July 11, 2019

Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.

Minutes
July 11, 2019

Meeting called to order by Mayor Rick Roberts

Present for the meeting
John Byrd – Council Member
Mickey O’Malley – Council Member
Lee Prettyman – Council Member
Andrenia Stoner – Council Member
Donna England – Finance Director
Bryon Reeves – Chief of Police
Chris Luly – City Planner
Darrell Caudill, City Attorney
Eric Wilmarth, City Manager
Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
Donald Campbell – Cherokee Tribune

Absent – Council Member Frank Homiller

Pledge of Allegiance

Appearances
Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather, annual report on fire/EMS services
Mr. Prather’s appearance postponed until August Meeting

Announcements – City Manager Eric Wilmarth
Upcoming Events: July 20 Stage Fright Band Performing in City Park at 7 PM
July 26 Open Mic

Consider Approval of June 13, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes

Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the minutes of the June 13, 2019 Council Meeting as submitted in writing by City Clerk.
Motion Unanimously Approved

Old Business
Consider Second Reading of Application for New Alcoholic Beverage License
Applicant: Ryan Turnage Business: Barrel House Coffee Co., LLC
Location 275 Gilmer Ferry Road

Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the second reading of the application for new alcoholic beverage license submitted by Ryan Turnage.
Motion Unanimously Approved

New Business
Consider Establishment of 2019 Operational Property Tax Millage Rate of 4.707 mills (revenue neutral).

Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the levy of 4.707 mill for the 2019 Property Tax.
Motion Unanimously Approved

Consider Establishment of 2019 Special Tax District (Fire Tax)

Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the levy of 2019 Fire Tax.
Motion Unanimously Approved

Consider Memorandum of Understanding for Participation in the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad

Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve entering into a Memorandum of Understanding for participation in the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad between the Sheriff of Cherokee of Cherokee County, Georgia and the City of Ball Ground, Georgia.
Motion Unanimously Approved

Consider First Reading of Wireless Facilities and Antennas (Small Cell) Ordinance

An Ordinance designed to implement the Georgia Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act., O.C.G.A. Title 36, Chapter 66C was introduced to the City Council for consideration. The Ordinance further establishes reasonable regulations for the installation, construction, maintenance, renewal, removal, and relocation of pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, poles, towers, traffic and other signals, and other equipment, facilities, or appliances in, on, along, over, or under the public roads of the City.

Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the first reading of this Ordinance.
Motion Unanimously Approved

City Managers Report

City Manager Wilmarth provided Mayor Roberts and Council Members with an unaudited report of account balances, statement of revenue and expenditures for the month ended June 30, 2019. The report showed cash on deposit totaled $758,154.49.

The Roberts Lake Park Project: All five parcels of property related to the project are under contract to purchase. It is anticipated the closing of the properties will take place in August.

The Valley Street Scape Project is nearing completion. The landscaping of the project in October will complete the project.

The GIS portal has been added to the City’s website and is now ready for public access.

Mayor Roberts Comments

Mayor Roberts stated a draft of a revised sign ordinance will be sent to council members next week for review.

The Historic Preservation Committee will hold their first meeting in August stated Mayor Roberts.

Mayor Roberts also commented on the Georgia Municipal Association Annual Training Conference. He stated he along with Council Members John Byrd, Mickey O’Malley, Lee Prettyman, City Manager Eric Wilmarth and City Clerk Karen Jordan attended the four-day training event.

While at the conference Council Member O’Malley received his Certificate of Achievement for completing 72 hours of training. The Municipal Training Institute is operated through a partnership between the Georgia Municipal Association and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Elected officials attend a series of training programs designed to help city officials enhance their knowledge and skills in municipal related matters.

Council Members Comments
Council Member O’Malley commended Mayor Roberts and Council Members on the progress the City has made. While attending the GMA Conference Council Member O’Malley stated he heard how many Georgia Cities our size was not as fortunate as Ball Ground has been.

Council Members Byrd, Stoner and Prettyman commended the city staff on the work they do for the City. Each expressed appreciation for the success of the annual fireworks display.

Council Member Stoner stated it was exciting to drive thru downtown and see how it is prospering. She said wherever she goes people are talking about the downtown and sharing their experience of visiting Ball Ground.

Public Comments

Larry Cavender invited everyone to attend the monthly meeting of the Ball Ground Historical Society on Tuesday, July 23 at 7:00 PM. In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing Ball Ground resident Billy Childers will be speaking about his years working for NASA.

Glenn Braselton, resident of the Sage Hill Subdivision asked when the sidewalk damaged by a recent water leak repair would be repaired. Mr. Braselton also thanked Mayor and Council Member for the assistance provided to remedy a storm water issue.
Executive Session (If Needed)

Adjourn

There being no further business for Mayor and Council Members consideration a motion was duly made and seconded to adjourn at 7:50 PM.

The minutes of this July 11, 2019 City Council Meeting approved this 8th Day of August 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

GIS & Mapping

CITY MAP

Check out the Ball Ground City Map, our all-in-one interactive map for information about the city. Here you can view the zoning of a property, find parks and review property records

PROJECTS AND APPLICATIONS MAP

The Projects and Applications Map is great for following along with development projects, from plan submittal to completion.

The City of Ball Ground’s GIS (Geographic Information System) integrates location-based information with applications that serve City departments and the general public.

We view our GIS as a shared space where all people (staff and public) are encouraged to participate and contribute to create a more informed community. The primary goals of our GIS are:

serving as a reliable system of record
engaging our users
providing insight for everyone

To learn more about Ball Ground’s growing GIS capabilities, check out our GIS portal.

To view/download data about the city, such as boundary and zoning info, check the City of Ball Ground Open Data.

Ball Ground’s Geographic Information System is built using MosaicGIS™ and ArcGIS Online.

Municipal Court

The City of Ball Ground Municipal Court is held on the third Friday of each month in the Ball Ground City Hall at 215 Valley Street in downtown Ball Ground.

Court begins at 10:00 am.

The City Solicitor will be available to discuss your case with you on your court date beginning at 10:00am.

Please allow us 72 hours from the time you receive your citation before calling to find out your fine amount.

The Court Clerk and Deputy Court Clerk are available to answer your inquiries Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. We accept checks, cash, money orders, Visa or Mastercard for payment. You may also pay your citations on line by clicking this link.

Click here to pay your citation

If you are paying your citation by mail you must include the yellow copy of your citation with the payment and you must complete and sign the appropriate spaces on the back of the form. We cannot process citations that have not been signed.

The Ball Ground Municipal Court is presided over by Judge Scott Poole.
The City Solicitor is Mr. Whit Frost.

The Court Clerk is Karla Weaver: email or 770-735-2123

Finance

The Finance Department establishes and maintains an internal control structure designed to ensure that the assets of the City are protected from loss, theft or misuse, and to ensure that adequate accounting data is compiled to allow for the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The Department is responsible for both the accuracy of presented data and the completeness and fairness of presentation, including all disclosures. The Department is responsible for the preparation of the comprehensive annual financial report as well as monthly financial reports.

FY23-24 Operating Budget

2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Jack Tuszynski, PhotoJack.net, Photojack.net@gmail.com

About the Finance Director…

Donna W. England has served as the Finance Director for the City of Ball Ground, Georgia, since April 2008. She is a graduate of North Georgia College with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, and from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government Finance Officer Program.

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Ball Ground since FY2007. The City has been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association of The United States and Canada with the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Water & Sewer

Make Application Online:
Water/Sewer Service Application

The City of Ball Ground Water and Sewer Department serves approximately 1300 households, both inside and outside the City limits. Currently, our customers are provided with water from a single well that was constructed in 1938. As required by law, our water is treated with chlorine and fluoride; however, due to the purity of our source, no further treatment is required.

In 1994 our water was voted ‘Best Water in the State of Georgia’, and we still boast about our good water now! Read the Consumer Confidence Report for 2024 for more information.

The City of Ball Ground is actively seeking additional ground water sources for development in order to insure high quality and ample supply of water into the future. The City has also established connections with the Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority in order to provide reliable “back-up” in the event of well failure or disruption.

Water-Sewer Consumption Billing

Water bills are mailed on the last working day of each month, and are due by the 15th of each month. The City accepts cash, personal checks, money orders, MasterCard or Visa as methods of payment. In addition, for customers who so choose, we offer auto draft services at no cost to the customer through ACH Debit. To arrange for this service you will need to complete an application and provide us with a voided check to start the process. A drop box is provided in the parking lot of City Hall for after hours payment drop. You may use the link above to pay online.

Service Line Inventory for Lead Service Lines

The City of Ball Ground has completed an inventory of all water service lines. We have 6 remaining service lines, owned by customers, not the City, that are galvanized lines and MAY have been exposed to lead at some point in history. As such the City will be working with these homeowners to have their service lines replaced to reduce the possibility of lead exposure. You can see a complete listing of the City of Ball Ground service line inventory at https://ga-epd.120water-ptd.com

In the Document Center, you can download pdf files of the Water-Sewer Service Application, a Consumer Confidence Report, the Automatic Draft Application, ePay Bill Information, and a Final Water Request form.

Street Lights

Report an Outage | Request a Street Light

Do you know of an area within the city limits of Ball Ground that is in need of a street light? Contact us with the location, and we will consider the area in future projects. The budget for street lights is pushing $60,000 annually, making this a very costly, yet often overlooked City service.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question:
Why does the City pay for street lights in some subdivisions but not in my subdivision?
Answer:
The City pays the street light bill in all subdivisions where the roads, water lines and sewer lines have been deeded to the City. If the infrastructure has not been deeded to the City by the developer, then the street lights are the responsibility of the developer, or the HOA.