June 8, 2017

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

MINUTES
June 8, 2017

Item 1: Meeting Called to Order to order by Mayor Rick Roberts.
Council Members Frank Homiller, Mickey O’Malley, Lee Prettyman and Andrenia Stoner were present.

Council Member John Byrd was absent.

Staff in attendance: Donna England, Michael Chapman, Bryon Reeves, Darrell Caudill, Eric Wilmarth and City Clerk Karen L. Jordan

Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance

Item 3: Appearances – None

Item 4: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Manager
June 17 – Movie in the Park
June 24-27 Elected officials and several staff members will attend the Georgia Municipal Association Annual Training Conference
July 1 – City Fireworks Display will begin at 9:45

Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to amend meeting agenda to include Item 7 (g) Consider hiring of Livable Center Initiatives Grant Consultant

Item 5: Consider Approval of May 11, 2017, Work Session Minutes and May 11, 2017, Council Meeting
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the minutes of May 11, 2017, as submitted in writing by the City Clerk.
Motion Unanimously Approved

Item 6: Old Business –
a) Consider Second Reading of 2017/2018 Budgets
Mayor Roberts stated a budget hearing was held on June 1, 2017, at 5:00 PM. No one attended and staff did not receive any oral or written comments.

Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the proposed 2017/2018 Budget totaling $2,918,390.00 as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved.

b) Consider Second Reading of Defined Benefit Plan
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the Second Reading of the Defined Benefit Plan as previously submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved

Item 7: New Business
a) Consider a Contract for Probation Services with Georgia Probation Management
Steve Page, President, and CEO of Georgia Probation Management submitted in writing a request to sign a new contract with changes pursuant to changes in Georgia Law O.C.G.A. §42-8-101(b)(1), along with new rules imposed by the Board of Community Supervision.

The changes are as follows:
Currently, the contract states that GPM and the Court enter into the agreement, with the approval of the “Governing Authority”. As a result of the new changes in the law, the contract must state that it is between the Governing Authority and Georgia Probation Management with the express consent and approval of the Court.
Additionally, the Board of Community Supervision enacted rules on February 14, of this year that prohibit providers and governing bodies from entering contracts that extend beyond five years. There has been no change to the sixty (60) day termination clause that you may exercise at any time.

Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the contract as submitted in writing.
Motion Unanimously Approved.

b) Consider Authorizing Staff to Seek Bids for Construction of Senior Center
City Manager asked council members to consider authorizing city staff to advertise for bids for the construction of the Ball Ground Senior Center. He stated the funding is a Community Development Block Grant through Cherokee County. City Manager Wilmarth stated the Senior Center would be built at the site that once housed the Public Works and Fire Departments (390 Groover Street).

Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the advertisement for bids upon the completion of the architectural design.
Motion Unanimously Approved.

c) Consider Resolution of Support Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve a Resolution of Support seeking grant funding of $60,000.00 through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $12,000.00 contributed by City of Ball Ground funds for the construction of a Senior Services Center to be constructed at 390 Groover Street.
Motion Unanimously Approved.

d) Consider Ford F350 Utility Pick Up as Surplus Property
City Manager Wilmarth stated because of safety reasons the vehicle is no longer used by the department and recommended the vehicle be surplused. The vehicle will be sold on Govedeals to the highest bidder.

Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the surplus of a Ford F350 pickup.
Motion Unanimously Approved.

e) Consider Elder Abuse Awareness Proclamation
A Proclamation encouraging everyone to observe Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2017, was read by Mayor Roberts.
Council Members unanimously supported the reading of this proclamation.

f) Consider National Garden Month Proclamation
A Proclamation was read by Mayor Roberts acknowledging the importance of Gardening and the numerous contributions of Gardeners, and further designating the week of June 4-10, 2017 as National Garden Week.

Mayor Roberts encouraged everyone to attend the unveiling of the Ball Ground Botanical Garden Marble Kiosk on Saturday morning at 11:00 AM. Mayor Roberts and Council Members expressed their appreciation to the members of the Ball Ground (Anesta-Ga-Da) Garden Club for their continued efforts and hard work in the ongoing development of the Botanical Garden.

g) Consider Award of Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Grant
City Manager Wilmarth stated the City of Ball Ground has been awarded a $100,000.00 Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission. The LCI grant will be used to address truck traffic and create a blueprint for new development in our downtown district in a manner compatible with the historic significance of the area.

The LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars. The grants cover 80 percent of the cost of each study or transportation project, with the City of Ball Ground making a 20 percent match.

Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to accept the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission and to engage Reuter Strategy, LLC to create a blueprint for new development in our downtown district in a manner compatible with the historic significance of the area.
Motion Unanimously Approved.

Item 8: City Manager Comments
• Financial Report – City Manager Wilmarth presented an unaudited report of account balances, statement of revenue and expenditures for the month ended May 30, 2017. The report showed cash on deposit totaled $822,027.75.

• Public Safety – Work to improve security as well as privacy within the Police Department should begin within the month.

Chief Reeves presented a written report of the department’s activity for the month ended April 30, 2017.

• Valley Streetscape Project
The last parcel of property needed to be acquired for the project is owned by the Cherokee County School District. It is anticipated the Cherokee County School Board will act on our request to obtain this property at their monthly June meeting.

• Downtown Audio System
The committee has reviewed three proposals for the installation of an audio system in the downtown area. The system will allow music to be played as well as announcements of special events. The committee has selected a vendor and hopes to issue a notice to proceed with the project soon.
Item 9: Mayor Roberts & City Council Comments
Mayor Roberts commented on the meeting he and City Manager Wilmarth had with the Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry, Senator Brandon Beach and Representative Wes Cantrell to discuss the transportation problems within our downtown. Mayor Roberts stated it is not the intent to keep all trucks out of our downtown, just those that are damaging the roadway and posing a health risk.

Mayor Roberts thanked Gloria Bartko-Thomas and members of the Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Committee for their work.

Item 10: Public Comments

Item 11: 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 8:50 PM.

The minutes of this June 8, 2017, Council Meeting approved this 13th Day of July 2017 Council Meeting.

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