COUNCIL MEETING

July 19, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Mary Mitchell leading in prayer. 

 

Mayor Tipton introduced Bloomingdale’s first City Administrator, Robert Brady, who thanked the Mayor and Council for giving him the opportunity to serve in this position.  Mr. Brady stated that he felt he could be an asset to the City and looked forward to helping the elected officials and the citizens to meet the challenges facing Bloomingdale as impending growth comes this way. 

 

Councilman Myrick presented the Outstanding Citizen Award to Dexter Shearouse for his contributions to the City as a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission and for his involvement in his community through volunteer efforts.  Councilman Myrick commented that Mr. Shearouse was a life-long resident who not only thought enough about Bloomingdale to live here, but he also operates his business in the City and stated that he knew him to be very passionate about his love for his hometown.  Mr. Shearouse thanked the City for this recognition and expressed his appreciation for being able to serve Bloomingdale.

 

The minutes of the June 21, 2007 council meeting were presented with Councilwoman Winn making a motion to approve the minutes and Councilman Ray seconding the motion.  The minutes passed with six affirmative votes.  The minutes of the called council meeting of June 28, 2007 were presented and Councilman Ray made a motion to approve the minutes.  Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.  Councilman Rawlings abstained from voting on these minutes since he was not present at the meeting.

 

The agenda of the July 19, 2007 meeting was presented for council’s approval.  Councilman Rawlings made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Mayor Tipton stated that the agenda included Latrelle Kling’s request for updates on revisions to the drainage plan and scheduling of a public meeting as postponed at her request from the June 21st meeting.  The Mayor recognized Ms. Kling who stated she wanted to read a prepared statement including comments from the Spirit newspaper, but Mayor Tipton advised her that her agenda request was for updates on the drainage plan and public meeting, not for her to read information from the paper.  Ms. Kling continued to talk and to present this information and the Mayor asked her to stop and listen to him.  When Ms. Kling kept on talking, the Mayor instructed her to have a seat.  Mayor Tipton informed her that she was not going to disrupt these proceedings and the items that were going to be discussed would be those on the agenda.  The Mayor further stated that her personal attacks on him and members of the council were not going to be tolerated and her disrespect of him and the council members was not acceptable.  Mr. Kling advised the Mayor that Ms. Kling was not showing disrespect she was merely reading information for discussion, but when the Mayor asked Mr. Kling to be quiet so the meeting could proceed, he continued making comments and Ms. Kling started talking again.  Mayor Tipton then stated that both Mr. and Mrs. Kling were excused from the meeting and asked Lieutenant Walker to escort them out of the building.

 

Mayor Tipton addressed the citizens and advised them that the meetings were going to be conducted in an orderly fashion and discussions would include the items on the agenda.  The Mayor stated that the council welcomed participation from Bloomingdale’s citizens and felt different viewpoints were important, but those persons showing disrespect for the elected officials or the staff during meetings would not be recognized.

 

Council was advised that letters had been sent out to the property owners along Poplar Street requesting that any obstructions that had been placed in the roadway be removed so the City has access to utility services and for public safety protection.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

The Mayor presented a request from Wayne Newton for a home occupation license, but since Mr. Newton was not present, Councilman Strozier made a motion to table discussion on the request until he could be present to answer questions.  Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Council discussed a request from Diana Schroeder to operate the “office only” of a maid service from her residence located at #214 Conaway Road.  Ms. Schroeder stated that she and her daughter would be working in the business and there would be no outside traffic related to the business coming to the residence.  After a brief discussion, Councilman Myrick made a motion to waive the public hearing requirement and to issue the home occupation license as requested by Ms. Schroeder.  Councilman Strozier seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

The Mayor recognized Patrick Kelley who has requested an individual well permit to serve the residence located at #12 Ray Street.  Mr. Kelley stated that he has recently purchased the property and is required to install his own well.  It was noted that council must approve the issuance of all well permits in the City.  Councilman Strozier made a motion to approve the issuance of the well permit, Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Council was advised that the City had received a request from Rose Sanders at #408 Maple Street to install a shallow well for irrigation purposes only.  The Mayor recognized Brad Proudfoot who was present at the meeting to speak on Ms. Sanders’s behalf.  Mr. Proudfoot stated that he did her yard work and although she was on City water for drinking purposes, she wanted to install a shallow well for irrigation.  Councilman Myrick pointed out that it was imperative that there was no connection whatsoever to the City system from the shallow well and Mr. Proudfoot assure him that there would be no tie-in to the City water from this well.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to issue the well permit, Councilman Strozier seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

The Mayor presented a request from Michelle Brant for a refund of the $100 rental fee for use of the Bloomingdale Community Building because the event could not be held due to a death in the family.  The Mayor pointed out that a 30-day advance notice was normally required to obtain a refund, but council has the option to waive this requirement under special circumstances.   Councilwoman Winn made a motion to issue the refund to Ms. Brant, Councilman Strozier seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Mayor Tipton reported that council needed to approve the addition of City Administrator Robert Brady as a signer on City checks and for other financial business and for the execution of the required resolutions and signature cards.  Councilman Waller made a motion to approve said action, Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

The Mayor stated that he had been talking with City Administrator Brady about impact fees and asked that he provide council with information on this issue.  Mr. Brady stated that with the impending growth expected for Bloomingdale, it would be his suggestion to pursue an impact fee study for either water and sewer services or for all services provided by the City such as roads, recreation, public safety, drainage as well as water and sewer.  Mr. Brady explained that if impact fees were imposed, the cost of the study would be recovered through these fees, but he needed to know if council wanted to proceed with obtaining cost estimates for some or all of the services.  Councilman Rawlings asked if planning issues could be included in these services, but was advised by Attorney Dickey that the state controlled the type fees that could be recovered and they only included capital improvement items.  Council discussed this issue and decided that the City needed to pursue impact fees for all services, but felt a cap of $25,000 should be placed on the amount they were willing to spend on the study.  Councilwoman Winn initially made a motion to have Mr. Brady proceed with getting the study done with a cost cap of $25,000, but withdrew the motion after additional discussion.  Council discussed the need to get at least three (3) quotes to perform the study and agreed to a cap of $25,000.  The council directed Mr. Brady to proceed with getting prices on an impact fee study to include all services and they were advised by Attorney Dickey that a motion would not be needed until Mr. Brady brought back a recommendation for their consideration.

 

Mayor Tipton presented to council for discussion the distribution of a questionnaire to the citizens regarding the garbage service.  Council agreed that there have been problems with the sanitation service being provided to its citizens and felt a questionnaire for citizen input and suggestions may be needed before negotiations began on a new contract.  It was noted that the current contract with Republic Waste Services, Inc. expires in November, 2007.  After additional discussion, Councilman Myrick made a motion that a questionnaire be sent out to the citizens to receive input on the service and possible ways it could be improved, Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.  Mayor Tipton asked that the General Services Committee meet to develop the format for the questionnaire so it could be sent out to citizens as soon as possible.

 

Mayor Tipton reported that this concluded the items that were received by the council meeting agenda deadline of Friday, July 13, 2007.

 

Mayor Tipton stated that immediately after the meeting the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department would be providing a video presentation from the Ware County fires.

 

Under committee reports the Mayor stated that Public Works Superintendent Ernest Grizzard had been working hard to get the maintenance records on all vehicles and equipment put on the computer and he commended him on his efforts.  The Mayor recognized Fire Chief Tyler who reported there had been 256 total responses year to date by the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department which included fire calls, medical assistant calls and other responses. 

 

The accounts payable were reviewed.  Councilman Ray made a motion to pay the bills, Councilman Rawlings seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. 

 

Being no further business, Councilwoman Winn made a motion to adjourn, Councilman Waller seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned at 7:25pm.

                                                                    

Mayor Tipton and all councilmembers were present at the meeting.

 

Note:  Section § 50-14-1 of the Official Code of the State of Georgia Annotated requires that the minutes shall, as a minimum, include a description of each motion or other proposal made, and a record of all votes.  These minutes meet the minimum requirements.  However, in an attempt to provide as much information as possible to the citizens, the recording clerk has included additional background data and discussion on the subjects presented to council.  The statements of individuals are not verbatim and may be summary in nature.