The Douglasville City Council Monday discussed establishing Nov. 3 as the date of the municipal general election for four Council seats and Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 as the qualifying period for potential candidates.

On the ballot will be the Ward 1 seat currently held by Charles Banks; the Ward 2 seat held by Dennis McLain; LaShun Danley’s Ward 3, Post 1 seat and Callye Burk-Holmes’ Ward 3, Post 2 seat.

City Manager Bill Osborne said qualifying for eligible candidates will cost $180, which is a percentage of what the Council seat pays. Qualifying fees are set by state law, Osborne said.

A special election for a tax allocation district (TAD) referendum similar to the referendum denied last November by city voters will be held the same date as the general election.

In other business, the Council discussed advertising for sealed bids for the construction of a new community center in Hunter Park and the renovation of ball fields, parking areas, playgrounds and auxiliary buildings in the park.

Mayor Mickey Thompson said he wants the Council to take measures to ensure local contractors get a chance to bid on both projects.

The Council also discussed authorizing Thompson to sign a $22,625 agreement with Camacho Associates to design a full-service kitchen for the proposed new Douglasville Downtown Conference Center, which will be located across the street from the current conference center in the city parking lot.

Approval of a $96,674.34 change order with C.W. Matthews Construction Company for the installation of seven median breaks for the Bright Star Road connector project was discussed.

Officials said the cost of these necessary median breaks was not considered in the initial engineering plans.

The Council considered paying Plantation Pipeline an additional $49,215 from 2002 SPLOST funds for the cost of required adjustments to an underground pipeline at the site of planned intersection improvements at Rose Avenue and Highway 5.

Michael Farmer requested a change in zoning for 6.54 acres at 7240 Bankhead Highway for use as an impound and storage lot for vehicles.

Thompson questioned the appropriateness of the business for this location.

“There’s a place for automobile storage, and generally that’s not in a city’s main corridor,” Thompson said, adding the Council has “worked hard to improve the visual image of this city.”

The Council also considered the annexing into the city and rezoning of 2.319 acres at 2164 Fairburn Road for use as a liquor store.

The annexation of 2.06 acres at South Hillcrest Drive and Longview Drive behind the proposed public safety and municipal court building for use as an exit for emergency vehicles was also discussed at Monday’s meeting.

Agenda items discussed Monday will be voted on during a regular City Council meeting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.