REGULAR CITY OF DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 8, 2007
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City Council met in regular
session on January 8, 2007 at City Hall. Council members present were
Michael Clemons, Gerald Lord, Terry Peters and Sam Norton. Mayor Gary
McCullough opened the meeting at
6:00 p.m. with prayer and asked everyone to stand for
the Pledge to the American Flag.
PUBLIC HEARING:
A Public Hearing was conducted by City Attorney Doug Parks for
preliminary site plan approval for Sky Country Estates Subdivision. Tim
Williams presented the request and advised that there will be seventeen
lots. The property which adjoins Sky Country Subdivision will be consistent
with the present covenants for Sky Country lots concerning lot and home
sizes. Mr. Parks asked if anyone wished to speak either for or against the
request. Hearing no comments, Mr. Parks asked for staff recommendations.
Planning Director Chris Head advised that staff recommends preliminary
approval. The streets will not become city streets as this will be a gated
community. The streets are to be constructed to city standards. Water and
sewer easements are also to be provided and constructed to city standards. A
motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve the request. The motion was
seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Terry Peters to approve the minutes of the regular
council meeting held on December 11,2006 with a correction on page 2 which
listed Terry Peters as voting against a motion. Mr. Peters advised that he
abstained. The motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all members
present.
CITIZENS:
The council was informed that all paperwork has been completed for transfer
of the beer and wine license for Quick Mart 1 and 2 to Salman Ali. The
background check also indicated no record for Mr. Ali. A motion was made by
Gerald Lord to approve this license. The motion was seconded by Michael
Clemons and approved by all members present.
The council was informed that all paperwork has been completed for transfer
of the beer and wine license for Pizza Hut to Nicole Aldred. The background
check also indicated no record for Ms. Aldred. A motion was made by Gerald
Lord to approve the license transfer. The motion was seconded by Michael
Clemons and approved by all members present.
The council was informed that all paperwork has been completed for
issuance of a beer and wine license to Rae Lynn Harmon for Shenanigan's
Irish Pub. The background check also indicated no record for Mrs. Harmon. A
motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve this license. approved
by all members present.
The motion was seconded by Sam Norton and Don Trice advised that he has read the draft copy of the Corridor
Overlay Guidelines and Ordinance and he urged the council to adopt the
guidelines.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that reports have
been received from the Planning and Code Enforcement Departments concerning
activities of those departments for the month of December, 2006.
Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Dale Steenburgen advised
that the ice skating rink was extremely successful. The cost was
approximately $85,000 and there was $42,000 in ticket sales and $37,000 in
donations. Merchants reported that their business was up from fifteen to
eighteen percent. Seven Hundred tickets were donated to needy children. Mr.
Steenburgen reported that there is a regional initiative for transportation
issues. Changes in state laws concerning fuel taxes can harm smaller cities.
He urged citizens and council members to attend meetings concerning new
roads as this can affect everyone. Mr. Steenburgen announced that the
Chamber Banquet will be held February 17 at R-Ranch. The Chamber is trying
to find good businesses to occupy vacancies on the square. He also reported
that 2006 was a good year for the Chamber. Currently there are over 600
Chamber members. He also thanked the city for their support and asked for
the city's assistance in facilitating a meeting between the city, county and
college personnel to discuss planning for future needs. Council members
expressed their thanks to Mr. Steenburgen and Chamber employees. City
Manager Bill Lewis expressed thanks to city employees for their assistance
with the ice skating rink.
SECOND READING AMENDMENT 19-Z0NING ORDINANCE 91-1:
City Attorney Doug Parks advised that the amendment to the zoning
ordinance is concerning the conduct of public hearings. The amendment would
provide for a time limitation for less than ten minutes or any less than the
time allowed for those persons speaking in favor of the application. A
motion was made by Sam Norton to approve the second reading of Amendment 19
to Zoning Ordinance 91-1. This motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and
approved by all members present.
SECOND READING AMENDMENT I-ORDINANCE
2003-3:
A motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve
the second reading of Amendment 1 to Ordinance 2003-3-Building Codes. This
motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all members present.
SERVICE CONTRACT-CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
A motion was made by Michael Clemons to
approve the attached Chamber of Commerce Service Contract for tourism. This
motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all members present.
City Manager Bill Lewis advised that the Planning and Zoning Commission did not
take any action concerning the Corridor Overlay Guidelines and Ordinance. This
will be back on their agenda for this month's meeting and will be presented to
the council at their next regular meeting. He urged council members to give
recommendations concerning appointments for membership for a committee required
by this ordinance.
Mr. Lewis advised that there is a limit placed on local government by the State
for the amount a local government may borrow in anticipation of tax revenues.
That limit is 75 percent of all anticipated general fund tax revenues. For the
City of Dahlonega that figure has been calculated to be $1.8 million. The amount
of $400,000 was borrowed for the purchase of the school property and that loan
was paid at the end of the year as required by state law. Mr. Lewis advised that
approximately two million will be needed for interim financing for the new water
treatment plant facility this year. Mr. Lewis recommended that the $400,000 loan
not be renewed in order to borrow the money needed for the water plant project.
A motion was made by Michael Clemons 10 approve this recommendation. The motion
was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present. Mr. Lewis
advised that the renovations have been completed at the city hall building and
has created additional office space and also better working conditions for
office staff.
Mayor Gary McCullough recommended that Claudine Earls be reappointed on the
Dahlonega Housing Authority. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve this
appointment. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members
present. Mayor McCullough recommended that Terry Peters be appointed as Mayor
Pro-Tem for 2007. A motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve this
recommendation. The motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and approved by all
members present.
A motion
was made by Michael Clemons 10 adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. This motion was
seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
APPROVED
BY ME THIS _____ DAY OF ____________, 2007.
