Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
April 13, 2017
Item 1: Meeting Called to Order to order by Mayor Rick Roberts.
Council Members Present: John Byrd, Frank Homiller, Mickey O’Malley, Lee Prettyman, Andrenia Stoner
Staff Present: Michael Chapman, Donna England, Bryon Reeves, Darrell Caudill, Eric Wilmarth, Karla Weaver and Karen L. Jordan
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Lee Prettyman
Item 3: Appearances
Katy Westbrook – Presentation of Cherokee County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016-2021. Following the presentation Council Members will consider a Resolution adopting the Updated 2016-2021 Plan.
Due to the absence of Katy Westbrook, James Westbrook presented the Cherokee County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016-2021 for Council consideration.
Following the plan overview Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the following resolution adopting the 2016-2021 City of Ball Ground-Cherokee county Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Motion Unanimously Approved
RESOLUTION – CITY OF BALL GROUND
CHEROKEE COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE 2016-2021
WHEREAS, Cherokee County and its municipalities recognize that it is threatened by a number of different of natural and man-made hazards that can result in loss of life, property loss, economic hardship and threats to public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has required that every county and municipality have pre-disaster mitigation plan in place, and requires the adoption of such plans in order to receive funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, a Hazard Mitigation Plan is a community’s plan for evaluating hazards, identifying resources and capabilities, selecting appropriate actions, and developing and implementing the preferred mitigation actions to eliminate or reduce future damage in order to protect the health safety and welfare of the residents in the community; and
WHEREAS, the Cherokee County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016-2021 has been prepared in accordance with FEMA requirements at 44 CFR 201.6, and
WHEREAS, the plan will be updated every five years;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cherokee County, Georgia and the Mayors and City Councils of the Cities of Canton, Woodstock, Ball Ground, Holly Springs, Nelson and Waleska, each meeting in respective session, that;
1) Cherokee County, Georgia, the Cities of Canton, Woodstock, Ball Ground, Holly Springs, Nelson, and Waleska have adopted the Cherokee County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2016-2021; and
2) It is intended that the Plan be a working document and is the first of man steps toward improving rational, long-range mitigation planning and budgeting for Cherokee County and its municipalities;
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of Ball Ground, Georgia, in regular session this 13th Day of April 2017.
/s/ A. R. Roberts, III /s/ Karen L. Jordan
Mayor City Clerk
Item 4: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Manager
• 2017 Main Street Calendar of Events is available online and at local businesses.
• April 29, 2017, Open House will be held at the new fire station
• Donna England was recognized for receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association.
• City Clerk Karen L. Jordan was recognized for completing the Georgia Clerks Education Institute Master’s Education Management Development certificate program.
Mayor Roberts commended Donna and Karen for their achievements.
Item 5: Approval of March 9, 2017, Council Meeting Minutes
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve March 9, 2017, Council Meeting Minutes as submitted in writing.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 6: Old Business – None
Item 7: New Business
a) Consider First Reading of an Ordinance Prohibiting Outdoor Burning
Council Member Homiller stated air quality is a deep concern for him. There is already a haze in the area which creates a nuisance for people that have respiratory issues. Because the Georgia EPD already imposes a ban on outdoor burning during the summer months and residents have the capability to dispose of yard debris the burn ban should not be a problem. Mayor Roberts and other council members echoed the comments made by Council Member Homiller.
Following discussion Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to adopt the ordinance prohibiting outdoor burning as a first reading.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
b) Consider Redistribution of CDBG Grant Funds
City Manager Wilmarth stated that Ball Ground was previously awarded $196,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG) for proposed projects that were subsequently denied because of income level requirements. The construction of a Senior Center is the only project that remains eligible for CDBG funding. The funding allotted for the previously proposed projects must be used immediately or they will be lost. City Manager Wilmarth proposed council members adopt a resolution to transfer the CDBG funding toward the construction of a Senior Center or return the funds back to the grant office.
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Stoner to transfer allotted Community Development Block Grant Funds towards the construction of a Senior Center.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
c) Consider Surplus of Metal Building located at 390 Groover Street
City Manager Wilmarth proposed Council Members consider surplusing the metal building located at 390 Groover Street that once was home to the City Public Works Department and the Cherokee County Fire Services. The recommendation included the highest bidder would purchase and remove the building from the property within 60 days of purchase.
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to surplus the metal building located at 390 Groover Street and to list the building on the Govedeals website.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
d) Consider Resolution Approving submittal of request for funding of Ball Ground Senior Center
As discussed in Item 7(b) a Senior Center could possibly be built at 390 Groover Street pending a request to construct the building with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding. City Manager Wilmarth asked Council Members to approve the submittal of an application requesting funding through the CDBG to build the Ball Ground Senior Center.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council O’Malley to submit an application requesting Community Development Block Funding to construct the Ball Ground Senior Center.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
e) Consider Surplus of Strippling Street Property
City Manager Wilmarth asked Council Members to consider declaring property owned by the City of Ball Ground located at 367 Old Canton Road also known as the Strippling St. property as surplus. The property would be advertised on Govedeals and sold to the highest bidder. The City would reserve the right to reject any and all bids if the reserve was not met.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the surplus of property located at 367 Old Canton Road also known as the Strippling St. property and to advertise the property for sale on Govedeals reserving the right to reject any and all bids should the reserve amount not be met.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 8: City Manager Comments
• Financial Report – City Manager Wilmarth presented an unaudited report of account balances, statement of revenue and expenditures for the month ended March 31, 2017. The report showed cash on deposit totaled $888,495.98.
• Chief Reeves presented a written report of the department’s activity for the month ended March 31, 2017.
• SPLOST/Capital Improvements Projects – City Manager Wilmarth stated appraisals of two tracts of property needed for the Valley Street Streetscape Project has been completed and returned to staff. The purchase of tract one will be finalized next week. It is anticipated the transaction to purchase tract two will be finalized within the next month. Therefore, City Manager Wilmarth asked Council Members to approve the city attorney to begin negotiations with the Cherokee County Board of Education to purchase tract two at the appraisal price of $16,750.00.
Council Member Homiller put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to empower the city attorney and city manager to negotiate a purchase price for property owned by the Cherokee County Board of Education to purchase property needed for the Valley Street Streetscape Project.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 9: Mayor Roberts & City Council Comments
Mayor Roberts commented on the constant annoyance of truck traffic through downtown. He stated he would continue to request meetings with local Department of Transportation officials to discuss rerouting the traffic out of the downtown area.
Mayor Roberts stated he had met with other city mayors and elected officials to discuss the upcoming Special Local Options Sales Tax Referendum. He stated it is critical this referendum pass.
Mayor Roberts thanked Jennie Byers for putting together the display of memorabilia on Citizens Bank. Mayor Roberts stated he and Jennie Byers along with a number of former employees spoke at the March Meeting of the Ball Ground Historical Society about the bank. Mayor Roberts stated the bank was a prominent institution based in Ball Ground and employed as many as 90 employees when sold to Regions Bank.
Council Member Prettyman thanked Chief Reeves and his department for keeping our residents safe and also thanked the Public Works Department for their hard work and dedication to the city.
Item 10: Public Comments – None
Item 11: Executive Session (If Needed)
Item 12: Adjourn
There being no further business for Mayor and Council consideration a motion was duly made and seconded to adjourn at 8:20 PM
The minutes of this April 13, 2017, City Council Meeting approved this 11th Day of May 2017.
