Macon-Bibb County commissioners gave unanimous approval Tuesday night to retirement incentives for up to 200 government employees.

If that many take the offer, it could cover much of the $10 million in savings needed to balance the upcoming annual budget.

Up to 400 workers could be eligible for the various offers, which include:

-- Allowing those within two years of retirement a "bridge" to qualify now.

-- A higher calculation of monthly benefits.

-- Health insurance subsidies until retirees are eligible for Medicare.

But the incentives will only be available until July 31, and retirement would become effective no later than Sept. 30, according to the proposals.

A second round of approval from the full commission is needed in two weeks for the incentives to take effect.

INVESTMENT CONSULTANT

Following a long debate in closed session, commissioners voted 8-1 to seek new proposals for a consultant to manage investments for the Macon-Bibb active pension plan. Commissioner Mallory Jones voted no.

Independent Portfolio Consultants was hired in September and reported Tuesday that the pension fund's value has risen by $4 million to $115 million in six months; but Commissioners Gary Bechtel and Larry Schlesinger questioned whether the firm's selection was tainted by County Manager Dale Walker's prior acquaintance with Cheryl Underwood, senior consultant for IPC.

"Just knowing the person is not a legal matter," County Attorney Judd Drake said.

Underwood was a benefit advisor for the Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Michigan from 2004 to 2007, while Walker was chairman of that organization's board.

Macon-Bibb commissioners will remain in charge of the pension plan while the issue is decided, and IPC will remain in charge of the investments.

BOND ISSUES

Commissioners unanimously approved issuance of $28.3 million in bonds, with half that amount going to refinance older bond issues at better rates. Of the rest, $10 million is for a large-scale targeting of abandoned or run-down property. Another $2 million is for more work in the Beall's Hill neighborhood, and the last $2 million would be used to buy and clear empty houses on Wise Avenue, near the intended site for Macon Charter Academy. Commissioners amended the plan to specify that the Wise Avenue money will be spent on building athletic fields, which Macon-Bibb will continue to control even after the school is built.

Lonnecia Maxwell, chairwoman of the academy's board, said the school is a $9 million project.

SENIOR CENTER DEBATE

About two dozen senior citizens turned out to protest the selection of the Bloomfield recreation center as the new site for a senior citizens center. Former Bibb County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards was one of several speakers who said seniors don't want to be mixed in with young people at Bloomfield. He said they want a downtown location.

A total of $2.7 million is allocated for a new senior center, and putting it at Bloomfield also would allow the use of some money earmarked for that location's improvement, Mayor Robert Reichert has said. Commissioners previously voted for the Bloomfield site, and an architect is working on detailed plans.

In other business, commissioners:

-- Unanimously backed the Macon-Bibb County Housing Authority's application for tax credits to replace the 75-year-old Tindall Heights public housing complex. The first step in replacing the 412 existing units with 270 larger ones. The overall project, divided into several phases, is expected to cost $40 million and take several years.

-- Agreed unanimously to let Georgia Power Sports LLC lease part of Sandy Beach at Lake Tobesofkee for personal watercraft and paddleboat rentals, near the site of the new Lost Island Water Park. But commissioners cut the proposed lease from five years to three, at $840 a year.

-- Approved seeking proposals for a feasibility study on attracting a minor-league baseball team, and a study seeking a redevelopment plan for Pio Nono Avenue. Both votes were 8-1, with Commissioner Bert Bivins voting against the baseball study and Commissioner Mallory Jones opposing the Pio Nono study.

-- Unanimously approved two contracts for street work: a contract for Glasson Enterprises LLC of Acworth will get $368,737 to redo 1,798 square yards of brick streets on Orange Street, Orange Terrace, High Street, High Place and Dures Lane, while Womack Paving will get $1.4 million to resurface 24 asphalt streets. The money will come from annual state road funding.

To contact writer Jim Gaines, call 744-4489.

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