Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
Minutes
February 7, 2019
Call Meeting to Order – Mayor Roberts
Pledge of Allegiance
Appearances – None
Announcements – City Manager Eric Wilmarth
Tour of the Southern Highlands Bicycle Event will be held March 1-3, 2019.
Consider Approval of January 10, 2019, Council Meeting Minutes
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the minutes of the January 19, 2019 meeting as submitted in writing by the City Clerk.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Old Business
Consider 2nd Reading of Ordinance of changes to the City of Ball Ground Comprehensive Development Code
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Homiller to approve the second reading of the proposed ordinance as presented.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider 2nd Reading of Amendment to Code of Ordinances Chapter 14 Municipal Court Judge Term of Office
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the second reading of the proposed ordinance as presented.
Motion Unanimously Approved
New Business
Consider Adoption of Fee Schedule
City Manager Wilmarth presented a Schedule of Fees for various city services for Council Members consideration.
Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the Schedule of Fees as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Mayor Roberts asked that the Schedule of Fees be posted on the City Website.
Consider Amendment to Ball Ground Municipal Code of Ordinances Chapter 105 Title Floodplain Management; Section 105-4 Applicability.
City Manager Wilmarth stated Jack Krolikowski, Environmental Engineer for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division submitted the proposed ordinance changes for council consideration.
Council Members reviewed the proposed ordinance which outlines the current ordinance and the proposed changes.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the first reading of the proposed ordinance changes as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Consider Amendment to Ball Ground Municipal Code of Ordinances Chapter 28 Titled Utilities to regulate fees and charges for storm water utility services, define the scope of responsibility, establishes an enterprise fund, credit and appeal policies, billing and collection policies, and other policies and procedures related to establishing the storm water utility.
City Manager Wilmarth stated per the Federal Clean Water Act the City of Ball Ground is required to adopt such ordinance as to regulate fees and charges for stormwater utility services define the scope of responsibility, establishes an enterprise fund, credit and appeal policies, billing and collection policies, and other policies and procedures as related to establishing the stormwater utility.
City Manager Wilmarth further stated a stormwater service fee shall accrue beginning July 2019 and shall be billed on the water/sewer/sanitation bill or on an annual base for customers, not on another City of Ball Ground utility billing account. A fee schedule will be presented to the Mayor and City Council for consideration prior to June 30, 2019.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Homiller to approve the first reading of this ordinance as presented.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Consider Proposal from Georgia Power for Installation of Streetlights along Valley Street
Mayor Roberts expressed his excitement to see the Valley Street Streetscape underway. This will be a great addition to our inventory of parks.
City Manager Wilmarth presented Mayor and Council Members with a proposal from Georgia Power for the following scope of work:
Install (20) 16ft Mounting Height Black Poles with 100w Post Tops installed behind sidewalk on Valley Street. Bore in service wire to feed street lights.
The upfront cost of Pole/Boring totaled: $44,611.01
Street City Manager Wilmarth proposed council members authorize a line item transfer of funds to pay for the installation of streetlights along Valley Street. In the 2018/2019 Budget funds was budgeted to add an additional person to the public works staff. The position was not filled thus the request to transfer these funds to assist with this cost.
Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to transfer funds not to exceed $30,000.00 from the public works salary account to assist with the cost of installing street lights associated with the Valley Street Streetscape Project.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Consider Extension of Service Delivery Strategy Agreement
Mayor Roberts explained that the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners submitted a request to the Department of Community Affairs in 2018 for an Extension of the Existing Service Delivery Strategy. The application included an incorrect extension date of March 31, 2019, along with other discrepancies thus being rejected by DCA. The Cherokee BOC will resubmit the application with a correct extension date of June 30, 2019, and the discrepancies corrected. Mayor Roberts asked Council Members to approve the extension date of June 30, 2019, for the Service Delivery Strategy
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member to approve the extension date of June 30, 2019, for the Service Delivery Strategy.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
City Managers Report
A written and oral operational and financial report was presented to Mayor and Council Members by City Manager Wilmarth.
City Manager Wilmarth reported to Mayor and Council that the existing internet server failed earlier in the week. Our IT contractor, Ellijay Telephone Company came out to reload the operating system. Because the existing server is no longer able to meet our needs it recommended a new server be purchased and installed as soon as possible before the existing one failed and caused additional problems. A quote of $10,025.10 was submitted along with an additional cost of $75.00 per hour for setup time.
Mayor and Council Members discussed the necessity of providing the equipment necessary for the operation of City Hall.
Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to purchase a new internet server at the cost of $10,025.10 and approve the cost of $75.00 per hour for set up time.
Motion Unanimously Approved
City Manager reported work had begun on implementing our GIS System. Upon completion, this will be a great asset in so many ways to the city staff.
Chief Reeves presented a report of the Police Department’s activity for the month of January 2019.
Chief Reeves stated he is currently working with City Manager Wilmarth to compile a list of city residents in violation of City Ordinances. City Manager Wilmarth stated violators will first be sent a letter notifying them they are not compliant with city ordinance and a date which to be compliant. If they fail to meet the specified deadline citations will be issued.
Mayor Roberts Comments
Mayor Roberts stated he would appoint a group of city residents and business owners to serve on the Historic Preservation Committee at the March Meeting.
Mayor Roberts commended Chief Reeves for his diligence in working to clean up the City.
Mayor Roberts put forth his recommendation of appointees to fill the seats on the Natural and Historic Preservation Committee. They are Frank Homiller, Andrenia Stoner and Karen Jordan.
Council Member Byrd put a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to accept the recommendation of Mayor Robert to appoint Frank Homiller, Andrenia Stoner and Karen Jordan to the Natural and Historic Preservation Committee
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Mayor Roberts reported that he along with Council Members John Byrd and Mickey O’Malley and City Clerk Karen Jordan attend the Mayor’s Day Conference held in Atlanta.
Mayor Roberts announced that Arbor Day would be celebrated one week later on February 22, 2019. The annual tree planting would take place in City Park at 10:30 AM.
Council Members Comments
Council Member O’Malley reported that the Ball Ground Pickle Ball Team has joined the Cherokee County Pickle Ball League. Currently, there are 36 members of the Ball Ground Team. The group met with Council Member O’Malley to inform him of the condition of the tennis court. It was stated the courts are beginning to crack and the group asked if the courts could be stripped to accommodate the playing of the sport.
Council Member O’Malley then met with City Manager Wilmarth to discuss their request. Since Southeastern Tennis Courts Resurfacing and Repairs of Cumming, Ga. has long been providing service for the courts City Manager Wilmarth called the company for a quote. A price of $9,060.68 was submitted to make the necessary repairs. City Manager Wilmarth asked Council Members to transfer $10,000.00 of SPLOST money to make the repairs.
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the transfer of $10,000.00 of SPLOST Money to fund the repairs of the tennis courts by Southeastern Tennis Courts Resurfacing and Repairs of Cumming, Ga.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Council Member Homiller expressed his interest in implementing a tax on properties owners who have a building(s) in downtown that is rundown and have become an eyesore. I would like to see businesses in these buildings rather than sitting empty stated Council Member Homiller.
Public Comments – None
At this time Mayor Roberts left the meeting and Mayor Pro Tem Byrd conducted the remainder of the meeting.
Executive Session
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing future acquisition of real estate. (O.C.G.A. 50-14-3(4))
At the conclusion of the Executive Session Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene back into the open meeting.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to authorize City Manager Wilmarth to begin acquisition of properties identified as 2019A, 2019B, 2019C, 2019D and 2019E.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Adjourn
There being no further business for Council consideration Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Stoner to adjourn at 8:40 PM.
Motion Unanimously Approved
The minutes of this February 7, 2019, Council Meeting approved this 14th Day of March 2019.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Mayor A. R. Roberts, III Mayor Pro Tem John Byrd
______________________________ _____________________________
Council Member Frank Homiller Council Member Mickey O’Malley
______________________________ _____________________________
Council Member Lee Prettyman Council Member Andrenia Stoner
Attest: _____________________________
Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
