Official Minutes of Council Meeting – June 21, 2012

Approved by Council July 19, 2012

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Councilwoman Griffin giving the invocation.  Councilmembers Baxter, Crosby, Griffin, Kerby, Myrick, City Administrator Akridge, Fire Chief Tyler and Asst. City Clerk Diane Proudfoot were present.  Councilman Rawlings was absent due to illness.

 

Mayor Tipton congratulated Councilwoman Griffin on her recent retirement from the Chatham County School System after teaching for 38 years.  Councilwoman Griffin and Recreation Director Joe Young recognized the Bloomingdale Girls 10 & under softball team along with Coach Earl Yarbrough and also the Boys 8 & under baseball team along with Coach Richard Duke for completing the CAA 2012 season UNDEFEATED and also present the CAA Championship trophy to both teams for this title.

 

Mayor Tipton recognized Representative Ron Stephens who introduced Meg Daly Heap, Candidate for District Attorney for Chatham County, who gave a brief description of her career and requested the support of the Bloomingdale City Council and citizens in the upcoming November election.

 

Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the May 17, 2012 meeting.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the agenda of the June 21, 2012 meeting.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

 

Administrative & Committee reports:

 

City Administrator Akridge reported on the following:

1.      The April SPLOST came in at $50,426.07

2.      The City received word on Wednesday the Georgia DNR Land/Water Conservation Grant the City applied for in February for the paving at Taylor Park was not going to be awarded to the City

3.      Acknowledged the display of the very first City Logo Flag which would be hung outside on Friday

 

Councilman Kerby reported on the following:

1.  The striping of Adams & Conaway Road will be taking place on Friday

            2.  The expected completion date of the current drainage project is September

 

Mayor Tipton recognized Boy Scout Hunter Boatright who is attending the meeting tonight as part of his pursuit to achieve Eagle Scout rank.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

  1. Police Department promotion – Interim Chief Roy Pike.  Councilman Baxter made a motion to appoint Captain Roy Pike as Interim Police Chief due to the retirement of Chief Gossett.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and the motion passed with five affirmative votes.  Interim Chief Pike introduced the officers and staff of the Police Department. 
  2. Consider a request submitted by Jerry Swagert to operate an Open Air Market on Highway 80.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the Temporary Certificate of Zoning for the operation of an Open Air Market and to extend the certificate through December 31, 2012 with the payment of the fees to cover that time period.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  3. Transportation Enhancement (TE) Rails to Trails Public Hearing/Presentation.  City Administrator Akridge introduced Engineering Consultant Mark Crapps with Kern-Coleman & Co., LLC and gave a report that a public presentation was necessary as part of the Rails to Trails project and advised City Council & citizens that a conceptual plan was submitted to Georgia DOT with an anticipated approval within the next few weeks.  The floor was opened for any questions or comments regarding the project – there were none.   
  4. Consider a Resolution for Transportation Enhancement (TE) Rails to Trails project for equipment purchases.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve a Resolution of Acceptance for all street furniture and site amenities to be acquired from one vendor for the Rails to Trails project.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  5. Consider setting the Millage Rate at 0.00 for the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to set the millage rate at 10mils and roll back the rate to 0mils.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  6. Consider approval of the proposed 2012-2013 Fiscal Year Budget.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the FY2012-2013 budget and budget resolution.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.    
  7. Consider approval of the 2012-2017 Five -Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the CIP Priority List.  Councilman Myrick reported that there were available funds left in the 03-08 SPLOST monies after the completion of the dedicated projects specifically the Fire Department, and by the direction of Chatham County those funds could be rededicated to set a current priority list for Capital Improvement items.  Councilman Myrick gave a brief review of the top nine items on the priority list: Police vehicles, Fire and City Hall vehicles, Maintenance Department concrete enclosure, a sidearm mower, an excavator, loan payment, Historical Museum renovation and Veterans Monument.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the Capital Improvement Plan and priority list.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  8. Consider increase in Water and Sewer Rates ($.50 Cent Base/$1.00 Usage).  Councilman Myrick made a motion to table action on this item.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  9. Consider increase in Fire Protection Rates.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the changes to the fire user fee as follows: 1) eliminate the category rate of $6.00 for $20,000 & under home value, 2) to start billing all occupants in the unincorporated areas served within the City Fire District at a rate of $15.00 with NO discount for ages 65 & over and bill the unincorporated commercial customers at a rate 25% higher than the current commercial rates with an effective date of July 1, 2012.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with affirmative votes from Councilmembers Myrick, Kerby & Griffin, Councilmembers Baxter and Crosby opposed the motion. 
  10. Consider allocation of $125,134.24 to establish Phase III Drainage Fund from existing 2008-2013 SPLOST funds ($74,213.78) and existing Drainage Money Market Account ($50.920.46).   Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve the allocation of $125,134.24 to establish a Phase III Drainage fund with $74,213.78 coming from the existing 2008-2013 SPLOST fund and $50,920.46 coming from the Drainage money market account.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  11. Consider purchase of two (2) trucks for use in the Water/Sewer Department in the amount of $38,971.44 to be funded from the Water/Sewer Operating Fund.  Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the purchase of two trucks for use in the Water/Sewer department in the amount of $38,971.44 to be expended from the Water/Sewer operating fund.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  12. Consider Change Order #1 in the amount of $4,850 for the Phase II Drainage project – Paula Bunton  Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve change order #1 in the amount of $4,850 for the Phase II drainage project for piping of ditch at Pine & Moore Street.  Note:  This was an issue discussed during the citizen meetings but was inadvertently left off the plans.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  13. Consider Change Order #2 in the amount of $5,500 for the Phase II Drainage project – Moore and Chestnut Streets.  Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve change order #2 in the amount of $5,500 to install pipe in the ditch at Moore & Chestnut Street due to the ditch being closer to this home than was realized when reviewing the plans.  After discussion, Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  14. Discussion of possible Change Order for the Phase II Drainage project – Rails to Trails parking lot – no action was taken on this item.
  15. Consider authorization to apply for Assistance to Firefighters Grant.  Councilman Baxter made a motion to authorize Chief Tyler to apply for The Assistance to Firefighters Grant.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

 

Councilman Myrick made a motion to adjourn into executive session.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.  At the conclusion of the executive session, Councilman Myrick made a motion to return to regular session and approve the execution of the affidavit as required by the Open Meetings Act.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

 

Mayor Tipton reported that this concludes the items presented for consideration for inclusion on the Council agenda prior to the deadline of Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

 

The accounts payables were presented with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills.   Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

 

There being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 8:20pm.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Diane Proudfoot, Asst. City Clerk

 

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.