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REGULAR
MEETING DAHLONEGA C1TY COUNCIL
OCTOBER
1, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
The Dahlonega City Council met in
regular session on October 1, 2007 at City Hall. Council members
present were Michael Clemons, Guy Laboa, Gerald Lord, Sam Norton,
Terry Peters and Bill Scoff. Mayor Gary McCullough called the
meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Michael Clemons opened the meeting
with prayer and Bill Scoff led all present in the Pledge tote
American Flag.
MINUTE
APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Bill Scoff to
approve the minutes of the regular council meeting held September 4,
2007. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all
members present. Gerald Lord recommended tat all convenience stores
be checked to be sure they are not selling drug paraphernalia. A
motion was made by Bill Scoff to approve the minutes of the special
council meeting held September 12, 2007. This motion was seconded by
Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
Mayor
Gary McCullough advised tat an
order has been received from the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources Environmental Protection Division concerning outdoor water
use. This order declared that a Level Four Drought Response has been
placed on all of North Georgia due to extreme drought conditions.
Level Four means that no outdoor water use is allowed other than for
activities exempted. City Manager Bill Lewis advised tat staff met
with newspaper representatives and they have agreed to advertise the
total outdoor watering ban in their next edition. Mr. Lewis also
advised that 35 real estate size signs are to be placed at entrances
to subdivisions and other high traffic sites advising of the Level
IV drought restrictions. These signs should be up within ten days. A
motion was made by Michael Clemons to approve the attached
Administrative Order. The motion was seconded by Terry Peters and
approved by all members present.
CITIZENS:
Donna Shearer and Forest Hilyer spoke
representing the Lumpkin Coalition. They are planning an event to
help save the Hemlock trees from destruction by the invasive Woolly
Adelgid. The festival takes place out of the city limits. Ms.
Shearer stated that 80 to 90 percent of hemlock trees are being
threatened. The festival is planned for the first weekend in
November and Ms. Shearer requested to be given approval to hang
banners to promote the Festival. She also advised that North Georgia College is trying to
implement a lab to develop an insect tat would destroy the Woolly
Adelgid. Mayor McCullough advised that the council talked about at
this request at their work session and they agreed that real estate
size directional signs could be displayed at major intersections but
that banners could not be displaced.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor McCullough advised that reports
have been received from the Dahlonega Planning and Code Enforcement
Departments and Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission
concerning activities for the month of September, 2007. Gary Powers
introduced himself as the new President and CEO of the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. He stated that he
started work today and is also relocating his residence to
Lumpkin County from California. He
announced tat 2200 cyclist participated in the Six Gap Cycling Event
held this past weekend in Lumpkin County. He also announced that a
Business Expo will be held at the Lumpkin County Park and Rec on
October 16. Mr. Powers stated that he is looking forward to working
with the city.
RESOLUTION-SECOND
READING FV 08 BUDGET:
A motion was made by Michael Clemons
to approve the attached Resolution for approval of the second
reading of the FY 08 Budget. This motion was seconded by Guy Laboa
and approved by all members present. City Manager Bill Lewis advised
that the budget would have to be amended if the council votes to
approve a contract with the Sheriff’s Department for additional
deputies.
SECOND READING AMENDMENT
29-ORDINANCE 75-I-WATER & SEWER FEES:
A motion was made by Sam Norton to
approve the second reading of Amendment 29 to Ordinance 75-1-Water
and Sewer Fees. This motion was seconded by Guy Laboa and approved
by all members present. This amendment would increase fees for water
and sewer including all taps fees.
SECOND
READING AMENDMENT 5-ORDINANCE 2005-2-ALCOHOL:
A
motion was made by Michael demons to
approve the second reading of Amendment 5 to Ordinance
2005-2-Alcohol Ordinance. This motion was seconded by Terry Peters
and approved by all members present. This amendment will increase
fees for alcohol license.
SECOND
READING AMENDMENT 26-ORDINANCE 82-1-BEER/WINE:
A motion was made by Terry Peters to
approve the second reading of Amendment 26 to Ordinance 82-I -Malt
Beverage and Wine Ordinance, This motion was seconded by Guy Laboa.
Gerald Lord advised that there are some conflicting terms in this
ordinance concerning alcohol sales on Sunday. City Attorney Doug
Parks advised that these conflicts between package and consumption
regulations are superseded by another ordinance. Terry Peters
amended his motion to approve the second reading contingent upon the
language in the ordinance being changed to clear up the conflicting
terms. This amended motion was seconded by Guy Laboa and approved by
all members present.
SECOND READING AMENDMENT 5-ORDINANCE 94-4-BUILDING PERMITS:
A motion was made by Sam Norton to
approve the second reading of Amendment 5 to Ordinance 94-4-Building
Permit Fees. This motion was seconded by Michael Clemons and
approved by all members present.
CITY
MANAGER’S COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis requested the
council ratify a contract with S and R Commercial Diving. This
contract is for gate valve installation for the reservoir at a total
price of $15,979.25. Mr. Lewis advised that Lumpkin County has paid
their portion of the costs which is 46 percent. A motion was made by
Gerald Lord to approve the
contract. The motion was seconded by Michael Clemons and approved by
all members present.
Mr. Lewis recommended that the
council approve a task order with JJ & G totaling $17,900 concerning
design work for the water system improvements. A motion was made by
Terry Peters to approve the attached JJ & G Task Order. This motion
was seconded by Bill Scott and approved by all members present.
MAYOR’S
COMMENTS:
Mayor McCullough announced tat the
GMRDC District Meeting will be held at the Smith House on January
31, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Lumpkin County and the City of
Dahlonega will be hosting the meeting.
COUNCIL’S
COMMENTS:
Sam Norton made a motion to remove
the requirement for alcohol serving permits from the alcohol
ordinance. This motion was seconded by Bill Scoff. Guy Laboa spoke
against removing this regulation. He advised that Mike Stapleton
recommended this procedure for both safety and enforcement as a way
to determine that servers are law abiding citizens. Mr. Laboa
advised that litigation might result from alcohol being served to an
intoxicated person and permits are a way to identify, the servers.
Mr. Laboa also spoke to the Sheriff in Helen who is considering
recommending serving permits for Helen. Other council members
recommended that the costs for serving permits be paid by business
owners. Michael Clemons advised that he has spoken with owners of
restaurants and they agree with the city’s present policy. Bill
Scott stated tat owners of business must be required to abide by the
city’s alcohol ordinance. Guy Laboa stated that owners have failed
to police themselves and we have a responsibility to citizens. City
Marshal Pam Teal advised tat two alcohol serving permits are subject
to revocation at this time. She also informed council members that
fingerprinting charges will increase. The motion was defeated by the
following vote count: Voting for the motion were Bill Scoff, Gerald
Lord and Sam Norton. Voting against the motion were Guy Laboa,
Michael Clemons and Terry Peters. Mayor Gary McCullough voted
against the motion to break the tie vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS-PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ricky Miller inquired about the
council’s decision at last month’s meeting concerning his request
that the city accept a portion of Old River Road as a city street.
City Attorney
Doug Parks advised that once the
street is brought up to city specifications, the council could make
a decision whether to accept it as a city street.
Mayor McCullough welcomed members of
an NGCSU Governmental Class.
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Bill Scoff to
adjourn the meeting at 6:25 p.m. This motion was seconded by Sam
Norton and approved by all members present.
APPROVED BY ME THIS __________ DAY
OF , 2007.
Mayor
Attest: City Clerk |
