Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council
City of Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground City Hall ~ 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
September 27, 2018
- Call Meeting to Order – Mayor Roberts
Council Members Present: John Byrd, Mickey O’Malley and Lee Prettyman
Andrenia Stoner
Council Member Frank Homiller was absent
Staff Present: Donna England, Bryon Reeves, Darrell Caudill, Eric Wilmarth and Karen L. Jordan
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Appearances – None
- Announcements – City Manager Eric Wilmarth
- October 26, 2018 – Spooktacular will be held in City Part
- November 30, 2018 – March of the Toys Parade for Toys for Tots
- March 1-2, 2019 – The Tour of the Southern Highlands Bike Race
- Consider Approval of August 16, 2018 Council Meeting Minutes
Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the minutes of the August Council Meeting.
Motion Unanimous Approved
- Old Business
- Consider Second Reading of Defined Benefit Plan Ordinance
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the second reading of the Defined Benefit Plan Ordinance as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- New Business
- Consider Comprehensive Plan Update Transmit Resolution
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve a Resolution stating Ball Ground has prepared an update to its Comprehensive Plan that covers the years 2018 through 2022 and that it was prepared in accordance with the Minimum Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning and is therefore to be submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for official review.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider First Reading of Application for New Alcohol License
Applicant: Ball Ground Convenience, Inc./Khuram Ramzanali
Location: 8615 Ball Ground, Hwy
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve the Application for a New Alcohol License by Khuram Ramzanali as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Proposal from InterDev for GIS Services
City Manager Wilmarth put forth a proposal from InterDev GIS Services for Council consideration. The proposal is to build a set of Geographic Information System (GIS) layers and publish them online where a mapping application containing those layers can be accessed by city staff as well as the public. The layers would identify the city limits, zoning and other useful information. Initial startup cost is $15,900.00 and a yearly fee of $5,500.00 thereafter.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the proposal from InterDev GIS Services as submitted.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Intergovernmental Agreement Between Cherokee County and City of Ball Ground Regarding a Cherokee County Simulcast Remote Radio Site to be Constructed and Located on Property Owned by the City of Ball Ground
City Manager Wilmarth put forth an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cherokee County and the City of Ball Ground for consideration. The agreement stated that Cherokee County will implement a Voice Trunked Wide Area Radio System on property owned by the City of Ball Ground. The term of this IGA shall be for a period of fifty (50) years beginning on the effective date. The IGA may be modified or amended only in writing properly executed by both parties.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Prettyman to approve the IGA as presented upon review and approval by City Attorney Caudill.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider petition for Speed Humps on Old Canton Road
Council Members was presented with a petition from residents beginning at 211 Old Canton Road to 311 Old Canton Road requesting speed humps be placed to deter cars from speeding on the street.
City Manager Wilmarth stated a traffic study performed did not warrant speed humps on Old Canton Road, but asked Council to consider installing a speed hump south of the intersection of Blackwell Street and Old Canton Rd.
Mayor Roberts asked if a thru traffic sign be installed.
Following discussion Council Member O’Malley put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to install one speed hump on Old Canton Road south of the Blackwell St. intersection.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Intergovernmental Agreement Between Cherokee County and City of Ball Ground for Animal Control Services
Council Member Prettyman put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cherokee County and City of Ball Ground for Cherokee County to perform certain animal control serviced in the City of Ball Ground as outlined in the agreement.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Request for 5 Month Extension on Service Delivery Strategy
Mayor Roberts stated negotiations between the Cities and Cherokee County are ongoing. We have yet to finalize an agreement before the deadline to submit the agreement to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Mayor Roberts asked Council Members to approve a five (5) month extension which would allow everyone involved additional time to complete the agreement.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to approve the five (5) month extension needed to complete the Service Delivery Strategy Agreement to submit on or before February 28, 2019 to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider FY 17-18 Budget Amendments
City Administrator Wilmarth presented a written report of FY 2017/2018 budget amendments for Council Members consideration.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to accept first reading of An Ordinance to amend the FY 2017/2018 Budget of the City of Ball Ground in compliance with the Laws of the State of Georgia.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider authorization to pursue GEFA Loan for $300,000.00 for acquisition of Greenspace Property 2018-01
City Manager Wilmarth asked Council Members to support a resolution supporting the submittal of an application to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) for a loan of $300,000.00 for possible future purchase land identified as Greenspace Property 2018-01.
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member O’Malley to authorize staff to submit an application to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority for a loan of $300,000.00 for future land acquisition.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- Consider Resolution in Support of Grant Application with Georgia Department of Natural Resources
City Manager Wilmarth asked Council Members to consider supporting the submittal of an application for grant funding to purchase certain property identified for greenspace. The Resolution stated the City of Ball Ground would purchase certain property that if obtained would benefit the community by preserving greenspace, protecting wild life, provide outdoor trail areas while at the same time preserving a significant historical site, stream buffers and wetlands.
Following a brief discussion Council Member Byrd put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Stoner to approve the Resolution supporting the submittal of a grant application to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $100,000.00 to purchase property for the purpose of Land and Water Conservation.
Motion Unanimously Approved
- City Managers Report
A written and oral operational and financial report was presented to Council Members by City Manager Wilmarth
City Manager Wilmarth commended Donna England, Finance Director and her staff for their hard work preparing for the 2017/2018 Financial Audit.
A written operational report of the Police Department’s activity for the month ended August 30, 2018, was presented by Chief Reeves.
- Mayor Roberts announced the Ball Ground Historical Society would host an event at the Ball Ground Community Center on Saturday, September 29, 2018 commemorating the City’s 135th Birthday.
- Council Members Comments
Council Member O’Malley updated Council Members on the use of City Gym and other sporting events held at the athletic fields.
Council Members Byrd and Prettyman thanked the staff of the Police Department and Public Works Department for their continued efforts to make Ball Ground the best place to live, work and play.
Council Member Stoner asked how many defibrillators did the city own and where were they placed.
City Manager Wilmarth stated the City had three. One is located in City Hall, City Gym and the third one is kept in the car of the on duty police officer.
- Public Comments
A resident asked the status of a waste transfer station locating on Old Howell Bridge Road.
City Manager Wilmarth stated staff is currently drafting an ordinance to allow Heavy Industrial in certain areas of the city. The site currently being considered for the location of the waste transfer station is zoned Light Industrial (LI). This type of industry is not a permitted use in Light Industrial (LI).
- Executive Session: For Discussion of Land Acquisition
Council Member Byrd put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Stoner to close this meeting as permitted by the Open Meetings Act of Georgia for the purpose to discuss future acquisition of real estate.
Motion Unanimously Approved
During the discussion of property acquisition, Mayor Roberts excused himself from the meeting citing potential conflict of interest.
Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to close the Executive Session and open the meeting.
Motion Unanimously Approved.
Council Member Byrd stated Council Members discussed potential property acquisition and no action taken.
- Adjourn
There being no further business for City Council consideration Council Member Stoner put forth a motion; Seconded by Council Member Byrd to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 PM.
The minutes of this September 27, 2018 City Council Meeting approved this 11th Day of October 2018.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Mayor A. R. Roberts, III Mayor Pro Tem Frank Homiller
____________________________ _____________________________
John Byrd, Council Member Mickey O’Malley Council Member
_____________________________ _____________________________
Lee Prettyman, Council Member Andrenia Stoner, Council Member
Attest:
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Karen L. Jordan, City Clerk
