Minutes of Hahira Council Meetings for the month of October 2008
HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
OCTOBER 6, 2008
6:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE
Mayor and Council met for a Work Session OCTOBER 6, 2008 at the Courthouse with Mayor Wayne Bullard presiding.
PRESENT:
Mayor Wayne Bullard, Councils: Mayor Pro Tem Adams, Terry Benjamin, Ralph Clendenin, Bruce Cain, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Police Chief Terry Davis, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, Director Donnie Warren, City Clerk Belinda Chappell.
Director Chris Stevens was absent at this meeting.
REVIEW/CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
July 11-13, 2008 Council Retreat
August 25, 2008 Budget Workshop II
September 2, 2008 Work Session, Budget Workshop III
September 4, 2008 Council Meeting
September 10, 2008 Budget Workshop IV
Councilman Clendenin stated there was a correction to be made to the July 11-13 Council Retreat minutes. City Manager Sumner stated the requested changes would be made.
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:
Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned with the bill from the August Council meeting being $407 dollars from the City Attorney. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned if it was necessary to have the City Attorney at the October Council meeting if there were no issues that required the City Attorney to attend the meeting. City Manager Sumner responded the City Attorney was paid by the hour from the City, and he wasn’t aware of any contract with the City Attorney. Sumner stated he would look into this issue and update Mayor and Council at a later time.
DISCUSSIONS:
Cement Urns (Mayor Pro Tem Adams)
Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned on the update of the prices for the urns. Director Warren stated the urns that the City currently were using, were purchased in Dasher. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she would like a count of how many urns needed to be purchased for the City. City Manager Sumner stated he would get a count of how many urns the City currently had, and he and Director Warren would go to Dasher and check on the urns. Councilman Clendenin stated he was concerned with the issue of the globes on the streetlights on Main Street that needed to be replaced. City Manager Sumner responded he would like the globes to be replaced with glass globes that would last longer, if the budget permitted.
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:
Fines and Forfeitures-Proposed Increase (Chief Davis)
Chief Davis stated to Mayor and Council that there had been an increase of 10% added to the state add-ons that are paid on a monthly basis by the Police Department. Chief Davis stated that if the Police Department was going to maintain the amount of money that the City received, there would have to be an increase of 10% on the fines and forfeitures. City Manager Sumner stated that the fines and forfeitures were a critical component of the budget.
Acquionics Contract Renewal (Director Warren)
Director Warren stated to Mayor and Council that it was time to renew the contract for the UV light through Aquionics. Mayor Bullard stated to Director Warren that he was concerned on how the water meters determined how much water was used on irrigation and how much was used for the household if the residents didn’t have a separate meter for irrigation. Director Warren responded that if the residents didn’t have a separate irrigation meter it all was read through one meter. Warren stated that residents with a separate irrigation meter, were only being charged for water through that particular meter and the water and sewer charge for the household would come through the household meter.
PROCLAMATIONS:
Red Ribbon Week (Mayor Bullard)
Mayor Bullard stated he had a proclamation for Red Ribbon Week that would be read on Thursday night at the Council Meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing property acquisition and legal issues. Councilman Clendenin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to come out of executive session and enter back into the regular meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Adams made a motion to exit executive session and enter back into the regular meeting and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the affidavit certifying that the only thing discussed in executive session was property acquisition and legal issues, seconded by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Clendenin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
________________________
Mayor, Wayne Bullard
________________________
City Clerk, Belinda Chappell
CITY OF HAHIRA
COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 9, 2008
7:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE
Mayor and Council met for a Council Meeting October 9, 2008 at the Courthouse with Mayor Wayne Bullard presiding.
PRESENT: Mayor Wayne Bullard, Councils: Mayor Pro Tem Adams, Terry Benjamin, Bruce Cain, Ralph Clendenin, City Manager Jonathan Sumner, Police Chief Terry Davis, Fire Chief Dwight Bennett, Director Donnie Warren, City Clerk Belinda Chappell.
Director Chris Stevens was absent at this meeting.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Wayne Bullard
ESTABLISH QUORUM: Mayor Wayne Bullard
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Wayne Bullard
INVOCATION: Councilman Terry Benjamin
REVIEW/CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
July 11-13, 2008 Council Retreat
August 25, 2008 Budget Workshop II
September 2, 2008 Work Session, Budget Workshop III
September 4, 2008 Council Meeting
September 10, 2008 Budget Workshop IV
Councilman Clendenin stated there was a correction to be made to the July 11-13 Council Retreat minutes concerning the distribution of the Splost money. City Manager Sumner stated the requested changes would be made.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections to the July 11-13 Retreat minutes, seconded by Councilman Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:
Mayor Bullard asked if there were any questions concerning the bills.
City Manager Sumner presented to Mayor and Council a copy of the City Attorney bill in question at the Work Session. Sumner stated the bill in question had some specific projects that were included in the bill, as well as, traveling to and from the Council meetings, this was the reason this bill was more expensive than bills in the past. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned with the issue of the Attorney attending meetings that had no legal issues to be discussed. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated that more time should be spent at the Work Session meetings and less time at the Council meetings to save attorney fees. City Manager Sumner agreed with Mayor Pro Tem Adams on this issue. Councilman Cain stated he was concerned with the City Ordinance having the City Attorney attend the Council meetings. City Manager Sumner responded he would check the Ordinance, but he was almost sure that it did not require the Attorney to attend.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to pay the bills. Mayor Pro Tem Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilman Cain, vote was unanimous.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:
Norman Bennett residing at 7421 Hall Webb Road Hahira 31632. Mr. Bennett addressed Mayor and Council on the issue that he was running for Chairman of County Commission and he stated that if elected, he would work with the surrounding small cities, as he had in the past.
DISCUSSIONS:
REMOVED
Tap Fees (City Manager)
City Manager Sumner stated to Mayor and Council per their discussion on Monday night at the Work Session concerning tap fees, Council discussed a temporary reduction on tap fees. Sumner stated that Council would like to set the tap fees for water/sewer from the current rates to a new set of fees that included: ¾” water tap $1500, 1” water tap $3000, 1”1/2 water tap $3500, 2” water tap $4000, 4” water tap $6000, 6” water tap $10,500, 4” sewer tap $1500, 6” sewer tap $4000, 8” sewer tap $5500. City Manager Sumner stated to Mayor and Council that these prices included everything required for water and sewer installation. Sumner stated the new set of fees would be effective from 10/9/2008 through 12/31/2008. City Manager Sumner stated the tap fees would revert back to $2500 for water and $2500 for sewer on January 1, 2009 for residential taps. Mayor Bullard stated that he had discussed this issue with the builders and they were pleased with this agreement. Councilman Clendenin stated he was concerned if this was purchasing one tap at a time or multiple taps. City Manager Sumner responded there was no condition on how many taps the builders could purchase at once. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned if this was going to benefit the City of Hahira. Sumner responded this would provide economic stimulus for the builders, as well as the City. City Manager Sumner stated to Mayor and Council a certified letter would be sent to all builders explaining the new tap fees that are effective from October 9, 2008 through December 31, 2008.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion. Councilman Cain made a motion, seconded by Councilman Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:
Fines and Forfeitures- Proposed Increase (Chief Davis)
Police Chief Davis stated to Mayor and Council the State Government was adding an additional 10% to cash bond payments, as well as, other fines that were to be increased by the State Government. Chief Davis stated for the City to be able to keep receiving the same amount of fines and forfeitures it had received in the past, the increase was necessary. Davis stated that if the City did not increase the fines by the 10%, the amount the City had been receiving would decrease. Councilman Clendenin stated he was concerned if all the fines would increase by the 10%. Chief Davis responded that not all the fines would be affected by the increase. Councilman Clendenin stated he was concerned if the 10% was the money that the City paid to the State or was it 10% of the base fine. Chief Davis responded the 10% increase was from the base fine.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion. Councilman Benjamin made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, vote was unanimous.
Acquionics Contract Renewal (Director Warren)
Director Warren stated to Mayor and Council this contract was for Aquionics to perform maintenance on the UV light, to check for defects and to make sure it was working properly.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion. Councilman Clendenin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Cain, vote was unanimous.
PROCLAMATIONS:
Mayor Bullard read the proclamation concerning Red Ribbon Week that will be observed in October of 2008. Sheila Warren with the Drug Coalition Group thanked the Mayor and Council for continuing to support Red Ribbon Week. Mrs. Warren had three of the Teen Explosion Members attend the Council meeting who included: Zachary Garcia, the President of the Teen Explosion Club, Patia James, and Janell Pittman. Mr. Garcia stated to Mayor and Council that he appreciated any support from the City of Hahira for Red Ribbon Week, and requested approval to decorate three parks in Hahira for Red Ribbon Week. Mayor Bullard gave his approval to decorate the parks and thanked the three members for attending the Council meeting.
REPORTS:
Mayor Pro Tem Adams thanked Mr. Thomas Ieracitano and Mr. Maurice Warren who are employed with Valdosta Toyota for the cars that were driven in the Honeybee Parade by the Council Members. Mayor Pro Tem Adams also thanked the Beautification Committee for the fall decorations around the City and especially Mayor Bullard for getting the hay for the decorations.
Councilman Benjamin thanked Teen Explosion for their work in the Community, Benjamin also thanked all the departments for a good job done during the Honeybee Festival.
Councilman Cain thanked the Mayor for all the hard work he does for the City, Cain thanked the Teen Explosion Group for supporting the Red Ribbon Week and also all the departments for a job well done during the Honeybee Festival.
Councilman Clendenin thanked all the departments for a great job during the Honeybee Festival, Clendenin thanked the Teen Explosion members for their hard work done in the community.
City Manager Sumner thanked all the departments for a tremendous job done during the Honeybee Festival, Sumner also reminded everyone about Third Thursday and the Fall Festival coming up, and thanked Emily Grace Newkirk for working hard on these upcoming events.
Mayor Bullard thanked all City Employees for working hard, not just during the Honeybee Festival but throughout the year, Mayor Bullard thanked all the Council members for doing a great job for the City and also thanked Sheila Warren for continuing to work for our youth throughout the City.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Benjamin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
______________________
Mayor, Wayne Bullard
______________________
City Clerk, Belinda Chappell