Chief Davis stated that he had received quotes for a new patrol car. He stated he currently has approximately $30,000.00 in this year’s budget for a vehicle purchase. He stated that he would like to purchase a Trailblazer. Chief Davis stated that this was needed for public safety.
Swear-in of Fire Department PRN Arson Investigator, Craig Wells: Fire Chief Bennett stated that he would like to have Craig Wells sworn in as the Arson Investigator, PRN.
REPORTS:
Mayor Wayne Bullard stated that he and the City Manager met with the people who want to bring in the winery. He stated that they showed them some figures and they seemed interested.
City Manager Jonathan Sumner asked Mayor and Council to mark their calendars for the Community Development Block Grant that has been put out for bid. These bids will come in October 23, 2007, at City Hall at 2:00 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
_______________________
Wayne Bullard, Mayor
________________________
Diane Bellflower, City Clerk
OCTOBER 11, 2007
7:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSEHAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
PRESENT: Mayor Wayne Bullard, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Councils, Rose Adams, Terry Benjamin, Temple Ogundu, Ralph Clendenin, City Attorney Rob Plumb, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, Police Chief Terry Davis, PWD Donnie Warren, City Clerk Diane Bellflower.
Mayor Wayne Bullard called the meeting to order. A quorum was established.
Mayor Wayne Bullard led the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Manager Jonathan Sumner gave the Invocation.
REVIEW/CORRECTIONS OF MINUTES:
- September 4, 2007 Work Session
- September 6, 2007 Council Meeting
- August 2, 2007 Council Meeting
Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Councilwoman Adams made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Councilman Ogundu, vote was unanimous.
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:
City Manager Sumner gave Mayor and Council a copy of all bank accounts. They were up to date as of September 30, 2007. He also informed Mayor and Council that he would give them a copy of the Revenue and Expenditure report. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the bills. Councilman Ogundu made a motion to pay the bills, second by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Input on 2008:
City Manager Sumner stated that they had been working on the budget since May. Department Heads have produced their recommendations and sent them to administration; administration took those recommendations and submitted those to the Council in mid July. The Council has had two workshops to consider the budget. The budget was preliminary approved, as the City code requires at the last Council meeting. City Manager Sumner stated that the next step was to advertise and hold a Public Hearing. That Public Hearing is tonight. No one spoke on behalf of the budget.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:
Carol Jacobs, 402 E Stanfill Street, thanked everyone for their hard work during the Honey Bee festival. She thanked the City of Hahira and especially Public Works stating they did a great job. Councilman Clendenin also thanked Carol and the Honey Bee Committee for doing a great job.
DISCUSSIONS:
- University of Georgia Salary Study:
City Manager Sumner stated that he had contacted the Carl Vinson Institute of Georgia to come down and do a salary study for the City of Hahira. The total cost for this would be $7,500.00. This would be started in December if Council approves this tonight. Councilwoman Adams stated that $7,500.00 is a lot of money to pay for a study. She stated that the City Manager is well qualified and capable of doing the study. Councilwoman Adams stated that she had her full confidence in him, his know how and ability. Councilwoman Adams stated that DCA had available a wage and salary survey, a classification upgrade system and pay plan, job descriptions and evaluations, how to train personnel, how to develop a work plan schedule, a job analysis and how to conduct one, a compensation survey, and how to develop a pay plan. Councilwoman Adams stated that up until a few years ago a scale was used with the step grade. She did not feel an expenditure of $7,500.00 was justified. Councilwoman Adams stated that the City Manager could be sent to training, or the software could be purchased. Councilwoman Adams stated that the need to be careful of what and how we spend the city’s money. Councilman Clendenin stated that he agreed with Councilwoman Adams and believes we should also use the DCA website. Councilman Benjamin stated that he had also visited the DCA website and their pay scale was not consistent for employees that have been employed for a number of years. Councilman Benjamin agreed with City Manager Sumner on having this study done for the city. Mayor Pro-Tem Ogundu asked the City Manager to research the staff help DCA could provide on a salary survey. Sumner stated he would report this to Council at a later date. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to postpone this until that time. Councilman Ogundu made a motion to postpone, second by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
RESOLUTION OF SLUM AND BLIGHT:
City Manager Sumner stated to Mayor and Council that he had presented this to them on Monday night at the Work Session. This application will come before the Council before it is submitted to apply for a low interest loan to Citizens Community Bank for the purchase of the hospital. This Resolution would create an eligibility for the property to be applied for under this program. This Resolution is the first step in this process; the next step is a Public Hearing that can be held at the next Council meeting, as well as the approval for the Mayor to authorize the signing of the documents that would submit this grant application to the Department of Community Affairs. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the Resolution of the Slum and Blight. Councilwoman Adams made a motion to accept, second by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT SERVICE CONTRACT:
2. ATTENDANCE AT GEORGIA RURAL WATER CONFERENCE:
3. PATROL CAR
After a lengthy discussion, Mayor and Council decided to postpone the patrol car purchase until a later date. Removing this from the consent agenda Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept the Ultraviolet Light Service Contract. Councilman Ogundu made a motion to accept, seconded by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
REPORTS:
Fire Chief Dwight Bennett stated that the Hahira Fire Department was presented with a flag for their involvement in helping fight the fires in Waycross Georgia. Congressman Kingston presented this to him.
Councilman Clendenin thanked everyone for a great Honeybee festival.
Councilman Ogundu also thanked the Honeybee Committee for doing a great job. He stated that this was one of the best years yet. He also thanked Public Works for doing such a great job with the clean up after the festival was over. He also thanked the Police Department and Fire Department for also doing a great job.
Councilman Benjamin stated that he was out of town and missed the Honeybee festival but said all he heard were great reports on how well everyone worked for the Honeybee festival. He also reminded everyone to still consider the fire station on the other side of the tracks and that this is something Hahira needs.
Councilwoman Adams thanked Mayor Bullard, Nancy Purvis, and Tracy Davis for the fall decorations around the City of Hahira. She also thanked Belinda Clanton for the flowers at City Hall. She also gave a special thank you to the Honeybee Festival Committee. She also thanked Helen Pettijean for the work that she put into the Country Dance. She stated that the caboose looked great after being painted. She thanked Public Works for all the hard work that they have done.
City Manager Jonathan Sumner stated that the fire department did a great job during the Honeybee festival; also, he thanked the Police Department for all their work during this time. He also thanked Donnie and the Public Works Department.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
- HA-2007- 06 Text Amendment Request by the City of Hahira. Sumner
stated that the City is proposing to amend section eight of its Zoning
Ordinance to include provisions for the re-establishment of a
non-conforming use. The City of Hahira Zoning Ordinance currently
contains provisions for the reconstruction of a non-conforming use if it
is damaged by any type of natural disaster. However, it does not include
provisions should a non-conforming use be discontinued for a period of
more than one year. The current provisions of the Zoning Ordinance state
that once a non-conforming use is discontinued for more than one year,
it may in no circumstances be re-established. This amendment would grant
the City of Hahira the ability to approve a re-establishment of a
non-conforming use on a case-by-case basis. The planning staff
recommended approval for this. The vote was 8-0. Mayor Wayne Bullard
asked for those opposed to come forward. None Came. Mayor Wayne Bullard
asked for those in favor to come forward. Mr. Wilmon Stanley stated that
he would like to speak in favor of this for the fact that he believes
Hahira City Council should have the authority on a case-by-case basis.
Discussion ensued on this text amendment. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for
a motion to accept this Text Amendment Request. Councilman Benjamin
made a motion to accept. Councilman Clendenin and Councilwoman Adams
opposed, Councilman Ogundu abstained. The motion was denied.
- HA-2007-07 Re-establishment of a Non-Conforming Use Request by
Herbert Scruggs.
Several years ago Mr. Scruggs had a mobile home on his property at 404 N. Lowndes Street Hahira, Georgia. The property currently has an existing home, a barn and a utility building. Now the applicant would like to move in another mobile home for a family member to live there. City Manager Sumner stated that because the Text Amendment was not approved, this case 7-B technically could not be approved. Mr. Ken Garren spoke on behalf of the applicant Bert Scruggs. He stated that he would hope Council would give this some consideration. Due to the denial of HA-2007-06, no action was taken on this request.
- HA-2007-08 Variance Request to Hahira Zoning Ordinance by Ronnie and Connie Cooper:
Ann Marie Wolff stated that the Cooper’s would like to request a variance to a rear yard setback. The property is at 824 Danielle Way. They are requesting this variance so they can build a handicapped accessible bathroom for their daughter. The applicant spoke on behalf of her daughter, asking the Council to approve the request. Mayor Wayne Bullard asked for a motion to accept this variance. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept, second by Councilman Ogundu, vote was unanimous.
REPORTS:
Mayor Wayne Bullard thanked Carol Jacobs and all the Honeybee Festival Committee for all their hard work; also, he thanked Public Works for the good job that they done. He also recognized the Fire Department and Police Department for a job well done. He thanked everyone for all the effort that they put out. He stated he is hearing many good and positive things about Hahira.
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 9:00 P.M.
_______________________
Mayor Wayne Bullard
_______________________
Diane Bellflower, City Clerk
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