Official Minutes Council Meeting – January 21, 2010
Approved by Council February 4, 2010
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor with Councilman Baxter leading in prayer. Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the adoption of the draft copy of the minutes of the January 7, 2010 council meeting with no changes, Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda for the January 21, 2010. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Under administrative and committee reports, Councilwoman Griffin reported that the construction of the handicap bathroom/upstairs storage addition at Taylor Park is coming along great and hopefully will be complete by February. Councilman Myrick reported that with the volunteers and donations the cost is coming in about 25% less than projected. Councilman Crosby reported that he and two of the Planning Commission members will be attending school in Athens in February and reported that another school will be available in August to move forward in getting all members certified in Planning & Zoning. Councilman Kerby advised there were a couple of calls regarding drainage and he and Superintendent Grizzard rode around and found leaves in some ditches but there was no major problems. Mayor Tipton advised that Councilman Kerby is looking into playground equipment for the Pavilion area allowing citizens an area they can utilize in the future.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Mayor informed council the discussion of appointments of Seat #’s 5, 6, & 7 and the appointment of officers for the Planning Commission needed to be removed from the table. Councilman Crosby made a motion to remove this item from the table. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Councilman Myrick made a motion for the following seat appointments to the Planning Commission: Seat #5 - Glenda Key, Seat #6 - Jarod Waller, Seat #7 - Midge Wynn. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Councilman Baxter made a motion to appoint the following officers for the Planning Commission: Chairman - Dexter Shearouse, Vice Chairman – Buddy Wellmaker, Secretary – Susan Rogers. Councilman Rawlings seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Tipton stated council needed to consider the re-appointment of Attorney Earle Duncan to continue representing indigent defendants as the Public Defender for Bloomingdale’s Recorders’ Court for the 12 month period from March, 2010 through February, 2011 at a fee of $3950. Councilman Baxter made a motion to re-appoint Attorney Earle Duncan as the Public Defender for the Recorders’ Court at a fee of $3950. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Mayor reported that the City had received a commitment of participation from the State for the paving of Stagecoach Road in the amount of $200,000. Council was advised that a note of thanks was in order to Senator Carter and the DOT representatives for the promoting of this commitment. Councilman Baxter made a motion to move forward with the bid process and allow the Mayor to execute the contract with the State. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Mayor Tipton noted that the funds covering the city portion of the project are available in SPLOST funds.
Mayor Tipton recognized Darren Tuitt, Director of Development Services for JDH Capital who has been working with the city on a water/sewer agreement for the JDH Capital development at Stagecoach Road and Hwy 80. Attorney Dickey informed council the development would be known as “Cherry Woods Village Shopping Center” housing a main grocery store, other stores, outparcels, a proposed red light at Stagecoach, turning lanes on the Stagecoach and water/sewer infrastructure that would open up the city for future development. The contract concerns the funding of the development in which JDH Capital or its successor will pre-pay impact fees to the City of Bloomingdale and the City will reimburse JDH as impact fees are received by the city from new development. The reimbursement to JDH Capital for the prepaid impact fees are established as Zone A, B and C with a designated percentage of reimbursement per zone. After discussion, Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the agreement with JDH Capital and upon receipt of the executed agreement from JDH Capital, LLC permit the Mayor to begin the process with the Engineers revising the plans and proceed with the bid process. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Council discussed setting the annual sanitation rate for D.K. Morgan’s mobile home parks for 2010. It was noted that the City’s policy has been to base his annual fees on the monthly rate times the number of occupied lots in each park as of January 1st. Since Mr. Morgan pays the fees, in advance, for all his parks, he has received a discount of $1.00 per month for each lot. Council discussed offering this discount to all citizens of Bloomingdale who wish to pay their sanitation fee in advance for the year. After discussion, Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the $1.00 discount per occupied lot for Mr. Morgan’s mobile home parks for 2010 and recommend that Attorney Dickey draft an ordinance for review by council allowing every citizen of Bloomingdale the opportunity to receive the $1.00 discount for prepayment of their sanitation bill for the year. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton informed city council that there is an ongoing problem with the water main between the 1000 & 1100 block of U.S. Hwy 80. After a brief discussion, Councilman Kerby made a motion to table action of this matter to allow the ISO representative to complete his study. Councilman Rawlings seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Council discussed a request from the Police Department for the transfer of line items within their budget for the purchase of a new vehicle in the amount of $21,903. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the transfer of funds as requested by the Police Department in the amount of $21,903 for the purchase of a new vehicle. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Mayor reported that council needed to approve an amendment to the FY 2009/2010 budget to include the purchase of the 22 acre tract adjacent to Taylor Park at a purchase price of $158,521.60. The Mayor stated that the closing of this property took place last week. Councilman Myrick made a motion to amend the FY 2009/2010 budget in the amount of $158,521.60 for the purchase of the property with monies to be expended from the General Fund with the reimbursement to the General Fund from SPLOST monies. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton recognized Gaddy Turner who had submitted a request to place an additional rental trailer on his property located at #120 Towles Road. It was noted that Mr. Turner’s property, consisting of 5 acres, was annexed into the City in 1998 and the rental trailer that was on his property at that time was “grandfathered-in” as a “non-conforming” use. The City’s Zoning Ordinance only allows for one principal building per tract of land. After a brief discussion, Councilman Crosby made a motion not to allow the additional rental trailer on the property located at #120 Towles Road. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with affirmative votes from Councilmembers Baxter, Crosby, Griffin, Myrick and Rawlings. Councilman Kerby abstained from the vote.
Council reviewed a request from the Bloomingdale History Society to use the Bloomingdale Community Building at no charge for their annual meeting to be held on February 8, 2010. Councilman Baxter informed council that the Bloomingdale History Society was very generous in setting up and serving refreshments for the reception at the inauguration of the City Council and in appreciation felt it would be fair to grant their request this year. Councilman Baxter made a motion to waive the $125 rental fee of the Bloomingdale Community Building for the Bloomingdale History Society. Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Citizen Barbara Rawlings of the Bloomingdale History Society thanked council and extended an invitation for everyone to attend the meeting and that a “good ole” Bloomingdale supper would be served February 8, 2010 at 6:30pm.
Councilman Baxter made a motion to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel issues. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
At the conclusion of the executive session, Councilman Myrick made a motion to return to the general session and to execute the signed affidavit as required by the Open Meetings Act. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton presented a Construction Management Contract for compensation to Mr. James Cannon in the amount of $5,000 for the supervision and management of the construction of the addition to the Bloomingdale Recreation building at Taylor Park. Councilwoman Griffin made a motion to execute the contract for compensation in the amount of $5,000 to Mr. James Cannon for the supervision and management of the construction of the addition at Taylor Park. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Mayor presented the accounts payable for approval and Councilman Crosby made a motion to pay the bills. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 7:50 pm. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Respectfully submitted, Diane Proudfoot, Asst. City Clerk
Mayor Tipton and all councilmembers were present for 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.