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REGULAR CITY
OF DAHLONEGA COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 6, 2006
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City Council met
in regular session at City Hall on July 6, 2006. Council members present were
Guy LaBoa, Gerald Lord, Sam Norton, Terry Peters, and Bill Scott. Mayor Gary
McCullough called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mayor McCullough opened the
meeting with prayer and requested everyone to stand for the Pledge to the
American Flag. Boy Scout Troop 36 was recognized. They were present at the
meeting to obtain a Communications Merit Badge.
PUBLIC HEARING-REZONING
PORTER VILLAGE:
A Public Hearing was conducted
by Doug Parks concerning a rezoning request submitted by the US Army for Porter
Village. Phil Cowley, Project Director for the Fort Benning Family Community,
advised that there are currently 40 homes at the Army housing facility and it is
being expanded to 77. The homes can be constructed under the current R2 zoning
but PUD zoning would allow flexibility in lot size, setbacks and site
configuration. The PUD zone would also allow for minimal site disturbance.
Fort Benning officials have modified their original plan to include a 100 ft.
buffer from Sky Country Subdivision. Officials also met with Sky Country
residents and all issues they expressed at the Planning and Zoning Commission
Meeting have been addressed. Mr. Parks asked for comments from the public in
favor of the rezoning. Kevin Isler spoke in favor of the request. He spoke of
the need for additional housing for Army families and advised that currently
only forty families can be housed at Porter Village. Other Army families are
forced to travel outside of Lumpkin County to find housing. Johnny Ariemma, a
resident of Sky Country Subdivision, spoke against the rezoning. He advised
that the development will be in his back yard and requested a 12 ft. fence be
constructed. He also advised that street lights will be a problem. Mr.
Ariemma asked what type of buffer would be used. Mr. Cowley advised that it
would be the existing wood line and grass buffer. He also advised that
down-light street lights would be used. Council member Terry Peters asked if
there would be any benefit in placing additional trees and shrubbery in the 100
ft. buffer. Staff was asked for a recommendation. Planning Director Chris
Head advised that staff recommends approval. Compliance by the U.S. Army is
voluntary and they have worked with adjoining property owners to address all
concerns. A motion was made by Bill Scott to approve the rezoning to PUD.
The motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and approved by all members present.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Gerald Lord
to approve the minutes of the regular Council Meeting held June 5, 2006. This
motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all members present. A
motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve the minutes of the Special Council
Meeting held June 8. This motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by
all members present. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve the minutes
of the Special Council Meeting held June 14, 2006. This motion was seconded by
Sam Norton and approved by all members present.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that
reports have been received from the Dahlonega Planning and Code Enforcement
Departments concerning activities during the month of June, 2006. A report has
also been received from the Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission.
Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Dale Steenbergan advised that the
Gold Museum had the largest number of visitors ever during the month of June.
He commended the personnel at the Gold Museum. He also advised that chamber
officials are working on the location of an ice skating rink at Hancock Park
during the Christmas Holidays through January 15. He announced that a
Business Expo will be held at the Park and Recreation Building August 1. Mr.
Steenbergan stated that he is very excited about the ever increasing tourism in
Dahlonega. He also asked the council to make a decision concerning efforts by
several entities to hire a lobbyist to obtain state and federal grants. The
cost of $8,000 per month would be shared by three entities and it would be a
trial period for six months. Council Member Gerald Lord recommended that a
priority list of projects be made before a lobbyist is hired. Mr. Steenbergan
advised that interviews are being conducted at this time and it was the
consensus of the council to be included in the project. Mayor McCullough stated
that action will be taken before someone is hired and a complete list of
projects will be compiled.
SECOND READING AMENDMENT
3-ORDINANCE 2005-2-ALCOHOL:
A motion was made by Bill Scott
to approve the second reading of Amendment 3 to Ordinance 2005-2-Alcohol
regulations. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all
members present.
CITY CLERK’S COMMENTS:
City Clerk Janet Jarrard
recommended that the city’s Indigent Defense Fund be closed and the funds
transferred into the General Fund. Several years ago the city was required to
set up this special fund for Indigent Defense in which all court bonds were
deposited and interest from that account was transferred to the Georgia Public
Defender Standards Council. This law has now changed and the city is now
required to pay for defense for indigent persons. A motion was made by Terry
Peters to approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Sam Norton
and approved by all members present.
CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis
recommended that the council ratify his action to approve bids for electrical
service at the water intake where membrane pilot testing is taking place. The
bids were as follows: Grizzle Wiring Company-$9,850; J White Electrical,
$10,246 and Electrical Connection & System, $7,147.92. A memo was sent to the
council in order for the work to be completed in time for the pilot testing to
begin. A motion was made by Terry Peters to approve this recommendation. The
motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and approved by all members present. A
Resolution was presented by the Georgia Eastern Cherokee Tribe concerning the
council’s support of a museum and cultural education center. City Attorney
Doug Parks recommended that this Resolution approval be delayed until he could
research whether the tribe is a recognized tribe. There was also reference in
the Resolution that indicated the city would assist with the project. Mr.
Lewis advised that a used mobile office unit can be purchased for $37,893. The
cost to lease the unit for five years will be $38,700. A motion was made by
Bill Scott to purchase the mobile unit. This motion was seconded by Sam
Norton. Council Member Gerald Lord stated that he was opposed to the mobile
unit. He also stated that the present City Hall Building could be remodeled for
approximately $100,000. Mr. Lewis advised that the estimate to remodel the
building was 1.2 million which would take one to two years to complete. The
city also has several financial obligations at this time and there is an issue
of whether the building needs to be at this location. The motion was approved
by the following vote count: Voting for the motion were Scott, Peters and
Norton. Gerald Lord voted against the motion.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Gary McCullough
recommended that Shelia Richardson and Glenn Conner be reappointed to the
Dahlonega Planning and Zoning Commission. A motion was made by Terry Peters to
approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and
approved by all members present.
Mayor McCullough advised that
he had appointed Sam Norton to the GMRDC Board of Directors for a one year
term. Michael Clemons has also been appointed as Mayor Pro Tem for the
remainder of the year to serve in Guy LaBoa’s absence. Council Member Guy LaBoa
was present at the meeting. Mayor McCullough recommended that his leave of
absence be suspended temporarily in order for Mr. LaBoa to take action at a
special council meeting to be held tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be to
review and possibly take action concerning the Intergovernmental Agreements for
the SPLOST Tax and the GEFA Reservoir Loan. A motion was made by Bill Scott to
approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved
by all members present.
Mayor McCullough advised that
he along with City Manager Bill Lewis, City Clerk Janet Jarrard and members of
the council attended the GMA Convention in Savannah. Mayor McCullough stated
that he felt this was one of the best conventions ever as there was a lot of
good information distributed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mayor McCullough called for an
Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of real estate and potential
litigation. A motion was made by Bill Scott to adjourn to Executive Session at
6:15 p.m. This motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and approved by all members
present. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to adjourn the Executive Session at
6:45 p.m. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members
present. The regular meeting was reconvened and Mayor McCullough announced
that no action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Gerald Lord
to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and
approved by all members present.
APPROVED BY ME
THIS_____________DAY OF________________,2006.
Mayor Gary McCullough
Attest: City Clerk Janet
Jarrard |
