Official Minutes Council Meeting – November 17, 2011
Approved by Council December 1, 2011
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Councilman Myrick giving the invocation. Councilmembers Crosby, Griffin, Kerby, Myrick, Rawlings, City Administrator Akridge and City Attorney Dickey were present. Councilman Baxter is out of town for funeral.
Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the November 3, 2011 council meeting and the draft copy of the minutes of the special called meeting of November 15, 2011. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda for the November 17, 2011 meeting with the addition of item #8 a request from Alan Hamrick for a temporary permit to sell Christmas trees from his property located at #506 W. Highway 80. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
Administrative & Committee reports:
City Administrator Akridge gave the following report:
1. Financial report as of November 15th with the standard being 41.65% of our budget – revenues stand
at 27.12% for General Fund and 31.40% for Water/Sewer; the LOST revenue is at 28.25%
2. The Personnel Committee will meet on December 1, 2011 at noon to discuss employee Christmas
Bonuses, insurance issues, personnel policy and pay scale
3. The City Attorney and the City Administrator will be working on an alcoholic beverage ordinance in conjunction with the passage of the alcohol referendum on November 8, 2011
4. A report of the bank account balances has been distributed in council baskets for review
5. The City received correspondence from DOT indicating there would be two streets resurfaced next year which are: Cregor Street beginning at West Haven and ending at Cypress for 2/10 mile and the other Oak Street from Cregor Street to the dead-end for 1/10 mile
6. The Chatham Municipal Association meeting will be hosted by Garden City on December 7, 2011 at Carey Hilliards with the social beginning at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:00pm
7. United State Postal service sent a correspondence advising the Area Mail Processing study was complete and a public input meeting will be held on November 29, 2011 at 6:00pm at the Southwest Chatham Library
Mayor Tipton reported on the following:
1. The motor grader is temporarily out of service
Councilwoman Griffin reported on the following:
1. Proudly recognized the 10 & under Pee Wee Boys football team and coaches who ended the football season with a record of 8 & 0 to win the CAA Conference Championship
2. Recognized the parents of the team and thanked them for participation in the Bloomingdale Recreation Department
3. Recognized Recreation Director Joe Young who with great pride presented the CAA Championship trophy to the team and coaches
4. Announced that the Mayor has made arrangements with Ottawa Farms for all of the team members to attend the “corn maze” at the farm
5. Reported that the Homecoming parade went well and felt it was one of the best yet
6. The Annual Santa Fire truck ride through the city will begin at 10:00am on December 10 and will be followed by the Children’s Christmas party from 2:00 to 5:00 at the Fire Station
Councilman Crosby reported on the following:
1. The History Society has taken a break with the Bingo until the first of the year
2. The Bingo raised $30,869.59 (minus expenses) from May until last Friday, with the funds going into the renovation of the History Museum
3. The first annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on November 26th at 5:00pm with a special guest singer, joint singing, the unveiling of the Bloomingdale Train, hot cocoa and a visit from Santa
4. The Notice to Proceed on the Heritage park has not been received as of this date
Councilman Kerby reported on the following:
1. Acknowledge how proud he was of the team for their championship win
Councilman Myrick reported on the following:
1. The Veterans’ monument is moving right along
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Tipton
Mayor Tipton stated the public hearing was being held to receive citizen input on a request
submitted by Mr. Marcus Grant for a variance of 5’ on the side yard setback and 6’ on the rear yard
setback to allow room to build a garage on his property located at #17 Douglas Court. Citizen Bruce
Knight, an adjacent property owner at #15 Douglas Court, expressed his concern regarding drainage
and his concern of the closeness of the building should a fire ever take place. Mr. Grant reported
that his desire for the variance was to build a garage to work on their cars and also install a car lift to
store his classic cars. Councilman Crosby questioned if he had gotten any type of drainage plan
done on his lot, Mr. Grant stated that he had not but the neighbor at #19 Douglas Court had built up
their lot by about 10” which has caused drainage onto his property.
Mayor Tipton closed the public hearing
2. Consider a request by Mr. Harold Yellin, Attorney for Courtland Partners, to de-annex 4.2 acres on Pine Barren Road for an apartment development. Councilman Crosby made a motion to table action on this matter. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
3. Consider the issuance of a well permit to Mr. & Mrs. Danny Russell for #426 Adams Road. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the issuance of a well permit since the city does not have water service at this location. Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
4. Consider a variance request submitted by Mr. Marcus Grant for a 5’ side yard setback variance and a 6’ rear setback variance for his property at #17 Douglas Court. Councilman Crosby made a motion to require a drainage plan be submitted for further review by the Planning Commission. Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes. Councilman Myrick requested that the Maintenance Department look into the issue, brought out during the public hearing, of the built up property by the adjacent property owner causing drainage problems for Mr. Grant’s property.
5. Consider a request from Mr. Marcus Grant to construct a garage/storage building over 500 square feet on his property located at #17 Douglas Court. There was no action on this matter
6. Consider a request from Mr. Derek Goodson for a Home Occupation license for the “office only” of maintenance and repair business at his residence located at #309 Miller Street. Councilman Crosby made a motion to waive the public hearing requirement and issue the license. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
7. Consider a proposal submitted by Kern-Coleman to complete the cost estimates in the amount of $500 for the Recreational Trails Grant with $3,500 of in-kind services for the conceptual plan. Councilman Crosby made the motion to accept the proposal as stated. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
8. Consider a request from Alan Hamrick for a temporary permit to sell Christmas trees from property located at #506 W. Highway 80. Councilman Myrick made a motion to issue the temporary permit for the sale of Christmas trees at the fee set in the fee schedule. Councilwoman seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton reported that this concluded the items presented for consideration for inclusion on the council agenda prior to the deadline of Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
Rhonda Hammond, retiree with the US Postal Service, informed citizens that the Area Mail Processing study was completed and the results of the study were in favor of closing the Savannah & Bloomingdale offices. She advised there would be a public meeting to share the results of the study and allow citizens to ask questions and provide feedback. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 6:00pm at the Southwest Chatham Library on Abercorn Street.
The accounts payables were presented with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
There being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 7:15pm. 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.