City Council

Page 1 of 4 The regular meeting of the Mayor and Council was held in the Council room of West Point City Hall August 14, 2017 at 5:30 P.M. with Pro-Tem Steven M. Tramell presiding. Members Present: Members Absent: Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter Councilmember Sandra Thornton Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell called Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter for opening prayer. Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell led the Pledge of allegiance. Mayor Pro-Tem Steven Tramell thanked Commissioner Lewis Davis and Jim Wood for them attending the council meetings. Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell called the meeting of the Mayor and City Council to order and welcomed everyone. MINUTES Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the June 12, 2017 regular meeting and the July 25, 2017 Special call meeting. Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made said motion and was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; the minutes were approved unanimously without change. FINANCIAL REPORT Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter presented the July financial report with the August cash position and forecast and made a motion to accept the report; motion seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III and passed unanimously. AGENDA Mayor Pro-Tem asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Councilmember Sandra Thornton made said motion and seconded by Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox; passed unanimously. 1 Page 2 of 4 2017 MILLAGE RATE Councilmember Sandra Thornton read a resolution and presented it in a form of a motion to adopt the 2017 Ad Valorem Tax levy for the City of West Point as follows: Gross Levy as follows: 13.363 Mills Local Option Sales Tax Credit 4.060 Mills Effective Levy 9.303 Mills City Tax for 2017 set at 9.303 Mills. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox; passed unanimously. OLD HIGH SCHOOL Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox made a motion to proceed with a redevelopment grant application for the old high school building. The grant is for $750,000 with the Department of Community Affairs Redevelopment Fund. The City Council will approve at a later date a contract for services with the grant administrator. The City Council will determine the use of the facility based on a feasible grant application. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter. After a brief discussion, the motion passed unanimously. WELLSTARE PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE 1009 US HWY 29 Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to allow an extension of a temporary structure permit with Wellstar Physician’s Office located 1009 US Hwy 29 until September 30 2018. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. GEORGIA INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING Councilmember Sandra Thornton made a motion to approve a resolution for the use of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing program to identify housing needs in the area. Troup County, Hogansville, LaGrange and West Point have agreed to jointly apply and each community will provide a local steering committee for the program. The City of West Point will provide $3,000 per year for the cost of the program. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. WEST POINT DEVELOMENT AUTHORITY BOND MOU POINT UNIVERSITY Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to approve the West Point Development Authority Bond Memorandum $26,000,000 Industrial Development revenue bonds with Point University. Point University is requesting the bonds for 2 Page 3 of 4 financing the cost of acquisition, construction, installation and equipping of a student housing facility to be located at 301 W 10th Street in Downtown West Point. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox; passed unanimously. WEST POINT DEVELOMENT AUTHORITY BOND MOU HYUNDAI DYMOS Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to approve the West Point Development Authority Bond Memorandum $8 million revenue tax abatement bond. The abatement will begin with 12.5% and increase each year around 12.5% the eighth year Hyundai will pay 100%. The investment will create an additional 125 jobs. Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox seconded the motion; passed unanimously. MICROBREWERY City Planner Dennis Dutton stated the West Point Planning Board had met and voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council to amend the City of West Point Code of Ordinance to comply with State Law and other changes regarding Microbrewery. Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell asked if anyone in attendance wanted to speak in favor or opposition to the recommended amendment. Mike Denehy stated he wanted to thank the City especially former Mayor A. Drew Ferguson for his help during this process. Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox made a motion to amend the City of West Point Ordinance to allow Microbreweries in accordance with State Law in the City of West Point. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III seconded the motion; passed unanimously. RESOLUTION TO AWARD TRANSPORATION INVESTMENT ACT PROJECT/HWY 103 UTILITY RELOCATION TO CRAWFORD GRADING AND PIPELINE, INC. Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell asked for a motion to approve the Transportation Investment Act project for highway 103. Utility relocation has been awarded to Crawford Grading and Pipeline, Inc., G. Ben Turnipseed Engineering recommended Crawford Grading and Pipeline. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion, seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. SALE OF 1ST AVENUE PROPERTY Mayor Pro-Tem Tramell recused himself citing a personal conflict. Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter asked for a motion to approve the sale of property along the riverbed off 2nd Avenue which include six parcels have appraise values of #1 $1,609.06 #2 1,768.51, #3 $1,535.45, #4 $1,381.66, #5 $2,313.46 and #6 $1,845.10. Councilmember Benjamin F. Wilcox made said motion seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. 3 Page 4 of 4 OTHER Councilmember Sandra Thornton stated in wake of all the unrest in Virginia she asked everyone to pray for our Community, City, and Country. She also asked for prayers for Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall during her illness. ADJOURN Mayor Pro-Tem Steve M. Tramell asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion, seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ______________________ ______________________ Richard McCoy Steven M. Tramell City Clerk Mayor Pro-Tem 4