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REGULAR CITY OF DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 6, 2006
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City Council met in regular session at City Hall on March 6, 2006.
Council members present were Michael Clemons, Gerald Lord, Terry Peters and Guy
LaBoa. Mayor Gary McCullough called the meeting to order at
6:00 p.m. and called on Michael Clemons
to open the meeting with prayer. Mayor McCullough requested everyone present to
stand for the Pledge to the American Flag.
FY 05 AUDIT REPORT:
Edgar Land of Edgar Land and Associates presented the 2005 Audit Report. Mr.
Land advised that he had met with the council for a work session concerning the
report. Mr. Land stated that the city had a great audit and there are no
compliance comments. There is only one comment concerning internal control due
to the city's small staff. Mr. Land reported that the city ended the fiscal year
with an increase in fund balance in the General Fund of $659,544 and Enterprise
Fund of $827,000. There were no negative comments concerning the audit. Mr. Land
thanked the city for the opportunity to work with the council and staff. He
stated that the staff was very cooperative. City Manager Bill Lewis
complimented City Clerk Janet Jarrard and staff for their work during the audit.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion
was made by Michael Clemons to approve the minutes of the regular council
meeting held February 6, 2006. This motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and
approved by all members present.
Mayor
McCullough presented a plaque from the University of Georgia and GMA to Terry
Peters for completion of Municipal Training Courses.
CITIZENS:
The council was informed that all paperwork has been completed for transfer of
Golden Express's beer license to Lakhani Zohra. The GCIC report also indicated
no record for Mrs. Zohra. A motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve the
transfer. The motion was seconded by Guy LaBoa and approved by all members
present.
Angela Wilson spoke representing the Dahlonega Merchant's Association. Ms.
Wilson advised that the Wildflower Festival has been canceled. Downtown
merchants, GB & T Bank and Dahlonega Arts Council are planning for a replacement
festival for May 20-21 which will be known as the Mountain Flower Festival of
the Arts. The permit for this festival has been transferred and they are working
on an appropriate banner. They plan to make the festival more of a community
affair involving local schools and local artists.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor
McCullough advised that reports have been received from the Dahlonega Planning
Department and Code Enforcement Department for activities during the month of
February, 2006.
A
motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve the first reading of Ordinance
2006-3Georgia State Construction Codes. This motion was seconded by Guy LaBoa
and approved by all members present.
SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2006-1-ANNEXATION:
A motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve the second reading of Ordinance
2006-1-Annexation of property owned by Wyman Walden. This property is located on
Highway 19 North and consists of 5.7 acres. The motion was seconded by Guy LaBoa
and approved by all members present. City Attorney Doug Parks advised that a
Public Hearing will be held at the next council meeting for zoning of the
property.
SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2006-2-ANNEXATION:
A motion was made by Terry Peters to approve the second reading of Ordinance
2006-2Annexation of property owned by Larry Banister. This property consists of
2.25 acres and is located on Highway 19 North. The motion was seconded by
Michael Clemons and approved by all members present. A public hearing will also
be held concerning zoning of this property.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONTRACT:
A motion
was made by Guy LaBoa to approve the attached Chamber of Commerce Contract. The
motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
RATIFICATION OF ECO-SOUTH CONTRACT:
A motion
was made by Guy LaBoa to ratify the signing of the attached contract with
Eco-South for wetland mitigation for the reservoir project. This motion was
seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
CITY
MANAGER'S COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis advised that bids were solicited to perform a water
meter replacement program and install meters with radio reading capabilities.
The city has not performed a meter replacement program in the last twenty years.
It is recommended that meters be replaced every fifteen years. Mr. Lewis advised
that water meters loose accuracy over time and this is a large reason for our
unaccounted for water. Changing water meters should improve revenues by
approximately $50,000 annually. Four companies were asked to bid on the project:
Consolidated Pipe & Supply (Master Meter) bid $361,720.00; Mainline Supply
Company (Hersey Meter) bid $432,506.22; Delta Municipal Supply Company (Nepture
Meter) bid $430,197.50; Kendall Metering Systems & Solutions (Sensus Multi-Jet
Meter) bid $450,750.00 and Kendall Metering Systems (Sensus Positive
Displacement) bid $478,581.60. Pilot meters were installed and monitored and a
committee was formed to evaluate the bids based on cost, experience, and ability
to provide service. The committee recommends that the low bid be accepted from
master meter for installation of the meters at a price of $371,720.00 which
includes an additional $10,000 for installation of back-flow valves as required
by EPD. The price also includes billing software and the radio reading equipment
for the meter reader's vehicle. The project is to be completed by June 16, 2006.
This is a totally wireless system that performs well within our current system.
Installation of the radio read system will also save on personnel costs. A
training package is also included in the cost. Guy LaBoa served on the committee
and made a motion to approve Consolidated Pipe and Supply Company at a total
price of $371,720. This motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all
members present. Mr. Lewis advised that GEFA has agreed to finance the project
with a loan agreement of four percent over the next ten years. The annual
payments will be $45,000 and it is expected that the payments can be recouped by
increased revenues of $50,000 annually. A motion was made by Terry Peters to
approve the GEFA Loan Application. This motion was seconded by Michael Clemons
and approved by all members present.
Mr. Lewis advised that DOT requires a right-of-way agreement for improvement of
22 various city streets. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve the
attached agreement. This motion was seconded by Michael Clemons and approved by
all members present.
MAYOR'S COMMENTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that the council talked about the traffic light for the
Pine Tree Road Intersection during their work session held prior to the council
meeting. It was the consensus of members present that decorative poles be used
for the traffic light. The cost for the poles will be $36,000 but an additional
pole must be purchased at a cost of $17,000. DOT has advised that due to the
speed at the intersection, an additional pole must be purchased in case a
vehicle knocks down a pole. The cost for installation of the poles will be
$115,000. It will take approximately ninety days to receive the poles after they
are ordered. Mr. Lewis advised that $125,000 was set aside in the capital budget
for improvements to the intersection which will include turn lanes. DOT will
donate the traffic light and controls. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to
approve up to $296,000 for the project. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters.
After discussion a motion was made by Gerald Lord to amend the motion that up to
$194,000 be approved for the project since $125,000 is already in the budget.
This motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
Mr. Lewis advised that eighteen accidents have occurred at that intersection.
Michael Clemons stated that it would be well worth the extra costs if one life
could be saved. Mayor McCullough advised that he plans to talk with DOT
officials to see if they are willing to assist further with the project costs.
Mayor McCullough recommended that Sam Johnson be appointed to fill the
unexpired term of Sam Norton on the Dahlonega Historical Preservation
Commission. Mr. Norton resigned to run for Council Post 5 in the March 21
Special Election. A motion was made Terry Peters to approve this
recommendation. Mayor McCullough recommended that Susan Newell be reappointed
to the Dahlonega Historical Preservation Commission. The motion was seconded by
Gerald Lord and approved by all members present.
CITY ATTORNEYS COMMENTS:
City Attorney Doug Parks advised that a Resolution is needed for interim
financing for the water plant construction. GEFA has advised that they cannot
authorize a loan until construction of the plant begins. Approximately 1.2
million to 1.3 million dollars will be needed for engineering and other costs.
The cost for the first year is approximately $300,000. United Community Bank has
offered a loan at 4.65 percent interest only payments. A motion was made by
Michael Clemons to approve the attached Resolution. This motion was seconded by
Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
Mr. Parks also presented the GEFA Reservoir Agreement concerning how 1he assets
will be divided between the city and county. The county has not voted on this
final document. A motion was made by Terry Peters to approve 1he agreement. This
motion was seconded by Michael Clemons and approved by all members present.
Mayor McCullough recognized two candidates for the Special Election to be held
March 21. Rebecca Merry and Sam Norton were present at the meeting. Rebecca
Merry stated that she is happy to see the council moving forward wi1h radio-read
water meters as she believes they will be an asset to make information more
accessible to water customers.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion
was made by Gerald Lord to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. This motion was
seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
APPROVED BY ME THIS ______ DAY OF _____________________________, 2006.
_____________________________
GARY MCCULLOUGH, MAYOR
ATTEST:
_____________________________
JANET JARRARD, CITY CLERK |
