BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
OPEN TO PUBLIC – May 28th, 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 May 7th City Council Meeting
3.2 Minutes from May 16th Special Called Meeting
3.3 Minutes from the May 22nd, Special Called Meeting
3.4 Minutes from May 28th Budget Public Hearing
3.5 Minutes from May 28th Work Session
3.6 Financials for April 2024
4. Revision of Insurance Company License Fee
5. Budgets
5.1 Amendments to FY 24
5.2 Draft of FY 25
6. Paving work at the Water/Sewer Plant
7. Utility Adjustment policy review
8. Accessory Structure Ordinance Discussion-Tabled at May 7th Council Meeting
9. Sign Ordinance change – Banners -Public Use Restrictions-Tabled at April 29th Work Session
10. Building-Planning Ordinance Review-Tabled at the April 29th Work Session
11. Reclassification of DDA Program Manager to DDA Coordinator
12. Service Line Inventory Project
13. Black Bear Package Store license
14. Police Report
15. Economic Development Report
16. Video
17. Executive Session
18. Adjournment
FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING & HIAWASSEE WORK SESSION MINUTES May 28th, 2024
The Hiawassee Budget Public Hearing was held on May 28th, 2024, at 6:00pm for the purpose of hearing public comment regarding the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget. The meeting was held in the upstairs conference room at City Hall, was open to the public and broadcast via FaceBook Live. Mayor Liz Ordiales asked members of the public if they had any questions or comments regarding the budget. There being no questions or comments, the Hiawassee City Council moved directly into the May Work Session at 6:03pm. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Liz Ordiales. Present, in addition to the Mayor, were Council members Amy Barrett, Jay Chastain, Nancy Noblet, Patsy Owens and Jonathan Wilson. Staff present were Police Chief Jeremy Parker, Office Jose Carvajal 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.
Mayor Ordiales welcomed the Golden Girls, the Loaded cow owner and a special guest, a 12-year-old gentleman, Caleb, who is considering entering the law arena.
Council member Jonathan Wilson requested that the agenda be amended to table the Budget discussions as there are many questions he still feels are unanswered. Mayor Ordiales offered to speak with him to help. Council member Wilson requested a special-called meeting specifically to deal with the budgets. The meeting was set for 4pm on June 4th prior to the June Council meeting. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Jay Chastain with all in favor.
In her report, the Mayor gave updates on the wild weather over the Memorial Day weekend with trees down and poles broken, the VFW Memorial Day presentation, the Hiker initiative update (final totals 1778 hikers transported, $120,000 spent in Hiawassee between March and April. Monica McKenna is transferring responsibility for the initiative going forward to Mark Engelking, aka Richard Dreyfuss, the final celebration and the statewide recognition as a Visionary City), Music on the Square has begun and will continue every Saturday through Labor Day, Yoga at Mayor’s Park will begin this Saturday, June 1st and will continue through September from 10 – 11 with Mark Anderson facilitating. Tyler Osborn, President of the Towns County Historical Society gave the update on the Berrong House roof – it is finally complete! The hydrant flushing has been completed and has identified several hydrants that need replacing and repair and the City is actively working on those and the Parrot Feather treatment has begun and is showing success. Another treatment is planned for next week and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are considering adding boat washing stations to help control/eradicate the weed.
For approval at the June Council Meeting will be the Consent Agenda which includes the minutes from May 7th City Council Meeting, the May 16th Special Called Meeting, the May 22nd, Special Called Meeting, the May 28th Budget Public Hearing, the May 28th Work Session, and the April 2024 Financials.
Each year, the Georgia Municipal Association evaluates the cities for compliance with recommended insurance tax fees. Last year, they advised us that, due to an increase in population, we should be charging $25.00/ insurance company doing business in the City. This year, they advised us that due to a decrease in population we should be charging $15.00/ insurance company doing business in the City. Revision of Insurance Company License Fee ordinance will be on the agenda for next week.
Also, on the agenda for vote next week will be the Budgets: the amendments to the current (23-24) budget and the FY24-25 budget. Prior to the June Council meeting, the Council will meet in a Special-Called meeting solely to discuss the budgets. Due to the requirements of noticing the voting meeting for the budget and the requirement of the City to pass a balance budget prior to the start of the fiscal year, the discussion meeting will take place before the voting meeting on June 4th (4pm and 6pm respectively).
Motion to approve the paving work at the Water/Sewer Plant will also be on the agenda next week. Due to the heavy weights of the trucks that provide supplies to the plant, the minimum depth of asphalt needs to be 3.5”. The lowest bid did not meet the criteria, but the Mayor will ask for approval at the June Council meeting to approve Fortner Paving for $80,000 to pave the plant. Currently the plant has gravel roadways and are subject to erosion from the weight of the trucks and rain. She had allocated an additional $20,000 on the 23-24 budget amendment under consideration to accomplish this. $60,000 was set aside in the budget for potential large repairs, but we had had none this year.
The Utility Adjustment policy will be on the agenda at the June Council meeting. Mayor Ordiales has put together a few guidelines and Mr. Mitchell will provide the Council with a sample policy prior to the June Council meeting. Mr. Mitchell has suggested that there be an additional condition in the policy which states how much adjustment the Mayor can approve. Council stated they felt $3,000 was an appropriate limit. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell will draft the policy.
The Accessory Structure Ordinance was discussed, it had been tabled at the May 7th Council Meeting. Council member Amy Barrett stated that the ordinance she presented was not acceptable to the Council and that Council member Jonathan Wilson is working on the revisions. This will be tabled again until the June Work session.
The Sign Ordinance changes which were tabled at the April 29th Work Session was discussed at some length and Atty. Mitchell will have an ordinance drafted for the meeting next week.
The Building-Planning Ordinance review regarding mobile homes which was tabled at the April 29th Work Session was discussed. Discussion around minimum lot size was discussed. Atty. Mitchell determined that there is no minimum lot size defined in the ordinance. If the setbacks are maintained, the lot size does not matter. The discussion was again tabled until the June Work Session.
Mayor Ordiales also suggested that the Building and Planning committee prepare a list of what things need a permit and what does not require a permit (roofing, flooring, adding walls, water heaters, bathrooms, etc.).
The reclassification of DDA Program Manager to DDA Coordinator at the request of the Downtown Development Authority was discussed. Ultimately, the job description is more important than the title. Since the position is part-time, it does not lend itself to managing the Paris Business Center. The Mayor felt that the management of the Paris Business Center should be a person who is available to the clients of the PBC most of the time. Although the DDA clearly needs administrative support, DDA member Babette Dunn felt the questions to be answered are “What can be funded and what is the need?” The discussion was tabled pending further review.
Due to a federal unfunded mandate the Mayor gave an update on the Service Line Inventory Project. By October 16, 2024, all cities are required to have completed and uploaded a service line inventory of their water system. Mayor Ordiales has spoken to Michael Denton who has worked with Water Authorities to inventory their pipes and he is prepared to assist Hiawassee with our inventory. He is insured and approved to do the work and expects the City’s inventory will cost $70/meter for an estimated total of $55,000. He estimates it will take 2 -3 months to do the inventory which will then need to be uploaded to complete the requirements of the project. Mayor Ordiales is asking the Council to approve the hiring of the Mr. Denton for this work at the June Council meeting.
The Big Bear Package Store license will be on the agenda for approval at the June meeting. AJ has completed the necessary steps and documentation for the state and the next step is the approval from the City.
In the Police Report, Chief Parker described an arrest of a Hiawassee resident on burglary charges and the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, which took 22 stolen firearms out of the hands of potential criminals. He also thanked the Council for the 2024 Dodge Durango which is currently being outfitted. He is currently awaiting Mountain Graphics for lettering (they had an issue with their printer which has pushed back the delivery of the lettering) and the additions of lighting, sirens, etc.
Economic Development Director Denise McKay was not in attendance due to her required presence at a Special-Called Meeting of the Young Harris City Council. Mayor Ordiales reminded everyone of the FirstFriday on June 7th and the Fundraising event on July 20th - Back to the 80s.
The Mayor presented a video with her resignation detailing the work she facilitated during her years as Mayor, including financial updates (bank accounts consolidated, loans paid off, grant revenues), designations (PlanFirst, GICH, Main Street, Certified City of Ethics, Broadband Ready Community and RURAL Zone), Economic Development (Strategic plan 87% completed, DDA, JDA, new events, purchase of oldest city building- commercial and residential, new sidewalks, updates at City Hall and the Square) and Operations (fleet upgrades, employee evaluations, COLA raises, compensation plans, employee benefits remain free to employees, mapping of the water/sewer systems, processes in place for major function of the city - permitting, tax collection, utility billing). The Mayor indicates she will complete the tasks by the end of June, most notably the completion and certification of the fiscal year 24-25 budget.
There being no need for executive session, motion to adjourn was made by Council member Jay Chastain, seconded by Council member Amy Barrett with all present in favor. Meeting adjourned at 7:28pm
