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REGULAR CITY OF DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 2, 2007
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City
Council met in regular session at City Hall on July 2, 2007.
Council members present were Gerald Lord, Sam Norton, Terry Peters
and Bill Scott. Mayor Gary McCullough called the meeting to order
at 6:10 p.m. Mayor McCullough opened the meeting with prayer and
asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the American
Flag.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A Public Hearing was
conducted by City Attorney Doug Parks concerning the Corridor
Overlay Ordinance. Mr. Parks asked for public comments. No
comments were made by citizens. Mr. Parks advised that the second
reading of the ordinance would not be held at tonight’s meeting and
the council would hold a special meeting during the month to approve
the second reading of the ordinance.
A public hearing
was conducted concerning a request by Francis Souris to rezone the
entire tract known as Jonquil City located at 34 Crown Mountain
Drive. Mr. Souris was represented by his legal counsel Claudine
Wilkins. Mr. Parks asked for comments either for or against the
rezoning. No comments were made by citizens present. Ms. Wilkins
advised that the Dahlonega Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended approval of the rezoning from OI Conditional to OI with
restrictions. Ms. Wilkins requested that the restrictions be lifted
and asked for clarification of the restrictions. Mr. Parks asked
for staff recommendations. Planning Director Chris Head advised
that staff’s recommendation is to approve the rezoning to O-I
–Institutional per the recommendations of the Dahlonega Planning and
Zoning Commission to rezone to O-I with amendments to Section 1802,
Permitted uses as follows: Keep Item 1 as is, Keep Item 2 as is,
Change Item 3 to read: Convalescent homes, nursing homes, group
homes and assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers that
are for physical rehabilitation only, involving professional care
and treatment, provided such use is located on property fronting an
arterial or collection street, that no such structure is located
closer than one hundred (100) feet to a R-2 District boundary, and
provided a copy of approved state license or permit is filed with
the Zoning Administrative Officer prior to the issuance of a
Certificate of Occupancy. Keep Item # 4 as is, Delete Item # 5 and
Delete Item # 6, Keep Item # 7 as is. A motion was made by Bill
Scott to approve the above recommendations of the Dahlonega Planning
and Zoning Commission. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and
approved by all members present.
A public hearing
was scheduled for final plat approval of Mountain Park Phase 1B. No
one was present to represent the developers. A motion was made by
Gerald Lord to table this request. The motion was seconded by Terry
Peters and approved by all members present.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by
Bill Scott to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting
held on June 12, 2007. This motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and
approved by all members present. A motion was made by Bill Scott to
approve the minutes of the special council meeting held on June 18,
2007. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all
members present.
CITIZENS:
JJ & G Engineer Ben
Williams presented a project update on the Yahoola Creek Reservoir
Water Treatment Plant Facility. Mr. Williams gave a presentation on
the work that has been completed since April, 2007 and gave an
overview of the planned improvements. A site plan and 3-D Model
Presentation was also presented. Project challenges and work
planned over the next sixty days was presented. Mr. Williams
advised that the city plans to purchase equipment for the lake
aeration system and distribution system mains. The city can
purchase the equipment for the lake aeration directly from the
contractor. Mayor McCullough thanked JJ & G Engineers for their
presentation and advised that a work session will be held within the
next sixty days for another presentation and a cost estimate will
also be presented.
Mayor McCullough
advised that a request has been made by John Stephen Pizzolato for a
wine tasting license for the basement level of the Golden Classic
Building. All paperwork has been completed. A motion was made by
Bill Scott to approve this license. The motion was seconded by Sam
Norton and approved by all members present.
Mayor McCullough
advised that all paperwork has been completed for the issuance of an
outdoor alcohol sales permit for the lower level deck of Back Porch
Oyster Bar. A motion was made by Sam Norton to approve this
request. The motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and approved by all
members present.
DEPARTMENT
REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough
advised that reports concerning activities of the Dahlonega Planning
and Code Enforcement Departments for the month of June, 2007 have
been submitted. Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission
Chairman Susan Newell advised that the commission met on June 20,
2007 and approved sign applications for El Maguey Restaurant, Oasis
of Life and Woodward Apartments. A remodeling and demolition
application was also approved for Ruby Gooch for the old Farmer’s
Coop property. Mrs. Gooch plans to come before the commission at a
later date to add a covered porch area and approval for signage.
Chamber of Commerce
Board Chairman Jennifer Herring presented the Chamber Report. Ms.
Herring reported that fifteen new chamber members were recruited
last month and currently the retention rate for chamber members is
eighty-five percent. Over 9,000 people visited the chamber’s web
site last month. Ms. Herring reported that she was in attendance at
the Georgia Economic Meeting in Atlanta last month and the Dahlonega
Lumpkin County Chamber was recognized by Senator Chip Pearson. Five
candidates for the Chamber Executive position have been selected and
interviews will begin on July 10. A July 4th celebration
is scheduled for Wednesday with fireworks to be held at the high
school and activities planned for downtown all day. A motion was
made by Bill Scott to amend tonight’s agenda to add action to begin
construction on the Hancock Park Pavilion and ice skating rink.
This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by the following
vote count: Voting for the motion were Scott, Norton and Peters.
Gerald Lord voted against the motion. A motion was made by Sam
Norton to approve the ice skating rink at a cost of approximately
$250,000. This motion was seconded by Bill Scott. Gerald Lord
stated that the city has a lot of debt and the council should
consider this item further before taking action to add additional
debt. Mayor McCullough stated that January and February are slow
months for downtown merchants and a ice skating rink will help their
businesses during this period of time. The motion was then approved
by the following vote count: Voting for the motion were Scott,
Norton and Peters. Gerald Lord voted against the motion. Mayor
McCullough advised that a special meeting will be held to take
action for construction of the pavilion at Hancock Park. City
Manager Bill Lewis advised that traffic will be redirected around
North Park Street during the construction of the ice skating rink.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor McCullough
advised that a compensation committee was formed concerning the
mayor and council’s pay. They recommended that the pay be adjusted
as follows: City council salary be increased from $300 monthly to
$400 monthly; Mayor’s salary be increased from $600 monthly to $750
monthly. They recommended that the retirement benefit be increased
from $20.00 per year of service to $25.00 per year of service.
Also, the committee recommended that subject to determination by the
City Attorney that it is legal for the mayor and council to be
compensated for each level of training achieved through the GMA
Municipal Training Program as follows: Completion of Level I-$25.00
a month; Completion of Level II-$50.00 a month; Completion of Level
III-$75.00 a month. Mayor McCullough thanked Jimmy Faulkner, Roger
Yonts and Freddy Welch for their service on this committee. City
Attorney Doug Parks advised that the ordinance would have to be
amended. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to continue this until
next month. The motion died for lack of a second. A motion was
made by Sam Norton to ask Mr. Parks to draft an ordinance concerning
the committee’s recommendations. This motion was seconded by Bill
Scott and approved by the following vote count: Voting for the
motion were Scott, Norton and Peters. Gerald Lord voted against the
motion.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was
adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
APPROVED BY ME THIS
____________ DAY OF__________________,2007.
MAYOR
Attest: CITY
CLERK |
