Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
May 20, 2021
Item 1: Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Roberts.
Council Members participating via Zoom: John Byrd, Mickey O’Malley
In-person participation: Mayor Roberts, John Byrd, Andrenia Stoner
Council Members participating VIA phone: Frank Homiller & Mickey O’Malley
Council Member Lee Prettyman was absent
Staff in person: Eric Wilmarth, Karen Jordan, Darrell Caudill, Donna England & Chris Luly
Donald Campbell, Cherokee Tribune, attended the meeting.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
Item 3: Approve Agenda
Motion by Council Member Byrd, Seconded by Council Member Stoner, to amend the agenda to add Item 8 (h) under New Business: Consider adoption of Services Delivery Strategy Agreement
Item 4: Appearances – None
Item 5: Announcements/Informational Items/Project Updates – City Manager
Farmers Market ongoing every other weekend in City Park through October
Cherokee County Parks and Recreation conducts a week-long fishing camp each year for kids 8-13 years of age. Each day they take a field trip to a different location for the kids to fish. This year they will fish in the pond at Calvin Farmer Park on June 10th.
Annual Fireworks Display will be held on Saturday, June 26 beginning around 9:00 PM
Item 6: Approval of March 11, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd, to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2021, City Council Meeting.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 7: Old Business
- Consider Second Reading of FY 2021/2022 Budget Mayor Roberts noted that the budget had been properly advertised, and a public hearing was held on May 6, 2021, with only staff in attendance. No public comments were received.
Mayor Roberts stated this budget is the largest in the City’s history.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley, to approve the FY 2019-2020 Operating Budget as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 8: New Business
- Consider Proclamation – National Garden Week June 6-12
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner, to approve a proclamation signed by Mayor Roberts, designating the week of June 6-12, 2021 as National Garden Week in the City of Ball Ground.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Consider 1st Reading of Lee Lusk/Old Canton Investments, LLC Annexation Petition 2021-A01
Applicant: Lee Lusk of Old Canton Investents, LLC – 125 Old Canton Rd
Council Member Homiller put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd, to approve the second reading of Annexation Petition 2021-A01 as submitted by Lee Lusk, for property located 125 Old Canton Rd.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Adoption of Updated Fee Schedule for Water Rates
City Manager Wilmarth recommended the addition of a 6th tier to the water rate structure for users that consume an excess of 20,000 gallons of water per month. The rate would be $10.00 per one thousand gallons for all water consumed over 20,000 gallons of water each month.
In addition to the adoption of the 6th tier, a new rate would be established for new developments after July 1, 2021, that would require the City to supplement the system by purchasing water from CCWSA.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Stoner to adopt the proposed water rate schedule as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Consider DDA Appointments
Mayor Roberts proposed Council Members consider the appointment of Ryan Turnage and Darrell McNeal to the Downtown Development Authority. Each to serve a four (4) year term expiring January 2025.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to appoint Ryan Turnage, and Darrell McNeal to the Downtown Development Authority for a four (4) year term expiring January 2025.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Consider ZBA Appointments
Mayor Roberts proposed the appointment of Scott Barnes to the City of Ball Ground Zoning Board of Appeals for a term of three (3) years, expiring January 2025.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd, to appoint Scott Barnes to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term of three (3) years expiring January 2025.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider 1st Reading of Application for New Alcohol License: Licensee Ronald Bryan Choate/ Choate BBQ, LLC, 10150 Ball Ground Hwy, Suite 201
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd, to approve the first reading of the application submitted by Bryan Choate for a new Alcohol License for 10150/Suite 201 Ball Ground Hwy.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider 1st Reading of Changes to Alcohol Ordinance
An Ordinance to Amend the Code of Ordinances, City of Ball Ground, Georgia to provide additional definitions, Micro-Distilleries, and Home Delivery and Sale for Off-Premises Consumption of Alcohol; to provide an effective date; to repeal all Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; and for other purposes.
Section One: Section 4-19 – Definitions of the Code of Ordinances
Section 4-25 – Micro-distilleries
Section 4-45 – Home Delivery
Section 4-48(b) – Effective Date
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby expressly repealed on the effective date of this ordinance.
City Manager Wilmarth summarized each of the amendments for council discussion.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member O’Malley, to accept the first reading of the proposed changes as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
- Consider an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Implementation of the Service Delivery Strategy by and between Cherokee County, Georgia, a political subdivision, acting by and through its Board of Commissioners (hereafter, the “County”), and Cities of Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Mountain Park, Nelson, Waleska, and Woodstock, municipalities acting by and through their Mayor and Council (hereinafter, collectively the “Cities”).
City Manager Wilmarth presented an overview of the Service Delivery Strategy document
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion, Seconded by Council Member Byrd, to authorize Mayor Roberts to execute the Service Delivery Strategy, and all other related documents with Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Item 9: City Manager Comments
Officer Matt Young was awarded a plaque by Chief Bryon Reeves for his act of valor on February 28, 2021, when he initiated a traffic stop on two known armed men from Alabama. Officer Young selflessly pursued the individuals knowing they were armed and dangerous. Although the two men fired their weapons upon Officer Young, he was able to keep them from leaving the scene until backup arrived, and they were apprehended.
Mayor Roberts also commended Officer Young for his heroic actions. He stated we have a small, but outstanding police department, and we’re glad to have Officer Young as a member of the department.
City Manager Wilmarth also commended Officer Young and the other members of the department for their quick response to this event.
City Manager Wilmarth provided Council Members with an unaudited report of account balances, and a statement of revenues, and expenditures for the month ended April 30, 2021. The report showed cash on deposit totaled 1,921,405.27
City Manager provided updates on the progress of several ongoing projects around the City.
Chief Reeves presented a written report of the Police Department’s activities for the month ended April 30, 2021.
Item 10: Mayor Roberts
Mayor Roberts commented on the improvement of the number of COVID-19 cases in Cherokee County. Currently, we are down to 80 cases per 100,000 people. This is the lowest number of cases in many, many months. Because of the decline, this is our first meeting without the requirement of wearing a mask.
Mayor Roberts stated it was with pleasure to announce the opening of the Community Center and City Gym for event rentals and City Park for concerts and other outdoor events. Ball Ground is open and we welcome visitors and tourists to visit us soon.
Item 11: Council Comments
Council Member O’Malley stated he had been approached by the local Pickle Ball
Club asking that one of the two tennis courts be converted to an official Pickle
Ball Court.
City Manager Wilmarth responded that he was asking for quotes for the conversion, and once they were all in he would forward them to Council Member O’Malley and the Recreation Committee for review.
Council Member O’Malley announced that the first baseball tournament of the season would be held this weekend. He expected this to a great boost to the downtown businesses.
Council Member O’Malley announced that he would not seek reelection at the end of his current term. Since being retired, it was time to spend more time with family. Council Member O’Malley said he was proud to have been part of the council and the work they have accomplished.
Mayor Roberts stated he was sorry to hear this announcement, and expressed his thanks to Council Member O’Malley for being a very important part of the City Council over the years, and for the countless hours he had contributed towards the betterment of our parks and recreation activities.
Item 12: Public Comments
Scott Buckner of 166 Cherokee Village Drive addressed the council concerning a situation he was having with the entrance of his driveway. He stated recently the driveway has begun to sag, and crack in the area where a sewer line was installed many years ago. Mr. Buckner stated he was concerned there was a water leak under the driveway causing the problems since a water line runs under his driveway. He asked if the city could investigate his concerns.
Mayor Roberts asked if there were other driveways having the same issues. Mr. Buckner stated he did not know of any.
City Manager Wilmarth stated he would have the water department crew investigate the problem.
Bill Manning of 300 John Mason Court, asked Mayor Roberts and Council Members about information he had heard concerning the Ball Ground Police Department being unable to use speed detection devices, the number of ducks killed by drivers, and the recent removal of ducks from Calvin Farmer Park.
City Manager Wilmarth stated unknown person(s) recently reported the City to several animal activist groups which come to the park and determined the ducks and geese were not being properly cared for. The group(s) then removed the ducks and geese to another location where they would be properly cared for. The group then provided the City with ways to provide proper care for the ducks if they were to be returned. City Manager Wilmarth stated that at this time with the small staff we have, it’s not possible to meet their requirements. City Manager Wilmarth discouraged residents from dropping off their unwanted ducks and geese at Calvin Farmer Park.
City Manager addressed the concerns of Mr. Manning as related to the Police Departments’ inability to use speed detection devices at this time. He stated it is our belief this matter will soon be resolved. Until then, Chief Reeves, and his department will continue to patrol the City as usual.
Item 13: Adjourn
There being no further business for mayor and council consideration a motion
was duly made and seconded to adjourn.
The minutes of this May 20, 2021, City Council Meeting approved this 10th Day of June 2021.
______________________________
- R. Roberts, III, Mayor
Attest: ____________________________
Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
