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Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Item 1: Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Roberts
Council Members and Staff Present:
John Byrd – Council Member
Andrenia Stoner – Council Member
Lee Prettyman – Council Member
Darrell Caudill, City Attorney
Donna England, Finance Director
Eric Wilmarth, City Manager
Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
Item 3: Approve Agenda
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the agenda with the following amendments: Remove Item 8 (a), and 9 (a), and add Consider Inmate Housing Agreement and Ratification Authorizing City Clerk to sign any and all documents related to the closing of the Swap Closing between the City of Ball Ground, and BG Partners, LLC on August 31, 2021.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 4: Appearances – None
Item 5: Public Comments
Dan Frechette of 306 Upper Pheasant Ct. addressed the mayor and council concerning the Loyd Development. Mr. Frechette thanked Mayor Roberts and the Member of Council for their influence on the Loyd Development withdrawing their annexation and rezone application. He stated the development would have had a detrimental effect on the traffic flow in the area.
Mayor Roberts thanked Mr. Frechette for his comments.
Mary Luchan of 201 S. Mountain Brook Way thanked Mayor Roberts and Member of Council for the issuance of the Executive Order related to the placement of signs in the city. Mrs. Luchan asked if the ordinance had been amended or did the Executive Order fix the issue.
Mayor Roberts stated there was an error in the ordinance,
City Manager Wilmarth stated that under Scrivener’s Rule the error was corrected by the Mayor’s Executive Order. If the elected body wants to consider a permanent 60-day allowance of the placement of signs the ordinance would have to be amended.
Mayor Roberts stated he would like for Council to discuss and determine if and what changes needed to be made to the ordinance.
Item 6: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Manager
October 16, 2021 – Rivers Alive Clean up 9AM – 1PM
December 3, 2021 – Annual March of the Toys Parade for Toys for Tots 7PM
Item 7: Approval August 12, 2021, Council Meeting
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2021, meeting as submitted in writing by the City Clerk.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 8: Old Business
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the City of Ball Ground Development Code as submitted for approval.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 9: New Business
A Proclamation unanimously adopted by Council Members and read by Mayor Robers urging all citizens to study the Constitution of the United States of America and reflect on the privilege of being an American with all the rights and responsibilities which that privilege involves; And furthermore, declared the week of September 17-23, 2021, ad Constitution Week in the City of Ball Ground.
City Manager Wilmarth stated he had received a proposal from Staurolite Minerals and Mines to lease property adjacent to 345 Gilmer Ferry Road. As part of the proposal, the City of Ball Ground would remove the marble from the property so to improve the parking area and install a black metal fence along the sidewalk between RockSolid Brewing Co. and Easy Ride Cars at a cost of approximately $35,000. In exchange for the improvements, the city would receive 4 years of use of the parking area without a fee. After four years, the city would then begin paying a monthly fee of $700.00.
Council Members discussed the need for additional parking in the downtown area. Council Member Stoner then put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to enter into a lease agreement with Staurolite Mineral and Mines.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
City Manager Wilmarth stated the 2014 Dodge Charger a police department vehicle is once again in the repair shop. Mr. Wilmarth said it is time to replace the vehicle due to the mounting cost to repair the car.
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to surplus the 2014 Dodge Charger and advertise the vehicle sale on GovDeals.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
City Manager Wilmarth stated in order to “refund” the lease on City Hall to generate the cash to construct the new police station it is necessary to declare the current City Hall and property as surplus, to advertise property for sale, and to accept bids for the sale of the property.
City Manager Wilmarth explained the process to Mayor Roberts and Council Members.
Following discussion, Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to adopt the Resolution supporting the public sale of a certain tract of the real property described in the Resolution; the authorization and ratification of notice of such sale, and the determination of deadlines for the receipt of sealed bids; and for other purposes.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
City Manager Wilmarth stated it is the intent of this Agreement, that in pursuance of law enforcement in and for the City and County, the County and Sheriff will accept, book, and house Inmates for the City, subject to the terms in the Agreement. The City will compensate the County a rate of fifty-five ($55.00) per inmate per day.
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to enter into the Inmate Housing Agreement between Cherokee County and the City of Ball Ground pending review by City Attorney Caudill.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to ratify the authorization of City Clerk Karen L. Jordan to sign any and all documents related to the Swap Closing between the City of Ball Ground and BG Partners, LLC on August 31, 2021.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 10: City Manager Comments
City Manager Wilmarth provided Council Members with an unaudited report of account balances, and a statement of revenue and expenditures for the month ended August 31, 2021. Accounts on deposit totaled $1,637,222.74.
Chief Reeves presented a written report of the Police Department’s activity for the month ended August 31, 2021, for Mayor and Council Members to review.
The U.S. Census Bureau has released the 2020 results and it shows that Ball Ground had a population increase of 78%. Our present population is 2,560. Our population according to the 2010 Census data was 1,433.
City Manager Wilmarth also updated Mayor and Council Members on several projects ongoing in the city.
Item 11: Mayor Roberts’s Comments
Mayor Roberts said he hoped the number of COVID cases has peaked. The numbers are still being closely monitored with anticipation of their decline. Mayor Roberts encouraged everyone to get vaccinated.
Mayor Roberts expressed his excitement about the upcoming November 2, 2021, Municipal Election. He said he was flattered to be serving another four-year term. He also wished all the candidates good luck.
Item 12: Council Comments
Council Member Prettyman, Byrd, and Stoner thanked Chief Reeves and the entire staff for their dedicated service to the city.
Council Member Byrd said he appreciated the number of candidates who qualified for the November 2, 2021, Municipal Election.
Item 13: Executive Session – Discussion of Potential Litigation
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to adjourn into Executive Session to consult with legal counsel pertaining to potential litigation per O.C.G.A. 50-14-2.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene back into the regular council meeting.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 13: Adjourn
After reconvening back into regular session Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to adjourn the meeting.
The minutes of this September 9, 2021, City Council Meeting adopted this 14th Day of October 2021.
Ball Ground City Hall
215 Valley Street
Ball Ground, GA 30107
770-735-2123 770-735-4552
