BROADCAST VIA FACEBOOK LIVE SITE: CITY OF HIAWASSEE
OPEN TO PUBLIC – December 3rd, 2024 6 pm
Hiawassee City Hall 50 River Street
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
- Call to Order
- Invocation – Amy Barrett
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Mayor’s Introductions of Guests and Announcements
- Approve the Agenda as distributed
- Consent Agenda:
- Minutes from the November 7th Special called meeting
- Minutes from November 12th City Council Meeting (rescheduled from Nov 5th)
- Minutes from November 25th Work Session
- 2024 June Financials
- Millage rate
- Towns County Board of Elections IGA
- Lawn care contract
- Ethics Board member Michelle Bowden -Mayor’s pick with Council approval
- Lease agreement for PBC
- Alcohol license – Hiawassee Package (new owner)
- Building and Planning fee increase
- FaceBook Live
- Grant request and letter of support for the project
- Executive Session
- Adjournment
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 3rd, 2024 6 pm
The City of Hiawassee December Council meeting was called to order at 6:00pm on December 3rd, 2024, in Council Chambers by Mayor Pro Tem Jay Chastain, Jr. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast over FaceBook Live.
Present in addition to the Mayor Pro Tem, were Council members Patsy Owens, Amy Barrett, Nancy Noblet and Jonathan Wilson. Staff present were Economic Development Director Denise McKay, Police Officer Jose Carvajal, and City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick.
The Invocation was given by Council member Amy Barrett and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor Pro Tem welcomed guests and announced that City Clerk Bonnie Kendrick has attained her Clerks’ Masters Education Management Development Certification.
Motion to approve the agenda as distributed was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which consists of the minutes from the November 7th Special called meeting, the November 12th City Council Meeting (rescheduled from Nov 5th), the November 25th Work Session and the 2024 June Financials was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all in favor.
Motion to accept the rollback for the Millage rate (1.557) was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor. There will be a Special Called meeting for public comments and vote to set the millage rate after the required documents are placed in the Towns County Herald as required by law.
Mayor Pro Tem Jay Chastain stated he had spoken to City Attorney Thomas Mitchell regarding the IGA with Towns County Board of Elections. Atty Mitchell has spoken to Board of Elections member Steve Harper. Mr. Harper is waiting for Towns County Attorney Robb Kiker to review the IGA but feels certain it will be approved. Motion to approve the Towns County Board of Elections IGA with no changes was made by Council member Patsy Owens seconded by Council member Amy Barrett, with all in favor. If Atty Kiker wishes to modify the IGA, it will come before the Council again for approval.
Mayor Pro Tem Chastain met with Hector Gonsales of HLG Services to see if he would be interested in doing the lawn care at the Water Treatment Plant. Mr. Gonsales stated he would not be able to do the amount of weed eating that is necessary at the WTP. MPT Chastain suggests leaving the two jobs separate as the City has had difficulty finding contractors to do the lawn mowing. Atty Mitchell has sent an 8-page sample contract to MPT Chastain, however MPT Chastain feels it needs to be modified to fit the needs of Hiawassee. Motion to approve rebidding the lawn care contract and separately bidding the WTP lawn care was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.
Motion to approve the appointment of Ethics Board member Michelle Bowden - Mayor’s pick with Council approval - was made by Council member Patsy Owens seconded by Council member Amy Barrett, with all in favor.
The motion to table the lease agreement with the DDA (PBC spaces) because Atty Mitchell feels the DDA should approve the agreement first, was made by Council member Amy Barrett, seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor.
Motion to approve the alcohol license for Hiawassee Package (new owner) was made by Council member Patsy Owens seconded by Council member Amy Barrett, with all in favor.
Motion to approve the Building and Planning fee increase was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson seconded by Council member Amy Barrett, with all in favor.
Motion to approve continued use of FaceBook Live for Council Meetings was made by Council member Jonathan Wilson seconded by Council member Nancy Noblet with all in favor. MPT Chastain will verify with Atty Mitchell that comments can be turned off and he will work on securing better camera and sound options.
Motion to approve the application of the preliminary grant request and letter of support for the Whiskey Mountain project was made by Council member Nancy Noblet seconded by Council member Patsy Owens with all in favor.
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 in favor.
The meeting adjourned at 6:21pm.