|
REGULAR
CITY
OF DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 7, 2005
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City Council met
in regular session at City Hall on March 7, 2005.
Council members present were Michael Clemons, Larry Crowel, Guy Laboa,
Bill Northquest, Dudley Owens and Terry Peters.
Mayor Gary McCullough called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m. and opened
the meeting with prayer. Mayor
McCullough requested that everyone stand for the Pledge to the American Flag.
Mayor McCullough presented plaques of appreciation to Carol West, Caleta
Parks and Jim Fambrough for their many years of service to the Dahlonega Historical
Preservation Commission.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Bill
Northquest to approve the minutes of the council meetings held during February,
2005. This motion was seconded
by Guy Laboa and approved by all members present.
PUBLIC HEARING-REZONING:
A Public Hearing was conducted
by City Attorney Doug Parks concerning a rezoning application submitted by
Robert and Marilyn Mason for their property located at
95 Turner Road
. The Dahlonega Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended approval of their rezoning request to change the
zoning from R2 to B1. Mrs. Mason
advised that the old house will be remodeled into office space and a new
professional building will be constructed. The
Dahlonega Planning Office also recommended that the rezoning be approved and
advised that this zoning would be in line with adjacent properties.
No one was present to object to the rezoning application.
The applicants were advised that if they decide not to construct an
additional building, the parking requirements would not change.
A motion was made by Bill Northquest to approve the rezoning from R2 to
B1 with the following conditions: 1)
Parking is to be relocated to the south side of the property.
2) A vegetative buffer must
be established of 10ft. on the rear and side property lines which adjoin
residential property. 3) Only one
driveway allowable to access the office complex.
4) A private driveway sign is
to be installed at Ms. Nichol’s road at the applicants’ expense.
5) The site plan as submitted
will be binding. The motion
was seconded by Michael Clemons and approved by all members present.
Dale Steenbergan, President of the Dahlonega/Lumpkin County Chamber of
Commerce, presented a plaque to Council Member Guy Laboa to recognize his
service as a tourism volunteer. Mr.
Steenbergan also advised the council that the state is being requested to adopt
a resolution honoring Dahlonega as Georgia’s Premier Sport Cycling Venue.
A motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve the draft resolution.
The motion was seconded by Larry Crowel and approved by all members
present.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that
reports have been received from the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Department and
Dahlonega Planning and Code Enforcement Departments for the month of February,
2005.
Ben Williams spoke representing JJ & G Engineering.
Mr. Williams presented a projects status report.
He advised that the Water and Wastewater Master Plan is currently in the
data collection and evaluation phase.
Engineers have begun water demand and wastewater flow projections and the
schedule is getting tight because certain data is not as readily available as
once thought. The Master Plan
should be completed by October 31, 2005 and should be completed within the
project budget. Data gathering
and field reconnaissance activities are 80% completed for the Yahoola Creek
Watershed Assessment and Protection Plan. City
staff members have completed the first series of Fecal Coliform and E. Coli
sampling. Watershed characterization
assessment has been completed as well as Benthic Macro-invertebrate sampling and
Habitat assessments. The next step
to be completed is stream walks to determine erosion and other problems.
The Yahoola Creek and Watershed Assessment and Protection Plan should be
completed by the end of February, 2006 within the project budget. Full scale
pilot testing has been completed for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Phosphorus
Reduction Design Development Report.
They have attempted to postpone major improvements three to five years
while the city secures funding. Mr.
Williams advised that test results are promising and future results will be flow
dependant. Staff at the Wastewater
Treatment Plant were commended for making the pilot test a success.
Plant repair and improvements are needed regardless of phosphorus
reduction requirements. The
bar screens, aerators and support systems need to be replaced and a grit chamber
needs to be constructed. Sludge
hauling equipment must also be purchased. JJ
and G will provide technical support to city staff as requested.
The project should be completed by March 15, 2005 and should be within
the project budget. Mr.
Williams advised that JJ and G Engineers
have looked at four potential sites for a future wastewater treatment
plant. These sites have been
evaluated taking into consideration the major limitations of flood plain,
wetlands, steep slopes and future access. JJ
& G Engineers have also been working with the city’s engineer Ricky
Stewart on the possibility of developing the city’s well at Highway 400.
CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis
announced that GMRDC representatives have advised that the City’s
Comprehensive Plan should be completed by this week.
Public Hearings will be held by the end of March.
Mr. Lewis gave a report on the Strategic Planning Workshop held on
February 18 and 19 at
Amicalola
State Park
. Copies of the report were
made available to the public. Some
of the goals considered were: Accelerate
the water treatment plant project; Continue staff development as planned in
2004; Continue the reservoir project and purchase the land and prepare for
withdrawal of water; Assess the deficiencies and needs of the City Hall
facility; Address immediate parking needs in the downtown area; Develop a formal
five-year capital improvement program; Upgrade and revise city ordinances
concerning adult entertainment; Conduct a traffic study on Morrison Moore
parkway; Continue downtown revitalization; Explore the City’s roll in
diversity; Expand the Wastewater Plant.
The following five goals were prioritized and adopted as significant
goals for the coming year: 1)
Accelerate the planning, design, and construction of a second water treatment
plant. 2) Complete the Reservoir Project. 3) Access the deficiencies and needs
of the
City
Hall
Building
. 4) Address the immediate parking needs in the downtown area. 5) Develop
a formal five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
City Clerk Janet Jarrard advised that the council needs to take action to
decide whether the city will hold the November election using paper ballots.
The cost for county officials to hold the election using electronic
voting will be $16,958 and the cost for the city to hold the election using
paper ballots will be approximately $3,000.
A motion was made by Dudley Owens to use paper ballots due to cost
restraints. This motion
was seconded by Guy Laboa and approved by all members present.
City Manager Bill Lewis advised that the Department of Transportation
required that an agreement be executed by March 1 in order to resurface 16 city
streets under the LARP Program. DOT
has committed $100,967 to resurface the streets and the city will be required to
prepare the streets for resurfacing. $100,000
was budgeted for this project and if any money is left additional streets can be
resurfaced with the funds budgeted.
A motion was made by Terry Peters to ratify the prior DOT Agreements
signed by Mayor McCullough concerning this project.
The motion was seconded by Bill Northquest and approved by all members
present.
Mr. Lewis announced that a letter has been received from the International
Municipal Clerk’s Institute advising that City Clerk Janet Jarrard has earned
re-certification as an International Municipal Clerk. The
council commended Mrs. Jarrard for this accomplishment.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor McCullough recognized
members of a NGCSU college class in American Government that were in attendance
at the meeting.
Mayor McCullough advised that Glenn Melvin has resigned as a member of the
Dahlonega Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor
McCullough recommended that Glenn Melvin be appointed as a member of the
Dahlonega Historical Preservation Commission.
A motion was made by Larry Crowel to approve this recommendation.
The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members
present.
Mayor McCullough advised that Alltel Cable Television has announced that
effective April 1, 2005 a rate increase will be effective.
The rate for basic service will be $36.95 per month and other premier
packages will increase in price also.
CITY ATTORNEY’S COMMENTS:
City Attorney Doug Parks
reported that legislation has been adopted by the Georgia House of
Representatives to change the City’s Charter concerning the POST System of
Elections. The State Senate
will hopefully approve the change sometime this week.
This Legislation was passed with a saving clause that will allow the city
election to be held in November even if the Justice Department does not approve
the changes to the City Charter.
Mr. Parks also advised that he plans to deliver a draft ordinance
concerning alcohol regulations to the council tomorrow.
This will give the council time to give suggestions for changes before a
work session is held at the end of March.
The ordinance could be adopted by the May Council Meeting and alcohol
license could possibly be issued by June, 2005.
The City Council is also required to hold a Public Hearing before
adoption of the alcohol ordinance.
COUNCIL’S COMMENTS:
Michael Clemons commended staff
for their hard work this past year.
He advised that City Manager Bill Lewis has worked hard to lead the
council and they have been able to work together effectively.
He also stated that the city is moving forward to accomplish their goals
and he urged citizens to get behind the council.
Guy Laboa also advised that he is very pleased with the team building
process. He stated that a road map
has been laid out for the city and he commended City Manager Bill Lewis for his
leadership and stated that Bill is doing a good job. Mayor
McCullough also extended thanks to the City Council for courage to tackle hard
issues. He also thanked the staff
for their hard work.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lee Ann Roy advised that the new
joint city/county newsletter will be distributed March 23.
The newsletter will be titled “City Limits/County Line”.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Bill
Northquest to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
The motion was seconded by Guy Laboa and approved by all members present.
APPROVED BY ME THIS _____________DAY OF___________________,2005.
MAYOR
Attest: CITY CLERK
|
