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REGULAR CITY OF
DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 2, 2007
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City Council met
on April 2, 2007 at City Hall. Council members present were Michael Clemons,
Gerald Lord, Sam Norton, Terry Peters and Bill Scott. Mayor Gary McCullough
called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and opened the meeting with prayer.
Mayor McCullough requested everyone to stand for the Pledge to the American
Flag. Mayor McCullough recognized and welcomed NGCSU government students
representing several different classes.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Bill Scott
to approve the minutes of the last regular council meeting held on March 5,
2007. This motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members
present.
CITIZENS:
A request was made for outdoor
alcohol sales at Busters Restaurant. A preliminary sketch of the proposal was
presented to council members. City Attorney Doug Parks recommended that the
request be approved contingent upon final review by staff on site. A motion was
made by Bill Scott to approve this recommendation. Terry Peters questioned the
number of required parking spaces that will be eliminated and also the
requirement for allocation of additional parking for the number of added
customers. The owner of Busters, John Kochinski, advised that the new covered
area would be constructed in the loading area. Gerald Lord stated that he was
concerned that the area would be too near the street. Mr. Kochinski advised
that the Fire Marshall had approved the plans and the permit for 130 patrons.
The motion was approved by the following vote count: Voting for the motion were
Clemons, Norton and Peters. Bill Scott and Gerald Lord voted against the
motion. A motion was made by Terry Peters to amend the motion to include that
all parking requirements are met including parking for the new section of the
business before a permit is issued to Busters. This motion was seconded by
Gerald Lord and approved by the following vote count: Voting for the motion
were Clemons, Norton and Peters. Gerald Lord and Bill Scott voted against the
motion.
Rae Lynn Harmon applied for a
distilled spirits license for Shenanigan’s Restaurant. The council was informed
that all paperwork has been completed for issuance of the license and the
background check indicated no record for Mrs. Harmon. A motion was made by
Michael Clemons to approve the license. The motion was seconded by Sam Norton
and approved by all members present.
Jordan Jones & Goulding
Engineer Ben Williams gave a progress report on the Yahoola Watershed Assessment
and Protection Plan. He advised that the Assessment and Protection Plan is
required as a provision of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Permit issued
by EPD. This action by EPD is their way of managing the quality of waters of
the State of Georgia. EPD is using a permitting point source of pollution to
manage a non-permitted, non-point source of storm water runoff. Mr. Williams
pointed out the Assessment and Protection Plan is not to be confused with the
Yahoola Creek Water Supply Reservoir Management Plan or the Yahoola Creek
Reservoir Water Supply Watershed Protection Plan. The Assessment was completed
November, 2005 and sent to EPD for review and approval. There has not been a
response from EPD to date. The Protection Plan has also been completed and sent
to EPD on March 16, 2007 for review and approval. Mr. Williams advised that
these projects are within budget. The project is behind schedule due to lack of
EPD approval. Staff changes put the project behind schedule. The project can
not be completed until EPD completes their review and comments are addressed.
Mr. Willams also gave a progress report on the Yahoola Creek Reservoir Water
Treatment Plant. He advised that activities completed February and March, 2007
included meetings with staff, the membrane manufacturer, Pall, and Georgia DOT
officials to discuss the proposed route of the raw and finished water mains.
They also worked on process and instrumental drawings for process design,
coordinated with Pall about design of membrane system and logistics of fitting
into our building design and obtained detailed information on the equipment.
Members of city staff and JJ & G staff visited Sevierville to see a similar
plant to the one that will be built for Dahlonega. JJ & G developed initial
site plan layouts and surveyed the raw and finished water main routes to
determine information needed for design and they also completed the ecology
study. An equipment list for projects was developed and a survey was conducted
for the raw and finished water main routes to determine information needed for
design of the plant. A 3-dimensional model of the building layout was created
and information was obtained for the existing sanitary sewer pump stations to
verify the size will be adequate to handle the reject and backwash water
produced by the water treatment plant. Request for proposals for the
geotechnical work were sent out. Mr. Williams advised that an update will be
given to the council every two months concerning future activities. Mr.
Williams also stated that the project is within the approved budget and the
project is on tract to have construction drawings complete in September, 2007
and bid advertisement to start October, 2007. Construction on the new water
plant would begin early 2008. Mayor McCullough thanked Mr. Williams for his
report.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that
reports were received from Planning, Code Enforcement, and Historic Commission
concerning activities during the month of March, 2007. Chamber of Commerce
Director Dale Steenburgen advised that local groups are working with EPD
officials concerning local issues. Tour De Georgia will not be coming to
Dahlonega this year. They are experiencing financial problems and are asking
communities to double the price of sponsorships. Mr. Steenburgen announced that
the Legislative Event would be held May 1 at Chestatee Hospital at 12:00 noon.
He also urged the council to look at possibilities of Rural Development Funding
for Hancock Park. The Dahlonega Club will not sponsor July 4th
activities this year. The Chamber is looking for a sponsor. Dahlonega is
receiving a lot of good publicity including US News and World Report. Mr.
Steenburgen asked about plans for construction of a facility in Hancock Park.
He stated that the Chamber would like to make plans for the ice skating rink but
were not sure about when construction would begin for a new facility. Mayor
McCullough stated that the Chamber can go ahead with the same plans as last year
because construction would not begin until at least the first of 2008.
DDA Director Joel Cordle
advised that the Smith House Restaurant proposed to expand its lodging
operations. The expansion will create 50 new full time or full time equivalent
jobs. This expansion will have major positive economic impact not only for
Dahlonega but also Lumpkin County and the surrounding region. Project cost is
approximately six million dollars. Project financing is projected to include a
combination of commercial bank loans, owner equity, and state source low
interest loans. Funding assistance from state low-interest loans will make the
project more effective. The city’s sponsorship is needed for low interest loans
from the State of Georgia including the Department of Community Affairs
Employment Incentive Program and the One Georgia Authority’s Equity Fund. State
funding applications and administration will be handled by GMRDC. A motion
was made by Michael Clemons to approve a Resolution for the city’s sponsorship
of both loan programs. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by
all members present.
CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis
requested ratification of the equipment purchase for Torrington Well. Metro
Filter submitted the low bid of $20,000 for the purchase and installation of the
equipment needed to solve the chemical problems at the well. A motion was made
by Michael Clemons to approve this purchase. The motion was seconded by Terry
Peters and approved by all members present. Mr. Lewis commended Ricky Stewart
and John Jarrard for their assistance in this project.
Mr. Lewis advised that GMA has
calculated the cost to change the retirement vesting from 10 years to 5 years to
encourage new hires to seek careers with the City. The cost for the change is
$1,147.00 annually. The cost to increase the benefit from 2 percent to 2.5
percent would be $52,290.00 annually. A 2.25 percent would cost $26,145
annually. Mr. Lewis recommended that the 5 year vesting benefit be implemented
as soon as possible and that the council consider increasing the benefit ratio
to 2.25 percent during the 2008 budget. A motion was made by Michael Clemons to
approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Bill Scott and approved
by the following vote count: Voting for the motion were Scott, Clemons, Norton
and Peters. Gerald Lord voted against the motion.
Mr. Lewis recommended that the
attached Water Sales Agreement between the City and Lumpkin County be approved
and sent to the county for their signatures. A motion was made by Michael
Clemons to approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters
and approved by all members present.
Mr. Lewis advised that two new
bank accounts were opened. This is a requirement to receive payments from the
ARC and CDBG EIP Grants for the Timken Project. A motion was made by Bill Scott
to approve these transactions. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and
approved by all members present.
Mr. Lewis recommended that the
attached NGCSU Lease Agreement be approved. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to
approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Bill Scott and approved
by all members present.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Gary McCullough presented
a Resolution concerning Georgia Cities Week. A motion was made by Gerald Lord
to approve the attached Resolution. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and
approved by all members present.
Mayor McCullough recommended
that the old stamp mill and water wheel now located on the square be relocated
to Anthony Park. He stated that he would check with our insurance company
concerning any possible liabilities.
Dale Steenburgen was requested
to form a committee concerning recommendations for cleaning up the area around
the city’s dumpster located on the north side of the square.
CITY ATTORNEY’S COMMENTS:
City Attorney Doug Parks
recommended that the council ratify the contract with Troutman Sanders Public
Affairs Group. A motion was made by Michael Clemons to ratify the signing of
the attached contract. The motion was seconded by Bill Scott and approved by
all members present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Robert Bridges recommended an
alternate site for relocation of the water wheel and stamp mill in front of the
old cannery building.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Michael
Clemons to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m. This motion was seconded by Sam
Norton and approved by all members present.
APPROVED BY ME THIS
__________DAY OF________________,2007.
Mayor Gary McCullough
Attest: Janet Jarrard,
City Clerk |
