City Council

April 5, 2021 City Council Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM The regularly scheduled meeting of the Mayor and Council for the City of Gray, Georgia was held on Monday, April 5, 2021 at 6:00pm in the D.V. Childs Civic Center. Present: Mayor Ed Barbee, Mayor Pro Tem James Collins, Council Members David Tufts, Terry Favors, and Terrell Fulford, Police Chief Adam Lowe, City Attorney John Newberry, City Superintendent Frank Ross, Assistant City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan, Fire Chief Keith Eisele, City Clerk Cindy Yancey and Assistant City Clerk Ashley Roberson. Guests: Sherri Rollins, Mitchell Davenport and Debbie Lurie-Smith, The Jones County News. Mayor Barbee called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Councilman Tufts gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Favors made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collins, and unanimously voted to approve the April 5, 2021 agenda. APPROVED 4-0 Councilman Favors made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to approve the March minutes. APPROVED 4-0 Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Councilman Tufts, and unanimously voted to approve the March accounts payable. APPROVED 4-0 Mayor’s Report: • Mayor Barbee reported that progress is happening in Gray. Renovations have begun at the Gray Motel, Butler Hall and the new restaurant. Main Street Gray: • Mayor Barbee reported that the Turkey Fest will be held April 24th. New Business: 1. First Reading: An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to annex property consisting of approximately 2.0 acres located in Land Lot Forty-Two of the Ninth Land District, Jones County, Georgia, into the City of Gray pursuant to Chapter 36 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia annotated; to provide an effective date; and for other Purposes. 2. Approval to abandon Folds Drive drainage project. Mayor Pro Tem Collins made a motion, seconded by Councilman Tufts, and unanimously voted to approve abandoning this drainage project. APPROVED 4-0 3. Ratify authorization for Mayor Barbee to sign a water/sewer capacity letter for Dulles Park Phase II containing up to 48 additional units. Councilman Fulford made a motion to ratify authorization of signing the water/sewer capacity letter, the motion was seconded by Councilman Favors, Councilman Tufts voted in favor of the motion and Mayor Pro Tem Collins voted in opposition. APPROVED 3-1 Page Two City Council Meeting Minutes April 5, 2021 4. Ratify approval of the quote provided by RDJE for the sewer line work on Dolly Street. Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to ratify approval of accepting the quote provided by RDJE. APPROVED 4-0 5. A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to execute an addendum to the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Downtown Development Authority of Gray regarding the revitalization of the Central Business District; and for other purposes. Councilman Favors made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collins, and unanimously voted to approve Resolution 21-R-005. APPROVED 4-0 6. A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to supplement the General Appropriations Resolution passed by Mayor and Council the 5th day of October 2020, for fiscal year 2021; and for other purposes. • DDA Councilman Fulford made a motion, seconded by Councilman Tufts, and unanimously voted to approve Resolution 21-R-006. APPROVED 4-0 7. A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Gray, Georgia to supplement the General Appropriations Resolution passed by Mayor and Council the 7th day of October 2019, for fiscal year 2020; and for other purposes. • Police Confiscation Account Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fulford, and unanimously voted to approve Resolution 21-R-007. APPROVED 4-0 8. Ratify authorization for Mayor Barbee to sign the EPD response letter prepared by Carter & Sloope and the amended proposed consent order giving the City 60 days to prepare a corrective action plan and removing the monetary fine. Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collins, and unanimously voted to ratify authorization of signing of the EPD response letter and the proposed consent order. APPROVED 4-0 9. Mitchell Davenport – Water/Sewer availability • Mr. Davenport explained that he is a developer attempting to get tax credit funding for a 64-unit senior housing development off of Bill Conn Parkway. He requested a letter stating that water and sewer are available. • Councilman Favors stated that the City is struggling on sewer availability. • Mr. Davenport stated that he would amend his request to 48 units as was approved to Dulles Park. • Mayor Pro Tem Collins stated that until the City knows where we stand with the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and the infiltration and inflow issues that he does not feel it would be fair to approve any additional sewer capacity. • Mr. Davenport expressed concerns with the fact that the City approved a capacity letter for 48 units to Dulles Park but not to his development when they are both going after the same funding. Page Three City Council Meeting Minutes April 5, 2021 • Councilman Fulford explained that Dulles Park is an existing apartment complex in the City and capacity has been previously promised to them for the past two years. • Councilman Favors explained that Dulles Park’s capacity has been in the plan and until additional work is done, he does not believe any additional should be approved. • Mr. Davenport asked if capacity was being held for people • Mayor Pro Tem Collins explained that the developments/subdivisions who have previously requested capacity and have not completed development are on a list and he does not feel that any additional should be approved until the sewer issues are resolved. He also pointed out the EPD letter that was just discussed along with the previous articles in the paper. He stated that the sewer issues in the City are known. • City Attorney Newberry asked if it was specifically clear that they only will award one project. Mr. Davenport stated that each project is scored and “theoretically they could award more than one” but he believes one would likely fall out due to market. • City Attorney Newberry stated that capacity is an issue even with Dulles Park however the City has previously made commitments to them. • Assistant City Superintendent Cheyenne Morgan stated that the City may want to consider a moratorium on the sewer. 10. Approval to move forward with the following sewer projects: • Lift station monitoring equipment and install (Omnisite)  XR50 & Beacon units – Project Cost -30,896 • Manhole replacement/relining  F14/F13/E54/E55/E56 • Short Street/Washburn Drive – Inflow  Pipe joint separation Washburn Drive @ lift station • Stewart Ave – Virginia Ave – Inflow Councilman Tufts made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Collins, and unanimously voted to approve the sewer projects. APPROVED 4-0 Public Comments: • No comments. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________________ Assistant City Clerk