Due to the non availability of several members of City Council and staff and the absence of urgent agenda items  and because our last meeting was held approximately two weeks ago on February 27^th, Mayor Roberts has cancelled the regularly scheduled March 11, 2010 meeting.  Our next meeting will be on April 8, 2010.

Item 1:  Mayor Roberts called the meeting to order.

City Clerk Karen Jordan administered the oath of office to John Byrd.  Mr. Byrd will serve a four year term as Post #4 Council Member.

Council Members John Byrd, Frank Homiller, Mickey O’Malley, Lee Prettyman &      Andrenia Stoner were present.

  Staff Present:  Darrell Caudill, City Attorney; Dana Davis, Police Chief; Michael     Chapman, Planner; Eric Wilmarth, City Manager; & Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk

 Also Present:  Stephanie Joyner (Cherokee Historical Society) and Erika Neldner (Cherokee Ledger-News)

 Item 2:  Council Member Homiller led the Pledge Allegiance

Item 3:  Scheduled Appearances – None

Item 6:  Old Business

Item 7:  New Business

 Mayor Roberts presented Resolution 2010-R04 for Council consideration.

 RESOLUTION 2010-R04

WHEREAS, the project shall be know as the Ball Ground Neighborhood Facility Rehabilitation Project, Activity Number CD09-0204, and

 WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has appropriated $85,178.00 from CDBG FY 2009 for award to the City of Ball Ground for the implementation of activities determined to be CDBG eligible by the County funds, and

 WHEREAS, the City of Ball Ground agrees to contribute matching funds at a minimum of   25% of the total project cost, and

WHEREAS, the City of Ball Ground certifies that the matching funds totaling $21,295.00   has been identified as supporting this project as set out within the Cherokee County        Community Development Block Grand Program Capital Project Application and will be    made available as requested.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved the Mayor and City Council of the City of Ball    Ground, Georgia hereby agrees to enter into a Subrecipent Agreement with the  Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and further agrees to make available matching funds of $21,295.00 toward the cost of the project, Activity Number CD09-0204.

 SO RESOLVED THIS 27^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2010.

 b)      Consider Resolution 2010-R05 Authorizing Mayor Roberts execute and all documents related to the acceptance of a Cherokee Co.  CDBG for Community Center Improvements

  Mayor Roberts presented Resolution 2010-R05 for Council consideration.

 RESOLUTION 2010-R05

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BALL GROUND, GEORGIA AUTHORIZING THE  MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BALLGROUND TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL      DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR ACCEPTANCE AND IMPLEMENT OF A CHEROKEE    COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRAND PROGRAM FY      2009 CAPITAL PROJECT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BALL GROUND COMMUNITY CENTER

WHEREAS, it is therefore necessary that he Ball Ground City Council authorize the  Mayor of the City of Ball Ground to sign the FY 2009 Subrecipent Agreement and other related documents  between the Cherokee County, Georgia and the City of Ball Ground,  and

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Ball          Ground, Georgia that Mayor Roberts be granted authorization to execute said acceptance documents.

 SO RESOLVED, this 27th day of February, 2010

 Item 8:  City Manager

Financial Report – An unaudited report of account balances, statement of revenue and expenditures for the month ended January 31, 2010 was presented by City Administrator Wilmarth.  The report showed cash on deposit totaled $638,392.87.

 Item 9:  Mayor Roberts and City Council

Mayor Roberts announced that Ball Ground Scout Troop #1755 would conduct a tree planting ceremony today on the City Hall grounds at 11 am to commemorate the 100 anniversary of Boy Scouts USA. 

 Item 10:  Public Comments

Item 11:  Executive Session (If Needed)

 The minutes of this February 27, 2010 Meeting of Council will be considered for approval at the March 11, 2010 Meeting of Council.

Come out and enjoy down home family fun at the 2010 Ball Ground Heritage Days Festival. It’s a weekend you don’t want to miss!

The Ball Ground Heritage Days Committee presents their annual Ball Ground Heritage Days Festival on May 15th and 16th in the heart of the city.  The festivities begin with a parade at 10 o’clock on Saturday morning through downtown that will feature floats, antique cars, shriners, ball teams and much, much more.

Then the main portion of the festival will be held in the downtown park and will feature arts and crafts, good food and entertainment.  The First Annual Business Expo will be held during the Heritage Festival on Saturday May 15th from 11:00AM – 5:00PM in the Ball Ground Community Center.   The 2010 Business Expo will give local businesses a chance to promote their companies and to let the community know what they have to offer. There will be cash drawings and a Grand Prize drawing for a Flat Screen TV. This is a great way to market your company!

Bruce Chiropractic will be presenting the 1st annual “$1.98 Beauty Contest”. Local men dressed in their wives finest will be strutting their stuff starting at 5:30PM on Saturday. Prizes will be awarded!

 Later that evening, attendees can enjoy a free movie at the Lions Club Ball Park beginning with pre-show activities at 7:30 and the movie starting at dusk.  

The festival continues on Sunday morning at 11 o’clock in the downtown park, located next to the railroad tracks in the heart of the city.

Parade participants should contact Karen Jordan by calling 770-893-8152.

Artists, craftsmen and food vendors who would like to participate are asked to contact Wendy Corlett 404-771-6407.

Area businesses who would like to participate in the Business Expo need to contact Connie Johns 678-315-4411.

If you have a talent or band and you’re interested in performing at the festival, contact John Byrd at 770-827-3345.

Contestants for the $1.98 Beauty Contest can contact Jerimy Bruce at 770-737-5200.

Media Contact: Tim Cavender (678) 493-4107.

Plus, area individuals or business that would like to be a sponsor of this year’s event need to contact Tricia Richardson at 770-910-0776.

For more information on the Ball Ground Heritage Days Festival, visit www.ballgroundheritagedays.com 

  ]]> http://cityofballground.com/news/2010/02/18/annual-heritage-days-festival/feed/ 0 http://cityofballground.com/news/2010/02/16/652/ http://cityofballground.com/news/2010/02/16/652/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:37:46 +0000 City Clerk http://cityofballground.com/news/?p=652  10 QUESTIONS….10 MINUTES

Questionnaire Assistance
If you require special assistance, you may speak to a representative in person Monday – Friday,  2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall beginning March 19, 2010.

TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE AS A NATION

 The Census: A Snapshot

What: The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States.

 Who: All U.S. residents must be counted—both citizens and non citizens.

 When: You will receive your questionnaire in March 2010 either by U.S. mail or hand delivery. Some people in remote areas will be counted in person.

 Why: The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years to count the population and determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 How:  Households should complete and mail back their questionnaires upon receipt. Households that do not respond may receive a replacement questionnaire in early April. Census takers will visit households that do not return questionnaires to take a count in person.

 Every year, the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data.

Q. How will the 2010 Census differ from previous censuses?

A. In 2010, every residence will receive a short questionnaire of just 10 questions. More detailed socioeconomic information previously collected through the decennial census will be asked of a small percentage of the population through the annual American Community Survey. To learn more about the American Community Survey, visit www.census.gov.

Q. How are census data used?

A. Census data determine the number of seats each state will have in the U. S. House of Representatives. Census data also can help determine the allocation of federal funds for community services, such as school lunch programs and senior citizen centers, and new construction, such as highways and hospitals.

Q. What kind of assistance is available to help people complete the questionanir?

A. 2010 Census questionnaire language assistance guides are available in a variety of languages. Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) will also assist those unable to read or understand the questionnaire. Large-print questionnaires are available to the visually impaired upon request, and a Teletext Device for the Deaf (TDD) program will help the hearing impaired. Contact your Regional Census Center for more details about the types of assistance available and for QAC locations.

 Q. How does the Census Bureau count people without a permanent residence? 

A. Census Bureau workers undertake extensive operations to take in-person counts of people living in group quarters, such as college dormitories, military barracks, nursing homes and shelters, as well as those who have been displaced by natural disasters.

2010 Census Key Dates

February – March 2010:  Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households

March – April 2010:  Be Counted program is implemented.  Census questionnaires are available at select public sites for individuals who did not receive one by mail

April 1, 2010:  Census Day

May – July 2010:  Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnair by mail.

December 31, 2010:  By law, the Census Bureau delivers population counts to the President.

March 2011:  By law, the Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.

For more information about the 2010 U.S. Census, please visit their website at http://2010.census.gov

As part of maintaining our Tree City USA status and in celebration of Arbor Day our annual tree planting  was held on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:30 AM on the City Hall grounds.

What is Tree City USA?

The Tree City USA^® program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 135 million Americans call home.

The many benefits of being a Tree City include creating a framework for action, education, a positive public image, and citizen pride

Mayor Roberts urges all citizens to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands and to plant trees to gladden hearts and promote the well being of present and future generations. 

For more information about Tree City USA and the Arbor Day Foundation  visit their website at http://www.arborday.org

Item 1:  Call to Order

Item 2:  Pledge of Allegiance

Item 3:  Scheduled Appearances

Item 4:  Approval of February 27, 2010 Meeting Minutes

Item 6:  Old Business

Item 7:  New Business

a)      De-Annexation Petition 2010-D01 Request by Bill Palmer for deannexation of all that tract of parcel of land lying and being in Land lot 315 of the 4^th District, 2^nd Section, Cherokee County, Georgia, being Lot 6, Final Plat for Cherry Grove Road, as per plat recorded in Plat Book 102, Page 4, Cherokee County, Georgia Records, said plat being incorporated and made a part hereof.  The property is further described as Map 04N06A, Parcel 006.

b)      De-Annexation Petition 2010-D02 Request by Bill Palmer for deannexation of all that tract of parcel of land lying and being in Land lot 315 of the 4^th District, 2^nd Section, Cherokee County, Georgia, being Lot 7, Final Plat for Cherry Grove Road, as per plat recorded in Plat Book 102, Page 4, Cherokee County, Georgia Records, said plat being incorporated and made a part hereof.  The property is further described as Map 04N06A, Parcel 007.

c)       De-Annexation Petition 2010-D02 Request by Bennie Shelley for deannexation of all that tract of parcel of land lying and being in Land lot 315 of the 4^th District, 2^nd Section, Cherokee County, Georgia, being Lot 8, Final Plat for Cherry Grove Road, as per plat recorded in Plat Book 102, Page 4, Cherokee County, Georgia Records, said plat being incorporated and made a part hereof.  The property is further described as Map 04N06A, Parcel 00.

 Item 8:  City Manager

Item 9:  Mayor Roberts and City Council

Item 10:  Public Comments

Item 11:  Executive Session (If Needed)

Item 12:  Adjourn

What is the E-Verify Program?

The National Register of Historic Places is America’s official list of historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts worthy of preservation. The National Register provides formal recognition of a property’s architectural, historical or archaeological significance. It also identifies historic properties for planning purposes and insures that these properties will be considered in the planning of state or federally assisted projects. National Register listing encourages preservation of historic properties through public awareness, federal and state tax incentives, and grants.