Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
Minutes
January 14, 2021
Item 1: Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Roberts.
In order to limit the number of individuals present in Council Chambers and to provide for social distancing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council Members Byrd, Homiller, O’Malley, Prettyman, and Stoner participated via teleconference call.
Other staff participating via teleconference: Finance Director Donna England and Chris Luly, Planning and Zoning.
City Manager Eric Wilmarth and City Clerk Karen Jordan were present in Council Chambers for the meeting.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
Item 3: Approve Agenda
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the agenda with Items 4, 8 (e) & (f) removed and adding Resolution 2021-R03.
Motion unanimously approved.
Item 4: Appearances – None
Item 5: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Manager
City Manager Wilmarth announced there would be a virtual meeting of the Cherokee Municipal Association on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 6:00 PM.
City Manager Wilmarth informed Council Members about the Wellness Program employees are participating in. Because of the effort of the employees, there was a reduction in the premium cost of $704.42.
Mayor Roberts congratulated our city staff for their efforts to get healthy and encouraged them to keep up the good work.
Item 6: Approval of November 12, 2020, Council Meeting Minutes
(December meeting canceled)
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the minutes of the November 12, 2020, Council Meeting as submitted by the City Clerk.
Motion unanimously approved.
Item 7: Old Business – None
Item 8: New Business
- Consider Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion Seconded by Council Member Stoner to appoint Council Member John Byrd as Mayor Pro Tem for the ensuing year.
Motion unanimously approved.
- Consider Appointment of 2021 Department Heads, Committees and Board Members
The following Department Heads and Committees were appointed by Mayor Roberts and confirmed unanimously by the City Council.
City Clerk Karen L. Jordan
Chief of Police Bryon Reeves
Public Works Eric Wilmarth
City Attorney Roach, Caudill & Gunn
City Auditor Mauldin & Jenkins
Engineer G. Ben Turnipseed Engineers
Architect Mark Robillard
Elections Supervisor Karen L. Jordan
Clerk of Court Karla Weaver
Assistant Clerk of Court Karen L. Jordan
Municipal Court Judge Gary Markwell
Tree Board
Karen Jordan, Chairman
Dennis Holt
Diane Smit
Mayor Roberts
The sitting president of the Ball Ground Garden Club
Zoning Board of Appeals
David Kubala
Daniel Sisson
Jennie Byers
Jeremy Parker
Ellen Goldberg
Mayor Roberts appointed five (5) committees and asked that each one report back to Council at least two (2) times during the year at Council Meetings. The committees are as follows:
Council Committees Chair Other Staff
Finance, Insurance & Personnel Andy Mickey & Frank Donna
Parks & Recreation Mickey Andy & Lee Karen
Roads, Streets & Sidewalks Frank John & Andy Eric
Water, Sewer & Sanitation John Lee & Frank Eric
Public Safety Lee John & Mickey Chief Reeves
Mayor Roberts serves as an ex officio member of each committee.
Executive Committee
Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and City Manager
Council Member O’Malley to serve as an alternate to the Executive Committee in the event anyone of the committee members is unable to attend a meeting.
- Reaffirm Check Signers for any/all banking/checking accounts
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to authorize Mayor Roberts, City Manager Eric Wilmarth, City Clerk Karen Jordan and Police Chief Bryon Reeves as check signers for any/all banking/checking accounts. Two of the named signers are to sign any and all checks $500.00 and over.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Establishing and Fixing Qualifying Fees for Municipal Elections per O.C.G.A. §21-2-131(1)(a)
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the qualifying fee of $35.00 for the office of City Council and $108.00 for the office of Mayor.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Adoption of Zoning Map – Removed for consideration
- Consider Adoption of Schedule of Service Fees-Removed for consideration
- Consider Arbor Day Proclamation 2021-01
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley proclaiming February 19, 2021, as Arbor Day in The City of Ball Ground. A tree planting will take place at a time to be determined on this date.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider request from JBJ Properties to accept permanent maintenance and ownership of roads, sidewalks, street signs, and stormwater infrastructure in Heritage Woods Subdivision.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve a Resolution 2021-R1 to accept and authorize certain streets and storm drains in Heritage Woods Subdivision to become publicly maintained streets.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Resolution to change the name of Gilmer Ferry Road to Main Street
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve a Resolution 2021-R2 to announce the changing of Gilmer Ferry Road to Main Street.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Ordinance to designate Valley Street as a “No Thru Truck Street.”
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to adopt an Ordinance to designate Valley Street as a “No Thru Truck Street.”
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Consider Map Amendment to increase the Valley Overlay District
City Manager Wilmarth explained that approximately two (2) months ago a track of land was annexed into the City. Half of the property was already inside the City while a portion of the property was not. The property located outside the City had a different land use classification and since annexed it needed to conform with the property already inside.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to extend the Valley Overlay District classification to cover the entire parcel of property identified as map and parcel number 04N04-031B.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Commitment for Street Light Funding of GDOT Roundabout-SR 372 Spur Estimated cost $1,500.00 per year.
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to obligate funding for the monthly cost of street lights to be placed at the Roundabout-SR 372 Spur constructed by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Consider Resolution 2021-R3 Acknowledging the City of Ball Ground’s Commitment to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19.
Mayor Roberts commented on the current status of COVID-19. He stated that until there are more people vaccinated and tested it is going to be hard to get the virus under control. At present time Cherokee County is one of the top counties in the state for testing and a positive number of cases. Presently we are at 20%, whereas last summer our positive number of cases was at 7/8%. We are being encouraged by the Georgia Municipal Association to support efforts to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. Although some cities have enacted ordinances mandating the wearing of masks, we are reiterating our support for those policies and actions ordered by Governor Kemp.
City Manager Wilmarth read the ordinance stating strategies to be taken immediately. They are:
- Customers/Residents visiting City Hall must wear a mast while in City Hall
- City employees shall wear a mask whenever outside their personal office space
- City employees shall wear a mask when meeting with other staff or the public
- Patrons at all City Parks and Facilities will be expected to socially distance themselves from individuals with who they do not reside
- Public gatherings shall not exceed 50 individuals unless social distancing can be achieved and is adhered to
- Servers in all restaurants shall wear masks when engaging with the public and tables will be arranged to achieve six-foot separation or barriers shall be erected
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Homiller supporting the passage of Resolution 2021-R3.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 9: City Manager Comments
City Manager Wilmarth provided Council Members with an unaudited report of account balances, and a statement of revenues and expenditures for the month ended December 31, 2020. The report showed cash on deposit totaled $2,049,975.67
City Manager Wilmarth also updated Mayor and Council Members on several ongoing projects throughout the City.
Item 10: Mayor Roberts
Mayor Roberts stated he had decided to delay council’s annual planning retreat until later late spring or early summer.
Council Members were encouraged to participate in the Georgia Municipal Associations weekly call with a comprehensive update on COVID-19.
Mayor Roberts said he hoped to achieve two goals this year. One is for the DDA to become active again, and the second is to complete and adopt a Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Item 11: Council Comments
Council Member O’Malley expressed his excitement to introduce an online reservation link for the purpose of scheduling the use of city parks and facilities on the City’s Webpage. We stated it is his desire to bring this service online later this year.
Council Members each expressed their appreciation to Chief Reeves, his officers, and the entire city staff for the work they perform each day.
Council Member Prettyman expressed his desire to require all new homes being constructed to have at least one (1) car garage and to prohibit on-street parking. City Manager Wilmarth stated there was no code to regulate a house must have a garage.
Item 12: Public Comments
Item 13: Executive Session (If Needed)
Item 14: Adjourn
There being no further business for mayor and council consideration a motion was put forth by Council Member Stoner, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to adjourn the meeting.
The minutes of this January 13, 2021, City Council Meeting approved this 11th Day of March 2021.
