HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION AGENDA
March 30^th, 2020

The March Work Session Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall 
BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE ONLY  SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC 

1. Call to order
   • Invocation – Amy Barrett
   • Pledge of Allegiance 
   • Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements 
   • Approve the Agenda as distributed 
2. Old Business
   • None 
3. New Business
   • Sewer Ordinance 
   • 2020-2021 Budget
   • Emergency Corona Virus Ordinance
   • Consent Agenda
     • Minutes from March 2^ndSpecial Called Meeting-Court Clerk 
     • Minutes from March 19^thSpecial Called Meeting-USDA-RD Grant Application
     • Minutes from the March 3^rdCity Council Meeting
     • Minutes from March 30^thWork Session
     • Minutes from March 30^thSpecial Called Meeting
     • December and January Financials 

4. Police Report
5. Executive Session
6. Adjournment

HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION MINUTES

The March Work Session Meeting was held on March 30^th, 2020 at City Halland BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE ONLY ON THE FACEBOOK SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE AND NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS.

Mayor Liz Ordiales called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

Present, in addition to the Mayor, were Council members Anne Michell, Nancy Noblet, Amy Barrett and Jay Chastain, Jr. Absent was Councilmember Patsy Owens.  Staff present were Police Chief Paul Smith and City Clerk, Bonnie Kendrick.  City Attorney Thomas Mitchell joined the meeting via teleconference.

Councilmember Amy Barrett gave the invocation which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Mayor welcomed the online community.  She reported she has received a report from Pat Malone on the Census.  Overall the US response rate is 33%, Hiawassee is 27.8%, Towns County is at 25.1% and Young Harris is 23.2%.  She is encouraging everyone to respond.  Councilmember Anne Mitchell asked about people who only have a post office box (no mail at home) as she has not received the Census information at her post office box.  Mayor Liz will follow up with Mr. Malone.

Motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Councilmember Jay Chastain, seconded by Councilmember Nancy Noblet with all council in favor.

There was no old business.

In new business, the Mayor presented the Sewer (Outside City Limits) Ordinance. She and Councilmember Jay Chastain have met with Towns County Water Authority regarding the City’s requests. Attorney Mitchell has drawn up the ordinance which details what the intent of the City is to keep the customers we provide with sewer service: there are 5 conditions; proximity to existing sewer lines (within 2500’), is a commercial business (not residential), a person requesting service has an ownership interest – either owns the property or is renting/leasing the property, the development will be a City water customer, and that the customer agrees to pay the tie-on fee and application fee for the service. Voting will be at a special called meeting tonight.

Mayor Ordiales wanted the public to know that the proposed budget for FY 2020-2021 will be available on the website.  How we will do the public hearing is undetermined at this point.  Attorney Mitchell is working on what method makes the most sense and fits the legal requirements of the public hearing.  The forum, unlike a Council meeting, must have the ability of the public to do real-time comments. Voting will be extended for another month to work out the details – we will not vote on this at the April Council meeting.  Mayor Ordiales will let everyone know when and how we will do those meetings as soon as possible.  

Mayor Ordiales reported that she has had many conversations with Commissioner Bradshaw and Mayor Gibby over this past weekend about how to do things in sync so that the County is all the same. Mayor Ordiales reviewed the highlights and they will be posted on the City’s FaceBook page as soon as approved by Council.  Last week the emergency ordinance closed down the restaurant dining rooms, beauty and nail salons, and no gathering more than 10 people.  The highlights of this declaration includes that there are currently no cases of the virus in Towns County (there was one confirmed case in Clay County, NC as of this afternoon), Public gatherings no more than 10 people on City property, no restaurant dining areas open (drive-thru, delivery, and take out are permitted), 6 feet separation between people.  Closure of the following business types: Theaters, massage parlors, nail salons, social grooming or general health and wellbeing business must be closed for the duration of the emergency ordinance – 30 days (end of April) effective tomorrow 3/31/2020. Closing to all tourist and leisure visitors, including hotels, motels, marinas, RV parks, campgrounds, vacation rentals, rental cabins, Airbnb, VRBO, rental homes.  No lodging establishments shall accept reservations until further notice, including extensions to current reservations,  This shall not apply to first responders, health care workers, military, construction workers currently working on projects in the County, City employees and contractors engage in the business of the City. No curfew in place at this time. Hamilton Gardens is not yet closed. Ingles has worked to keep people safe by cleaning (longer closed hours), cleaning carts as you take them or handing you a wipe to do it yourself.  People are keeping their distance.  We will continue to discourage visitors. Appalachian train is closed.  Denise is assisting small businesses in the City and County. City government is running as usual with City Hall is closed to the public, dropbox is checked several times a day – many options for paying water bills. Insurance businesses can do phone work or by appointment, keeping distance.  No issues noted with the sewer department at this time. 

The Consent Agenda for the April 7^th City Council meeting will consist of the minutes of the Special called meeting on March 2^nd, 19^th and 30^th, the March 3^rd City council meeting and the March 30^th Work session and the December and January financials.

In the Police Report, Chief Smith indicated one of the City Police officers is currently in self-quarantine awaiting a test in Gainesville on Wednesday.  ServPro has offered to clean all the police cars free of charge.

There was no executive session.

Please be patient with us as we work through this situation.  Mayor Ordiales will post updates daily on Facebook just to keep everyone informed.  North Carolina has the ability by statute to close areas, but Georgia does not have the same statute in place. Hayesville NC has a curfew in place, they would like everyone to be in their homes in the evenings.

  Motion to adjourn the Work Session was made by Councilmember Amy Barrett, seconded by Councilmember Jay Chastain with all in favor.  The Work Session was adjourned at 6:30 pm. 

HIAWASSEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AGENDA
March 30^th, 2020 --Immediately Following the Work Session Meeting

1. Call to Order
2. First Reading of the Sewer Ordinance 
3. Emergency Corona Virus Ordinance Approval 
4. Adjournment 

HIAWASSEE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES

Mayor Ordiales called to order the March 30^th Special Called Meeting at City Hall6:30pmand BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE ONLY ON THE FACEBOOK SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE AND NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS.

The motion to approve the First Reading of the Sewer (Outside City Limits) Ordinance was made by Councilmember Amy Barrett seconded by Councilmember Nancy Noblet with all in favor.

The motion to approve the Emergency Corona Virus Ordinance was made by Councilmember Amy Barrett, seconded by Councilmember Jay Chastain with all in favor.

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilmember Anne Mitchell seconded by Councilmember Nancy Noblet with all in favor.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 pm