Athens City Council President Ronnie Marks said Friday that there is no other option for building the new city hall except at the present site.

The council met opposition from a community group after it was learned that city officials were considering building the new city hall at the edge of Big Springs Memorial Park. Marks said early last week that the park option is “off the table” and he was “99-percent” sure that the council would vote choosing to build the new city hall at Hobbs and Marion streets after demolishing the current structure.

However, Monday’s City Council agenda does not list a vote on choosing the site.

“I don’t know of any other site,” said Marks. “I think the council will be voting for the current location.”

Marks said he attended a meeting Thursday organized by local resident Chris Paysinger in the Big Springs Park pavilion in which residents were invited to air concerns about the location and design of the new city hall.

Marks said he, one other councilman and Mayor Dan Williams took under consideration the sentiments expressed at the meeting.

“The current location is No. 1 –– no other site is under consideration,” said Marks. “We have been through 13 or 14 possible sites in the last two years and we are down to one and I don’t know of any others.”

Other business

These are the items on Monday’s council agenda:

• Public Hearing to hear comments on the sale of alcohol for Wing Zilla Grill –– formerly Limestone Tavern –– by new owner Kwang Stophel;

• Travel expenses for the Electric Department;

• Public hearing concerning the vacation of a portion of Lawson Street;

• Municipal Judge Don Mansell’s annual salary through 9-30-2012;

• Sale of alcohol for I-65 Citgo at 1404 Highway 72 East (new owner);

• Final results for the FY 2010 Electric Department’s budget;

• Flooring repair at Jimmy Gill Park;

• Municipal appropriations/contracts and third party non-governmental entities;

• Application for a Hazard Mitigation Grant for the Water Department;

• Paving South Hine Street from U.S. 72 to Sanderfer Road.