Official Copy of the February 3

Official Copy of the February 3, 2011 council minutes

approved at the February 17, 2011 meeting

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Councilman Myrick leading in prayer. The draft copy of the minutes of the January 20, 2011 was presented for approval with Councilman Myrick making a motion to approve said minutes. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes. The agenda of the February 3, 2011 was reviewed. Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve the agenda, Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Under administrative and committee reports, Councilman Myrick reported that the members of the Veterans’ Memorial Committee had met to discuss the project and noted that HGBD Engineering firm was in the process of preparing conceptual drawings for review. Councilman Myrick stated that once the location and specific plans had been determined, he hoped that everyone would support the project not only for the veterans that had served in the past, but also for those who were currently serving their country. City Administrator Akridge reported that a meeting had been scheduled for February 7, 2011 at 6:00pm the City Hall for members of the Recreation Executive Board, Recreation Committee members and staff to discuss their current and future priorities for the program and to discuss funding sources available for projects. Mr. Akridge stated that he and other staff members had met with Courtney Reich with Ecological Planning Group to review the draft of the City’s Stormwater Management Plan the firm had prepared on the City’s behalf. He reported that the plan is required by the EPD as part of the NPDES permit and is due by March 1, 2011. Mr. Akridge reported that he had met with Republic Waste to discuss the complaints the City had received regarding missed pickups, overturned garbage cans, and, most recently, a hydraulic leak that their garbage truck had left on City streets. Council was advised that Republic will be providing a presentation on a recycling program at our next meeting and Mr. Akridge also reported that a request will be presented for council’s consideration by Republic for a 1.2% CPI base increase effective as of January, 2011. Mr. Akridge stated that he had been appointed to the transportation planning committee with the Metropolitan Planning Commission. Councilman Rawlings informed council that the Bloomingdale History Society will be holding their 5^th Annual Meeting on February 21, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Bloomingdale Community Building and will be serving breakfast that will include pancakes, eggs, sausage and other items. Councilman Rawlings extended an invitation to everyone to attend and noted that there will door prizes consisting of four (4) yearly memberships to the History Society. Councilman Rawlings noted that plans were underway to work with the area churches to have an Easter egg hunt at the Bloomingdale Community Building on April 23^rd and the History Society was hoping that the City could help finance the renting of blow-up amusement rides at an anticipated cost of between $200 & $400. Councilman Rawlings stated that the History Society was also planning their annual recognition of veterans on Memorial Day. Councilwoman Griffin asked Recreation Director Joe Young to give council an update on the basketball program and plans for the baseball/softball season. Mr. Young reported that there were current four teams from Bloomingdale involved in the basketball program and our home games were being played at the Garden City gym. He advised everyone that T-ball/baseball/softball signups for ages 4 to 14 years of age would be held at Taylor Park on Pine Barren Road on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00pm until 7:30pm and on the first and third Saturdays from 10am until 12noon. Mayor Tipton announced that the City of Bloomingdale had been re-certified by the Georgia Municipal Association as a City of Ethics. The Mayor noted that the engineers were still in the process of updating the design plans for Phase II of the drainage improvement plan and there will be another public meeting for citizen input prior to the approval of the design plans by council. Mayor Tipton noted that the Bloomingdale Fire Department had recently been called to a house fire on Garvin Street and although there was lots of damage to the residence, the fire department had done a good job at the scene and he commended them for their willingness to serve their community in this capacity.

OLD BUSINESS:

There was no old business on the agenda.

NEW BUSINESS:

Council reviewed a request from Thomas R. Key to obtain a home occupation license for the operation of the “office only” of a handyman/carpentry/restoration business from his residence located at #208 Chestnut Street. Mr. Key stated that he was an independent contractor and would be the only employee. He advised council there would be no signs on the property. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the waiver of the public hearing requirement and issue the home occupation license as requested by Mr. Key. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Council was advised that the City had received a request from Nancy Stafford for the issuance of a home occupation license for the operation of the office of a taxi service from at #201 W. Garvin Street and she indicated she would be using her personal vehicle, but noted there were two employees in the business. Councilman Myrick stated that he had some concerns about the operation of the taxi service from a residential location since there was more than one employee; however, Ms. Stafford was not at the meeting. Council was informed that she had verbally indicated she wanted to come off the agenda, but had not submitted anything in writing to confirm her request, so the item was left on the agenda. Councilman Myrick made a motion that prior to being placed back on the agenda; Ms. Stafford would have to resubmit a home occupation business license application. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Councilman Baxter presented two pay requests from Kern-Coleman & Co., LLC submitted on behalf of Marchese Construction, LLC for work performed on the new fire station. Councilman Baxter stated that the requests consisted of Pay Request #5 for $18,924.26 for a correction in the invoicing for the period up to December 7, 2010 due to a mathematical error from a previous payment request. Councilman Baxter noted that Pay Request #6 covers work up to January 17, 2011 in the amount of $171,353.74 and the engineer is recommending payment of this request. Mayor Tipton asked that these requests be handled individually and Councilman Baxter stated that, in the future, if there needed to be two separate motions that the pay requests be placed on the agenda as two entirely separate items. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve payment of Pay Request #5 from Marchese Construction, LLC in the amount of $18,924.26. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes. Councilman Baxter then made a motion to accept the recommendation from Kern-Coleman & Co, Inc. to approve payment of Pay Request #6 in the amount of $171,353.74 from Marchese Construction, LLC for work performed on the new fire station. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Councilman Rawlings reported that the Bloomingdale History Society is requesting council’s consideration to use the Bloomingdale Community Building for their annual meeting on Monday, February 21, 2011 with a waiver by council of the rental fees. Councilman Rawlings made a motion to approve their request, Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Council was advised that Recreation Director Joe Young had submitted a request to add Jonathan Wade to the Recreation Executive Board for a term that expires on June 30, 2012. Councilwoman Griffin stated that she had known Mr. Wade all his life and felt that he would be a great asset to the program. Councilwoman Griffin made a motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Wade to the board, Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

City Administrator Akridge presented information on the re-distribution of FY 2010/2011 appropriations for council’s approval. Mr. Akridge requested that funds allocated under the capital expenditures line item for the purchase of the property at #5 Adams Rd be re-distributed into the payment of loans, interest expense, and lease payment line items to properly post the bank note and lease payments. The amount to be transferred is approximately $34,000. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the re-distribution, Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

The accounts payable were reviewed with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 7:25pm. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

Respectfully submitted, Sandra Jones, City Clerk

Mayor Tipton and Council members Baxter, Griffin, Kerby, Myrick and Rawlings were present at the meeting. Councilman Crosby was in Athens attending a seminar.

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.