BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – March 25th, 2024 6 pm
Hiawassee City Hall
50 River Street Upstairs Training Room
HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION AGENDA
1. Call to order
1.1 Invocation – Amy Barrett
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
1.3 Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements
1.4 Approve the Agenda as distributed
2. Mayor’s Report
3. Approval of Consent Agenda:
3.1 Minutes from March 5th City Council Meeting
3.2 Minutes from March 25th Work Session
3.3 Financials for December 2023 and January 2024
4. Lift Station Study Proposal - $28,800-EMI
5. Resolution for PBC payment process
6. Budget Policy update
6.1 Resolution-Excess Funds for SPLOST
6.2 Resolution for payment process for PBC
7. Accessory Structure Ordinance
8. LRA (Local Road Assistance) Additional Revenue - $25,071
9. 457B Amendment to CARES act
10. Police Report
11. Economic Development Report
12. Executive Session
13. Adjournment
HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION MINUTES
The Hiawassee City Council met in the City Council Chambers on March 25th, 2024 at 6 PM. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Liz Ordiales. Present, in addition to the Mayor, were Council members Jay Chastain, Jonathan Wilson, Patsy Owens, Amy Barrett, and Nancy Noblet. Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Chief Jeremy Parker and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell was also in attendance.
The invocation was given by Council member Amy Barrett and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all in favor.
The Mayor’s report consisted of updates on the property tax collections ($4087.00 from 20 accounts are still outstanding), the Water Treatment Plant expansion project (3rd filter is in the building – thank you Matt Turpin, piping is complete, the filter has water in it and should be online and functional by mid-April with project completion expected mid-May), the annual Water Quality Report is complete and will be on the water bills next week (the report is clear with no violations), the hiker initiative update – 694 hikers have been transported so far this year and self-reported $41,445 spent in Hiawassee, from the UK, Australia, Copenhagen, British Columbia among other places, Mayor Mondays have fed 55 hikers to date. Bojangles is open, Music on the Square line up is set and we continue with the same sponsors again this year, the Daffodil tribute had to be postponed but the alternate date was lovely (500 more daffodils will be planted) and the hydrant flushing will begin in mid-April and end mid-May (the notice will be in the paper).
The Consent Agenda will consist of the minutes from March 5th City Council Meeting, the minutes from March 25thWork Session, and the December 2023 and January 2024 financials.
The Lift Station Study Proposal from Engineering Management will be on the agenda for approval at the April meeting next week. EMI’s proposal is for $28,800. The study is being proposed because the three companies that bid on the lift station construction all had different reasons for changes to the project.
The resolution for PBC payment process will be on the agenda for vote at the April meeting. The resolution details the process for determining exactly what funds will be used for what part of the invoices (public/private, SPLOST/DDA fundraising funds, ARC grant and the PBC loan.
The Budget Policy has been distributed and will be updated to include the resolution for the excess funds from SPLOST and the resolution for the payment process for PBC as well as any other changes the Council feels necessary. This will be on the agenda for approval next week. Former City Council member Anne Mitchell asked how much was spent on the investigation (City costs were approximately $44,500.00 and the Mayor paid an additional $5,500 for her representation). LaJean Turner asked if there were any additional findings in the investigations and no additional items were presented. The budget amendment to adjust the line item for increased spending due to the mediation and associated legal fees would happen when final adjustments are made to the budget. Mayor Liz said that the adjustments would take place closer to the end of the year so that any other adjustments that need to be made will all be made at the same time. The Mayor also stated that the first bid for the roof on City Hall was $93,000.00 and she had hopes that the other two bids would be less, but that maybe another line that would need to be adjusted.
Mayor Liz will apply for the Local Roads assistance grant ($25,071). Unlike the LMIG grant, which has a 30% match, the LRA has no match. The grant application window will open in May. She presented the list of roads and sidewalks to be fixed and said that she would suggest either the sidewalk from the Paris Business Center to the Square or the second half of Hiawassee Estates Drive depending on bids for both projects.
Attorney Thomas Mitchell addressed the Accessory Structure Ordinance. This ordinance will provide definitions and will state that accessory structures will be to the side or rear of the principle building on the site and that corner lots would assume front on both lots. When asked why this ordinance was being proposed, Attorney Mitchell stated it began with the dragon structure that was proposed last year.
City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick stated that the Amendment to the CARES ACT for the 457B program for employees is a standard amendment for all plans through OneAmerica. The object is to clarify how distributions from the plan are treated to comply with the act. It does not have any effect because no employee took a distribution or early withdrawal from the plan, but the plan is required to have this amendment. Council will be asked for approval next week so that Clerk Kendrick can sign the agreement to place the amendment into the 457B plan.
In the Police report, Chief Parker reported on the devastating accident which happened on March 10th, claimed the lives of two people, injured two others – one of which is a 6-year-old boy -and left 5 children without one parent. Chief Parker stated his opinion that the child’s life was spared because he was securely fastened into a car seat. Chief Parker visited the boy in the hospital on Monday. He was released from the hospital on March 13th.
In other news the Hiawassee Police Department hosted the March Governor’s Office of Highway Safety meeting, the tag readers logged 316,262 vehicles since January 1st, 2024, there was an Easter egg hunt at the Towns County Recreation Center, and one arrest for driving under the influence was made on St. Patrick’s Day. The 3rd Flock camera (tag reader) is under permitting status with the Georgia Department of Transportation and will be installed between Omega Way and the Animal Hospital due to best positioning for solar panel.
Chief Parker introduced one of the two new part-time officers, Officer Casey Farmer. Officer Tava Morales was not able to attend the meeting.
In the Economic Development Report, Director Denise McKay gave the Council the updated financial information for the DDA and the funds available for the Paris Business Center. She also informed the Council that the DDA had a special-called meeting to gather ideas on what to do with the Shook House now that the tenant has left. They are suggesting the space be offered to a PBC client, seek a new commercial client and if neither of these options work, that they will review other options in 3 months’ time.
Director McKay also asked the Council to approve moving the SPLOST funds that were used for the Boardwalk project assigned to the Economic Development portion of the SPLOST allocation be moved to the Parks and Recreation allocation. This would provide $45,959.72 to be available for the PBC project. Doing so will require restatement of SPLOST report for the prior two years, which will need to be published in the Towns County Herald.
At the last Council meeting, the $42,166.74 (which the city would receive from the ARC Grant draw and give to the DDA was inadvertently stated to be used for the PBC loan payments instead of to the project. This will be on the agenda for approval to restate the purpose of those funds usage.
Babbette Dunn of the DDA, presented the Council will the update on the project discussed at the Council/DDA retreat to develop a QR code and business map. The map will highlight for visitors businesses by color-coded category (food, lodging, shopping, healthcare, etc), for newcomers an index of all businesses in the city, and for everyone a calendar of events. The DDA will keep the business listings up to date with input from Sheryl Branson who handles business licenses. The proposal is to provide every business with the QR code (sticker, 5x7 framed or 11x17 map with the QR code) including vacation rentals. She is asking the Council to provide the funds to create this ($2,200.00). The suggestion was made to use Hotel/Motel funds or have the Chamber of Commerce provide the funds.
Chatuge Med Spa and Fitness is under new ownership, Kristi Bryant, and has had a ribbon cutting. Lloyd’s Furniture will also have a ribbon cutting once they are open and in May, Trailful will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate the renovations as well as their 5 years in business. The Fun-draiser “Back to the 80’s” with Electric Avenue a well-known 80’s cover band from Atlanta will be on July 20th at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Tickets should be on sale this week. Silent auction entries are coming in include an Argentinian Fly-Fishing Trip for 2 and an African Safari.
Caitlin Ayers has been taking care of all things Night Market – working with vendors and getting ready for the events.
Motion to enter executive session to discuss property acquisition was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson with all in favor.
Motion to exit executive session was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all in favor.
Motion to adjourn was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:03pm.