HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION AGENDA
May 20th, 2019
The May Work Session Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall Upstairs Training Room
- Call to order
- Invocation – Amy Barrett
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements
- If I were Mayor Essay winner – Jaden Taylor
- Motion to Adopt Final Agenda as Distributed.
- Old Business
- Mayor’s Report
- New Business
- Broadband Ready Community
- Quarterly Comp Plan Corner
- March Financials
- Consent Agenda for June 4th
- March Financials
- May 7th City Council Meeting minutes
- May 20th Work Session Minutes
- Police Report
- UTV
- Lions Club Service Project
- Economic Development Report
- DDA Activation requirements
- Adjournment
HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION MINUTES
May 20th, 2019
Mayor Liz Ordiales called to order the May Work Session Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Upstairs Training Room.
Present in addition to the Mayor was Council members Anne Mitchell, Kris Berrong, Amy Barrett, Nancy Noblet and Patsy Owens. Staff present included Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Chief Paul Smith, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick. Also, in attendance was City Attorney Thomas Mitchell.
The Invocation was given by Councilmember Amy Barrett and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Ordiales introduced “If I were Mayor” Essay winner, Jaden Taylor. Her winning essay was read by Councilmember Anne Mitchell.
Motion to adopt final agenda as distributed was made by Councilmember Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.
In the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Ordiales unveiled the final design for the Hometown Heroes banners, presented the Council with the Resolution for PlanFirst from Senator Wilkerson, and presented the Flag Drop-off box she would like to put on the Square. She also informed the Council that the 4-way stop at Franks and Bell Streets are in (including rumble strips), Sally Varao’s family has planted a tree in her honor on the Square, Friday Flicks on the Square (Small Foot) and Saturday Music (Holman Autry Band) on the Square debut this weekend, and we are looking for children to ride on the Georgia Mountain Fair parade float on Saturday, July 20th. Also, in the Mayor’s report, the paperwork for the GEFA loan (WTP expansion) is ready and the Lion’s Club have found a truck for the Water Department – a certified 2014 Dodge Ram with approx. 51,000 miles for $16,000; Thank you, Ronnie Welchel. The Council had approved a tractor for the Water Department ($50,000), however, the tractor with the bush hog arm will be approx. $65,000. The tractor we currently have can put gravel into the dump truck, it just isn’t able to do the bush hogging anymore. Mayor Ordiales felt the cost of the new tractor is not justified because the only thing the tractor is used for is bush hogging (and moving gravel). She is getting quotes for a private company to do bush hogging on the City streets. She suggested to the Council that the money allocated for the tractor be better spent on the truck. She will ask for approval on that at the next Council meeting. She asked Attorney Michell if we could vote on that today, but he said it had to be voted on in a properly advertised meeting.
In new business, there is a new DCA in conjunction with the Governor of Georgia has come up with guidelines for “Broadband Ready” community. They are waiting for the final amount they will allocate for rural Georgia. The Mayor would like to put the ordinance in place to support this initiative so that when the funding is available, the City will be ready to apply for it. Attorney Michell is working on the ordinance and expects to have it ready for the first reading at the Council meeting on June 4th. Mayor Ordiales will update the Council quarterly on the progress of the Comprehensive Plan. Today she revealed that of the 42 identified areas of improvement on the plan, the City has completed 28 of them, 3 are discontinued (speed limit at 35mph through the City-DOT said no; increase Hotel/Motel tax to the state maximum of 8%, and Storm Water Utility Ordinance). 12 are in progress (Create a Downtown Development Authority, develop a master road improvement plan, sidewalk improvements, identify additional revenue streams, medical expansions, traffic management plan, develop bike lane – lanes aren’t wide enough - and pedestrian master plan for walkability, historic buildings, public restrooms on Square, expand WTP – in the funding stage, City façade program, upgrade sewer plant -in progress hopefully done by end of year). A citizen asked about potholes on Oakmont Street (the unpaved part), but that is privately owned and the City can’t use public funds to improve private property.
The March financials show a significant deficit which Mayor Ordiales explained – Last month the numbers were exceptionally positive, but it is because some of the income recorded in February should have been March which artificially inflated the income in February. That made March look particularly bad, but over the course of the year the numbers are correct, just the way February and March are stated are confusing.
The consent agenda for June 4th will consist of the March Financials and the minutes of the May 7th City Council meeting and the May 20th work session.
In the Police Report, Chief Smith showed a photograph of the new Chief’s car with the decals and although it was not able to be seen, has the Towns County Lions Club logo on it. Only need a push bummer on it. The Yellow Dot Program was difficult to get started, but the Peach State Credit Union has donated the required magnetic clips and the state will no ship the folders needed so that they can be distributed. The yellow dot alerts first responders that medical information is available (glovebox or refrigerator) so that they can access necessary information quickly. We have the new Vector brand UTV (soliciting fun names for the vehicle). It has lights and siren and Hiawassee Police decals and City Logo and travels up to 40mph so it can be driven on the street. First official appearance will be Movies on the Square.
In the Economic Development Report, Director Denise McKay spoke of the many good things going on in the City. The committee formed in March is making great progress with opportunities, strengths, and only 1 threat, but know there must be more and are still thinking on those lines. She is soliciting assistance from the community so if anyone has the desire to participate, they should contact Denise. Tata’s has been sold, great for the McPeak’s, but the City will miss them. Dominos is coming to the location where King Street Deli was located. Trailful outdoors is open. Marina Station is open now. The splash area is $10/hour, $25 for the day, $75 for 4 and is a lot of fun. The Downtown Development Authority is a quasi-government agency, that has less restrictions than the City does. If the City were to sell a property, it must be sold for the highest price. The DDA can sell at less than the highest price to someone who “fits” the city. Purpose is to redevelop and revitalize the downtown area. Denise suggests that the whole City Limits be part of the area under the control of the DDA. The DDA can be a financing entity to assist with job creation which can be started with a grant. The grant would not need to be paid back provided the DDA loans money for business startup. As the loans begin to be paid back, more loans can be provided. DDA can enter long term contracts that the City cannot. It can also issue bonds and notes. Anything the DDA does is not the responsibility of the City – they are separate entities. She states that the DDA is critical to the downtown revitalization efforts. Can be created by resolution and she would like to have the resolution ready for the June Council meeting. There is specific criteria on who can serve on the 7 member volunteer board; one must be outside the county but must have a business in the City limits, 4 can live in the county, but must have a financial interest in the City, 1 must be an elected official (Mayor) and 1 at large member must be a resident of the City who has an interest in the revitalizing of the downtown area. 4-year terms, but initially 4 would serve 3 years so that the whole board does not change at the same time. There is also required training for the board members. The DDA could oversee a full Main Street Program if the City chooses to enter that program. Without the DDA, we do not have a way to assist with low-cost loans.
Denise and Mayor Liz mentioned the City of Madison and the job that their DDA has done. They had many of the same issues we are dealing with, ie limited workforce housing, purchased property and built a building with two business on the ground floor and two apartments in the upper floor. The two apartments pay the loan and the business space is rented for $250/month. Monica Callahan of Madison is willing to assist us with setting up our DDA like theirs – she had been with Madison for 20 years.
The Mayor also said the sidewalks at City Hall have been pressure washed and the flowers are starting to come out on the Square.
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Kris Berrong, seconded by Council member Anne Mitchell with all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:44 pm