Minutes of Hahira Council Meetings for the month of July 2008
HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JUNE 30, 2008
6:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE
Mayor and City Council met for a Work Session Monday June 30, 2008 at the Courthouse with Mayor Wayne Bullard presiding.
PRESENT:
Mayor Wayne Bullard, Councils, Mayor Pro Tem Rose Adams, Terry Benjamin, Ralph Clendenin, Bruce Cain, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Police Chief Terry Davis, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, PW Director Donnie Warren, PW Director Chris Stevens, Interim City Clerk Belinda Chappell.
REVIEW / CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
June 02, 2008 Work SessionJune 09, 2008 Council Meeting
Councilman Clendenin stated that there were two corrections that needed to be made to the June 09, 2008 Council Minutes. Mayor Pro Tem Adams also stated that she had two corrections to be made to the June 09, 2008 Council Minutes. City Manager Sumner stated that the requested changes would be made.
REVIEW OF BILLS / BUDGET OVERAGES:
Mayor Pro Tem Adams had a few questions concerning the bills, she stated that she would go to City Hall the following day and meet with the City Manager and the Finance Clerk to discuss these issues. Councilman Cain stated that he had questions concerning the bills along with the budget, he stated that these concerns could wait to be discussed during the retreat.
DISCUSSIONS:
Presentation from CAR 41 NO Group (Work Session Only- Mayor Bullard)
Mayor Bullard asked if there was a spokesman for this group. Mr. Barry Braun of 5790 Old US 41 North Hahira, Ga. 31632 came to address the Council. Mr. Braun stated that he had presented a copy of a proposal that was given to the Mayor and Council concerning the projected project of the expansion of widening Highway 41 North. Mr. Braun asked the Mayor and Council to officially oppose the Highway 41 project and to attend the DOT meeting the following day in support of Hahira citizens being against this project.
Honeybee Festival Committee- Request for Services During Festival (Carol Jacobs)
Carol Jacobs of 402 East Stanfill Street Hahira, GA 31632 addressed the Council. Mrs. Jacobs asked Mayor and Council for permission to have the festival this year and permission to close Lawson Street from the railroad tracks to Marshall Street during the festival. Mrs. Jacobs stated that after speaking with Police Chief Davis and Fire Chief Bennett, these two streets needed to stay open because of being able to use these streets as an emergency route. Mrs. Jacobs asked for an alternative suggestion as to where to put the Kids Zone without having to close any streets. Mrs. Jacobs was concerned with where to put the mountain climbing exhibit because it has to be on level ground. Mayor and Council suggested putting the mountain climbing exhibit in the parking lot behind City Hall along with some arts and crafts booths so that no streets would have to be closed.
Community Center Curtains (City Manager)
City Manager Sumner stated that the City had a request from a citizen (Mrs. Quida Lane) to put up new curtains in the Community Center. Mr. Sumner stated that some of the Council requested that this item be put on the agenda so it can be discussed. Councilman Benjamin stated he was trying to understand what the issue was with the curtains. Mayor Bullard stated that the City is trying to get some estimates on doing some work on the Community Center before hanging the new curtains. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated that the curtains that were in the Community Center were made by Ms. Lana Hall and that it came before Council before they were hung. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated that if Mrs. Quida Lane would like to help with updating the paint color in the Community Center, it would be appreciated.
Consideration of Infrastructure Recommendation for Water’s Edge (City Manager)
City Manager Sumner stated that a letter was given to Mayor and Council from Stevenson and Palmer explaining that they have inspected the infrastructure but there were some concerns with storm water. The determination was made that since the application was made before the storm water ordinance was passed last year, certain requirements does not apply to Water’s Edge Subdivision. Mr. Sumner stated that an effort has been made to look at many of the requirements of the ordinance and incorporate them into the design as the infrastructure is being installed. Sumner stated that a berm is going to be constructed, and also that there was a three year bond that Water’s Edge would be required to have. Sumner stated that if any abnormalities were observed, there would be money to go back in and change under the bond. He also stated that this should allow Mr. Waldrin to go ahead and move forward and start applying for his building permits and pouring of slabs. Mayor Bullard stated that he spoke with the Chancy’s and that if the berm didn’t work out, they would be willing to build a spill well over the holding pond for the storm water issue. Mayor Pro Tem Adams asked idf the City would have the bond for Thursday nights Council meeting. City Manager Sumner stated that he would get in touch with Mr. Waldrin to see if he could have that paperwork ready for the Council Meeting on Thursday night.
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:
Purchase of Radio (Chief Bennett)
Fire Chief Dwight Bennett requested to use budgeted money from his capital equipment to purchase a Motorola XTS 1500 model handheld radio. Councilman Cain stated concerns on whether this radio would be used in one of the fire trucks. Chief Bennett stated that this radio would be used along with the six radios they currently have at the Fire Department. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated that she was concerned on getting the required bids on an item of this expense. Fire Chief Bennett stated that they are restricted on where they could buy radio equipment from.
TAAC Conference (Chief Davis)
Police Chief Davis requested that Court Clerk Bobbie Dumas be able to attend the TAAC Conference August 26th through the 28th in Savannah Georgia. Chief Davis stated that they are required to have a certain number of hours to be a terminal operator of GCIC.
Purchase of Passenger Van (Chief Davis, Director Warren)
Chief Davis stated that he would like to have a 15 passenger van to transport offenders to the County after performing road checks. He stated that it would be less expensive to be able to take several offenders in one trip, rather than one at a time. Director Warren stated that he would be able to use the van in transporting trustee workers to and from Lakeland to perform work in the City.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
___________________________
Wayne Bullard, Mayor___________________________
Belinda Chappell, Interim City ClerkCITY OF HAHIRA
COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 03, 2008
7:30 PM
COURTHOUSE
PRESENT: Mayor Wayne Bullard, Councils: Mayor Pro Tem Rose Adams, Terry Benjamin, Ralph Clendenin, Bruce Cain, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Police Chief Terry Davis, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, PW Director Donnie Warren, PW Director Chris Stevens, Interim City Clerk Belinda Chappell.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Wayne Bullard
ESTABLISH QUORUM: Mayor Wayne Bullard
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilman Bruce Cain
INVOCATION: Mayor Pro Tem Adams
REVIEW/CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
June 02, 2008 Work Session
June 09, 2008 Council Meeting
Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, vote was unanimous.
REVIEW OF BILLS / BUDGET OVERAGES:
Mayor Wayne Bullard asked if there were any questions concerning the bills. City Manager Sumner stated that Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated concerns on the last bill disbursed to the auditor. Sumner stated that the auditors would be reporting on this issue at the retreat.
Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the bills. Councilman Cain made a motion to accept the bills, seconded by Councilman Terry Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:
Mr. Willmon J. Stanley 308 Washington Street Hahira, GA. 31632 addressed the Council. Mr. Stanley stated that he was concerned about the Recycling issue, he stated that he wasn’t clear on the issue with the recycling center, why the City residents could not take their yard debris to the center. Mayor Bullard responded that he is working on this issue and that it would be discussed at a later time.
Mrs. Sue Braun 5790 Old US Hwy 41 North Hahira, GA 31632 addressed the Council. Mrs. Braun thanked the Mayor and Council for attending the DOT meeting and for their support on the issue of widening Highway 41 North.
DISCUSSIONS:
D.) Consideration of Infrastructure Recommendation for Water’s Edge (City Manager)
City Manager Sumner stated that a copy of the recommendation letter was given to Mayor and Council from City Engineer Ronnie Dudley. He stated that the letter asked for the provision of a three year bond for any repairs that needed to be made to the Water’s Edge Subdivision. Sumner stated that Council asked that the bond provision be obtained by the time a vote was taken. Sumner also stated that the bond was for a period of two years and that he requested a cover letter be drafted by Mr. Waldrin which stated that the bond would be renewed for an additional one year after the two year period ended.
Councilman Cain stated that some bond companies would not go longer than two years on a bond, but with this provisional letter from Mr. Waldrin, this should stand up in any court of law if any problems should occur. Councilman Clendenin stated that he was concerned on the dollar amount for the additional year of the bond. City Manager responded that the costs would be $30,000 for the additional year. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion , Councilman Cain made a motion to approve, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, motion was carried unanimously.
E.) Lowndes County Recycling Center (Mayor Bullard)
Mayor Bullard stated that he had spoken with County Commissioner Robert Carter and County Commissioner Edgar Roberts concerning this issue. Mayor Bullard stated that they assured him that they were planning a meeting on this issue for discussion. He also stated that he has received numerous phone calls from citizens about not being able to take their yard debris or other household items to the Recycling Center. Mayor Bullard stated that the City needs to come up with a plan to resolve this issue. City Manager Sumner stated that he had spoken to the County Manager regarding this issue and that he indicated that they would consider placing a roll off container at the Recycling Center for the Hahira citizens to be able to take their recyclables. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated that the calls that she had received from citizens were more concerned with being able to dispose of their yard debris. City Manager responded that the City would be interested in what the County could offer regarding this issue.
F.) Presentation from CAR 41 NO Group (Mayor Bullard)
Mayor Bullard stated that the City would be drafting a letter to be presented to the County regarding this issue. City Manager Sumner stated that the letter that he had drafted to the DOT stated that the City of Hahira was against the widening of Highway 41 North. Councilman Cain stated that he thought the letter needed to be changed to the effect that the City needed to let the County know that the City is not in approval of this entire project but the City would like to have improvement on Highway 41 North without agreeing to the widening of the highway. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to draft a letter to DOT asking that the project be withdrawn as presented. Councilman Benjamin made a motion to that effect, seconded by Councilman Cain, motion was carried unanimously.
DEPARTMENT REQUEST:
Purchase of Radio (Chief Bennett)
Fire Chief Bennett requested that a Motorola XTS1500 radio be purchased from Hasty’s Communications to be used for the Fire Department. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept the purchase of the radio, seconded by Councilman Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
TAAC Conference (Chief Davis)
Police Chief Davis requested that Court Clerk Bobbie Dumas be able to attend this TAAC Conference in Savannah Georgia to continue her certification hours needed. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion. Councilman Cain made a motion to accept, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, vote was unanimous.
Removed
REPORTS:
Councilman Clendenin thanked the Mayor and City Manager for resolving the INCODE issue. He also thanked the Public Works Department for doing a good job along with the Police Department. He thanked the Fire Department for doing a great job and continuing the research on the bio fuel project.
Councilman Cain thanked everyone for their hard work and wished everyone a Happy Fourth of July.
Councilman Benjamin thanked everyone for coming out and thanked the citizens for their concerns on the Highway 41 issue and wished everyone a safe and Happy Fourth of July.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams thanked all the Department heads for a job well done. She also thanked Mrs. Braun for her interest in the Highway 41 issue and standing up for Hahira citizens. She thanked Mr. Stanley for coming and expressing his concerns with the recycling issue.
City Manager Sumner wished everyone a safe and Happy Fourth of July weekend. He thanked all the Department heads for doing a tremendous job for the City.
Mayor Bullard wished everyone a safe weekend and thanked all the citizens and the Council for all the support they have given. He thanked everyone for coming and thanked all the Council for attending the DOT meeting and for their support on this issue.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, vote was unanimous.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
______________________
Wayne Bullard, Mayor
____________________________
Belinda Chappell, Interim City Clerk
City of Hahira
Public Hearing
July 31, 2008
6:30 P.M.
City Hall
Mayor Wayne Bullard and Council met for a Public Hearing at City Hall at 6:30 P.M. July 31, 2008.
Present: Mayor Wayne Bullard, Councils: Mayor Pro Tem Rose Adams, Terry Benjamin, Ralph Clendenin, Bruce Cain. City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, Director Donnie Warren, Interim City Clerk Belinda Chappell, and one citizen Ms. Tonya Adams.
Mayor Wayne Bullard called the meeting to order. He stated the purpose of the meeting was a Public Hearing to discuss the millage rate. Mayor Bullard asked if there was anyone who wished to speak on this matter.
City Manager Jonathan Sumner presented a 2008 tax break down sheet with a proposed millage increase of .50 to Mayor and Council that described the break down of the millage rate according to the house value. He also stated that the advertisement for the Public Hearing ran in the Valdosta Daily Times twice before the first hearing. Sumner stated that the millage rate was broken down into two separate groups. The first group was based on property without homestead exemption, and the second group was based on property with homestead exemption. The tax breakdown showed the difference between the current millage rate, which is 0.00538 and the proposed increase millage rate, which is 0.00588. Sumner stated that this was the second Public Hearing and the third Public Hearing would be held on August 7th at the Council Meeting. Sumner stated at the third Public Hearing, the Mayor and Council would hear the remaining public input and have an opportunity to set the millage rate at that time. Sumner stated there was two options concerning the millage rate, the first option was to keep the millage rate at its current rate of 0.00538 and the second option was to increase the millage rate to 0.00588 as advertised. Sumner stated that the proposed increase amounted to an additional $1.50 per month for citizens with homes valued at $150,000. Councilman Clendenin stated every county, with the exception of Brooks County, had rolled back their taxes this year. Councilman Benjamin stated the City of Hahira has not increased the millage rate in the past several years, while the surrounding cities and counties had increased taxes in the previous years consecutively. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated that she was concerned with the amount the City would receive on taxes this year if the millage rate was unchanged. City Manager Sumner responded that the City was estimated to receive around $264,000 dollars if we left the millage rate at 0.00538. He also stated that if the millage rate was increased to 0.00588, there would be an additional $25,000 received by the City. Sumner stated that if the millage rate was not increased the budget would have to be recalculated to account for the difference in dollar amounts. City Manager Sumner stated that he had not received any calls regarding the millage rate increase and asked if any calls were received from Mayor and Council. Mayor Bullard stated that he had received one call from a concerned citizen. Councilman Clendenin stated that he had spoken to several citizens and they didn’t see the advertisements that were posted in the newspaper and he also stated that he had spoken to a citizen that was concerned about the gasoline prices going up, as well as groceries and medications that are needed each month, that she couldn’t afford to pay higher taxes. Councilman Clendenin stated that we are the custodians of Hahira and that we hold the purse strings of our citizens. He stated that the City needed to cut the budget and start saving money for our citizens. City Manager Sumner stated that he welcomed any input concerning the budget. Fire Chief Bennett stated that the Fire Department budget has already been cut drastically in areas that are of great importance to this department. Sumner stated that there had been several items suspended from the budget. Sumner stated that there would be more discussion concerning the budget during the budget workshops later in the month.
There being no further business to discuss, meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M.
________________________
Mayor, Wayne Bullard
___________________________
Interim City Clerk, Belinda Chappell