BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC –City Hall Training Room Upstairs
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AGENDA/WORK SESSION
Monday April 24th, 2023
1. Call to order
1.1 Invocation – Nancy Noblet
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
1.3 Approve the Agenda as distributed.
2. Ratify the contract for the Berrong-Oakley House
3. Adjournment HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION AGENDA
1. Call to order
1.1 Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements
1.2 Approve the Agenda as distributed
2. Old Business
2.1 Mayors Report
3. New Business
3.1 Consent Agenda – CCMA 3.1.1 April 4th City Council Meeting
3.1.2 April 24th Work Session Minutes
3.1.3 January and February Financials
4. Property & Liability Insurance - CCMA
5. Recording Policy – CCMA
6. 2023-2024 Budget:
6.1 Discussion this evening
6.2 First Reading May 2, 2023 at Council Meeting
6.3 Public Haring May 22, 2023 prior to Work Session
6.4 Second Reading 6-6-2023
7. City Hall Cameras - CCMA
8. Sign Ordinance review-Feather Signs
9. Consideration of Amendments to Planning Ordinance-State Law changes
10. Police Report
11. Economic Development Report
11.1 Paris Building Funding
11.2 New Assignment to Replace Ashlyn Laporte
12. Executive Session
13. Adjournment
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING & WORK SESSION MINUTES
Monday April 24th, 2023
The City of Hiawassee Special-Called meeting of the City Council was called to order at 5:45 pm on April 24th, 2023, in the training room by Mayor Liz Ordiales. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast over FaceBook Live.
Present in addition to the Mayor were Council members Anne Mitchell, Patsy Owens, Nancy Noblet, Amy Barrett, and Jay Chastain. Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Downtown Development Manager Steve Harper, Police Chief Jeremy Parker, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick. Council member Jay Chastain left the meeting at 6:30 pm.
The Invocation was given by Council member Nancy Noblet and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Liz presented the reason for the Special Called Meeting (ratify the approval of the contract for the Berrong-Oakley house). Motion to approve the agenda as distributed for the special-called meeting was made by Council member Patsy Owens, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.
Motion to ratify the contract for the Berrong-Oakley House was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor.
Motion to adjourn the special-called meeting was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all in favor. The special-called meeting was adjourned at 5:48 pm.
Mayor Liz welcomed Joe Ruf and Shawn Jarrard (Towns County Herald), both of whom have been absent and missed for quite some time.
Motion to approve the agenda for the Work Session as distributed was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.
Mayor Liz allowed Chief Jeremy Parker to present the Police report at this point so that the Chief would be able to attend his child’s ball game in Hayesville, NC. In his report, Chief Parker talked about the article in the Towns County Herald about traffic laws (this one regarding center turning lane law), and that he will be doing articles to educate citizens regularly. A subset of those articles will be posted on social media. Chief Parker also showed the Council the laptops that have been purchased for the officers, explained some of the issues with the old laptops and challenges to installing the new laptops. He does expect all the laptops to be installed in the cruisers this week.
Mayor Liz began her Mayors report by reminding everyone present that the City is still debt-free. She reflected on the process of the Berrong-Oakley House purchase (5 years of attempts to negotiate the purchase), the updates that will be needed (electrical and plumbing), the brokers opinion of value ($327,000), cost negotiated ($300,000). When asked why the City decided to purchase the house, the Mayor stated that the purchase supports the strategic plan’s stated goal of keeping the history alive and that preservation of one of the oldest homes in Towns County (1905) serves that purpose perfectly. The Towns County Historical Society will repair and restore the property as they did the Old Rock Jail, and in doing so, preserve the history of the home. The Towns County Historical Society also tried to purchase the home some years ago but were unsuccessful.
The Mayor also reported on the ServLine claims that Marta Izquierdo, Billing Clerk, has processed from the December freeze. The City received over $12,000.00 for 33 water loss claims related to the “bomb cyclone”. Enotah CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) have placed spinners on the Square to bring attention to Child Abuse Awareness Month (April). The Hiker bus has transported 1,407 people (as of last Saturday), applying very conservative “spending per hiker” at $100, the economic impact during the slowest time of the year would be over $140,000. Monica McKenna of the DDA spearheaded the project, lining up drivers, sponsors, workers, etc and has done a phenomenal job. The Retreat on the Lake is progressing well. The tiny houses concrete slabs have been poured and the owners are hoping to open the motel part in approximately 2 weeks. Sheetrock is up in the rooms and painting is well underway both inside and out. Winds have been pretty crazy this spring and downed trees have been a real problem including the driveway to the Sewer Plant. The Water Treatment Plant Water Filter project hit a snag when the power line was cut, halting water production for several hours but all service was restored in under 3 hours. The expansion project is moving along nicely and the Mayor shared costs of some of the most critical equipment, valves, ductal iron pipes, etc. Music on the Square will begin on May 27th, and the first First Friday will be next week on May 5th. Manny Spear, of Veteran Contracting LLC, is our “Stage Sponsor”. Council member Amy Barrett was recognized for achieving her Leadership Training Institute Certificate of Achievement for completing the Robert E. Knox leadership course.
On the agenda for approval at the May Council meeting next week will the Consent Agenda, which consists of the April 4th City Council Meeting and the April 24th Work Session Minutes, and the January and February Financials
Tim Barrett of Barrett Insurance presented the Council with the Property and Liability Insurance proposal. GIRMA is again the least expensive option. There has been a substantial increase in the price, but it is primarily due to prices going up in general and an audit done to determine the actual value of the buildings and property. Valuation came in at over $13 million of coverage at a cost of $55,190.00, that being a 37% increase in rate. This will be on the agenda for approval at the May Council meeting next week.
The recording policy was discussed and applies to City Hall only. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell had stated at the March Work Session that Georgia is a one-party state – meaning that only one person needs to consent to a recording, and that person can be the one doing the recording. This policy applies only to City Hall in areas where there is an expectation of privacy and does not apply in the common areas such as the reception area.
The Mayor reviewed the budget - cost increases include 4% for cost of living raises, which also applies to FICA, Medicare, etc in addition to salary, 27% increase in the cost of employee insurance, 10% increase in both the costs of supplies and cost of electricity. The Police budget is showing a shortfall of $380k. The overflow from the General Fund helps to pay for the Police Budget, but this year there is a significant deficit. There was discussion around the SPLOST budget and assisting in providing funds to help repay the Paris Building loan (some of the Economic Development portion of the SPLOST allocation). Council member Amy Barrett expressed a desire to build into the budget funds that might be used to lease land near the Square for parking. Her concern was around the restaurant at the Paris Business Center parking needs when the Square is being utilized for events. (Council member Jay Chastain left the meeting at 6:30.) The restaurant is planning to offer valet parking, there is parking at the Square, at the hardware store (after hours) and perhaps Ingles. Mayor Liz has been trying to get a crosswalk at Ingles to facilitate the use of parking. She has been unsuccessful thus far.
On the agenda for approval at the May Council meeting will be the security cameras at City Hall.
There was a good deal of discussion around the sign ordinance regarding the feather and air dancer signs. The request presented to the Mayor was to separate the two as they are quite different. After some detailed discussion, the Council decided to review and discuss again at the next work session.
Attorney Thomas Mitchell advised the Council that there are changes needed in the planning ordinance because of state law changes in the last year. He has provided the Council with a red-lined document to highlight the changes needed. The changes are mostly about processes. Even though the City does not have zoning, the planning and expansion document needs to be updated to comply with the laws. The appeals process in the document references a zoning board, but Attorney Michell will update it to reflect the planning board.
Economic Development Director Denise McKay and Mayor Liz presented the Council with information about the costs of the Paris Business Center and are suggesting taking some SPLOST funds for 5 years, earmarked for Economic Development to close the gap on the cost of the Paris Business Center loan to complete the project. When first conceived, the cost of the project was $1.2 million and the DDA has achieved that goal, however the cost has escalated to necessitate a loan being taken out for $872k. This supports the strategic plan and shows we are investing in ourselves. Council member Amy Barrett said she supports this and feels it will pay back dividends to the City very quickly. The DDA is not at liberty to divulge the owners of the restaurant but is able to say it will be a seafood restaurant with a full bar. Asked if it would be affordable to the “locals”, Director McKay said she had discussions with the owners about that very thing and they have adjusted the menu to make it affordable to even the local folks. This will be on the agenda for approval at the Council meeting next week.
Ashlyn LaPorte has stepped down from the DDA for health reasons and Director McKay is presenting Babette Dunn to serve the remainder of Ashlyn’s term and appointed to the next term. Babette has been volunteering for the DDA and is responsible for much of the mass mailing that is taking place. This fundraising mailing has already netted $3,700 after expenses. The DDA has done ribbon cuttings for iPatriot (a gun shop), Secret Attic (consignment furniture store) and Slip Stitch (yarn store).
Director McKay asked everyone to watch the mail for the post card coming that will provide information regarding a fundraiser at the Ridges. The cost will be $60.00/couple and will feature a Jimmy Buffet tribute band and a silent auction. Retreat on the Lake has already donated a weekend at the Retreat for the auction.
There was no need for an executive session.
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Anne Mitchell with all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:13 pm.