A Northside recreation park is one step closer to coming to fruition in the City of Aiken.
On Monday, the Aiken City Council will vote whether to authorize the purchase of roughly 118 acres for the proposed Northside recreation park.
The 7 p.m. meeting is open to the public and will be held in the Municipal Building's Council Chambers, 214 Park Ave.
For several years, City officials have discussed expanding recreational opportunities to residents on Aiken's Northside. The Northside park would be an addition to the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center and Citizens Park.
The City has more than $4 million under two rounds of Capital Project Sales Tax to both purchase land and build a Northside recreation center.
Glenn Parker, the City's Capital Project Sales Tax manager, has been working with a real estate agent to find a property appropriate for the park's development.
Several properties on Aiken's Northside were reviewed by Council; but, ultimately, staff recommended the purchase of approximately 118.35 acres off Columbia Highway/U.S. 1 North.
According to the agenda, a site feasibility study has been developed on the recommended property; and once the land is purchased, the next step would be to determine the estimated cost for the park's development.
The City, at one time, thought about putting the proposed park on top of a former landfill. But that idea was quickly squashed by City Council members who were concerned about putting a center on a location without knowing the full environmental impacts.
In other business, Council will vote on second reading whether to approve the fiscal year 2015-16 budget and the budget's millage, or property tax rate, at 62 mills.
City officials also will discuss how the City's adopted 1 percent hospitality tax will be implemented, after the tax went into effect June 1.
The hospitality tax is a tax on the gross proceeds from the sale of prepared meals, food and beverages, which includes meals prepared in restaurants, fast-food restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and nursing homes.
City officials estimate more than 50 percent of this tax will be paid by people who live outside the City limits, bringing at least $1.2 million per year into the City.
Annually, City officials plan to present a report of projected revenues and a proposed spending plan, and monthly, a report of how much hospitality tax funds have come into the City.
"We will provide you with a monthly report of hospitality tax revenues and expenditures," City Manager John Klimm stated in the agenda. "Once the receipts are properly accounted by our Finance Department, we will issue reports with the second meeting agenda packet each month."
In other business, Council will meet in a 6:15 p.m. executive session in room 204, regarding a "receipt of legal advice related to a pending claim."
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.