WARNER ROBINS – Mayor Chuck Shaheen was outflanked by four City Council members at Monday’s meeting with regard to the proposed new $9.5 million Law Enforcement Center.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Wilbanks was successful in gaining approval for the center’s original concept and building, something first proposed five years ago. Joining him were council members John Williams, Mike Daley and Paul Shealy. Voting against were council members Tom Simms Jr. and Daron Lee.

The council also approved motions from Williams to have City Attorney Jim Elliott research funding opportunities, renew the contract with the builder, and appraise 34 acres the city owns on Olympia Drive.

Shaheen, taken off-guard by the motions, remarked “Y’all been working hard on this, right?”

“Since 2005,” replied Wilbanks.

The location of the center is another thorny issue, and Jimmy Perkins Park, located next to the Homer J. Walker Civic Center, has been mentioned frequently.

Shaheen invited Annette Perkins Alexander, the late Jimmy Perkins’ sister, to address the council and she said the park should remain a recreational site for the city’s youth and seniors.

Wilbanks remarked his motion concerned the building itself, not the site.

Lee, apparently upset, said he had not been part of the discussions and chided the other council members.

“There’s something fishy here,” Lee said, adding later that he would give an A to council for spending money but would flunk them on the knowing about sources of funds.

The city has $5 million in funds from the special purpose local option sales tax to pay for the center. Sources for the remaining $4.5 million is to be researched by Elliott.

“I haven’t heard from you guys on this,” Shaheen said. “I know what’s going on here; I’m not stupid.”

The council also heard the first reading of an 8 percent hotel-motel tax, which was last discussed in August.

Of the funds raised, 3 cents would go to the city’s general fund, 2 cents would go to promoting events through the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1.5 cents would go to the Museum of Aviation, and 1.5 cents would go toward construction of a Welcome Center on Russell Parkway at i-75.

Debra Bouvia, general manager at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, repeated her opposition to the tax and said it would hurt her business and others in the city.

“The Welcome Center is a noble cause, but it won’t put heads on beds,” Bouvia said. She also questioned how the city would spend funds raised by the tax.

She said the hotel owners association would like to see some of the money used for recreational facilities that would attract sports tournaments, specifically citing soccer as a sport that would attract thousands of families.