Cumming’s effort to build a new Department of Driver Services center has been stalled by construction issues, the city council learned Tuesday night.

To remedy the matter, the council gave Mayor H. Ford Gravitt the go-ahead to push Professional Contractors of Marietta to get started as soon as possible on the site off Pilgrim Mill Road at Exit 16 off Ga. 400.

The mayor will work to negotiate a starting time, but said he would withdraw the deal if the contractor isn’t willing to meet the city’s timetable.

Work on the $839,000 facility, which is being built next to the city’s new aquatic center, was expected to begin in September.

Officials have previously said the driver services center would take about 10 months to complete.

At first, the delay was because the city had no electricity at the site, Gravitt said during Tuesday’s meeting.

However, no work has been accomplished in the two months since the city got power out there.

The structure will replace the existing and cramped facility, which shares space with Georgia State Patrol Post 37 on County Way in north Forsyth.

In addition to the aquatic and driver services centers, that stretch of Pilgrim Mill will be home to a National Guard armory.

The city is also in talks about bringing a possible Cumming campus of North Georgia College & State University there.

Also at Tuesday night’s meeting:

• The mayor and council got their first look at the 2011 budget. The spending plan was distributed to staff, but will not be made public until Dec. 6.

• City officials talked about several purchases, including those for Cumming police.

Council approved buying new radios at a cost of about $57,000, as well as one patrol car for $28,250.

The planning and zoning department will also receive a new vehicle, which Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said he would negotiate with a local dealership.

• In order to work on the Lanier Beach South pump station, the city will spend $12,500 for an easement required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The money, which is for the corps’ easement processing fee, will come from municipal water and sewer funds.