City Council

City of Bowdon Mayor and Council Meeting Monday, August 14, 2023 7:00PM Mayor and Council Chambers, 182 Grammar School Road I.- VI. Agenda Items: The Mayor and City Council met for a regular meeting on Monday, August 14th, 2023. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jim Chaffin at 7:00PM. Roll call was conducted by City Clerk Susan Pierce. Members present: Mayor Jim Chaffin Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson Councilmember Randy Saxon Councilmember Marty Johnson Councilmember Wes McEntyre Staff present: City Manager Gary Bullock City Attorney Kevin Drummond City Clerk Susan Pierce Police Chief Mark Brock Main Street Director Jan Gibbs The Invocation was led by Councilmember McEntyre and was followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda for this meeting and the minutes for the meeting on July 10, 2023 were approved with no objections. VII. Public Comments None. VIII. Business Session A. Parson Street parcel split approval – Zoning Appeals held a Public Hearing on July 13, 2023. They did not have a quorum but attending members did discuss and agreed that it should be recommended for Council approval, since splitting the parcel would do no damage to any parties. The houses pre-existed the zoning ordinance requirements as to lot size and road frontage. Kevin Drummond, City Attorney, did agree that the Zoning Appeals board should have rescheduled. Motion by Councilmember Marty Johnson to approve the parcel split; second by Councilmember Saxon; motion carried unanimously. B. Historic Preservation Grant approval – The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Historic Preservation Division has approved the award of a FFY 2023 Historic Preservation Fund grant in the amount of $10,620.00 to the City of Bowdon to complete a Historic Resource Survey. The HPC will be issuing an RFP (request for proposal) on the survey project. The city will make up the cost difference. The survey is required in order to maintain our status as a Certified Local Government.  City of Bowdon Mayor & Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson to approve the acceptance of the grant from the Georgia DCA for our Historic Resource Survey; second by Councilmember Saxon; motion carried unanimously. C. Recreation Department site improvements bid approval – After reviewing the bids, the engineering firm recommends going with the low bidder, Integrated Construction, out of Carrollton. The bid amount is $147,942.30. This is for the drainage ditch at the Gymnastics Center. This will be a concrete ditch, 390 feet long, going from the walkway at the Gymnastics Center to the inlet behind the concession stand right off Barr Industrial Avenue. They will also be changing the angle of the culvert and replacing it as well. Motion by Councilmember Saxon to approve the low bid from Integrated Construction in the amount of $147,942.30 for the work on the drainage ditch at the Recreation Department Gymnastics Center; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. D. Zoning Appeals Board appointment – Jay Grizzard – no discussion. Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson to approve the appointment of Jay Grizzard to the Zoning Appeals Board to replace Vicky Browning; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. E. Main Street Board appointment – Nick O’berry – no discussion. Motion by Councilmember Marty Johnson to approve the appointment of Nick O’berry to the Main Street Board; second by Councilmember McEntyre; motion carried unanimously. F. Municipal Court Technology fee – This ordinance was approved in November of 2018 but no amount was set. The judge has recommended a fee of $15.00 to be added to every ticket written, to cover Police Department technology costs. Motion by Councilmember McEntyre to approve setting a technology fee of $15.00 to be added to every ticket written to cover Police Department technology costs; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. G. Convenience Store ordinance terminology – for discussion – Amending the Zoning Ordinance under C-1 Local Commercial for the purpose of establishing the definitions of convenience stores and convenience goods, as well as the size of the building and the proximity to other convenience stores. Motion by Councilmember McEntyre to extend the existing moratorium on convenience stores for an additional 30 days past the original 180-day period to allow for further review of the proposed ordinance update; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. H. Police Department vehicle purchase – The dealership where the last 2 vehicles were purchased has contacted the Police Department with a few more vehicles in stock at $36,305.98, which is the same price as last year. Motion by Councilmember Marty Johnson to approve the purchase of a new police vehicle in the amount of $36,305.98; second by Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson; motion carried unanimously. I. Millage Rate discussion and schedule of Public Hearings – Mr. Bullock noted that the final Tax Digest will be delayed due to the number of appeals. If we go with the current rollback, and the appeals lower the digest, our revenue will be less than projected. Based on the current numbers  City of Bowdon Mayor & Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 (without appeals), the rollback rate is 6.418. We could go ahead and advertise a tax increase, keeping last year’s millage rate of 7.302, then we can still adopt a lower rate without additional advertising. Advertising the increase will cost at least $1800.00. Motion by Councilmember Saxon to leave the rate at the current 7.302, and advertise as an increase, leaving the option open to decrease during the Public Hearing discussions; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson. Further discussion – Councilmember McEntyre expressed his desire to accept the rollback rate of 6.418, as did Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson. Mr. Bullock reiterated that we could accept a partial rollback during the advertised public hearings. Prior motion made above opened to a vote, with Councilmember Saxon and Councilmember Marty Johnson voting in favor of advertising an increase at the current rate of 7.302, and Councilmember McEntyre and Mayor Pro -tem Jan Johnson voting against advertising the increase, resulting in a tie vote. Mayor Chaffin broke the tie, voting in favor of advertising the increase at the current rate of 7.302, resulting in the motion being approved by a 3-2 margin. J. City Manager Reports – We had a great Founders Day, with a record number participating in the race. Jan did a great job; everyone commented that it was much nicer without the 4-wheelers and motorcycles with no helmets. The fireworks were better, thank you to Jan for that as well. The speed camera at the high school is active. It will be sending warning tickets until September 12, then on September 13 will begin sending actual tickets. During the hours of 7:45AM-8:45AM and 3:00PM-4:00PM, 1 mph over gets a ticket. During other times 10 mph over gets ticket. This will make it safer and bring in additional public safety revenue DOT will be contacted to coordinate the speed limit signs. Randall and Jan will be notifying the public on social media. Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson asked about the development expansion plans for Weeping Willow Mobile Home Park. The new owner is planning to add 104 mobile homes. The parcel is zoned Mobile Home Park, and this was what the original owners had planned as well. The new owners delivered site plans. There are currently 38 mobile homes there. Bobby Elliott is doing the plan review. Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson has concerns and feels the zoning ordinance needs to be updated. This will affect the Police Department, schools, and traffic. Councilmember Marty Johnson has foot traffic behind his house, and wonders if it will get worse. Chief Brock said they have a lot of domestic calls at the park. City Attorney Kevin Drummond noted that it is already zoned properly. After looking at the map/site plans, there was more discussion. Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson asked about a moratorium on mobile home park expansions. Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Jan Johnson to impose a 6-month moratorium on mobile home park expansions; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. Mayor Chaffin asked if there was a motion to adjourn. IX. Financial Session No discussion. Motion by Councilmember McEntyre to adjourn the council meeting; second by Councilmember Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. X. Adjournment  City of Bowdon Mayor & Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 _________________________ ________________________ Mayor Jim Chaffin City Clerk Susan Pierce