Minutes of Hahira Council Meetings held during the month of August 2007
HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
JULY 30, 2007
WORK SESSION
6:30 P.M.
CITY HALL
Mayor and City Council met for a work session on Monday July 30, 2007, at the Courthouse with Mayor Wayne Bullard presiding.
PRESENT:
Mayor Wayne Bullard, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Councils, Rose Adams, Temple Ogundu, Terry Benjamin, Ralph Clendenin, Police Chief Terry Davis, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, PWD Donnie Warren, City Clerk Diane Bellflower.
Mayor Wayne Bullard called the meeting to order.
REVIEW/CORRECTIONS OF MINUTES:
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:
Councilwoman Adams stated that she had one question, but City Manager Sumner had already answered it.
PUBLIC HEARING:
DISCUSSIONS:
City Manager Sumner stated that we had one bid to come in and it was opened. It was from Citizens Community Bank. The amount of the bid was for three hundred twenty six thousand seven hundred fifty dollars. Sumner stated that this bid could be voted on at Thurday’s meeting.
City Manager Sumner told council that in their packets under item 8B there
is a letter of intent. He explained to the Mayor and Council what the letter
stated. He also stated that the County should accept up to 200,000 gallons per
day, per month of wastewater from the City. For said service, the County shall
charge, and the City agrees to pay, $1.85 per 1,000 gallons. He also explained
the cost of what the City charges customers outside the City limits and inside
the City limits. After a very detailed discussion, Sumner stated that Mayor
and Council will vote on this in Thursday’s Council meeting.
Chief Terry Davis stated for the City to have a Radar License, the City has to adopt the Speed Zone Ordinance. He stated that the speed limit within the City limits is 35 miles per hour.
Mayor Wayne Bullard stated that he and City Manager Sumner attended several
meetings concerning SPLOST VI. Mayor Bullard stated that the City’s portion of
SPLOST VI would be 4,000,300.00.
City Manager Sumner stated that in Council’s packet under item 8E there was a letter asking the City to submit their priority list to LARP by August 31, 2007. He asked that they please examine the list to see if there are any streets to add.
Department Requests: (City Manager)
City Manager Sumner stated to Mayor and Council that there was enough in the FY2007 Budget for a 3% cost-of-living increase to City employees. He stated that this would increase our weekly payroll from approximately $9,500 to $9,785.
Reports:
Council
City Manager
Mayor
Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
____________________
Wayne Bullard, Mayor
____________________
Diane Bellflower, Clerk
HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING
August 2, 2007
7:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE
PRESENT: Mayor Wayne Bullard, Council Terry Benjamin, Temple Ogundu, Ralph Clendenin, Rose Adams,
City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Attorney Rob Plumb, Police Chief Terry Davis, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, City Clerk Diane Bellflower, PWD Donnie Warren.
Mayor Wayne Bullard called the meeting to order. A quorum was established.
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Wayne Bullard
INVOCATION: Mr. Stan Reeves
REVIEW/CORRECTIONS OF MINUTES:
Councilman Terry Benjamin stated that on the July 5th Council Meeting there were two small errors on the third page. Two of these corrections were misspelled words and the other was a name error. These corrections have since been made. He also stated that in the Public Hearing there was one correction that needed to be made. This correction has also been made. Councilwoman Adams stated that she also had some corrections. She stated on the July 5th Council Meeting that if Ms. Helen Pettijean had to become a member of this committee she should be paid to attend meetings. The second correction that needed to be made concerning Administration, Executive and Legislative, has since been made. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the bills and budgets. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept, second by Councilwoman Adams. Vote was unanimous.
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGETS OVERAGES:
Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the bills. Councilwoman Adams made a motion to accept the bills, seconded by Council Clendenin. Vote was unanimous.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:
Mr. Stan Reaves of 904 Lemaka Drive stated that he was concerned with a statement that was said at the work session concerning a quick fix. He stated that he would like to keep all the business in the City of Hahira, and not give up water outside the City Limits. He has a concern with the City doing business with Doubletree. He also asked that we keep the millage rate the same. Ms. Melba Weldon of 406 E. Stanfill Street stated that she had a concern about an article that was in the Valdosta Daily Times concerning the Millage rate. She asked the Mayor and Council to consider keeping the millage rate the same.
Public Hearing:
Third Public Hearing to Set Millage Rate:
City Manager Jonathan Sumner stated that the Millage Rate is an item that has to be voted on every year and also advertisements have to be run in the paper. These ran in the Valdosta Daily Times. The first Public Hearing was held on July 26, 2007 at 10:00 A.M, and the Second Public Hearing was held on July 26, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. City Manager Sumner explained to the Mayor, Council, and Citizens how the increase in millage rate would affect them. City Manager Sumner explained the budget for the city for this year as well as next year. He explained the revenue. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked a motion to set the millage rate. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to keep the millage rate the same at 5.830, seconded by Councilwoman Adams, Opposed by Councilman Benjamin and Councilman Ogundu. Mayor Wayne Bullard had to break the tie. He voted to keep the millage rate the same at 5.830.
Chief Terry Davis stated that for the city to have a Radar License, the City has to adopt the Speed Zone Ordinance. He stated that the speed limit within the City limits is 35 miles per hour. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked a motion to accept the Speed Zone Ordinance. Councilwoman Adams made a motion to adopt the Speed Zone Ordinance, second by Council Ogundu. Vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSIONS:
Bid Opening for Smith Hospital:
City Manager Sumner stated that in the Work Session the bids were opened. The City received one bid from Citizens Community Bank in the amount of three hundred twenty six thousand seven hundred fifty dollars. The letter stated that the bank intended to demolish the front part of the hospital and create a garden area or a park until such time they decide to build professional office space. The back portion will be used to house the operation center and create office lease space for other businesses. City Manager Sumner read a letter that was included in the bid that he had some concerns about. The letter stated that in the banks previous bid, they were concerned about the potential that certain hazardous materials be found and dealt with according to law. Attorney Rob Plumb stated that this might not be the best way for the city. City Manager Sumner stated that the newspaper advertisment stated that the building would be sold as is. Attorney Rob Plumb stated that Mayor and Council could go ahead and accept the bid subject to whatever conditions placed on it. He stated that this may take place without changing the price of the bid. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked Mr. D.K. Hollis if he was willing to take the building as is and he said not as is unless he has a right for inspection. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the bid with a provision giving Mr. Hollis thirty days for a final inspection. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept the bid with the provision at no cost to the city, second by Councilman Ogundu, vote was unanimous.
Agreement between County and City for Doubletree Expansion:
City Manager Sumner stated that the Council had some information in their packets concerning the agreement between the County and City for Doubletree Expansion. Councilwoman Adams stated that from the very beginning she has been against selling any water to anyone outside the City limits. She stated that she does not agree with this. Councilman Clendenin asked the City Attorney if the city could sell water outside the City limits at a different rate, Attorney Plumb said yes. Mayor Wayne Bullard said he would like to explain what he meant by a quick fix. He stated that what he meant was that the city needs something reasonable enough that could fix the project quick. Councilman Benjamin stated that they have been working on this for a year and a half. Councilman Ogundu also stated that they had been working on this for over a year and a half and no one he wants a quick fix. He stated that the city is looking for a long-term fix. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked a motion to accept this agreement between the City and Doubletree. Councilman Benjamin made a motion that the city submit the agreement to the County, for the Doubletree Expansion. Seconded by Council Ogundu, Councilman Clendenin opposed, Councilwoman Adams opposed, and Mayor Wayne Bullard broke the tie with his vote.
Intergovernmental Agreement on SPLOST VI
Mayor Wayne Bullard stated that the City’s portion of the SPLOST money is 4,000,300.00. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the Intergovernmental Agreement SPLOST VI. Councilwoman Adams made a motion to accept the agreement on SPLOST VI, second by Councilman Ogundu, vote was unanimous.
LARP 2008 PRIORTY LIST:
City Manager Sumner stated that in Council’s packet under item 8E that there is a letter asking the city to submit a priority list of streets to DOT for the LARP by August 31, 2007. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked a motion to accept the Priority List. Councilman Benjamin made a motion to accept the Priority List, second by Councilwoman Adams. Vote was unanimous.
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:
Cost of Living Increase for City Employees:
City Manager Jonathan Sumner stated that Mayor and Council had some information in their packets concerning the cost of living raise. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked a motion to accept the Cost of Living Increase. Councilwoman Adams made a motion to give the City employees a 3% increase, seconded by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
Kelli Hernandez was presented with a card and gift from the Mayor and Council. She covered most of the City’s meetings and is now leaving the Valdosta Daily Times.
REPORTS:
Councilwoman Adams thanked the Mayor and City Manager for doing a lot of hard work with SPLOST VI. She thanked the citizens of Hahira for all that they do. She stated that it was an honor to serve Hahira.
Councilman Benjamin stated that he would like to thank everyone for coming to the meeting. He also asked everyone to remember John Franklin and his family in this time of sadness. He also stated some concern he had with the millage rate not being increased.
Councilman Ogundu thanked Kelli for serving Hahira with the Valdosta Daily Times. He also asked everyone to remember the John Franklin family.
Councilman Clendenin stated that Hahira is a small city and cannot pay what other big cities pay. He also stated there are many elderly people in Hahira that cannot afford increased taxes. He also thanked Mayor Wayne Bullard and Councilwoman Adams for voting no against raising the millage rate.
City Manager Sumner stated that he would like everyone to remember the John Franklin Lewis family.
Mayor Wayne Bullard thanked the City Manager for doing a good job on the Budget. Mayor Wayne Bullard also invited everyone to come down to the ice cream social. He also asked for help with senior citizens to receive meals.
Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Benjamin made a motion to adjourn, second by Councilman Ogundu, vote was unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 P.M.
___________________
Wayne Bullard, Mayor
___________________
Diane Bellflower, Clerk
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