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DAHLONEGA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 12, 2004
CALLED TO
ORDER:
The
Dahlonega City Council met in regular session on July 12, 2004 at City Hall.
Council members present were Larry Crowel, Michael Clemons. Guy LaBoa, Terry
Peters, Bill Northquest, and Dudley Owens. Mayor Gary McCullough called the
meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Rev.
Kees de Vente opened the meeting with prayer.
Mayor McCullough asked all present to stand and repeat the Pledge of
Allegiance to the American Flag.
MINUTE
APPROVAL:
A
motion was made by Terry Peters to approve the minutes of the council meeting
held June 7, 2004. This motion was seconded by Dudley Owens and approved by all
members present.
CITIZENS:
The
council was informed that Carolyn Walker has applied for transfer of the beer
and wine license for Eckerd Drug Store. All paperwork has been completed and the
GCIC report indicated no record. A
motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve the request. The motion was seconded
by Guy LaBoa and approved by all members present. The council was informed that
Charles Mikel has applied for a beer and wine license for Back Porch Oyster Bar.
All paperwork has been completed and the GCIC report indicated no record.
A motion was made by Bill Northquest to approve this request. The motion was
seconded by Dudley Owens and approved by all members present.
Mike
Cark requested an occupational license for outdoor sales in front of Horse Play
Cafe. Mr. Cark advised that he has had a license for gold panning at this
location for the past three to four years. Mr. Cark stated that he has been
selling jewelry and rocks at this location. Planning Director Chris Head advised
that a license had not been issued for these sales. The Historic Preservation
Commission has given approval to construct a wooden pergola and to repair and
replace the water wheel at this location. Mayor McCullough advised that outdoor
sales are prohibited by Zoning Ordinance 93-1-Article 4 and therefore this
request cannot be granted unless the ordinance is amended.
Better
Hometown Director Larry Sorohan advised that the Downtown Development Authority
is working with owners of the Price Building and Woodward Clinic property to
solicit a Predevelopment Grant through Georgia Heritage. Mr. Sorohan asked for
the council's support to renovate these buildings- Mr. Sorohan advised that if
the grants are approved more information will be submitted. The council asked
that City Attorney Doug Parks review the grant documents.
REPORTS:
The
council was informed that reports have been received from the Lumpkin County
Sheriffs Department, Dahlonega Planning Department and Code Enforcement
Department concerning activities of those departments for the month of June,
2004.
Dahlonega
Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Gerald Lewy advised that the
commission met on June 16 and approved a banner application for the R-Ranch
Rodeo. An application for construction for Park Place Panning was also approved.
A discussion was held about the various ideas for banners on the light poles
around the city. Jim Fambrough is to design the banner which will be submitted
to the commission at their next meeting.
RESOLUTION
2004-8:
A
motion was made by Larry Crowel to approve Resolution 2004-8 to repeal
Resolution 2004-5 concerning the special election on the question of liquor
sales by the drink. This resolution called for the special election to be held
September 21. This motion was
seconded by Dudley Owens and approved by all members present. Dudley Owens
recommended that the special election be held March, 2005. After discussion a
motion was made by Michael Clemons to hold the special election November 2,
2004. This motion was seconded by Larry Crowel and the following council members
voted for the motion: Crowel, LaBoa and Clemons. Dudley Owens, Bill Northquest
and Terry Peters voted against the motion. Mayor Gary McCullough voted for the
motion.
SECOND READING
ORDINANCE 04-03-ETHICS:
A
motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve the Second Reading of Ordinance 04-
03-Ethics. This motion was seconded by Larry Crowel. Guy LaBoa made a motion to
amend the motion to include the addition to Article 19 Section A-4 as follows:
Legal council will be made available to the Board of Ethics when necessary. This
motion was seconded by Larry Crowel and approved by all members present.
SECOND READING
AMENDMENT 23-ORDINANCE 82-1-BEER/WINE:
Dudley
Owens made a motion to approve the
second reading of Amendment 23 to
Ordinance 82-1-Beer and Wine Ordinance. This motion was seconded by Larry Crowel
and approved by all members present. Dudley
Owens also requested City Attorney Doug Park to look into the question of
restrictions on container size.
SECOND READING
AMENDMENT 3-ORDENANCE 95-6:
A
motion was made by Dudley Owens to approve the second reading of Amendment 3 to
Ordinance 95-6-Occupational Tax Ordinance.
This motion was seconded by Bill Northquest and approved by all members
present.
SECOND READING ORDINANCE 04-05:
A
motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve the second reading of Ordinance
04- 05-Curfews for Hancock and Anthony Parks. This motion was seconded by Terry
Peters and approved by all members present.
CITY MANAGER'S
COMMENTS:
City
Manager Bill Lewis reported that the council met with engineers from Jordan,
Jones and Goulding concerning options available to the city for removal of
phosphorus levels at the wastewater plant. Four options were presented to meet
the discharge requirement imposed by EPD. $770,000 will be required for capital
improvements regardless of the option choice. Option 1 will cost $3.6 million.
Option 2 will cost 2.9 million and Option 4 will cost 2.9 million. Option 3 will
not require any additional capital costs but annual operating costs will
increase by approximately $88,200. Additional
testing will be required at the plant which will cost $6,500.00. If Option 3
works it will be a short term solution as the wastewater plant nears capacity.
Mr. Lewis recommended the following:
That Option 3 be approved
and that JJ & G be authorized to do further testing at the plant for three
months; that the cost of $6,500 be taken from the budget approved for the DDR;
that a letter be written to EPD advising them of the city's actions. A motion
was made by Terry Peters to approve these recommendations. The motion was
seconded by Dudley Owens and approved by all members present. Mr. Lewis advised
that the test results will be reported to the council. Guy LaBoa asked if design
work can be done during the interim period and he also requested that the
manager explore the cheapest way to haul the additional waste products. Mr.
Lewis advised that the council can work to extend the life of the plant, Mr.
LaBoa asked that citizens be made aware of the state unfunded mandates. Mr.
Lewis advised that he is looking at a public relations proposal from
a private citizen who has offered the service to both the city and county.
The council was advised that there has
been a road slide at Sky County Road. This is not the first time that this has
occurred. Mr. Lewis assured the council that the street crew is working to
correct this problem and the costs will be approximately $4,000 which was unbudgeted.
The
council was also informed that the council's Mission and Vision Statement has
been framed and hung in the council chamber. Copies will also be displayed at
the water and waste water plants and at the city's business office.
Mr.
Lewis advised that he and City Attorney Doug Parks met with the Veterans' Group
concerning their request that the city set aside one to three acres at the
Dahlonega Memorial Cemetery for exclusive use by Lumpkin County Veterans and
their spouse. Mr. Parks advised that this request would be illegal under the
Georgia Constitution as the city cannot limit the use of public property to any
private groups. Council members suggested
that the group approach state legislators concerning this matter.
It
was announced that the GMRDC Board Meeting will be hosted by the City of
Dahlonega and Lumpkin County at Pine Valley on July 19. Council members and
their spouses were invited to attend. It was also announced that Development
Authority Classes will be held at the Park and Rec Building July 14 and July 15.
Congressman Isakson will be
speaking at the Rotary Club Meeting July 14.
COUNCIL'S
COMMENTS:
Dudley
Owens reminded council members that they need to consider whether to change the
method of electing the Governing Body by the "Post" method.
If this change is approved the City Attorney will need to complete all
paperwork to get this to the State Legislature early, Mayor McCullough advised
that a work session will be held before the next council meeting concerning this
matter.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION:
City
Attorney Doug Parks advised that an Executive Session is needed concerning a
personnel matter and property acquisition. A motion was made by Bill Northquest
to approve adjourning to Executive Session at 7:10 pm.
The motion was seconded by Larry Crowd and
approved by all members present.
The regular session was
reconvened at 8:05 p.m. A motion was made by Bill Northquest to approve the city
manager's recommendation that the position of Planning Clerk be elevated
from Pay Grade Step 17 to Step 19 and that the position be reclassified as
Department Head. This motion
was seconded by Guy LaBoa and approved by all members present.
The meeting was
adjourned at 8:10 pm.
APPROVED BY
ME THIS _____ DAY
of _____________________, 2004.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
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