Official Council Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2010
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor with Councilman Myrick leading in prayer. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the adoption of the draft copy of the minutes of the March 18, 2010 council meeting noting that a public hearing is scheduled for discussion of the update to the City’s Impact Fee Ordinance, Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the agenda of the April 1, 2010 meeting. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton opened the Public Hearing on the City’s Impact Fees for discussion. Councilman Baxter expressed concerns with the amount of the fees and expressed that impact fees can only be used on capital improvements not on staffing to accommodate the growth and felt we should look for an alternate source which would supply funds for capital and operating expense. Mayor Tipton advised there are projects that are being considered in the upcoming SPLOST funds but as the city grows they would need to continue with impact fees or taxes to provide funds for the growth. He expressed that council would work hard and look closely at meeting the needs of the city. Councilman Crosby felt small businesses could not afford to come into the city and an individual could not afford to build a home in the city at a cost of approximately $13,000 with impact fees and tap fees. Councilwoman Griffin agreed with Councilman Crosby and expressed that individuals would be looking at what the City of Bloomingdale would have to offer when paying this kind of fee and felt the higher fees would steer them to a city with lesser fees who offered more to the citizens. Councilman Myrick felt the city should concentrate on the revenues that would work to benefit us and help growth and he felt that council should have a workshop to work on these issues. Councilman Rawlings felt the city is competing with cities with development authorities working on their behalf and felt the city was too high and needed to get to a more competitive number which would attract large companies. At the end of the public hearing council decided to set up a meeting as soon as possible with Barry Hall, the representative with SPM Group to explain to council the details and options of the impact fees. The public hearing was closed.
Under administrative and committee reports, Councilwoman Griffin informed council that Recreation Director Joe Young had decided to go with the AT&T air-card for the internet service at Taylor Park. Councilwoman Griffin noted that a ribbon cutting ceremony for the concession building addition would be held on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 6:30pm at Taylor Park. She also reported that the recreation department has complete sign-ups and has 12 softball/baseball teams and 2 tee ball teams. Councilwoman Griffin stated that after the last meeting she had gotten three bids on the playground equipment for the Poplar Street Park and the committee would be making a decision on which bid to accept in the upcoming week. Council was advised there are a couple of trees that will need to be removed to prepare the site for the installation of the equipment. Councilman Kerby reported that the enclosure at the maintenance building for the housing of the fire equipment has been completed but there is a leak in the roof. Mayor Tipton complimented Councilman Kerby and Ernest Grizzard for the cleaning of the Main Street property and the disposal of the tires. Councilman Myrick advised council that the reserve and emergency funds approved at the last meeting are being set up and the 1980 Water Bond has been paid. Councilman Crosby stated that the Planning Commission meeting is held on the second Tuesday of each month and the agenda items for the next meeting include a seven (7) lot rezoning request, amendments to the zoning ordinance and additions to the list of permissible uses in some zoning districts. Councilman Baxter informed council that there was a good turn-out at the pre-bid meeting for the fire department building and site preparation projects with about 18-20 contractors in attendance. Councilman Baxter noted that a large turn-out usually indicates the City will get a really good bid. Councilman Myrick commended Ernest Grizzard for identifying a few unnecessary items in the fire department bid package that could save the City approximately $100,000. Councilman Rawlings informed council about a debt collection service provided by GMA and as the chairman of the water/sewer committee, he would like to meet with them to check into this option of debt collection. It was noted the service could be used for delinquent balances owed for water, sewer, sanitation, fire protection and/or court fees.
OLD BUSINESS:
Councilman Myrick advised council that former Councilwoman Winn and other members of the last administration had put a lot of work into the preliminary plans for the Veteran’s Memorial project for which a $20,000 donation had been received from AMB. He stated that EMC Engineering Company is willing to work with the city on this project and prior to going much further with the design plans, a decision needed to be made on a specific location for the memorial. Councilman Myrick noted that one site being considered is the lot directly in front of City Hall and the other site is near the recently purchased brick structure on Highway 80 between Pine and Poplar Streets. Councilman Myrick stated would like to meet with the elected officials in the next couple of weeks to share with them all the information he had on the project.
NEW BUSINESS:
Council reviewed a request from Kimberly Strickland on behalf of Bird Motor Vehicles to obtain a letter from the city stating the property located at #1412 W. Hwy 80 is zoned for “Used Car Sales” which would be included in the packet they have to submit to the State to obtain a “Used Car Sales” License. Ms. Strickland stated that it would take approximately 60 to 90 days to obtain her state license once this information is submitted. Councilman Baxter made a motion to issue a letter of zoning compliance for Used Car Sales at #1412 W. Hwy 80 and issue a temporary Occupational Tax Certificate for the sale of used vehicles at this location with the stipulation that a copy of their state license is provided to the City within 90 days from the issuance of the occupational license. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton recognized Shelly Drescher who had submitted a request for the issuance of a home occupation license to operate the “office only” of an electrical business from her residence at #10 Drescher Road. Council was advised there would be no 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 issue the home occupation license as requested. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The Mayor informed council we are experiencing theft problems of the manhole covers near the lift station on Little Neck Road. Councilman Baxter questioned whether the manholes were located within the easements dedicated to the City of Bloomingdale and stated that if they were we needed to replace them and secure them with spot welding, but if not, we needed to contact the persons responsible for the manholes. It was noted that the area around the lift station needed to be fenced and council was advised that a price of $1600.00 had been obtained several months ago. Councilman Baxter made a motion replace the manhole covers located within the easements dedicated to the City of Bloomingdale, to install fencing of the area around the lift station on Little Neck Road, and to amend the FY 2009/2010 budget in the amount of $1600 to cover the cost of the fencing with monies to come from funds on hand. Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Councilman Kerby presented council with bids for a zero turn radius mower to replace the mower for the maintenance department due to the transmission breakdown. The bids received were as follows: Andy’s Lawn Machinery - $11,699, Gnann’s Fixit Shop - $18,999 and Hendrix Machinery - $11,594. Councilman Kerby made a motion to accept the bid from Hendrix Machinery in the amount of $11,594, to declare the old mower as surplus and to amend the FY 2009/2010 budget for this expense to be obtained from funds on hand in the General Fund. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Councilman Kerby informed council that a leak had been discovered in the roof over the area that had been closed in for the storage of the fire department equipment and that he had obtained bids for repair from the following: Metal Building Maintenance in the amount of $6,800 and Airco for $7,600. Councilman Kerby made a motion to accept the bid of $6,800 from Metal Building Maintenance and approve an amendment to the FY 2009/2010 budget to include this expense with monies to be obtained from funds on hand in the General Fund. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Council discussed the possible annexation of properties located in the unincorporated areas on John Carter Road. It was noted that the services that could be provided at this time would be police, fire and sanitation, but with water and sewer availability being years down the road. Council discussed consideration of the 60% annexation method. Council agreed to allow Councilman Baxter to obtain a map of the areas that council may wish to consider for annexation.
Councilman Baxter made a motion to adjourn to executive session for the discussion of real estate and personnel issues. Councilwoman Griffin 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.
Councilman Myrick made a motion to pay the bills, Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 8:50pm. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Respectfully submitted, Diane Proudfoot, Asst. City Clerk
Mayor Tipton and all council members 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.