BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC –
January 29th 5:30 PM
Towns County Civic Center
67 Lakeview Circle
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
- Call to order
- Discussion and Approval of Billing Process for Paris Business Center
- Discussion and Approval of Alley work between Trailful and Paris Business Center
- Approve outstanding bill submitted by Storm 155,102.35
- Executive Session
- Adjournment
The Special Called meeting of the Hiawassee City Council was called to order on January 29, 2024 at 5:30pm in the Towns County Civic Center by Mayor Liz Ordiales. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast over FaceBook Live. Present were Council members Patsy Owens, Nancy Noblet, Amy Barrett, Jonathan Wilson, and Jay Chastain. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell was also present. Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.
Motion to approve the approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet will all in favor.
Council member Chastain presented the need to discuss and approve a billing process for the Paris Business Center. Specifically Council member Chastain stated that some things needed to be funded because not including them would make the building not comply with building codes. Mayor Liz stated that the grease trap should be added back in because the location of it will have concrete poured over it and would require removing that to install the trap. Also, low voltage wiring was removed – that is needed to have a phone line. Asked if we still had a tenant for the restaurant, Economic Development Director Denise McKay stated that the original tenant still intends to come and final touches are being put into the contract. Council member Nancy Noblet stated she would like the restaurant owners to come to a council meeting to discuss these details. Director McKay stated that the restaurant owners are not ready to make public their plans. They are looking for assurances that they will have a building they can outfit for the restaurant. Council member Noblet made a motion to approve up to $10,000.00 for the additional needs per voting cycle. Council member Jonathan Wilson seconded the motion, and all Council was in favor.
The Council discussed the approval process for invoices from Storm Construction for the Paris Building. The process decided on was John Sheahon from Strom Construction will submit the bills, they are approved by the architects (Source Urbanism), they are then submitted to the City for payment, Council will receive the approved bill via email, the City will process the payment and mail to Mr. Sheahon. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell stated that a Change Order that would cause an increase in the cost will need to be brought to the Council for approval.
Motion to approve the outstanding bill submitted by Storm construction for $155,102.36 was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain will all in favor.
The Council discussed the approval of the alley work between Trailful and the Paris Business Center. Mayor Liz stated that Building A includes 18” into the alley in the direction of Trailful and the remainder of the alley belongs to the Trailful building. The entrance into the Paris Business Center is through the alley. Originally there were to be steps down into the alley way, but it has been proposed to do grading and put in concrete posts and a slab which slopes to the middle and be connected to a storm drain at the back of the building. It will require Trailful to provide an easement to accomplish but will fix the drainage issue. In addition, the front patio has in the design to be removed and designed with a suitable storm drainage system. This will not incur any additional money as it is in the design. The work in the alley will cost $4,372.46. Motion to approve the alley work was made by Council member Chastain, seconded by Council member Noblet with all in favor.
There was no need for an executive session. Motion to adjourn the special-called meeting was made by Council member Patsy Owens, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet will all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 5:49pm.
The regular work session meeting of the Hiawassee City Council was called to order on January 29, 2024 at 6:00pm in the Towns County Civic Center by Mayor Liz Ordiales. The invocation was given by Council member Amy Barrett and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Ordiales announced that the City of Hiawassee had been named a 2023 Visionary City of the Year which was awarded by Georgia Trend magazine and the Georgia Municipal Association.
Motion to approve the approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens will all in favor.
Mayor Liz congratulated Towns County High School senior Laura Mauldin. Laura is featured on the cover of Georgia Magazine. She is a member of the United Community Bank Junior board, in the top 10% at Towns County High, Future Business Leaders of America, on the soccer, softball and basketball teams as well as the Robotics team.
Callie Moore of Mountain True spoke regarding the invasive species in the lake – Parrot Feather. She gave an update of the work that is ongoing to try to address the weed. She stated that the website SaveLakeChatuge.org has the very latest information on the weed and the fundraising to treat the lake to control and ultimately eradicate it. Mountain True will sign the contract for the company chosen to treat the lake (3 companies are currently being vetted). She shared information and answered questions from the Council and from the many concerned citizens in attendance. The treatment proposals range in cost from $235,000.00 to $400,000.00. Many companies in the area have already contributed to the fundraising efforts. Projections could be two days for each treatment, scheduled at 2-week intervals, from March to October. Boat washing stations are being suggested and maybe funded by grant money.
The consent agenda, which consists of minutes from January 9th City Council Meeting, the minutes from January 29th Work Session and the October and November Financials will be on the agenda for approval at the Council meeting next week. The transition to the new system will delay the December financial reports.
Approval of Allen Disposal for garbage pick-up will be on the agenda for next week’s Council meeting. Attorney Mitchell is researching if a contract is needed for the service.
Approval of Fire Extinguisher certification to Peach State Fire Inc will also be on the agenda next week. The prior company we worked with has been sold and moved out of the area toward Atlanta.
The discussion around the Boardwalk centered around the grant deadline. While the project may be granted a 6-month extension, it will not be possible to wait as the lake level will be too high for the work to be done. The options are to install 300’ of boardwalk terminating at a fishing pier as the original RFP or to do only the pilings (which are the most expensive part of the project) and only as much boardwalk as funds allow which would be approximately 84 feet, again terminating with a fishing pier, or to lose the grant entirely. The current grant for $690,000.00 requires an 80/20 match ($180,000.00 for the city), which was to come out of SPLOST funds. SPLOST funds today are $671,000.00. If the grant is refused, the next grant will be a 50/50 match. There was a great deal of discussion around the total cost of the Paris Business Center project vs. the current contract. The PBC project including the cost of the property, surveys, environmental studies, through the projected end would be $2.3 million. This will also be placed on the agenda at the February Council meeting for vote.
The appointments of DDA members to fill terms will be on the agenda next week. They include Sandy Bradshaw, Brad Baso, Tamela Cooper. There was discussion of others who have indicated a desire to serve. Denise asked that their names be sent to her so she can contact them and provide information to them.
Mayor Liz is asking the Council to approve the purchase of 2 Scada Valves to address the 40 – 45% water loss the City is experiencing. The values will provide a way to segment the City’s water system to help isolate the area(s) where the water loss is occurring. The estimated expense for 2 valves is $80,000.
The Home Rule Ordinance was vetoed by Mayor Liz. She still feels strongly that the Home Rule Ordinance is not the proper channel to use and feels that legislative action is the appropriate course. Mayor Ordiales feels that the process for removal of an officer should be in place but the proper procedures should be followed. As stated in our Charter, a vetoed ordinance will be presented to the Council again for vote at the next meeting.
There was no need for executive session.
Chief Jeremey Parker informed the Council that he had been approached by a motor carrier inspector about office space availability at City Hall. He has been asked to find office space for 2 -3 days/week. The inspector will provide all that he needs – computer, files, etc. Attorney Mitchell will contact the Attorney General’s office to see if there are any issues with the arrangement. Chief Parker also advised the Council that he is partnering with DNR to offer a hunter safety course at City Hall in March.
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:24pm.