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OPEN TO PUBLIC –City Hall Training Room Upstairs

HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION AGENDA
February 27^th, 2023 6 PM

1. Call to order
   • Invocation – Ann Mitchell
   • Pledge of Allegiance 
   • Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements 
   • Approve the Agenda as distributed 
2. Old Business
   • Mayors Report
3. Rushton & Associates – Audit Presentation 
4. Tim Barrett – Health Insurance - CCMA
5. Third Party Inspection policy - CCMA
6. New Business
   • Consent Agenda – CCMA
     • February 7^thCity Council Meeting
     • February 27^thWork Session Minutes  

7. Police Report
8. Economic Development Report
9. Executive Session
10. Adjournment

HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION MINUTES February 27^th, 2023 6 PM

The February Work Session of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Liz Ordiales on February 27^th, 2023 at 6:00pm. Present in addition to the Mayor were Council members Amy Barrett, Jay Chastain, Anne Mitchell, Nancy Noblet, and Patsy Owens. Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Chief Jeremy Parker, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.  City Attorney Thomas Mitchell was also present.

The invocation was given by Council member Anne Mitchell and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Mayor Ordiales asked that the agenda be amended to allow Chris Hollifield of Rushton ad Associates, and Tim Barrett of Barrett Insurance to give their presentations first in order to allow travel. 

Chris Hollifield of Rushton and Associates gave the audit presentation to the council.  He commended the Council and City staff on the strides made over the last 5 years to significantly strengthen the City’s financial position.  There were no audit findings.

Tim Barrett of Barrett Insurance presented the Council with his recommendations for employee health insurance.  Because Anthem Blue Cross has presented the City with a nearly 90% increase in cost, Tim has quoted every other insurance company possible.  The company/plan that is the closest to what the employees currently have is a UnitedHealthCare plan  It is still a significant increase in cost, approximately $150.00 per employee per month, but it is a comparable plan. This will be on the agenda for approval next week.

Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett, with all in favor.

In her report, Mayor Liz update the Council on the debt-free status of the City – All debt has been paid off.  Sometime later this year the City will again come under debt for the Water Treatment Plant 3^rd Filter project.  She also reported on the issues from the freeze in December – almost as many claims already this year as we had all last year, property tax collections ($203,814 to date - $14,000 outstanding as of 3/1/23 penalties will be applied), the leak at McDonalds, house fire, Rick Andrews’ impact on housing report showing migration from states to Georgia, Texas, etc,  Iwo Jima memorial event, work on Lloyds Landing (corrected erosion issues and new access road), the memorial daffodil garden is beginning to bloom, work at Mayors Park (DNR has fixed the fence and provided 10 loads of gravel for the driveway and parking areas, the Liberty tree that will commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the Sons of the American Revolution, the hiker initiatives – maps, service listings, hamburgers and hot dogs on the Square starts next Monday, the hiker van is almost ready – it is getting a make-over at Mountain Graphics, the hiker stickers that will be sold in town and the real estates signs that are available at Mountain Graphics for businesses to advertise their “hiker friendliness”.

The Third-Party Inspection policy will be on the agenda for vote next week.  This would allow larger and/or commercial developments (such as Bojangles, Dunkin Donuts) to use a third-party inspector for their project.  The inspectors will need to be approved by the City in advance and they will still pay the fees to the City for the permits.

In New Business, the consent agenda will include the February 7^th City Council Meeting, the February 27^th Work Session Minutes, and at the consent of the Council, will also include the December 2022 Financials.

In the Police Report, Chief Parker reported on the car that was taken in a drug seizure will be going to auction on March 11th and reported on several crimes that have been solved and some resulting code enforcement plans to address some of those issues that have been discovered as a result of the investigations.

In the Economic Development Report, Director McKay spoke of the mass mailing that will be going out in the next two weeks to all of Towns County regarding the Paris Business Center.

Chatuge Recovery Divers made a presentation regarding the work that they do and how they can assist the City and County.

Motion to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation and potential property purchase was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all in favor.

Motion to exit executive session was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor.

Council had a brief discussion on relations with the Towns County Sheriff's Office and how to promote more cooperation between the agencies. 

Motion to adjourn was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.