City Council

City of Bowdon Mayor and Council Meeting Monday October 14, 2024 7:00PM Mayor and Council Chambers, 182 Grammar School Road I.- IV. Agenda Items: The Mayor and City Council met for a regular meeting on Monday, October 14th, 2024. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Randy Saxon at 7:00PM. The invocation was led by Pastor Keith Lewis from Flint Ridge Missionary Baptist Church and was followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present: Mayor Randy Saxon Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson Councilmember Jan Johnson Councilmember Bobby Elliott Absent: Councilmember Wes McEntyre Staff present: City Clerk Susan Pierce Police Chief Mark Brock Acting City Manager/Main Street Director Jan Gibbs City Attorney Kevin Drummond V. Approval of Meeting Agenda VI. Approval of Minutes The minutes from the September 9, 2024 meeting were approved with no objections. The agenda was approved with no objections. VII. Public Comments Mr. Dev Pandya, who is purchasing 340 E. College Street (formerly Styles Service Station) spoke, informing council that he would like to add a liquor store to his convenience store/gas station. Mayor Saxon informed him that we do not have an ordinance allowing packaged liquor sales in the city limits. City Attorney Kevin Drummond added that it was too early to consider, since there is no ordinance or license that currently allows for this. IX. Business Session A. Employee Health Insurance Renewal – Acting City Manager Jan Gibbs recommended giving employees the option to choose between a $3000 deductible or $5000 deductible as discussed in work session. Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson to approve the employee health insurance renewal with an employee option of a $3000 deductible or $5000 deductible as presented; second by Councilmember Jan Johnson; motion carried unanimously. Employee Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Renewal – Ms. Gibbs recommended going with the 10% increase for dental insurance to be locked in for 2 years; there is no change for vision and life insurance. Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson to approve the dental insurance renewal at a 10% increase locked in for 2 years as presented; second by Councilmember Elliott; motion carried unanimously.  City of Bowdon Mayor & Council Meeting Minutes October 14, 2024 B. Vote to Declare 127 N. Carroll Street as Surplus Property – The property has to be declared as surplus before it can be offered for sale; need to vote to declare as surplus property and to acquire a survey and an appraisal. Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson to declare 127 N. Carroll Street as surplus property and take steps to acquire an updated survey and appraisal of the property; second by Councilmember Jan Johnson; motion carried unanimously. C. Adoption of 2024 Update of the City of Bowdon Comprehensive Plan – The Plan has been approved by the Department of Community Affairs. Motion by Councilmember Jan Johnson to approve the City of Bowdon Comprehensive Plan subject to the addition of adding a new water tank and designating Bowdon as a Tree City USA; second by Councilmember Elliott; motion carried unanimously. D. Baseball Field Lights/Poles – The less expensive option (rather than replacing all of the lights and poles) is to have all of the 19 lights not working corrected at a lump sum price of $12,550 plus $3000 per pole needing replacement (currently one pole). Motion by Councilmember Elliott to table this decision until November when we have a better idea of how many poles need to be replaced; second by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. E. Gymnastics Equipment/Installation – Some things not included in original plan – Sign on building, with no lights - $1,614; glass front door (required) - $3,564; handrails for outside steps - $3,850; installation of gymnastics equipment by GMR Inc. - $8,250; total of $17,278. Motion by Councilmember Elliott to approve the additional cost of the gymnastics equipment and installation at a cost of $17,278 as presented; second by Councilmember Jan Johnson; motion carried unanimously. F. Final Plats – Jeff Camp – original lots on Eason Street Motion by Councilmember Elliott to approve the final plats for Eason Street as presented; second by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. G. Items Needed at Water Treatment Plant – Ms. Gibbs informed Council that we need improvements at the Water Treatment Plant in order to be in compliance, including the replacement of a streaming flow monitor, valves, and a flow monitor. The rough estimate for the flow monitor is $5000; valves $15,000; streaming flow monitor $14,520 for a total of $35,000 which would be funded from ARPA. Motion by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson to approve the purchase of the streaming flow monitor, valves and flow monitor for the Water Treatment Plant as presented; second by Councilmember Elliott; motion carried unanimously. H. Update on Water Line Project – The engineer is keeping notes on the progress of the water line project. There is concern about the time it is taking on this shortest area they are currently working on, and the problems they have had during the project. I. Mayor’s Reports – Mayor Saxon mentioned the updated plans for Watts Park and the new Police Department and hallway; Ms. Gibbs will be meeting with Zac Bell on Wednesday. J. City Manager Reports – Ms. Gibbs will be checking on getting bids for commercial sanitation, including from Bowdon Disposal. K. Department Reports – no questions. City Attorney Kevin Drummond stated that he had reviewed Carrollton’s Vape Ordinance along with other cities in order to come up with a possible Vaping ordinance for Bowdon.  City of Bowdon Mayor & Council Meeting Minutes October 14, 2024 X. Financial Session A. Property Tax Unpaid Balance Summary B. July/August/September Financial Reports – no report yet. C. Cash Balances as of 10/07/2024 Motion by Councilmember Jan Johnson to adjourn the meeting; second by Mayor Pro-tem Marty Johnson; motion carried unanimously. XII. Adjournment _________________________ ________________________ Mayor Randy Saxon City Clerk Susan Pierce