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REGULAR
CITY
OF DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 11, 2005
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City Council met
in regular session at City Hall on April 11, 2005.
Council members present were Michael Clemons, Guy Laboa, Bill Northquest,
Dudley Owens and Terry Peters. Mayor
Gary McCullough called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. and opened the meeting
with prayer. Mayor McCullough
requested that everyone stand for the Pledge to the American Flag.
Mayor McCullough recognized an NGCSU American Government Student and also
recognized representatives from
Porter
Village
who were present at the meeting. Mayor
McCullough advised that
Porter
Village
plans to construct an additional thirty-seven housing units by the year 2007.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Dudley
Owens to approve the minutes of the Council Meetings held during March, 2005.
This motion was seconded by Guy LaBoa and approved by all members
present.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that
reports have been received from the Dahlonega Planning and Code Enforcement
Departments.
Susan Newell, Chair Person of the Dahlonega Historical Preservation
Commission, reported that the Commission approved sign applications for Gee’s
Home Furnishings, Appalachia Traders, The Buisson Arts Center and Treasures
Within. A banner application was
also approved for the Dahlonega/Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce Visitors
Center for the Dodge Tour De Georgia Event.
FIRST
READING
OF AMENDMENT 1-ORDINANCE 93-3-FARM
WINERY TASTING ROOMS:
A motion was made by Bill
Northquest to approve the first reading of Amendment 1 to Ordinance 93-3-Farm
Winery Tasting Rooms. This
motion was seconded by Michael Clemons and approved by all members present.
This amendment would allow for the Lumpkin County Winery Association to
sell during special events. A
motion was made by Terry Peters to charge $100.00 for a license for a temporary
tasting room during special events and $150.00 for a retail license for the sale
of wine and operation of a tasting room. This
motion was seconded by Dudley Owens and approved by all members present.
A motion was made by Terry Peters to approve a Resolution to determine
that the special entertainment district for temporary tasting rooms during
special events will be located at the plaza of the Dahlonega/Lumpkin County
Welcome Center or at
Hancock
Park
. This motion was seconded by
Dudley Owens and approved by all members present.
CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis advised
that bids were received for upgrades at the waste water treatment plant.
In order to comply with our NPDES permit additional aerators and the
addition of a bar screen to remove foreign materials that can not be treated at
the plant and the addition of a grit chamber are necessary.
The aerators and bar screen are equipment changes that do not require an
engineering design and approval by EPD before their installation.
This equipment will take approximately sixteen weeks for delivery and
then another sixteen weeks for installation.
Mr. Lewis recommended that the council proceed with the purchase and
installation of this equipment and wait until the grit chamber is designed and
approved by EPD before bids are secured.
Mr. Lewis advised that the quotes for the equipment and installation for
aerators and bar screens are as follows: Lanier
Contracting Company; $294,052.00 and Southern Champion Construction;
$339,376.00. Both prices include the
cost of the equipment, installation of the equipment, and removal of the
existing equipment. Both of these
contractors have done work on our plant in the past and have completed their
obligations satisfactory for the City.
Mr. Lewis recommended that the bid be awarded to the Lanier Contracting
Company for $294,052.00. A
motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve this recommendation.
The motion was seconded by Bill Northquest and approved by all members
present. Mr. Lewis also
advised that both projects should be within the budgeted amount of $800,000.
Mr. Lewis also advised that bids were opened for the extension of a
12-inch water line from Taco Bell Restaurant to the college campus.
Four bids were received: Pipe
Construction;$268,830, Po Boys Plumbing; $227,435, Townley Construction;
$186,410 and White County Water and Sewer Authority; $238,484.
The bids were evaluated and reviewed by staff and determined to be in
order and accurate. Mr. Lewis
recommended that the bid be approved for the low bidder, Townley Construction.
Mr. Townley has done work for the city in the past and his work has been
satisfactory. The staff estimated
this project to cost $196,000. The
city will pay $97,885 and NGCSU will pay $88,525.
The difference in the cost of the line from
Park Street
to Chestatee is the city’s responsibility.
Mr. Lewis explained that the difference in the cost is a 10 percent
contingency to allow for unknowns we might encounter during the project.
Funds are in the capital budget for this project.
A motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve this recommendation and
award the bid to Townley Construction.
The motion was seconded by Bill Northquest and approved by all members
present. NGCSU representative
Gerald Lord advised that this project will enable the college to make sprinkler
improvements in the gym and will also allow for the construction of a new
library twelve months from now. Mr.
Lewis also recommended that DOT Contracts be approved for the paving of sixteen
city streets. DOT performed a
study to determine which streets were most in need of repaving.
This contract will cost the state $100,000 and the city will be
responsible for the cost of preparing the streets for resurfacing.
A motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve the DOT Contract.
This motion was seconded by Guy LaBoa and approved by all members
present. Mr. Lewis advised that it
might be late summer before the paving is completed as the city will try to
“piggy back” on the LARP Program
and this is a state-wide contract and they normally pave streets in the metro
area first.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Gary McCullough
recommended that Jimmy Anderson be appointed to the Dahlonega Historic
Preservation Commission to replace Glenn Melvin who resigned.
A motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve this recommendation.
The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members
present. Mayor McCullough
recommended that J.L. Collins be appointed to the Dahlonega Planning and Zoning
Commission. A motion was made
by Dudley Owens to approve this recommendation.
The motion was seconded by Bill Northquest and approved by all members
present.
Mayor McCullough advised that a special election will be necessary to fill
the unexpired term of Larry Crowel who resigned March 23, 2005.
A motion was made by Bill Northquest to call for a special election on
June 21 to fill this unexpired term ending December 31, 2005.
The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members
present. City Clerk Janet
Jarrard recommended that the qualifying period for the election be May 4,5 and 6
with the qualifying ending on May 6 at 12:00 noon.
A motion was made by Terry Peters to approve this recommendation.
The motion was seconded by Dudley Owens and approved by all members
present.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Don Trice urged the council to
improve development standards before new development comes to Dahlonega.
He also recommended that ground monument signs be required for all new
businesses and that more green space be required for all developments.
Mayor McCullough advised that the City Manager and City Planning Director
have been instructed to ask for assistance from GMA and from architectural
engineers to assist in amending city ordinances.
Mayor McCullough also urged community involvement in this process.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
APPROVED BY ME THIS _____________DAY OF__________________,2005.
MAYOR
Attest: CITY CLERK
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