Official minutes October 21, 2010 Council Meeting
approved by City Council November 4, 2010
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Councilman Baxter leading in prayer. The minutes of the October 7, 2010 meeting were reviewed with Councilman Baxter making a motion to approve said minutes. Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the agenda of the October 21, 2010 meeting with the addition of item #8 to new business for the discussion of the preparation of a water system model for the City by HGBD at a proposed cost of $3500. Councilman Rawlings seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Under administrative and committee reports, Councilman Baxter stated that the fire building was now “out of the ground” with framing work to begin in the next few days. Councilman Kerby reported that the City closed today on the property located at #5 Adams Road. Mayor Tipton pointed out that the landscaping improvements at the City Hall, Community Building and the police department looked very good. Councilman Crosby noted that the Garden Club had taken an active part in the replacement of plants at the police department with the help of Ernie and the maintenance department crews. Councilman Crosby reported that the Planning Commission will conduct another workshop on Tuesday, October 26th to discuss updates to the zoning ordinance and a public hearing will be held at the November 9th commission meeting for citizen input on the addition of massage therapists and massage parlors to the zoning ordinance. Councilman Crosby also noted that there had been an inquiry regarding construction of a solar energy manufacturing farm in the City and he had been talking with both GMA and City Attorney Dickey on this issue. Councilman Rawlings stated that while researching information related to the replacement of the flow meter at the Maple Street Pumping Station, it was determined that the City of Pooler is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the meter as part of the operation of the treatment facility. Councilman Rawlings advised everyone that there will be another “Evening in the Park” event held on November 13, 2010 from 5pm until 8pm with musical entertainment and food provided by elected officials who will be competing in a “Chili Cook-off”. He stated that a can of food will be considered a vote for your choice of the best chili with the canned food being donated to the community food bank. Councilman Rawlings reported that there will also be door prices given away.
There was no old business on the agenda.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Mayor recognized Bill Grainger who had submitted a request to construct a 60 x 100 sq. ft. building on his property located on Bloomingdale Road just south of his residence for use as a farm equipment storage building. Mr. Grainger’s property is zoned RA-1 and City policy requires council approval for the permitting of enclosed structures consisting of over 500 sq. ft. constructed in residential zones. Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve the issuance of a building permit for the construction of the 60 x 100 sq. ft. building as requested by Mr. Grainger. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Mayor Tipton stated that Mr. Grainger’s property always looked great and thanked him for keeping the areas along Bloomingdale Road so well-maintained. Mr. Grainger thanked him for his comments.
Council reviewed a request submitted by Vickie Sikes on behalf of the Lighthouse Baptist Church to use the City-owned vacant lot between #4 & #8 Pine Street for overflow parking during the church’s hosting of performances of the Judgment House on the nights of October 29th, 30th, & 31st. Councilman Baxter stated that although he fully supported approving the use of the property for parking, he felt we needed to get something, in writing, from the church releasing the City from any liability should any injury or vehicle damage occur during its use by the church and require the church to handle parking and/or traffic control. After a brief discussion, Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the use of the property with the stipulation that the church provide a written agreement outlining their responsibilities as noted above. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton presented Pay Request #5 as submitted by R.B. Baker for work performed through September 30, 2010 on the Stagecoach Road Paving Project in the amount of $148,398.04 for council approval. Council was advised that EMC Engineering recommended payment of the request. It was noted that once the compaction tests were completed the roadway should be ready for paving. Councilman Kerby made a motion to approve payment of the request from R.B. Baker, Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
City Council reviewed Pay Request #3 as submitted by Groundworks Contracting, Inc. for work performed on the fire station project in the amount of $60,312.39. Council was advised that Kern-Coleman & Co., LLC was recommending payment and the request included three change orders already approved by council. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve payment of the request from Groundworks Contracting, Inc., Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
The council discussed Pay Request #1 in the amount of $95,081.30 as submitted by Marchese Construction, LLC for work performed on the fire station project. The council was informed that Kern-Coleman & Co., LLC had recommended approval of the request. Councilman Baxter stated that he was concerned about some of the items listed on the request not being done and some materials not being on the job site and would like the Mayor to verify this information with the engineer before releasing payment. Mayor Tipton stated he would check with Kern-Coleman and asked Councilman Baxter to work with him on this issue since he was not sure which items needed to be verified. Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve payment of the request from Marchese Construction in the amount of $95,081.30 once verification has been provided that there were no items on the request that had not been completed nor materials that were not in our possession. Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes. Fire Chief Tyler advised council that he had some concerns about the ripples that existing in the foundation. He pointed out that the committee had agreed that the concrete floor would be painted with an epoxy coating and if the foundation does not have the proper finish it will not look right. Councilman Baxter advised Fire Chief Tyler that he was being given the authority to get with the contractor to see that any problems with the finish was corrected.
The Mayor presented a request from Fire Chief Tyler for council approval for disbursement of SPLOST 03-08 monies designated for fire equipment in an amount not to exceed $4,500 for the purchase of “Minitor V” Voice Pagers. After a brief discussion, Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve this disbursement, Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Council was advised that the City had received notification from GMA that in order to remain a Georgia Certified City of Ethics, a recertification is required every four years. Along with the submission of all changes to our ethics ordinance since its adoption, the governing body must approve and sign a resolution re-adopting the five ethics principles. Councilman Baxter pointed out that although he supported the continuation of Bloomingdale as a City of Ethics, there could be some problems with the City taking action on issues that may involve directly or indirectly members of council and cited an incident in Pooler where officials were barely able to take action on a matter because several of them were employed by Union Camp. After a brief discussion, Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the resolution re-adopting the five ethics principles. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
City Council discussed a proposal from Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung to prepare a water system model for the City of Bloomingdale at a cost not to exceed $3500 without City approval that would show what pressures and volumes are available throughout the system and what it would take to increase those pressures and volumes to serve new customers. It was noted that by having this information on hand, the City would be able to prioritize the areas that may need to be upgraded and as we expanded our system, the information would be updated. After this discussion, Councilman Rawlings made a motion to authorize HGBD to proceed with the water system model at a cost not to exceed $3500 and to pay for this study from the Water/Sewer Renewal and Extension Fund. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Mayor Tipton stated that this concluded the items presented for consideration for inclusion on the council agenda prior to the deadline of October 13, 2010.
The accounts payable were reviewed with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills. Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Being no further business, Councilman Kerby made a motion to adjourn at 7:20pm. Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with six affirmative votes.
Respectfully submitted, Sandra Jones, City Clerk
Mayor Tipton and all council members 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 presented to council. The statements of individuals are not verbatim and may be summary in nature.