HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION AGENDA
July 29^th, 2019

The July Work Session Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall Upstairs Training Room

1. Call to order
   • Invocation – Anne Mitchell
   • Pledge of Allegiance 
   • Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements 
     • Towns County Fishing Team
   • Motion to Adopt Final Agenda as Distributed.

2. Old Business
   • Mayor’s Report
3. New Business
   • Ethic Board New Assignment
   • Grease Trap Inspection & Training Agreement – EMI
   • Inter Fund Debt Forgiveness – Due to and due from
   • Ice Machine at Mayors’ Park
   • Towns County Water Service Agreement Area Extension
   • Consent Agenda for August 6^th
     • April Financials
     • May Financials
     • July 9^thCity Council Meeting minutes
     • July 29^thWork Session Minutes

4. Police Report
5. Economic Development Report
   • DDA Activation Resolution
6. Executive Session
7. Adjournment

HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION MINUTES
July 29^th, 2019

The July Work Session Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Upstairs Training Room by Mayor Liz Ordiales.  Present in addition to the Mayor were Council members Anne Mitchell, Kris Berrong, Amy Barrett, Nancy Noblet, and Patsy Owens.  Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Chief Paul Smith, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.  Also present was City Attorney Thomas Mitchell.

The Invocation was given by Councilmember Anne Mitchell and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

In the Mayor’s announcement, the Towns County Fishing Team have qualified for Nationals!  Mitchell Grimsley and Adrian Hooper will be traveling to Paris, TN August 8 – 10 to compete on Kentucky Lake.  Adrian’s father, Chad Hooper, thanked the community for the outpouring of support. United Community Bank is selling t-shirts and raffling a kid’s fishing basket and there will be a bake sale on Friday, August 2^ndwith proceeds to benefit the fishermen. Mountain Graphics has lawn signs and C&J Outfitters has blue bows for purchase to show support for the team. 

The motion to adopt final agenda as distributed was made by Councilmember Amy Barrett, seconded by Councilmember Kris Berrong, with all in favor.

In old business, the mayor presented her report which included another loan payoff (savings of $72,554.81 and pay off the amount of $285054.86), remaining debt is $3.5 million and total payoff to date is $1,132.323.00. The vice-president of the University of Georgia, Jennifer Frum and the president of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Laura Meadows, visited Hiawassee recently to congratulate the City for the work it has accomplished on the Strategic and Comprehensive plans. Mayor Liz showed a picture of the new 2019 Ford F250 the City purchased from Jacky Jones Ford and pictures of the divers repairing the hoses at the Water Treatment Plant.  She spoke to the Council about the Utility Billing software currently in use and its short-comings and the work done to review other software packages to find one that will work better for the City. Mayor Liz also shows a comparison of our water rates with the rate increases recently adopted at NOTLA water in Blairsville.  A recap of the Georgia Mountain Fair parade included the City Float, the Clogger’s float with our own Kris Berrong, and the first, second and third place winners of the float competition – TCHS Softball Boosters, REMAX Town and Country, and the Towns County Soccer Boosters respectively.  Mayor Liz thanked Marcy Landau for her work on the City Float. The final two movies for Flicks on the Square are this week (August 2^nd– The Incredibles) and in two weeks (August 16^th– The Incredibles 2). Music on the Square this Saturday (August 3^rd) will be the Woody Gap Band of Steel.

In new business, Mayor Ordiales announced the Ethics Board assignment to replace Leslie McPeak, who has moved to Panama, is Susan Phillips. Ms. McPeak was the mayor’s choice for the board.  Attorney Thomas Mitchell swore in Ms. Phillips.

Mayor Ordiales is requesting approval from the Council to have Engineering Management, Inc. assist with setting up the grease trap inspections and training for the Water Department to do the inspections.  The cost would be $5,500.00

On August 6^th, the Mayor will ask the Council to approve the inter-fund debt forgiveness.  At some point in the past (in excess of 20 years), the City “loaned” a substantial amount of money from one fund (WTP) to another (Water/Sewer) for some project/reason. We have asked the auditors and the CPA firm to find what the money was used for and when but are unable to find documentation.  At this point in time, all the funds are at healthy levels.  The Mayor will ask the Council to “forgive” the indebtedness from the funds.

Also, under consideration is an ice machine at Mayors’ Park.  There is water and power close to the restrooms and it would be easy to install a machine – used at around $25,000 (new would be approx. $60,000.).  This would be helpful for people using the boat ramp to fill coolers before they head out on the lake.  A few people suggested putting it in a shaded area or putting a roof over it as that will help in the hot summer months to keep the machine cool and able to freeze the water.  If it is too hot, it will not be able to produce the ice.

The Towns County Water Service Agreement Area Extension will be on the agenda for August 6^th.  This is an extension to the 10-year agreement between the City and the Water Authority. The extension will provide time for the City and Authority to work out details of the agreement regarding collections on accounts where the Authority provides the water, but the City provides the sewer.  The City is asking the Authority to assist with forcing delinquent sewer customers with payment.

On the consent agenda for August 6^thwill be the April and May Financials and the minutes of the July 9th Council meeting and the July 29^thWork Session.

Chief Paul Smith informed the Council that Detective Brandon Barrett made a major drug bust on Sunday, July 28^th.  The initial stop was made for a hands-free phone violation, but on the odor of marijuana, searched the car and found an ounce of marijuana, 3.5 ounces of methamphetamine with a street value of approx. $5000.00, and cash.  He also informed the Council that Officer John Carter has resigned from regular patrol, but that Officer Aaron Deyton has been hired and the City Police force is again fully staffed. Economic Development Director Denise McKay updated the Council on the progress of the DDA activation, as well as progress on the Rural Zone work and the Tourism Product Development Team.  The application for the Rural Zone designation is an intensive application process with designations to be announced in October. For the first time, there are incentives for service industry businesses and jobs which would be very beneficial for our tourism economy.  The Rural Zone would provide tax incentives for job creation and renovation for incoming businesses. The mapping of 209 properties in the proposed rural zone, would highlight the empty and dilapidated building and provide assistance to rehab and occupy those buildings. Ms. McKay acknowledges that there is a balance to maintain between housing and employment.  The need is for both jobs and for housing that is affordable. There was no need for an executive session. Motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Amy Barrett, seconded by Councilmember Nancy Noblet, with all in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 pm.