BALDWIN, Ga. – Baldwin City Council members will return to the dais Tuesday night with a full agenda that revisits several policy questions including a controversial annexation request tied to Cook Construction along the GA 365 corridor. The council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom on Willingham Avenue.
At the top of the agenda is the first reading of two ordinances connected to the proposed Cook Construction annexation: an annexation ordinance and a companion zoning ordinance. The request involves property along GA 365 that was previously part of a failed annexation attempt in Cornelia, an issue that has fueled months of public debate and drawn the attention of state lawmakers.
The council discussed the scope and implications of the request during a work session on Jan. 6, when newly sworn-in council members began outlining their priorities and concerns. Records obtained by Now Habersham show the annexation proposal would bring commercially significant acreage into the city, with potential impacts on zoning, infrastructure, and long-term development along the Red Apple Corridor.
The annexation has also become part of a broader conversation at the state Capitol, where legislators are weighing possible changes to Georgia’s annexation laws following high-profile disputes across Northeast Georgia. While no final action is expected Tuesday, the first readings mark the formal start of the council’s legislative process on the matter.
Other business
In addition to the Cook Construction ordinances, council members will consider a first reading of a proposed charter amendment ordinance, another item previewed during the Jan. 6 work session as the city evaluates updates to its governing framework.
Also on the agenda is authorization to rebid construction of the wastewater treatment facility solids handling building. City leaders have said rebidding the project could help control costs amid ongoing infrastructure demands tied to growth and regulatory requirements.
The council will also revisit a solid waste collection agreement listed under old business, continuing discussions that have included service terms and operational considerations for residents and the city.
Earlier in the meeting, council members are expected to act on several consent agenda items, including the addition of a code compliance position, the creation of budget line items for a school resource officer, and approval to sell a fire department mini pumper.
Public comment is scheduled near the start of the meeting as former councilwoman Alice Venter is scheduled to speak during this time, followed by a report from City Engineer Fletcher Holliday on water and wastewater matters.
An executive session is planned for land acquisition or disposal, after which the council will return to open session for announcements and adjournment. The meeting is open to the public, and accommodations are available upon request through the city clerk’s office.
