City Council

CITY OF EUHARLEE PUBLIC HEARING REVISED CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA AUGUST 17, 2021 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL PUBLIC HEARING – MILLAGE RATE NEW BUSINESS 1. Soccer Agreement James Stephens 2. Budget Amendment FY 20 James Stephens 3. Millage Rate James Stephens 4. Police Department Personnel Chief Jody Matthews PUBLIC COMMENTS  CITY OF EUHARLEE PUBLIC HEARING CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 17, 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. PUBLIC HEARING - MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSION Mayor Steve Worthington stated the city would be able to roll the millage rate back to zero. They agreed to do so, even though it took a couple of years. He said some citizens during the meeting when they adopted the millage rate, stated the city would never roll back to zero. He was thankful they were able to do so. He thanked the staff, and the council. City Manager, James Stephens explained the millage document which showed what the roll back would be not to be required to advertise a tax increase. The tax digest for Euharlee had 4.10% growth the past year. A mill of tax on the tax digest would generate $105,000. Per the discussion through email, they advertised the 5-year history at a zero-millage rate. It will allow them to keep the 4-month fund balance financial policy the council adopted about two years ago. He commended the council for keeping the budget lean and, looking at revenue streams to relieve the property tax. He was comfortable they could comply the with 4-month fund balance, and roll back to zero this year and be okay for the next three years with no extreme unforeseen circumstances. Council Member Tim Abbott asked what would cause them to reinstate a millage rate. Mr. Stephens said the biggest factor that helped the revenue, was the new state code that online sales tax is collected by the State of Georgia and remitted to local governments. The LOST is about 18% higher this year than originally budgeted. The second factor revenue stream would be from the RV sites. As long as the city continues to watch the expenditures, and the economy continues to have a healthy growth; in the absence of some global event or military undertaken that is unforeseen. He was comfortable for the recommendation for this year, and the next three years in the absence of some unforeseen global event. Council Member Greg Free said it was a good idea, and he supported it but to be prepared, and have a good plan so they do not come back to the table, and have to increase it twice as higher. They need to be, and plan strategically. Council Member Turner said, if you spend money to make revenue, it will take several years to break even. They need to be careful with what they borrow and spend. Council Member Free asked if funds were available for the things they had discussed. Mr. Stephens stated, funds were available through SPLOST and the items discussed were included on the referendum for the next 5-years. The sewer debt will come from the SPLOST funds, every year in the amount of $100,000. Council Member David Duncan asked about the number of years to pay for the sewer debt. Mr. Stephens said 20 years but, it was set up where the city could pay it off in 6-years. With no further discussion Mayor Worthington closed the public hearing. NEW BUSINESS Soccer Agreement - James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager provided council with a contract agreement between the city of Euharlee and the Covered Bridge Soccer Club, consistent with the contract from 2-years ago. It will generate $2,000 to the city per season, and $10 per registered player. They have made a great improvement to the soccer fields for the upcoming season. He recommended council to adopt the agreement. Council Member Greg Free motioned to adopt the soccer contract agreement. Council Member David Duncan seconded the motion. The motion carried with Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, Turner and Mayor Worthington all voting in favor. Budget Amendment - James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager stated Williamson and Company, CPAs would present the FY20 audit during one of the September meetings. To comply with the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Title 36- 81-3, he presented a second budget amendment for the FY20 that totaled $3,961. It does not decrease the budgeted fund balance or the actual fund balance. It relocated monies from public works into administrative and parks and recreation. If they recall, back in 2020, Leeroy Shepherd worked with parks and recreation due to the uncertainty of Covid-19 and how it would affect sales tax. The budget amendment reflects him working in parks and recreation and administration. It is a technicality to clean-up the budget. He recommended the adoption of the amendment. Council Member Joe Turner motioned to accept the budget amendment. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion carried with Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, Turner, and Mayor Worthington all voting in favor. Millage Rate - James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager said as they discussed earlier, he recommended council to approve the millage rate of zero for 2021. The council had before them, the 5- year history. They hoped when they implemented the millage rate, they would be able to roll back after 2-years; and with the uncertainty of Covid-19 it took an extra year. Council Member Joe Turner motioned to roll the millage rate for 2021 back to zero. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion carried with Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, Turner, and Mayor Worthington all voting in favor. Police Department Personnel - James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager in the absence of Chief Jody Matthews, stated that council received a thorough email from Chief Matthews. He has a candidate currently working in law enforcement, but not a post certified officer, with a lot of knowledge. Per Chief Matthews recommendation, he requested to approve mandate school with a signed 2-year agreement to stay with the department. As the council recalls, they put one of their own explorers through the academy and he has worked out very well. Council Member David Duncan motioned to approve the candidate for mandate school. Council Member Tim Abbott seconded the motion. The motion carried with Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, Turner, and Mayor Worthington all voting in favor. Public Comments Update and Discussion on Dump Station for Frankie Harris Park - John Winnenberg John Winnenberg, contractor for campground sites at Frankie Harris Park, stated he didn't have budget numbers prepared. After speaking with Bartow County Water engineer, the city would need a modest amount of engineering plans for the dump station, but not a real complex build. The capacity would be okay with 10,000 gallons or less which would be a lot and accommodate an expansion. Mr. Winnenberg proposed to use Kevin Stephenson, a local engineer. Bartow County Water asked for an engineered narrative and a small sketch. It intrigues them to review the volume and the capacity downstream. He stated in return, the city would receive a water and sewer compliance document. At that point, it flips over to Euharlee for compliance to build and design. He stated the design could cost from $7,000 to $8,000, or high as $15,000, depending on the available survey. James Stephens, City Manager stated the city did not have a topography map. The city has worked with the Stephenson Firm before. They did a project for the city with the stormwater about 5-years ago, and he could reach out to them with council approval, and have a number for design cost for one of the September meetings. Mr. Winnenberg said they could work together and come up with a good plan and price. Splash Pad - Council Member Joe Turner Council Member Joe Turner shared some pictures he took downtown Cedartown of a splash pad because they talked about a splash pad and having one down near the store. He stated Mr. Stephens could check with the company, if the council wanted to get a bid. Mayor Steve Worthington mentioned the drainage from the rain from the surrounding area would be a problem with the site area Council Member Turner was considering. City Manager, James Stephens said he was not promoting Cedartown, but it does have the recycling capability and will keep water cost minimal; and they have been running it for 11 years. Council Member Greg Free stated they would need clarification; a guy at the convention brought up a system that re-circulated the water that the county considered it to be a pool that would have to be staffed. If it doesn't re-circulate, it would not have to be staffed. They could look into that during planning. He thinks a splash pad would be a great idea for kids, but they need to figure out how to do it right. Mr. Winnenberg stated they were putting one in and he would send them the information and pricing. He did not have any information on they operate, but he thought it would be easy for them to tie onto the sewer. Mr. Stephens stated the water would have to be tested by Bartow County. Cedartown does have someone that monitors the pad. Council Member Tim Abbott stated they owe the citizens overall Osborne Park design. Council Member David Duncan motioned to adjourn. Council Member Joe Turner seconded the motion. The motion carried with Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, Turner and Mayor Worthington all voting in favor. With no further discussion the meeting adjourned at 7:38 pm.