BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC –
May 7th, 2024 6 PM
City of Hiawassee Council Chambers
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
1. Call to order
1.1 Invocation – Nancy Noblet
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
1.3 Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements
1.4 Approve the Agenda as distributed
2. Approval of Consent Agenda:
2.1 Minutes from April 2nd City Council Meeting
2.2 Minutes from April 29th Work Session
2.3 Financials for February and March 2024
3. Acceptance of Resignation from Jay Chastain from Building and Planning Committee
4. Appointing of Jonathan Wilson to the Building and Planning Committee
5. Approval of Berrong-Oakley house Roofing change ($3314 additional charge)
6. Approval of City Hall Roofing project to 5 Star Roofing - $48,075
7. Acceptance of GDOT - LRA Supplemental grant ($25,071)
8. Approval of sidewalk repairs to Frisk Concrete for $25,125 (use LRA grant to pay)
9. First Reading of FY 2025 Budget
10. First Reading of Budget Amendment for FY 2024
11. Approval to use ACH transactions for vendor payments
12. Approval of GIRMA Property Insurance renewal at $60,285
13. Approval of Shook House lease contract
14. Discussion and possible approval of police vehicle(s)
15. Executive Session
16. Adjournment
HIAWASSEE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 7th, 2024
The City of Hiawassee May City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00pm on May7th, 2024, in Council Chambers 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 Jonathan Wilson, Patsy Owens, Nancy Noblet, and Jay Chastain. Council member Amy Barrett was absent due to illness. Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Chief Jeremy Parker, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.
Mayor Ordiales welcomed Tyler Osborn – President of the Towns County Historical Society, Chris Hawkins – owner of the Loaded Cow, Jim Olson and Brittany Holbrooks reporter for the Towns County Herald.
In her announcements, Mayor Ordiales took a moment to mention Municipal Clerks Week and thanked City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick for her work, stating she was Georgia’s finest! The Appalachian Trail project fed 191 hikers this year from 30 states and 7 foreign countries, the furthest being Japan. The Trail bus transported 1778 hikers who spend more than $120,000 In Hiawassee during the typically slowest season of the year.
The mayor also reported on the Parrot feather effort that is in progress stating that treatment would not affect in any way the potable water. The treatment that is currently underway is ½ upstream of the Water Treatment Plant and the deepest parrot feather and treatment is a maximum of 12 feet below the surface. The Water intake is 18 feet below the surface. There was also mention on social media about dead carp in the lake after the treatment, prior to starting the treatment, there were 2 dead carp found at the boat launch. There is no effect to wildlife or potable water with this herbicide.
The Invocation was given by Council member Nancy Noblet and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the consent agenda, which consisted of the minutes from the April 2nd City Council Meeting, the minutes from April 29th Work Session and the February and March 2024 Financials was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all present in favor.
Moton to accept the resignation of Council member Jay Chastain from Building and Planning Committee was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the appointment of Council member Jonathan Wilson to the Building and Planning Committee was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the Berrong-Oakley house roofing change ($3314 additional charge) was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the City Hall Roofing project to 5 Star Roofing - $48,075 was made tabled pending an amended quote from Kellogg.
Motion to accept the GDOT - LRA Supplemental grant ($25,071) was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the sidewalk repairs to Frisk Concrete for $25,125 (use LRA grant to pay) was made by Council member Patsy Owens, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the First Reading of FY 2025 Budget was made by Council member Patsy Owens, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the First Reading of Budget Amendment for FY 2024 was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the First Reading of the Amendment to the Manufactured Home Ordinance was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain. Council member Nancy Noblet recused herself due to her son having a pending permit with a manufactured home. Council member Patsy Owens was also in favor.
Motion to approve the use ACH transactions for vendor payments was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the GIRMA Property Insurance renewal at $60,285 was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all present in favor.
Motion to approve the Shook House lease contract was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all in favor.
Motion to approve the /Discussion and possible approval of police vehicle(s)was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson. There was a great deal of discussion around the pros and cons of leasing vs. buying and what money was available now and after the beginning of the next fiscal year (July 1st). Council member Patsy Owens reminded the council that they had decided not to enter any additional debt until the Paris Building was paid off. Chief Parker stated that he has two patrol cars that need repair now, one for a catalytic converter (approx. $3,000.00 to repair) and the 2018 gray car has 50k miles and needs rings but did not have an estimate of cost. The 2018 gray car has no cage installed. One other patrol car has two x fours between the rear seat and the truck which could be a liability in an accident. The lease quote he obtained from Franklin Ford includes 3 fully equipped vehicles for 3, 4 or 5 years at a cost per year of $64,280.81, $50,247.57, and $41,799.55 respectively on an annual basis. Chief Parker stated the first year could be paid with the money available now plus some of the Drug Seizure money that is available and if he sold the three worst cars, he could pay for year two. Mayor Ordiales reminded the Council that next year’s budget already has a shortfall of $158,000. Council member Patsy Owens asked if Chief Parker had spoken to Jacky Jones Ford. Chief Parker stated that Jack Jones would order the car, but Franklin Ford has the cars in stock as they purchase the fully equipped cars to be able to replace vehicles as needed. Chris Hawkins of the Loaded Cow suggested perhaps purchasing one vehicle and leasing a second one, then buying a third vehicle at the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1). The Council asked Chief Parker to get additional information from the dealer, specifically, if they would hold one of the vehicles until July. The motion was tabled. There may need to be a special called meeting when the information is available to the Council.
There being no need for executive session, motion to adjourn was made by Council member Nancy Noblet, seconded by Council member Jonathan Wilson with all present in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:30pm.
