The effort to save several downtown Aiken buildings once slated for demolition could move forward Monday evening.
The Aiken City Council is expected consider an agreement with the firm Colliers International to market Hotel Aiken, the Holley House/Motor Court, the Taj Aiken building, the C.C. Johnson building and the Warneke Cleaners building to potential buyers.
Colliers International is an international, publicly-traded investment management firm.
Colliers will look for potential buyers that want to restore or reuse the buildings except the Holley House/Motor Court which was built in 1981, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said Thursday afternoon.
Colliers intends to solicit bids rather than list the buildings, Bedenbaugh said in the agenda.
The contract between the city and Colliers International is for one year with a mutual option for a one-year extension, Bedenbaugh continued.
Colliers would receive 4%, $160,000, of the first $4 million the buildings sell for, Bedenbaugh said.
If the buildings sell for more, Colliers would receive an additional percentage of the sales price according to the contract.
The city council voted unanimously March 11 to accept the recommendation of city staff to select Colliers to market the buildings.
The city issued a request for qualifications to find a firm to help it market the properties in December.
Planned for second and final reading is an ordinance adding $2.4 million the city received from Aiken County when it purchased the former Municipal Building to the city's budget.
Friends and employees of Rural Health Services celebrated one of their own April 16 at the Clyburn Center, gathering to cheer the near-complet…
Also planned for first reading is authorizing Bedenbaugh to serve as the contract authority for the city's local public administrator process with the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Resolutions scheduled for consideration include:
• Authorizing an application to the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund for a loan for the new water treatment plant;
• Approving an amendment to an agreement with the McLean family regarding the planned Powderhouse Connector; and
• Allocating unused Capital Project Sales Tax IV funds for public safety equipment.
The council is also expected to consider the reappointment of Susan Trotter to the Equine Committee and the appointments of Graham Hall to the Recreation Commission, Gary Senn to the Energy and Environmental Committee, Caleb Connor to the Planning Commission and L. J. McGhee to the Community Development Committee.
The Environmental Committee will present environmental awards.
The council will also meet at 5 p.m. for a worksession to receive an update on the new Shaws Creek Water Treatment Plant and to discuss the city's budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Both the worksession and the council meeting will take place on the third floor of the Municipal Building located at 111 Chesterfield St. SW.
