Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
April 10, 2008
Item 1: Meeting Called To Order by Mayor Rick Roberts
Council Members Present: John Byrd, Ashley Holcomb, Frank Homiller
& Lee Prettyman
Council Members Absent: Andrenia Stoner
Staff Present: Darrell Caudill, City Attorney; Dana Davis, Police Chief;
Michael Chapman, Planner and Eric Wilmarth, City Manager & Karen Jordan, City Clerk, Donna England; Finance Director
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Byrd
Item 3: Public Comments – Recognition of Guest
John Jordan asked the status of the streetscape project.
Mayor responded that DOT is in a holding mode. We hope to receive an update from GDOT concerning the project very soon.
Item 4: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Administrator
- Mayor introduced and welcomed our new finance director Donna England to our staff.
- Heritage Days Festival will be held in Calvin Farmer Park May 17 & 18, 2008.
- City Hall will be closed on May 26, 2008 in observance of Memorial Day.
- The annual GMA convention will be held June 21-25 in Savannah, Ga.
- Mayor Roberts has executed the Contract for Construction of the Valley Street extension. The project is expected to be completed no later than July 15, 2008.
- Back up generators to power the water tanks during power outages have been delivered and should be in operation within the next several weeks.
- Installation of a drainage system around the Community Center to eliminate water leaking into the building is complete.
- Representative Calvin Hill assisted the City in obtaining a grant in the amount of $55,000.00 to aid in the cost of hiring a leak detection company to inspect our water system for water leaks.
- Budget Hearing for the proposed 2008-2009 Budget has been scheduled and advertised for April 24 @ 7:00 PM. The hearing will be held prior to the beginning of the Council Work Session.
- City Adm. Wilmarth outlined the proposed 2008-2009 budget. Copies are available at City Hall during regular business hours.
Item 5: Approval of Minutes
a) March 13, 2008 Regular Scheduled Meeting
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2008 regular scheduled meeting. Council Member Prettyman seconded the motion.
Motion Approved 4 Yeas 0 Nays
Item6: Old Business
a) 2nd Reading of Application for Retail Sales of Beer & Wine – Dustin Thomas Hewatt, Applicant
Council Member Holcomb put forth a motion to table the application submitted by Mr.
Hewatt until the background check from GCIC has been received. Council Member
Prettyman seconded the motion. Motion Approved 4 Yeas 0 Nays.
Item7: New Business
a) Consider Resolution Related to Construction of New Concession Stand at Girls Softball Field.
Mayor Roberts presented Resolution 2008-R04 for Council consideration.
A RESOLUTION
No. 2008-R04
ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY OF BALL GROUND’S COMMITMENT TO
A
SOFTBALL PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City of Ball Ground owns Park property formerly leased to the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Authority in exchange for capital improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has disbanded the Authority and assumed the responsibilities for the administration of Parks and Recreation in Cherokee County; and
WHEREAS, Capital improvement funds were still due to the City of Ball Ground under the terms of the lease; and
WHEREAS, funding is currently needed to construct a new concession stand and dugouts for the girls softball field at Calvin Farmer Park in the City of Ball Ground; and
WHEREAS, the facilities are used extensively to serve North Cherokee County in addition to the population of the City of Ball Ground; and
WHEREAS, the parents and league organizers are willing to commit the time and labor necessary to complete the project; and
THEREFORE, Be it Resolved by the Mayor and City Council that the City of Ball Ground is requesting that the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners authorize the Cherokee County Parks and Recreation Department to fund the $36,490.00 dollars required to accomplish this project.
BE IT RESOLVED this 10th day of April, 2008
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion to approve Resolution No. 2008-R04. Council Member Holcomb seconded the motion. Motion Approved. 4 Yeas 1 Absent
b) Consider Surplus of City Property located at 301 Gilmer Ferry Rd.
Mayor Roberts put forth for discussion the option to surplus the old City Hall Building located at 301 Gilmer Ferry Rd.
Following a lengthy discussion a motion was duly made by Council Member Byrd to table this item of business for further discussion at the April work session of the Mayor and Council. Council Member Prettyman seconded the motion.
Motion Approved. 4 Yeas 1 Absent
c) Presentation of 2008-2009 Budget
City Administrator Wilmarth presented the 2008-2009 Budget for period ending June 30, 2009 for Mayor and Council review. A public hearing will be held in
Council Chambers Thursday, April 24, 2008 beginning at 7:00 PM for the purpose of comments related to the proposed budget.
d) Consider an Amendment to the Code of the City of Ball Ground Title 10; Environment to include Chapter 8; Titled Floodplain Management/Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
Mayor Roberts presented the amendment for consideration.
City Administrator Wilmarth stated the amendment was needed to correct Section 10-8-1.4 (1) which references a particular date of a Flood Insurance Study (FIS).
Council Member Holcomb put forth a motion, Second by Council Member Prettyman that section 10-8-1.1.4 of the Code of the City of Ball Ground, Georgia, is hereby amended to read as follows: 1.4. Basis for Area of Special Flood Hazard – Flood Area Maps and Studies For the purposes of this ordinance, the following are adopted by reference: (1)The Flood Insurance Study (FIS), dated 1990 with accompanying maps and other supporting data and any revision thereto are hereby adopted by reference. [For those land areas acquired by a the City of Ball Ground through annexation, the current effective FIS and data for Cherokee County, with accompanying maps and other supporting data and any revision thereto are hereby adopted by reference.]
Motion Approved 4 Yeas 0 Nays.
Item 8: City Managers Comments
Roads & Streets – A concrete strip was added to the north side of McHan Street to extend the width and stabilize the shoulder. Once completed and adopted by Council the plan will be used to establish priorities and funding of new sidewalk and trail construction.
Staff is currently developing a sidewalk network plan which should be completed in time to be presented at the June Council Meeting.
Public Safety – Chief Davis and his department was commended for their continuing efforts to improve the department by attending several training sessions during the month.
Chief Davis provided Mayor and Council with a written report of the department’s monthly activity for period ended March 31, 2008.
Planning and Zoning – City Administrator Wilmarth stated the Cherokee County Planning and Zoning Department has asked that Mayor and Council consider their approval listing of the City of Ball Ground Zoning Map on the Georgia GIS Clearing House Data Base.
Upon Motion by Council Member Byrd, Seconded by Council Member Holcomb to approve the listing of the Official Zoning Map of the City of Ball Ground on the Georgia GIS Clearing House Data Base. Motion approved 4 Yeas 0 Nays.
City Administrator announced that the City received a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission to assist Mayor and Council in rewriting the City’s Sign and Tree Ordinance.
Item 9: Mayor Roberts & City Council Comments
Mayor Roberts spoke concerning the renewed interest in the location for the location of the school.
A joint meeting of the district GMA/CMA has been tentatively scheduled for April 30 at 7:00 PM at the Canton City Hall announced by Mayor Roberts. Council Members was encouraged to attend.
Council Member Homiller expressed his dismay that the DDA has not gotten the support he felt it should have. Council Member Homiller asked Council Members to think of ways to develop downtown and announced that the DDA meets the 4th Thursday at City Hall beginning at 5:00 PM.
City Adm. Wilmarth announced that Sydney’s Sweets would be opening in downtown on April 22. and it is anticipated that ABC Florist and Gifts will also be relocating to the downtown area.
Item 10: Executive Session (If Needed)
No executive session held.
Item 11: Adjourn
There being no further business for Council consideration a motion was duly made and seconded to adjourn at 8:44 PM.
The Minutes of this April 10, 2008 Meeting of Council approved this 8th Day of May, 2008.
__________________________ ________________________
Mayor A. R. Roberts, III Council Member Homiller
__________________________ _________________________
Council Member Byrd Council Member Holcomb
__________________________ _________________________
Council Member Prettyman Council Member Stoner
Attest __________________________
Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
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