Official Minutes of Council Meeting - August 18, 2011

Approved by City Council September 15, 2011

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro-Tem Baxter with Councilman Crosby giving the invocation.  Councilmembers Baxter, Crosby, Griffin, Kerby, Myrick, Rawlings, City Administrator Akridge and City Attorney Dickey were present.  Mayor Tipton was sick.

 

Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the draft copy of the July 21, 2011 council meeting minutes, Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda for the August 18, 2011 meeting.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. 

 

Administrative & Committee reports:

 

City Administrator Akridge reported on the following:

1.      The financial report for the first two months of the new fiscal year with the standard being 8.33% - the general fund revenue came in at 6.68% with water/sewer on target at 8.14%, the expenditures came in with the general fund at 8.55% and the water/sewer at 5.12%

2.      The Drainage project is proceeding quickly with a pre-bid meeting to be held on August 25th at 2:00pm

3.      39 drainage easements have been signed at this time with 20 remaining  

4.      The City received correspondence from EPD that our “Annual Stormwater Report” has been approved

5.      Welcomed Ms. Mays and newly hired part-time employee, Matthew Kicklighter to the recreation department and newly hired full-time employee, Nick Birchfield to the maintenance department

6.      Mr. Akridge requested that Chief Tyler give an update on the Fire Station who reported that it is approximately 100% with the remaining being the internal items and they should be moving in within the next few weeks

Councilman Crosby reported on the following:

1.      Bingo has been a great fund raiser for the Museum and there is always a full house

2.      The History Society has applied for a grant that could result in approximately $20,000 in revenue

3.      The Planning & Zoning Commission held a workshop but at this time there isn’t much going on

Councilwoman Griffin reported on the following:

1.      The Church softball league ended with a great season

2.      The Football Rama will be hosted by Bloomingdale and will be held on September 10, 2011 -  volunteers would be greatly appreciated

3.      Football/cheerleading signups are taking place at Taylor Park & City Hall until September 10, 2011, there are three football teams and two cheerleading groups at this time

4.      Introduction of Marsha Mays, who is serving as an intern for the Recreation Department and has contributed some awesome administrative skills to the department  

Councilman Kerby reported on the following:

1.      The new canal will be mowed by Chatham County at no cost to the city around September 15, 2011

Councilman Myrick reported on the following:

1.      The Veterans’ Memorial committee met with an Engineer and also a company who is helping put together a design to be brought back to council at a later date

Councilman Rawlings reported on the following:

1.      Saturday, August 27th from 5:00-7:00 will be an “Employee Appreciation” night at the Community Building with free bingo, hotdogs and drinks

 

OLD BUSINESS:  None

 

NEW BUSINESS:

1.      Presentation – Alzheimer’s Association - Jami Murray, Development Director with the Alzheimer’s Association who covers 15 counties in Coastal Georgia.  Tonight’s presentation is to bring awareness to the huge issue of safety and wandering of seniors in our state.  In Georgia over 200,000 suffer with Alzheimer’s disease and over 14,000 of those are in the Coastal Georgia area.  The Alzheimer’s Association offers a program called “Safe Return” which issues secured bracelets to seniors at no charge.  The bracelets are engraved with an ID number and a 1-800 number that puts the caller in touch with the Safe Return Medic Alert agency which has access to the National Database that has the family contact information matching that ID number.  The bracelets can be obtained by contacting the office at 912-920-2231 Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.  Ms. Murray reported there is another program similar to the “Amber Alert” called “Mattie’s Call” for seniors diagnosed with dementia and cognitive related diseases that will get law enforcement involved immediately when someone is reported missing.  Mattie’s call is a state wide program so if an Alzheimer’s patient is missing the family will contact the local police department which will issue the alert.  When an alert is issued the Alzheimer’s Association will utilize the national hotline and also send state workers out to assist in the search for the missing individual.  There is also a more sophisticated program offered by Chatham, Bryan & Effingham Counties which uses a radio-wave bracelet.

2.      Public Hearing – Short Term Work Plan Update – The Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Pro-Tem Baxter.  City Administrator Akridge reported that the Short Term Work Plan is a five year projection plan which is part of the Comprehensive Plan for the City and the Georgia Planning act of 1989.  The Short Term Work Plan Update is basically a report of accomplishments of the last five years as required by state law.   There being no comments Mayor Pro-Tem closed the public hearing.

3.      Consider an increase in the fees for Home Occupation License - Councilman Crosby made a motion to table this item.  Councilman Rawlings seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. 

4.      Affirm two payments to Groundworks Contracting, Inc. in the amounts $22,339.13 and $4,414.31 for work on the Fire Station.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to affirm the two payments to Groundworks Contracting, Inc. for work at the Fire Station in the amounts of $22,339.13 and $4,414.31.  Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

5.      Consider payment to Marchese Construction, LLC in the amount of $46,487.70 for work on the Fire Station.  Councilman Kerby made a motion to make the payment to Marchese Construction, LLC in the amount of $46,487.70 for work on the Fire Station.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

6.      Consider proposal to increase the fee for driveway installations.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to increase the driveway installation fees to cover the cost the city is paying out.   Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

7.      Consider Resolution authorizing the submittal of the Short Term Work Plan Update.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the Resolution authorizing the submission of the Short Term Work Plan update.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

8.      Consider renewal of Temporary Certificate of Zoning for an open air produce stand located at #704 W. Hwy 80.   Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the renewal of the Temporary Certificate of Zoning until December 31, 2011 at a cost of $75 for the open air produce stand owned by David Frizzell located at #704 W. Hwy 80.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

9.      Consider entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bloomingdale Historical Society, Inc. for a Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Product Development Grant.  Councilman Crosby explained the History Society is applying for a grant for the History Museum with the possibility of being awarded up to $20,000.  The grant would be a matching grant with a 60-40 ratio and the History Society would be paying $12,000 cash and $8,000 in-kind funds.  He stated that with the great success of the bingo night there should be no problem matching the funds and by the next bingo night they should be raised approximately $9,000 toward the matching funds.  After this explanation, Councilman Crosby made a motion that the City enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Bloomingdale and The Bloomingdale Historical Society, Inc. for the Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Product Development Grant.  Councilman Rawlings seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

10.  Consider a request for a Home Occupation License from Mike Stanley to operate the “office only” of a Horizontal Directional Drilling business at his residence at #23 Morgan Road.   Councilman Rawlings made a motion to waive the public hearing and issue a home occupation license to Mike Stanley to operate the “office only” of a Horizontal Directional Drilling Business at residence at #23 Morgan Road.  Mr. Stanley was advised there should be no traffic related to the business at his residence and he stated that he understood this stipulation.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. 

11.  Consider a request for a Home Occupation License from Gene Allen to operate the “office only” of a mobile small engine repair business at his residence at #7 Oak St.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to waive the public hearing and issue the home occupation license to Gene Allen to operate

the “office only” of a mobile small engine repair business at his residence at #7 Oak St.  Mr. Allen was advised there should be no traffic related to the business at his residence and he stated that he understood this stipulation.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

12.  Consider a request by the Fire Department to expend SPLOST funds in the amount of $9,226.50 for miscellaneous items/equipment.  Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve the request by the Fire Department to expend $9,226.50 from SPLOST funds for miscellaneous items/equipment.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

13.  Consider the authorization to demolish of old structures on properties owned by the City located at #1203 E. Main St., the old Singleton house on the Railroad Bed, #203 E. Hwy 80, #4 Pine St., and #8½ Pine St.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to demolish the structures on the four listed properties owned by the City.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.  Councilman Crosby stated that Sarah Yednock of Coastal Regional Commission had been in town and he had taken her to the site of the History Museum which is adjacent to #203 E. Hwy 80 and upon seeing the site, she advised Councilman Crosby that there are grants available the City could apply for which would assist in obtaining a gazebo, sidewalks, shrubs and a park for the Museum area.

 

Mayor Pro-Tem Baxter reported that this concluded the items present for consideration for inclusion on the council agenda prior to the deadline of Wednesday, August 10, 2011 and opened the floor for any comments.

 

Councilman Myrick commended the History Society for the Bingo night which has proved to be an awesome fund raiser event but beyond that has offered our citizens a great avenue of fellowship with each other.  Citizen Betty Burke thanked the Mayor and Council on the many projects that are in the works.

 

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

 

There being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 7:35pm.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six 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.