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The City of Hogansville approved multiple items on its agenda Tuesday night, including raising the millage rate by seven percent for properties designated as a blight.

A blighted property is the legal term for property or land that is in a dilapidated condition. The city must follow a thorough process before giving a property a blighted designation.

As part of the process, the city can apply to have the home inspected, and if designated, the landowner will have to pay seven times more than the previous percent of three.

The city also approved a land swap between two neighboring residential property owners, so that each can more easily access their own driveways and property. The two properties are located off Hightower Road, and Mobley Bridge Road in Hogansville.

The council also approved an amendment that allows the city manager and city to hire an officer to perform the duties of an assistant city manager.

According to Interim City Manager Lisa Kelly, it creates a new position, but currently, there are no plans to fill the position. Now that the position has been created and placed in the city code, the city has the ability to hire an assistant city manager if needed.

“There was nothing in the current code that would allow in future, but now there is,” Kelly said.

The city also discussed other items during its meeting including:

• The second reading and adoption to the camera-ready ordinance to repeal and delete the permit fee section.
• The second reading and adoption of the amendment of the foreclosed and vacant property ordinance that allows any owner of a vacant or foreclosed real property, which is required to be registered with the city, shall be required to make a payment in the amount of $100 for administrative fees.
• A certification approval of the Hogansville City Mayor Bill Stankiewicz appointing the mayor as USDA liaison.
• The city approved a $50,000 grant and $87,000 loan to purchase three new police department vehicles for Hogansville.