Minutes of Hahira Council Meetings for the month of January 2008

HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 7, 2008
WORK SESSION
6:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE

Mayor and City Council met for a Work Session on Monday January 7, 2007, at the Courthouse with Mayor Wayne Bullard presiding.

PRESENT:

Mayor Wayne Bullard, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Councils, Rose Adams, Ralph Clendenin, Bruce Cain, Terry Benjamin, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, PWD Donnie Warren, City Clerk Diane Bellflower, absent Chief Terry Davis.

REVIEW/CORRECTIONS OF MINUTES:

    1. December 3, 2007 Work Session
    2. December 6, 2007 Council Meeting

Councilwoman Adams stated that there was one error in the Council Meeting Minutes that needed to be corrected under Department Requests. There was a request made by Chief Davis and not Chief Bennett. This has since been corrected.

REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:

Councilwoman Adams stated that she would have questions by Thursday night at the Council Meeting.

ELECTION OF MAYOR PROTEM:

Mayor Wayne Bullard asked Council to have their nomination ready by Thursday night at the Council Meeting.

Council Assignments:

Mayor Wayne Bullard will assign Council Assignments on Thursday night at the Council Meeting.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

  1. Text Amendments for Subdivision Ordinance-Second Reading (City Manager):

City Manager Sumner stated that the Council had the first reading last month on the Text Amendment for the Subdivision Ordinance. City Manager Sumner stated if Council had any questions he would be glad to answer them. Basically this Amendment covers street signs, utilities, easements, underground installations, sidewalks. It also describes what a major arterial street is, secondary arterial street, collector street, dead-end street, marginal access street, and local streets.

DISCUSSIONS:
  1. Text Amendments to Restrict Exotic Animals: (City Manager)

    City Manager stated that he had made some changes to the Animal Control Ordinance. Sumner stated that any dangerous, vicious, wild or exotic animal shall be required to be registered with the City of Hahira Police Department upon its entrance into the City. Failure to comply with such registration shall result in a fine to the owner of $250 upon discovery of such unregistered animal within the City limits of the City of Hahira. Councilwoman Adams requested that the registration provision be replaced with a prohibition of dangerous, vicious, or exotic animals. Council agreed and directed the City Manager to make the required revision.
     

  2. Clothing Ordinance: (City Manager)

City Manager Sumner stated that this Ordinance would consist of any person wearing pants below the waist in public, unlawful. Sumner stated that it shall be unlawful for any person to appear in public wearing pants below the waist which expose the skin or undergarments. Sumner stated that a person cited for this would be given a warning first and then fined if cited again.

Gary Minchew/Prentince Taylor-Water/Sewer Taps:

City Manager Sumner stated that back in September Mr. Minchew contacted him concerning the raise in tap fees and the interest in pursuing litigation against the City. Mr. Minchew filled out a request of be placed on the Council Agenda December 28, 2007, and Mr. Prentice Taylor filled out a request to be placed on Council Agenda January 2, 2008. Both requests are about the raise in the water/sewer tap fees. The City has received a open records request from the Home Builders Association of Georgia regarding former budgets, audits, and minutes pertaining to tap fee increases.

NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS TRAINING: (CITY MANAGER)

City Manager Sumner stated that all newly elected officials must attend this training. The Newly Elected Officials Training Institute will be offered twice in 2008. February 16-17 in Athens and March 7-8 in Tifton. State law requires municipal officials who have not attended in the past to attend this training course. The registration form should be returned by January 25, 2008.

PURCHASE OF TABLE FOR CHAMBER DINNER (CITY MANAGER)

City Manager Sumner stated that the Annual Dinner 2008-Corporate Table for the Chamber of Commerce would be $350.00. Sumner stated he would need a count of how many would be attending.

REPORT ON DRUG FEE COALITION (Councilwoman Adams)

Councilwoman Adams stated that she had talked with Sheila Warren who will be given a report on the Drug Free Coalition and what is going on.

DISCUSSION OF POLICY TO RESTRICT COUNCIL TRAINING (Councilman Clendenin)

Councilman Clendenin stated that he would like Mayor and Council to limit the amount of training that they attend, to help save cost to the City and its citizens. Councilman Clendenin stated that we need to cut back on spending money and this would be one way to do it. He stated if the training was mandatory, then that was o.k., but encouraged Council to be more selective on the trainings they attend.

DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:
  1. Computer Requests( City Manager)

City Manager Sumner stated that his old computer that he sometimes refers to as "Ol" Bessie", is about ready to give up the ghost. City Manager Sumner stated that he had five quotes for Mayor and Council to review. All five are different models and varying capabilities. The new computer technician, Robert Mellot, has pulled quote two. Sumner requested that Council approve this quote, with a $100-200 variance. The FY2008 budget contains $2000.00 for the purchase of a new computer system. The City’s existing wireless router will accommodate a broadband laptop connection anywhere in City Hall. Sumner stated that it will enable him to access messages and work on items when out of town. Councilman Clendenin suggested that the City Manager purchase a Blackberry telephone which has a computer in it.

RENEWAL OF CONTRACT BETWEEN SPRAY FIELD HAY HARVESTER and CITY (PWD Donnie Warren)

PWD Warren stated that he would like to renew the contract with the Spray Field Hay Harvester.

WINTER TRAINING CONFERENCE:

Chief Davis request to attend the 2008 GACP Winter Training Conference February 17-20, at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.

PROCLAMATIONS:
  1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Mayor Bullard)

Mayor Bullard stated that January 21, is the birthday of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., and the third Monday in January has been distinguished as a national holiday to honor the memory of Dr. King.

REPORTS:

COUNCIL:

Councilwoman Adams stated that she would like for the Mayor and Council, city Manager, City Clerk to sit down together and plan the future. She said that she would like to hear what ever ones goals are for the future of Hahira. She stated that she would also like the citizens of Hahira to be informed about the widening of highway 41.

City Manager: None

Mayor: None

 

          Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

        _______________________
        Mayor Wayne Bullard

_______________________
Diane Bellflower, City Clerk

HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 10, 2008
COUNCIL MEETING
7:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE

PRESENT: Mayor Wayne Bullard, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Councils, Rose Adams, Ralph Clendenin, Bruce Cain, Terry Benjamin, City Clerk Diane Bellflower, City Attorney Rob Plumb, PWD Donnie Warren, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, Police Chief Terry Davis.

Mayor Wayne Bullard called the meeting to order. A quorum was established.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Wayne Bullard

Invocation: Mr. Wilmon Stanley

Swear-in Council members- Districts 2 &3

Judge Binder swore in Councilman Bruce Cain with Billie Cain assisting Judge Binder. Beverly Clendenin assisted in swearing in Councilman Ralph Clendenin.

REVIEW/CORRECTIONS OF MINUTES:

  1. December 3, 2007 Work Session
  2. December 6, 2007 Council Meeting

Councilwoman Adams stated that on page 4 of the Work Session that she would like to add the December 6, 2007 minutes only recorded a portion of what was discussed concerning Text to Restrict Exotic Animals.

Councilwoman Adams stated what is dangerous to some people is not dangerous to others. This snake terrorized people in Hahira. This snake was dangerous to the woman who found it in the yard about 3 feet from her. Mayor Bullard said we need to get it worded that says what is restricted and has to be registered. Councilwoman Adams stated she wants the list of dangerous animals listed in the amendment. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the review and correction of Minutes. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept, second by Councilwoman Adams, vote was unanimous.

REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:

Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the bills and budget. Councilman Benjamin made a motion to accept, second by Councilman Cain, vote was unanimous.

ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO-TEM:

Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a nominee. Councilman Clendenin recommended Councilwoman Rose Adams. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept. Councilman Cain made a motion to accept, second by Councilman Clendenin, Councilman Benjamin abstained.

COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS:

Mayor Wayne Bullard assigned Councilwoman Adams to Streets, Parks, and Recreation, Councilman Benjamin to the Fire Department, Councilman Cain to the Water, Sewer, Sanitation Department, and Councilman Clendenin to the Police Department.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

  1. Text Amendments for Subdivision Ordinance-Second Reading (City Manager)

    City Manager Sumner stated that this Text Amendment was discussed on Monday night at the Work Session. City Manager stated that there would be one more reading on this Text Amendment for the Subdivision Ordinance.

  2. Text Amendments to Restrict Exotic Animals:

    (City Manager)

    City Manager Sumner stated that he had revised the Text Amendment for Exotic Animals. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept, second by Councilwoman Adams, Councilman Benjamin opposed. As the passage was not unanimous, the text amendment will go to a second reading.
     

  3. Clothing Ordinance (City Manager)

City Manager Sumner stated that the Clothing Ordinance that was discussed in the Monday Work Session. Sumner stated that it shall be unlawful for any person to wear their pants below their waist where there underwear are showing. This person shall be punished by fine not to exceed $100.00.

This is the first reading. Councilman Clendenin asked for this to be put on agenda for second reading. Mayor Bullard asked if there was anyone who wish to speak in favor of this Ordinance. Mr. Wilmon Stanley of 308 Washington Street stated that he was for this Ordinance. He stated that we need to make a stand on this Clothing Ordinance.

 

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:

Dr. Ben Moye of Hahira, Georgia owner and developer of Audubon Heights, stated that he would like to express his concern on the increase of water and sewer tap fees. He asked Mayor and Council to reconsider this and go back to the original price. Mr. Ken Garren asked for clarification on zoning issues. Mr. Prentice Taylor of Valdosta, Georgia stated that he had been buying water and sewer taps in the City of Hahira since 2004. Taylor stated that he no longer builds in the City of Hahira because the City raised the fee to $5000.00. He asked Mayor and Council to reconsider the fees for the water and sewer.

DISCUSSIONS:

Councilman Clendenin made a motion to allow Mayor and Council two trainings a year. After a lengthy discussion, there was no second.

Mr. Gary Minchew, owner and developer of Woodbridge Subdivision and Lawson Farms addressed the Council. Minchew stated that he is asking Mayor and Council to return the tap fees to $1000.00 as it was originally set. Minchew stated that there were several items in the open record request he made had not been answered yet. He stated that everyone could work together and both be winners, or work against each other and both be loses. Minchew stated that in the next thirty days he would like everyone to get together and see if they could not come to an agreement.

DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:

Public Works Director stated a lift station repair was needed, and quotes were in Council’s packets.

Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to approve the lift station repair. Councilman Benjamin made a motion to approve, second by Councilman Cain, vote was unanimous.

CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Newly Elected Officials Training
  2. Purchase of Table for Chamber dinner
  3. Computer Purchase
  4. Renewal of Contract between Spray Field Hay Harvester and City
  5. Winter Training Conference

Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to accept the Consent Agenda. Councilman Benjamin made a motion to accept, second by Councilwoman Adams, Councilman Cain approved, Councilman Clendenin abstained.

PROCLAMATIONS:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Mayor Wayne Bullard signed the Proclamation for Martin Luther king Jr. Day that it would be celebrated on the Third Monday in January as a National Holiday.

REPORTS:
  1. Council:

Councilwoman Adams stated that a discussion was held on Monday night at the Work Session (1-7-08) concerning the DOT report on the widening of highway 41. There were four or five locations on the map the Council received. She stated that she wanted citizens mailed this information so they can be aware of this. She stated that Council needs to keep the citizens aware so no one will be uninformed at the first public meeting with DOT. She also welcomed our new Council members Ralph Clendenin and Bruce Cain.

Councilman Benjamin also welcomed the new Council members. He also thanked everyone for coming out tonight to the meeting.

Councilman Clendenin thanked everyone for doing a good job and just ask Mayor and Council to be cautious on spending money.

Councilman Cain thanked everyone for a warm welcome and stated he is looking forward to serving the citizens of Hahira.

City Manager thanked the Department Heads for doing a great job and bringing the City in under budget in 2007. He also welcomed the new Council members.

Mayor Wayne Bullard also welcomed the new Council members and stated he looked forward to working with all of them. He also thanked the employees for doing a great job.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

_______________________
Wayne Bullard, Mayor

________________________
Diane Bellflower, City Clerk

 

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