City Council

CITY OF EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA MARCH 2, 2021 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES - City Council Meeting 02.02.21 City Council Work Session 02.16.21 Called City Council Meeting 02.23.21 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. 2nd Reading Sign Ordinance James Stephens 2. 17 Acre Land Improvement- Mulch & Burn James Stephens 3. Public Works Equipment Request Seth Gobbi 4. Osborne Park Equipment Request Don Varvel 5. Speed Cameras Chief Jody Matthews 6. Food Truck Friday Start Date James Stephens 7. Code Officer James Stephens  CITY OF EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 02, 2021 Mayor Steve Worthington called the meeting to order. A prayer was led by Council Member David Duncan followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. The following were present Mayor Steve Worthington, Council Members Tim Abbott, David Duncan, Greg Free, Joe Turner and City Manager James Stephens. Council Member David Duncan motioned to approve minutes for City Council Meeting 02.02.21, City Council Work Session 02.16.21, and Called City Council Meeting 02.23.21. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Chief Jody Matthews recognized Officer Reginald Heathington for his hard work in gathering supplies for his high school friend and other soldiers stationed in combat zone in Syria. Because he chose to help his friend it became a large event with thousands of people donating more than he ever expected. It started because of his heart and he has put in a lot time and effort to send packages addressed to each soldier. Chief Matthews said Officer Heathington was an asset to the police department for the city of Euharlee. Speed Cameras - Chief Jody Matthews Chief Jody Matthews stated he hoped all the questions from the council were answered in reference to school zone traffic cameras. He provided council with a 4-half day traffic study conducted from 7:00 am until 4:30 pm while school was in session. He astounded that over 15,000 vehicles went through the school zone during that period with 30% were speeding. He added there was no cost for the city except the power bill for the cameras. Also, the project had to be reviewed and approved by the Bartow County School Board. James Stephens, City Manager stated that he and Council Member Greg Free would be meeting with the school board and they can cross that line if desired. Blue Line Solutions has worked with the school board with jurisdictions in Bartow County and he did not anticipate any push back from the school but they can also put it on the agenda when they meet with the school board next week. Chief Matthews said it is a lengthy process and the contract had to be signed by the superintendent. Council Member David Duncan motioned to accept the contract with Blue Line Solutions for the school zone traffic cameras. Council Member Tim Abbott seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. Code Officer - James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager reminded council from the previous work session for input to continue a reactive process with the code ordinance enforcement or more proactive approach. The resume showed the gentleman he wanted to hire for code enforcement was extremely qualified for the position. He stated that most of them knew that he served as the City Manager in Cedartown, Georgia and the gentleman did not work for him, but he served as the Code Enforcement Officer at Cedartown. The contacts at that location indicated they were extremely pleased with his work. The reason it was on the agenda, personnel does not fall under the council, was because of the qualifications of the candidate and he is related to the city of Euharlee Police Chief. He is the paternal father of Chief Matthews. In the work session he stated he would like for the position to report to the city manager. He knew Mr. Reese was close to receiving an offer from another local government. Many of Code Officers report to the Police Chief and many to the Community Director which was Mr. Reese position. He wanted the position to report to him until he filled the position and will delegate back to that position. Mr. Stephens read the nepotism policy from the personnel handbook. He wanted to be totally transparent so that they would not be accused of violating the city's nepotism policy. If structured as he asked, it will not be violated. He said to council, if they feel like it is too grey of an area and with someone with the qualifications they walk away from, he would certainly respect them. He would like to hire him for three days a week at $15.00 per hour and provide him with a cell phone. Mr. Stephens stated he was also qualified in storm water management and it would be extremely helpful, but he had not discussed any other parts of the job with him. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned to accept the proposal from the City Manager to add the Code Officer for 3 days per week. Council member David Duncan seconded the motion. Council Member Tim Abbott seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. Public Works Equipment Request - Seth Gobbi Seth Gobbi, Public Works Supervisor stated after the previous work session he received 3 quotes for every piece of equipment except for the blower. He received a quote from Haney but it was a chicken house blower and not as efficient as the Harper blower that goes behind a tractor. He received quotes for the zero-turn mower. He recommended the less expensive and the best price for that particular mover which is much more fuel efficient than the one they currently have. Mr. Stephens said there was a balance of $62,000 remaining in the 2014 SPLOST fund after all the debt service was paid. If approved it will be funded out of the 2014 SPLOST fund and the items are compliant with what the referendum included. Council Member Joe Turner asked if the total cost were all the lowest bidders or did it go over the lowest bidders. Mr. Gobbi said he went over on the Franklin coyote tractor. It is $4,000 more expensive. The Mathis equipment for the tractor can trim trees well and they do not sell that piece of equipment. Council Member David Duncan stated if they went with his recommendation and the Ag Pro tractor it is roughly $6,000 more. Mr. Gobbi explained the equipment items in detail and showed a comparison in not just price, but as well as the performance. He explained economically his thinking was financially oriented. Mr. Stephens stated with the package he picked out, they will be able to spend more time on the trails and will improve the appearance of the city parks tremendously. Council Member Greg Free wanted to know the cost to rent when the mowers and tractors are down. Mr. Gobbi said it had been down twice and it cost $3,200 each time over the past two years. Council Member David Duncan motioned to purchase all the equipment requested and upgrade to the Ag Pro tractor out of the 2014 SPLOST. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. 17-Acre Land Improvement- mulch and Burn – James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager stated the items to be discussed were below the threshold that he is authorized to expend under the line item budgets. However, since he is asking for maintenance improvement to be conducted on the 17-acres he included it on the agenda to be totally transparent in public. He recommended the council approval of the mulching on the 17-acres and follow up with the fire burn. The mulching price was $2,000 and the fire burn $1,000. The gentleman that will perform the mulching was present at the meeting. Mr. Stephens wanted to be clear in front of the council and the media, it is no way the beginning of a campground construction but improvement to the 17-acre tract. Council Member Greg Free stated it was essential to clean and tidy up the property they own and to make it a little more presentable. Council Member Joe Turner wanted to know what all can be done with the mulcher and what the gentleman had been instructed to do. Mr. Stephens stated they were going to fall some trees. Steve Gray, P&Z Commission member which was present, had identified it would be good if that was done first. Mr. Stephens asked him and Mr. Womack to come forth and address Council Member Turner’s questions. Mr. Gray introduced Jacob Womack the gentleman that would be doing the work. He mentioned also meeting with Seth Gobbi. Mr. Womack said they can pretty much do anything with the mulcher. They can cut up to a 9-inch tree safely and mulch it completely up. They have done city work all over the state of Georgia and are well over insured. Anything that needs to be done on the 17-acre, he had walked the property, they can handle. Council Member Turner asked about the dead trees that are already down. Mr. Womack said they can mulch the tree up as long as the tree is completely dead even if it is a 42-inch tree. If there is still a solid center, they can mulch but will take a little longer. Council Member David Duncan said the trees that are going to fall, will take longer to do them. Mr. Womack said they would limb them up, mulch all around the trees, section them off, and stack them along the border of the property so there will be a barrier between the city property and private property. It will make the property ecstatically pleasing if they do the campground or not. Mr. Womack also made the recommendation for the burn; not only will it improve the habitat; it will look better once spring comes. Council Member Free said that was his thinking, if people are already exiting the river and coming up on that property now, burn all the under-brush, clean it up and it would be less of a fire hazard. Council Member Turner asked if he was doing the burn and Mr. Womack said he would assist with it if needed. Mr. Gray stated Georgia Forestry hopefully can assist. They are limited with personnel at this time. They wanted to get the local forestry and other fire resources to assist. Mayor Steve Worthington said they can vote or allow Mr. Stephens to move forward since he is authorized up to $2,000 and it is two different entities. Council Member Tim Abbott reiterated, Mr. Stephens included the item on the agenda for transparency to what is going on but does not need a motion, however, he wanted the council informed and if there were any objections. Mr. Stephens stated that was correct. He wanted the council to know he was not starting any unauthorized projects and he wanted the public to know as well. 2nd Reading Sign Ordinance – James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager stated it was the 2nd reading modifying the sign ordinance specifically section 11.4.5 Class 2 Temporary Signs. The amendment to the ordinance inserts in the definition of the election cycle period will be starting 60 days prior to any early voting for primary, special election, general election, or run-off in the precinct(s) containing the city of Euharlee. He recommended the adoption of that amendment. Council Member David Duncan motioned to accept the amendment. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. Food Truck Friday Start Date – James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager said the Food Truck Friday events are budgeted in the 2021 general fund budget. The staff is looking for guidance to start in the month of May or June and prepared to follow the directive of the council. Council Member David Duncan asked if Ms. Gobbi had anything lined up for May. Mr. Stephens bands and food trucks lined up if that is their guidance. Council Member Tim Abbott said he stated his preference last meeting for May. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned start in May. Council Member David Duncan and Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned to adjourn. Council Member David Duncan seconded the motion. The motion was carried with Mayor Worthington, Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, and Turner all voting in favor. With no further discussion the meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.