Minutes of Hahira Council Meetings for May, 2009
HAHIRA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MAY 04, 2009
6:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE
Mayor and Council met for a Work Session May 04, 2009 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.
REVIEW/CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
A.) February 19 - 22, 2009 Council Retreat
B.) March 30, 2009 Special Called Meeting
C.) March 30, 2009 Work Session
D.) April 2, 2009 Council Meeting
Mayor Bullard asked if there were any questions concerning the minutes. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned if there were any other centers built by the Ellis Rickett firm that Council could view to get several different ideas on how Hahira would like their Senior Citizen center established. City Manager Sumner stated there was a center in Douglas that Council could view and he would call the City Manager in Douglas to set up a date for viewing the center. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she did not want to make any decisions until Council had a chance to look at site plans of other centers that were constructed by the Ellis Rickett firm. Councilman Benjamin stated he would like the site plan and the amenities of the apartment complex added to the motion in the April 2, 2009 Council meeting minutes. Sumner stated the minutes would be corrected. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned about the apartment complex text amendment being on the agenda for the Planning Commission meeting. City Manager Sumner stated the text amendment would be on the agenda for the Planning Commission at the May 18th meeting.
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:
Mayor Bullard asked if there were any questions concerning the bills. There were no questions concerning the bills.
DISCUSSIONS:
A.) Update on Courthouse Work (Chief Davis)
Chief Davis stated to Mayor and Council the work on the Courthouse was close to being completed. Davis stated the Courthouse had been repainted and all the shutters were replaced. Davis stated the front steps needed to be repainted, the globes on the lights replaced, and the building numbers repainted. Davis stated after these few things were done, the work on the Courthouse would be complete. Davis stated the total cost to update the Courthouse was around $500 dollars.
B.) Sign-in-Policy (Mayor Pro Tem Adams)
Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated there was some confusion at the last Council Meeting concerning the sign in sheet for citizens to be heard. Adams stated there were citizens who were wishing to speak, but they said the sheet was not at the usual location. Adams suggested a sheet be available for citizens at City Hall two weeks before the meeting to allow citizens an ample amount of time to be on the sign in sheet to be heard. Councilman Cain stated he read the policy for citizens to be heard and fully agreed with the policy. Cain stated citizens to be heard was a time for the citizens to express their concerns to the Mayor and Council. Cain stated this time was not a time for a lengthy conversation to be held between Council and the citizens. Cain stated the concerns from the citizens should be handled after the meeting by the City Manager or the department heads the following day. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she would like to request the doors at the Courthouse be open earlier for the citizens to have plenty of time to sign the sheet.
C.) Attendance at GRWA Conference (Mayor Bullard)
Mayor Bullard stated he and Director Warren would like to attend the Georgia Rural Water Association conference in Jekyll Island from May 16th through May 18th 2009. Mayor Bullard stated there would be no lodging fees because he and Warren would be staying with relatives. Councilman Cain stated he was concerned if the classes were required for training hours for Director Warren. Director Warren stated the classes were required.
D.) Teacher Luncheon (Mayor Bullard)
Mayor Bullard stated it was time for the annual teacher’s luncheon. Mayor Bullard stated Hahira had two great schools and this was a way to show them our appreciation. Mayor Bullard stated the cost of the luncheon was around $750 dollars. Councilman Clendenin stated he was concerned if this item was a budgeted item. City Manager Sumner stated there was money in the budget for the teacher luncheon. City Manager Sumner stated he would contact the schools to set up a date for the luncheon.
DEPARTMENT REQUEST:
A.) A Child is Missing Program (Chief Davis)
Chief Davis stated to Mayor and Council this was a program that was funded by the federal government. Davis stated this was offered free to cities to help locate missing children. Davis stated this program would call neighbors if a sexual predator moved into their neighborhood. Davis stated the program could dial 1000 calls within 60 seconds to locate a missing child. Davis stated the program would never call and ask for money from the City. Davis stated to Mayor and Council that he had signed the agreement to be a part of the program to locate missing children.
B.) Sewer Pump (Director Warren)
Director Warren stated to Mayor and Council the main pump at the pond had went out and he had received two quotes for replacing the pump. Warren stated the quote for a rebuilt pump came with a 90-day warranty and the quote for a new pump came with a one-year warranty. Warren stated the cost estimate for the rebuilt pump from Smith Electric was $7279.52 dollars and the cost estimate for the new pump from EMU Pumps was $8750.96 dollars. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned with what Director Warren recommended. Director Warren recommended going with the new pump, due to the fact it had a one-year warranty on the pump.
C.) Purchase of Turnout Gear (Chief Bennett)
Chief Bennett stated to Mayor and Council it was time to purchase new gear for the Fire Department. Bennett stated the gear the FD currently was using was unsafe because the fibers were coming apart. Bennett stated he would like to start rotating some of the old gear out for some new turnout gear. Councilman Cain stated he was concerned with how long a set of gear should last. Chief Bennett stated it depended on how severe a fire was that they were called to. Bennett stated a new set of gear should last approximately 2 to 3 years. Bennett stated a new set of gear would cost approximately around $2000 dollars a set and he wanted to try and purchase the new sets out of SLOST.
D.) Summer Training Conference (Chief Davis)
Chief Davis stated to Mayor and Council the summer training conference for the Chief’s Association was in Savannah Georgia the 3rd week of July 2009. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she was concerned if the conference was mandatory for the Chief to attend. Chief Davis responded the conference was mandatory for Chief’s to attend each year.
City Manager Sumner stated to Mayor and Council he would like to remind everyone that Thursday May 7, 2009 at 12 P.M. there would be a National Day of Prayer on the Courthouse lawn. Sumner stated Mayor Bullard would be praying for the Nation and Mayor Pro Tem Adams would be praying for the City and County Leaders. City Manager Sumner stated everyone was invited to attend.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to come out of the regular meeting and enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters. Councilman Benjamin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to come out of executive session and enter back into the regular meeting authorizing the Mayor to sign the affidavit saying the only thing discussed was personnel matters. Councilman Benjamin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Cain, vote was unanimous.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 P.M.
________________________
Mayor, Wayne Bullard
________________________
City Clerk, Belinda Chappell
CITY OF HAHIRA
COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 07, 2009
7:30 P.M.
COURTHOUSE
Mayor and Council met for a Council Meeting May 07, 2009 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.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Wayne Bullard
ESTABLISH QUORUM: Mayor Wayne Bullard
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Wayne Bullard
INVOCATION: Mayor Wayne Bullard
REVIEW/CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
A.) February 19-22, 2009 Council Retreat
B.) March 30, 2009 Work Session
C.) April 02, 2009 Council Meeting
D.) March 30, 2009 Special Called Meeting
Mayor Bullard asked if there were any questions concerning the minutes. City Manager Sumner stated the corrections had been made to the April 02, 2009 Council Meeting minutes. Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she would like to add to the April 02, 2009 Council Meeting minutes that Council agreed to send the Apartment Complex text amendment to the Planning Commission in it’s entirety. City Manager Sumner stated this would be added to the minutes. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Mayor Pro Tem Adams made a motion, seconded by Councilman Cain, vote was unanimous.
REVIEW OF BILLS/BUDGET OVERAGES:
Mayor Bullard asked if there were any questions concerning the bills. There were no questions concerning the bills. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to pay the bills. Councilman Benjamin made a motion, seconded by Councilman Clendenin, vote was unanimous.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD:
Mr. Freeman Rivers residing at 204 S. Hall Street Hahira Ga. 31632. Mr. Rivers addressed Mayor and Council with the request of possibly naming the Senior Citizen Center after an African American who had been an outstanding citizen of the City of Hahira. Mr. Rivers also thanked Hahira for the support of his newly published book.
DISCUSSIONS:
A.) Removed
B.) Removed
C.) Moved to Consent Agenda
D.) Moved to Consent Agenda
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS:
A.) Removed
B. -D.) Moved to Consent Agenda
CONSENT AGENDA:
A.) Attendance at GRWA Conference
B.) Removed by Consensus of Council
C.) Purchase of Sewer Pump
D.) Purchase of Fire Department Turnout Gear
E.) Law Enforcement Summer Training Conference
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to accept the consent agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Adams made a motion to accept the consent agenda with the exception of the teacher’s luncheon, seconded by Councilman Benjamin, vote was unanimous.
Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she would like to donate the money spent on the teacher’s luncheon to the Food Bank to help our local community. Councilman Clendenin agreed with Mayor Pro Tem Adams on donating the money to the Food Bank to help our local community. Councilman Clendenin stated the money should be in honor of the teachers at Hahira Elementary and Hahira Middle Schools.
Mayor Bullard asked for a motion on the teacher’s luncheon. Councilman Clendenin made a motion to donate the money spent on the teacher’s luncheon to the Food Pantry Church of God in Hahira in honor of the teacher’s at Hahira Elementary and Hahira Middle Schools, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, vote was unanimous.
REPORTS:
Mayor Pro Tem Adams stated she would like to thank Chief Davis for the new sign in sheet for citizens to be heard. Adams stated the sign in sheet would be available at the Work Session from 6pm through 6:30 pm and at the Council meeting from 6 pm through 7:30 pm. Adams thanked the Mayor, Councils and the City Manager for helping to get the manhole rehab project started. Adams stated that May 17th through the 23rd was National EMS week. Adams thanked Chief Davis for his work on A Child is Missing program. Adams thanked Director Warren on his professionalism with the citizens of Hahira. Adams stated she had several compliments on Director Warren and his kindness to the citizens. Adams stated Director Warren would be ordering several No Dumping signs throughout the City. Adams thanked Councilman Clendenin for his interest in the turning lane for the elementary school traffic problem. Mayor Pro Tem Adams thanked the Mayor and Council for their kindness.
Councilman Benjamin thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Benjamin stated he had a few complaints about the mosquitoes being bad around the City and stated he had seen the mosquito truck performing the spraying for the mosquitoes. Benjamin thanked all the departments for continuing to do a great job.
Councilman Cain thanked the departments for doing a great job. Councilman Cain stated he had been hearing good things about the employees doing a great job to keep the City of Hahira operating smoothly.
Councilman Clendenin stated he and Chief Davis discussed the option of a turning lane off of Hagan Bridge into the Elementary School to help with the traffic flow. Clendenin stated he and Davis would be attending a meeting with the school board to discuss the option of a turning lane and where the money would come from to fund the project.
City Manager Sumner thanked Mayor and Council for the opportunity to serve and the department heads and staff for all the hard work they put in to keep Hahira safe. Sumner stated LOST was about 3% off of collection but on the good side the expenditures were only 20% of anticipated for this part of the year. Sumner stated that was a 2% improvement to the good. Sumner thanked the department heads for watching their spending and doing a good job with the budget. Sumner thanked the Finance Clerk and the City Clerk for working on the finance books and getting them ready for the Auditor.
Mayor Bullard thanked the citizens for attending the meeting. Mayor Bullard stated Hahira would be offering senior citizen fitness classes at the recreation center on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10-11 a.m. and line dance classes on Thursday night from 7-8 p.m. if anyone was interested in attending. Mayor Bullard stated Hahira made the front page of the Valdosta Scene magazine. Mayor Bullard thanked all the department heads for thrifty spending with the budget. Mayor Bullard thanked all Council members for approving only necessary spending.
There being no further business to discuss. Mayor Bullard asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Clendenin made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Adams, vote was unanimous.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
______________________
Mayor, Wayne Bullard
______________________
City Clerk, Belinda Chappell