Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
Minutes
January 10, 2019
Item 1: Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Rick Roberts
City Clerk Karen L. Jordan administered the Oath of Office to Andrenia G. Stoner and Lee Prettyman for the office of City Council. Each will serve a four-year term.
Present for the meeting were:
John Byrd, Council Member
Mickey O’Malley, Council Member
Lee Prettyman, Council Member
Andrenia Stoner, Council Member
Donna England, Finance Officer
Bryon Reeves, Police Chief
Darrell Caudill, City Attorney
Eric Wilmarth, City Manager
Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
Item 3: Appearances
Recognition of City Resident
Mayor Roberts presented Steven Byrd with the Key to the City for his dedication as a Citizen on Patrol. Steven walks through the downtown area several times a day and while doing so keeps a watchful eye over the businesses and residents along his route. Mayor Roberts noted several crimes have been solved because of Steven’s watchful eye. Mayor Roberts commended Steven for his dedication and love of Ball Ground.
James Bence, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC – Presentation of Financial Audit for Period Ended June 30, 2018
Item 4: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Manager
Item 5: Approval of the November 15, 2018, Council Meeting Minutes
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the minutes of November 15, 2018, Council Meeting as submitted in writing by the City Clerk.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 6: Old Business – None
Consider 2nd Reading of Grease Control Program Policies/Ordinances
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the second reading of this ordinance.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 7: New Business
Consider Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to appoint John Byrd as Mayor Pro Tem for the ensuing year.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider Appointment of 2019 Department Heads, Committees and Board Members
The following Department Heads were appointed by Mayor Roberts and confirmed by Council Members Byrd, O’Malley, Prettyman and Stoner.
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 Super Karen Jordan
Clerk of Court Kim Forman
Assistant Clerk of Court Karen L. Jordan
Municipal Court Judge Gary Markwell
Tree Board Appointments
Karen Jordan, Chairman
Jennie Byers
Beth Hall
The sitting president of the Ball Ground Garden Club
Zoning Board of Appeals
David Kubala
Daniel Sisson
Jennie Byers
Jeremy Parker
Ellen Goldberg
Council Committees Chair Other Staff
Insurance & Personnel Andy Mickey Donna
Parks & Recreation Mickey John Karen
Public Works & Services John Lee Eric
Public Safety Lee John Chief
Mayor Roberts serves as an ex officio member of each committee.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to appoint the following to the Executive Committee:
Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and City Manager
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider Appointments to the Downtown Development Authority
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to appoint the following to the Downtown Development Authority.
Bo Pollard Term Expires 2022
Gloria Bartko-Thomas Term Expires 2022
Motion Unanimously Approved
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to appoint Charles Jenkins to fill the unexpired term of Tricia Richardson whose term will expire in 2020.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Kathy Day Term Expires 2019
John Byrd Term Expires 2019
Brent Richardson Expires 2019
Sheri Little Term Expires 2020
Reaffirm Check Signers for any/all banking/checking accounts
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to authorize Mayor Roberts, City Manager Eric Wilmarth, and City Clerk Karen Jordan and Police Chief Bryon Reeves as check signers for any/all banking/checking accounts.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider Establishing and Fixing Qualifying Fees for Municipal Elections per O.C.G.A. §21-2-131(1)(a)
Council Member Prettyman 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
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the adoption of the City of Ball Ground Zoning Map as presented.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider Arbor Day Proclamation
Mayor Roberts read a proclamation declaring Friday, February 15, 2019, as Arbor Day in the City of Ball Ground. The annual tree planting event date and time will be announced at a later date.
Consider an Easement between the City of Ball Ground and Georgia Power Company
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to grant an easement from the City of Ball Ground to the Georgia Power Company to grant bargain, sell and convey unto Grantee an easement and perpetual right-of-way over, upon, though, under and/or across the property of the City of all Ground in Lan Lot 10, 338, of the 3rd and 4th District, 2nd Section, Cherokee County, Georgia and being a strip of land more particularly described and shown on the plat attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and entitled Church Street (Cherokee County) Distribution LIMS#2018110153 (Tax Parcel ID no 04N04C-013 and otherwise located at 480 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground, Georgia 30107.
Discussion: City Manager Wilmarth stated this would allow the mobile units located behind City Gym access to power.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider Resolution 2019-R1 Adoption of Comprehensive Plan
Margaret Stallings, Principal Planner, Department of Cherokee County Planning and Zoning presented an update of the completion and submittal of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Resolution 2019-R1 states the City has prepared an update to the Comprehensive Plan for the years of 2019-2023 in accordance with the Minimum Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning and further adopts the Comprehensive Plan this date.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the Resolution 2019-R1 as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider Adoption of Road Development Standards
City Manager Wilmarth presented for Mayor and Council consideration Standards for which roadways including but not limited to non-residential streets, potential state routes/truck routes constructed within the City of Ball Ground. The guidelines for base thickness, pavement types and layers are identified in the document.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the Construction Standards for roadways including but not limited to non-residential streets, potential state routes/truck routes constructed within the City of Ball Ground.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Ratify agreement with ECS Southeast, LLP for Materials Testing Services
City Manager Wilmarth stated since there was no December council meeting to act on the proposed agreement he called council members for their approval to proceed with signing the document. He stated the agreement ECS proposes to provide concrete sampling/testing services for sidewalks, driveways, curb and gutter and top of drainages structures during construction of the Valley Street Streetscape project on an on-call, as needed basis in accordance with the Fee Schedule. The estimated cost for provided 16 visits will be $7,570.00.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to ratify the decision to approve entering into the agreement with ECS Southeast, LLP for services as described above at a cost of $6,570.00.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider 1st reading of changes to the City of Ball Ground Comprehensive Development Code Appendix A Titled Zoning; Division 104 District Standards and Permitted Uses
City Manager Wilmarth stated the list of the proposed changes presented to council members for review outlines the changes that clarify where uses are located based on their road locations (arterial, collector, local) and also provides a definition for the same. It also corrects grammar, spelling and spacing errors and inserts the word “shall”.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the changes as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Consider request by Diamond Head Development for Special Use Permit to allow for a solid waste transfer station in Light Industrial (LI) Zoning
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion to deny the request by Diamond Head Development for a Special Use Permit in Light Industrial (LI) Zoning. Council Member O’Malley Seconded the motion to deny the Special Use Permit.
Council Member Byrd opened discussion stating after visiting several locations where other waste transfer facilities were operated he believed this type of business activity would not be an acceptable use in LI Zoning.
All members voted in favor of the motion to deny the request for Special Use Permit by Diamond Head Development.
Consider first reading of An Ordinance to amend Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, the City of Ball Ground to provide for a service agreement and minimum term of office for the Municipal Court Judge; to provide an effective date; to repeal all Ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, and for other purposes.
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the first reading the ordinance as presented.
Motion Unanimously Approved
Item 8: City Manager Comments
A written and oral operational and financial report was presented to Mayor and Council Members by City Manager Wilmarth.
City Manager Wilmarth thanked Donna England and staff for the excellent job they do in financial management and recordkeeping.
Julie Arthur, Director of the Ball Ground Senior Center was introduced by City Manager Wilmarth. Mrs. Arthur invited everyone to visit the center during the hours of 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday thru Thursday.
The Valley Street Streetscape Project is scheduled to begin next week. The project is scheduled to be completed within 90 days.
Item 9: Mayor Roberts expressed his desire to move forward with a Historic Preservation Ordinance this year. He stated he will be discussing this issue more in the near future.
Mayor Roberts reported that he has met with other city mayors and County Commissioner Chair Harry Johnston to try and resolve issues related to the Service Delivery Strategy Plan. We have until June 30, 2019, to resolve this matter stated Mayor Roberts.
Item 10: Council Comments
Council Member Byrd commended the Public Works Staff for the work they do.
Council Member O’Malley reported that City Gym is in high demand. Basketball teams from all across the county are calling wanting to rent the facility.
Council Member O’Malley announced that the Ball Ground Pickle Ball Team is now part of the Cherokee County Pickle Ball League. Our city is getting great exposure from people who are coming to utilize the gym and participate in Pickle Ball Games.
Mayor Roberts commended Council Member O’Malley for the time and commitment he lends to promoting recreation in Ball Ground.
Council Member Prettyman commended Chief Reeves and his department on the job they do serving and protecting the citizens of Ball Ground.
Item 11: Public Comments
Larry Cavender extended an invitation to the elected officials, city manager, and city clerk to participate in a friendly game of Ball Ground Trivia at the Ball Ground Senior Center on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Larry stated this would be a fun way to test our knowledge of Ball Ground’s past and present.
Charles Jenkins announced that throughout the month of January baseball sign-ups would be held at the Lions Club Field each Saturday.
Item 12: 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 8:30 PM.
The minutes of this January 10, 2019 Council Meeting approved this 7th Day of February
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
