST revenue.