December 18, 2008
CUMMING - In a slight shake-up, the Cumming City Council heard a request by Georgia State Senator Jack Murphy to build a new driver's license and state patrol office within city limits at the Dec. 16 meeting.
"I've spent four years working very hard to bring a new driver's license facility to this county," Murphy said.
According to Murphy, the current facility is not adequately equipped or sized to handle the county's growth in recent years.
"This is very much needed," he said. "We've got to provide a better facility for our residents."
The state's proposal would require the city to build a new 8,500 square foot building on a site that could also encompass a driver's license testing area, which could include a motorcycle test area and perhaps even a CDL test area.
The building itself would be geared toward customers, with only 20-25 percent of the area set aside for offices and bathrooms. Initial estimates postulate the facility could be constructed for less than $1 million, according to the state.
The state budget currently has $150,000 set aside to lease the building from the city, according to Murphy.
"It's been hard to keep it in there," he said.
The senator had originally approached Forsyth County to build the facility.
"I thought we had it, but then it didn't occur," he said.
The agreement was halted when the county learned the state could negate their lease contract in the future if there were no funds. The council approved moving forward with looking over the agreement between the city and state.
-The council also approved a measure to allow Mayor Ford Gravitt to negotiate a property lease between the city and the National Guard for space to recruit and train soldiers.
"We want the National Guard to be here [in the city] and stay here," Gravitt said.
Any agreement would have to come back before the council for final approval.
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