Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground Library- 7:00 PM
Minutes
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Item 1: Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Roberts
Council Members Present: John Byrd, Ashley Holcomb, Frank Homiller, Lee Prettyman, Andrenia Stoner
Staff: Dana Davis, Police Chief; Darrell Caudill, City Attorney; Randy Westbrook, Finance Director; Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk & Eric Wilmarth, City Administrator
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance Led by Mayor Roberts
Item 3: Public Comments from Ball Ground Residents
Sue Urbaitis of 107 Preserve Pkwy asked if meeting agendas could be posted in a timelier manner.
City Manger Wilmarth stated the web site is currently undergoing some changes after which staff should be able to access and have more control to post updates.
Mrs. Urbaitis also asked Mayor Roberts and Council to give more consideration to larger lot size for future development.
Item 4: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates
a) Announcements
City Hall will be closed Wednesday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.
July 14, 2007 Movie Under the Stars – Calvin Farmer Park.
b) Project Updates City Manager
1. Downtown Streetscapes
Fifteen of the twenty-two easements needed for the project have been signed. It is anticipated that four of the remaining seven will be signed next week. In order to obtain one of the remaining easements the City may be forced to obtain the property thru condemnation. Negations with the property owner have been unsuccessful.
2. City Hall Project
Grading of the site is currently underway. Project remains under budget.
City Manager Wilmarth stated the existing drain pipe along Valley Street will not support the parking lane or entry exit for the site.
Council Member Holcomb put forth a motion to approve the following change orders related to the construction of the new City Hall:
* Install 350 ft. of 24″ reinforced concrete storm drain which parallels to Valley Street at a cost of $27,770.00
* Site change and earth work at a cost of $36,546.00.
Council Member Prettyman seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0.
3. Valley Street Project
Mayor asked that Council discuss this item of business in executive session at the end of this meeting.
4. Emory Garrett Search for ground water
Four locations have been identified as possible well sites. However because of the proximity to the railroad one site has been eliminated. Surveys for the three remaining sites have been ordered. Once the surveys have been completed property owners will be notified and a request will be sent to EPD for permission to begin test drilling.
5. Meter Change Out Program
Materials needed to begin this project are currently being delivered. It is anticipated the project will begin on June 30, 2007.
Item 5: Approval of Minutes
a) May 10, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes
b) May 24, 2007 Work Session Minutes
Council Member Holcomb moved to approve the minutes of both the May 10 and May 24 meetings of council as submitted in writing by the City Clerk. Council Member Stoner seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0.
Item 6: Consent Agenda
Council Member Holcomb moved to pull items A & H from the agenda for discussion under new business. Council Member Stoner seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0.
Council Member Holcomb moved to approve Items B, C, D, E, F and G. Council Member Stoner seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0.
a) Ball Ground Historic District Designation Application
b) Adopt Short Term Work Program Report
c) Adopt Short Term Work Program for 2008-2012
d) 1st Reading Annexation Petition #2007-A01 Joel, Jane & Rhoda Neighbors, Applicant. Request annexation of 1.21 acres. The property is located at 10464 Ball Ground Hwy and further described as Cherokee County Tax Map 04N03C, Parcel008.
e) 1st Reading Annexation Petition #2007-A02 Patricia O’Bryant Jinks, Applicant. Request annexation of 1.1300 Acres. The property is located at 724 Howell Bridge Road and further described as Cherokee County Tax Map 03N01, Parcel 054
f) Financing for Water Meter Change Out – Authorize City Adm. Wilmarth to borrow up to $190,500.00 from a banking institution who submits the best proposal.
g) Reimbursement Resolution (This resolution is related to the financing of the water meter change out program). It will allow the City to reimburse ourselves for any out of pocket expense incurred before a financing agreement has been secured.
h) 1st Reading Annexation Petition #2007-A02 Sylvia Roberts, A. R. Roberts, III & Judson W. Roberts, Applicant. Request annexation of 10 acres and 54 acres. The property is located on Roberts Lake Rd. in the City of Ball Ground and further described as Cherokee County Tax Map 03N07, Parcels 062 & 062.
Item 7: Old Business
a) Adopt Resolution R07-02 For the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Budget
A motion was made by Council Member Stoner to adopt Resolution No. R07-02 for the purpose of adopting the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget for each fund of the City of Ball Ground, Georgia, appropriating the amounts shown in each budget as expenditures, expenses, adopting the several items of revenue anticipations, and prohibiting expenditures or expenses from exceeding the actual funding available. Council Member Holcomb seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Item 9: New Business
a) Ball Ground Historic District Designation Application
This item of business will be discussed at the June 28, 2007 Council Work Session.
b) 1st Reading Annexation Petition #2007-A02 Sylvia Roberts, A. R Roberts, III & Judson W. Roberts, Applicant. Request annexation of 10 acres and 54 acres. The property is located on Roberts Lake Rd. in the City of Ball Ground and further described as Cherokee County Tax Map 03N07, Parcels 062 & 062A
Mayor Roberts left the room and did not participate in the discussion
because of his interest in the property.
Council Member Holcomb moved to accept the first reading of Annexation Petition #2007-A02. Council Member Prettyman seconded the motion. Motion Carried 4-0.
Item 10: City Manager Comments
Public Works – For the period ending May 31, 2007 a total of 4,320.00 gallons of water was produced for consumption. The loss for the same period was 29.12%. Staff believes the higher loss rate is attributed to possible leaks. Staff will continue efforts to located and repair leaks within the system.
The City received approximately $13,000.00 from the sale of property declared surplus earlier in the year.
City Adm. Wilmarth stated a grant application in the amount of one million dollars has been submitted to the Ga. Department of Transportation. If the grant is approved the money would be used to build bike paths within the City.
Mayor Roberts and City Adm. Wilmarth reported on a meeting they attended held at the ARC. They stated the funding of the Ball Ground By-Pass had been recommended for removal from the RTP for 2030 due to lack of funding. Discussion on ways to obtain local funding has been on going.
City Adm. Wilmarth announced that David Dean has completed the requirements for “Qualified Personnel” status as defined by Georgia’s NPDES General Permit for Construction Activities. David is the first employee to receive this certification.
Administration – Preliminary figures for the 2007 Tax Digest have been received for review. The appeal period will end June 28th. Additional updates will be provided by the Cherokee County Tax Department as they become available. City Adm. Wilmarth stated that based on the growth in the digest it is possible we may be able to reduce our Millage rate.
Finance Director Randy Westbrook presented a statement of revenue and expenditures and account balances for Mayor and Council review. Total account balances for period ended May 30, 2007 was $1,190,845.32.
Item 11: Mayor and Council Comments
Mayor Roberts announced that he along with Council Members Byrd and Prettyman, City Adm. Eric Wilmarth, City Attorney Darrell Caudill, Finance Director Randy Westbrook and City Clerk Karen Jordan would attend the annual GMA Conference in Savannah June 22-26.
Item 12: Executive Session
Council Member Holcomb put forth a motion to adjourn into executive session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. Council Member Stoner seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0.
Following Council discussion a motion was made by Council Member Holcomb and seconded by Council Member Stoner to reconvene the Council Meeting.
Motion Carried 5-0.
Council Member Holcomb put forth a motion to enter into a contract to purchase
the tract of land identified as number 2007-06. Council Member Prettyman seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0.
Item 13: Adjourn
There being no further business for council consideration a motion was duly made and seconded to adjourn at 8:15 PM. Motion Carried 5-0.
The Minutes of this June 14, 2007 Meeting of Council approved this 12th Day of July, 2007.
__________________________ ___________________________
Mayor A. R. Roberts, III Council Member Homiller
__________________________ ___________________________
Council Member Byrd Council Member Holcomb
__________________________ ___________________________
Council Member Prettyman Council Member Stoner
Attest __________________________
City Clerk Karen L. Jordan
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