OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE JULY 18, 2013 COUNCIL MEETING

APPROVED BY COUNCIL AUGUST 15, 2013

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tipton with Councilwoman Griffin giving the invocation.   Councilmembers Baxter, Crosby, Griffin, Myrick and Rawlings were present.  Also present were Attorney Dickey, City Administrator Akridge, and Asst. City Clerk Diane Proudfoot.   Councilman Kerby was on vacation.

 

Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the June 20, 2013 meeting.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the Budget Public hearing of June 11, 2013.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes. 

 

Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the agenda of the July 18, 2013.  Councilwoman Griffin seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.

 

Administrative and Committee reports:

 

RECOGNITIONS:

 

Councilwoman Griffin introduced the city’s new Recreation Director, George Foley, and his family, who began employment with the city on July 1, 2013.  George expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve the City of Bloomingdale; he reported that football and cheerleading signups began on July 10th.  The football RAMA will be held on September 7.

Councilman Baxter reported that the city will be hosting our first “National Night Out” on Tuesday, August 6th at the Community Building.

Councilman Myrick reported that the “National Senior Citizen Day” is August 21, 2013 and the city will be honoring the senior citizens of Bloomingdale with a luncheon at noon at the Community Building and will also be providing History Museum tours.

City Administrator Akridge reported we have recycled 57.19 tons of materials since January

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mayor Tipton opened the public hearing to received citizen input on two variance requests. 

1.      A variance request to allow a Solar Field in a C-2 zoning district submitted by Mr. Pete Waller at 753 Bloomingdale Road.  Mr. Pete Waller stated the proposed solar field will be the largest in the south.  There were no citizen comments.

2.      A variance to allow a RV Park in an R-A1 zoning district submitted by Mr. Pete Waller at 702 Bloomingdale Road.  Mr. Waller informed council & citizens he is seeking to provide the convenience of an RV park to vendors coming for the agritourism events and festivals, he will be proposing 25 sites, with a stay limit of no more than 30 days, will be located in the back wooded area and will have buffers of 100’ buffer next to the ball field and a 25’ buffer next to the adjacent property.  The following citizen comments were heard:

Anthony Wirth expressed concern as he heard it was going to be a trailer park 

Willene Stone had concern with the sewerage and drainage issues and people driving on her property, Mr. Waller advised he would install a fence and would seek a dump station

Betty Tucker had concerns over the number of sites and Mr. Waller informed he was only seeking 25

Joey Jones questioned if it would be visible from Cherry Street.  Councilman Crosby informed that it would be in the wooded back area and there would be no advertising of the park

Councilman Baxter informed that during the permitting process a site plan would be submitted for approval which would address drainage, fencing, road and sewerage issues

Michael Hargroves stated that the farm provides a valuable contribution to education and would be an addition to the education 

Mayor Tipton closed the public hearing.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Mr. Marcus Grant – 17 Douglas Court – Drainage Issues.   Mr. Grant approached council with concerns that his neighbors at 15 and 19 Douglas had hauled in fill dirt which has caused their lots to drain onto his property.  After discussion, Attorney Dickey advised it would be appropriate for the City Administrator to write a letter to these property owners seeking their assistance in correcting the drainage onto Mr. Grant’s property.   
  2. Ms. Kristen Meador – 20 Perry Road – Drainage Issues.    Ms. Meador also had an issue with drainage involving a canal on Perry Road and was advised that Perry Road is a private road.
  3. Police Chief Roy Pike – Recognition of Police Officers.  Chief Pike commended Lieutenant Michael Foune and Corporal Robert Gubko for voluntarily returning to the city to offer assistance to Sergeant Daniels and the Bloomingdale citizens in the wake of the storm that caused a great deal of damage on June 10th.  
  4. Consider a Resolution to impose a $4.50 surcharge on persons convicted of traffic offenses or violations in order to provide funding for Traffic Court and Probation Software and other purposes.  Councilman Baxter made a motion to approve the resolution to impose a $4.50 surcharge on persons convicted of traffic offenses or violations.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five votes.
  5. Consider a Resolution to impose a 4% Processing Fee on Financial Transactions using a credit or debit card to cover fees imposed by the card processing company.   Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the resolution to impose a 4% processing fee on financial transactions using a credit or debit card.  Councilman Crosby seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  6. Consideration of proposed Flood Plain Management Ordinance.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the first reading, to dispense with the second reading and approve the Flood Plain Management Ordinance.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.
  7. Discussion of General Fund/Water& Sewer Fund/SPLOST expenditures.  Mayor Tipton requested that all departments be mindful of spending. 
  8. Consideration of a Variance request submitted by Mr. Pete Waller for a proposed Solar Field in a C-2 zoning district at 753 Bloomingdale Road.   Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the variance request submitted by Mr. Pete Waller to allow a Solar Field in a C-2 zoning district at 753 Bloomingdale Road subject to approval of the site plan.  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes
  9. Consideration of a Variance request submitted by Mr. Pete Waller for a proposed Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park in a R-1A zoning district at 702 Bloomingdale Road.  Councilman Crosby made a motion to approve the variance request submitted by Mr. Pete Waller for a RV Park in a RA-1 zoning district at 702 Bloomingdale Road with the following stipulations: (a) 30 day limit of stay, (b) only 25 sites, (c) a site plan be approved to include fencing and a dump station (approved by the Health Department).  Councilman Baxter seconded the motion and it passed with five affirmative votes.   
  10. Consideration of approval of the DOT Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) resurfacing project listing and begin bid process upon approval by DOT.   There was no action
  11. Discussion of billing homeowners insurance for fire calls in the unincorporated area.  Council discussed options of recovering expenses from fire calls made by the Fire Department to the unincorporated areas.

 

Mayor Tipton reported that this concludes the items presented for consideration for inclusion on the Council agenda prior to the deadline of Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

 

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

 

There being no further business, Councilman Baxter made a motion to adjourn at 8:30pm.  Councilman Crosby 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.