COUNCIL MEETING

October 16, 2008

  

Mayor Tipton called the meeting to order and Council Rawlings opened in prayer.  Councilman Ray made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2008 meeting, Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.  Councilwoman Win made a motion to approve the agenda of the October 16, 2008 meeting Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Under administrative and committee reports, Councilman Myrick advised that the Recreation Department will be having their Homecoming Parade Saturday October 25th.

 

Councilman Strozier reported that the drainage canal has made a significant improvement in the city with the recent 4-5 inches of rain and citizens that would have had flooding has experienced a remarkable relief.  Citizen Patricia Rowland expressed her appreciation to the Mayor and Council for the construction of the canal and reported that Ash Street has always had standing water but during the last rains there was no standing water in the area.  Councilwoman Winn reported that several citizens had expressed that they would usually flood but had seen a great improvement since the construction of the canal.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

The bids received for the surplus items were opened with a bid from Dottie Shearouse in the amount of $215 for the 1992 - 120 gallon propane tank ¾ full, and from Christopher S. Terry in the amount of $185 for the Wisconsin Engine Model VG4D.   Councilman Strozier made a motion to accept these bids, Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to allow City Administrator Brady to execute the sale for the remaining surplus items at the minimum bid should someone come and request to purchase them.  Councilman Strozier seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

The Mayor advised council the city had received the interim approval letter from DCA for the West Chatham Solid Waste Management Plan and the next step in the process to meet the October 31, 2008 deadline is to approve the resolution formally adopting the Plan.  Councilman Ray made a motion to approve said resolution formally adopting the plan, Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Mayor Tipton advised council the City had received a request from GMA to participate in the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade 50th Anniversary Celebration by providing gifts to the Georgia Regional Hospital.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to participate with a $200 contribution in gifts, Councilman Ray seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

The Mayor informed council that pay request #3 received from J. Hiers Construction, Inc. for $200,954.68 has been reviewed and recommended for payment by Thomas & Hutton and City Administrator Brady.  Councilman Ray made a motion to pay the invoice, Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.   The Mayor informed council that the remaining balance of the invoice is $184,137.02.  Mayor Tipton questioned City Administrator Brady of the estimated time of completion and Mr. Brady advised him the work should be completed by the first of the year.

 

Mayor Tipton requested that council authorize the solicitation of bids for the proposed fire department building.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to proceed with the solicitation of bids only for the three bay fire department building, Councilman Waller seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

The following recommendations/reports were submitted by the Planning Commission:

 

  1. The Planning Commission recommends approval a minor subdivision and a 3’ variance submitted by Dennis Hall for his property located at #208 Elm Street.  The subdivision will consist of two lots and a variance is requested for the existing mobile home on Lot 2A to encroach onto the side yard setback approximately 3’ with the understanding that future structures must meet the required 10’ setback.  Councilwoman Winn made a motion to approve the subdivision and grant the 3’ variance with the understanding that any future structure placed on the property would have to meet the required 10’ side yard setback, Council Strozier seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

  1. The Planning Commission recommends council’s consideration of the adoption of a proposed tree ordinance.  Councilman Ray made a motion to table action of the adoption of the ordinance to allow further review by council and Attorney Dickey, Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Mayor Tipton advised there was an executive session on tonight’s agenda for the discussion of litigation issues.  Councilman Waller made a motion to adjourn into executive session, Councilman Ray 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 approve the execution of the affidavit as required by the Open Meeting Act.  Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

After a review of the accounts payable, Councilman Ray made a motion to pay the bills, Councilman Waller seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Being no further business, Councilman Waller made a motion to adjourn at 7:20pm, Councilwoman Winn seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.

 

Minutes taken by:  Diane Proudfoot, Asst. City Clerk

Mayor Tipton and all councilmembers were present at 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 present to council.  The statements of individuals are not verbatim and may be summary in nature.