City Council

City of West Point Regular Council Meeting Minutes Monday, January 9, 2023 @ 5:30 PM West Point Council Chambers The regular meeting of the Mayor and Council was held in the Council Chambers January 9, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. with Mayor Steven M. Tramell presiding. Members Present: Members Absent: Mayor ProTempore Sandra Thornton Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III Councilmember Joel B. Finlay Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall Councilmember Deedee Williams Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter gave the opening prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Steve Tramell. Mayor Tramell called the meeting of the Council to order. MINUTES Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the November 29,2022 Work-Session and the December 12, 2022, Regular Business Meeting. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion; seconded by Councilmember Joel B. Finlay; passed unanimously. FINANCIAL REPORT Mayor Tramell stated the financial report for approval is in the Council packet. Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the December Financial report. Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall made said motion; seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. AGENDA Mayor Tramell reviewed the agenda and asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Councilmember Sandra Thornton made said motion; seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III and passed unanimously. Page 2 of 4 ELECTION MAYOR PRO-TEM Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall made a motion to appoint Councilmember Deedee Williams as Mayor Pro-Tempore. The motion failed for a lack of a second. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter as Mayor Pro-Tempore to serve a One (1) year term and until a successor is elected and qualified. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; The motion passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Luther Jones as Municipal Court Judge. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT RECORDER TEMPORE (JUDGE PRO-TEM) Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Benjamin F. Wilcox as Municipal Court Recorder Tempore Assistant Judge. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joel B. Finlay; passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to appoint Mark Carlton as Municipal Court Prosecuting Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joel B. Finlay; passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Alex Dixon as Assistant Municipal Court Prosecuting Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. CITY ATTORNEY Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Alex Dixon as City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall; passed unanimously. 2 Page 3 of 4 MUNICIPAL COURT PUBLIC DEFENDER Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appointment Brian Joel Aplin to Municipal Court Public Defender. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. SWEARING IN OF CITY ATTORNEY Mayor Steven Tramell administered the oath of office to City Attorney and Assistant prosecuting Attorney Alex Dixon. OATH OF OFFICE CITY ATTORNEY Mayor Steve Tramell administered the oath of office to City Attorney Alex Dixon. RESOLUTION ESTABLISH QUALIFYING FEES FOR THE 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to set the 2023 Municipal Election qualifying fees at $214.20 for the mayor and $151.20 for the council. The fees are based on 3% of the total gross salary paid in the preceding year O.C.G.A. Sec. 21-2-131. Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall seconded said motion; passed unanimously. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR MOBIS ALABAMA, LLC Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve The Mobis Memorandum of Understanding between the City of West Point, the West Point Development Authority, Mobis Alabama, LLC, Troup County Board of Tax Assessors, and the Troup County Board of Education. The expansion of the Mobis Facility will be located on the Kia campus with an investment of $94,600,000 with 60 new jobs. There will be a seven-year PILOT Program based on the Troup County Pilot Policy. There will be 50% abatement of Real and Personal Property Taxes from 2025-2031. Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall made said motion; seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously. OTHER Councilmember Sandra Thornton asked for donations for a sign for the West Point Elementary School. Checks should be made out to West Point Elementary School. She also stated the Lamba Zeta Chapter will have the annual MLK Breakfast. It will be on Face Book and Bee T.V. ADJOURN 3 Page 4 of 4 Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion and seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________ ______________________ Richard McCoy Steven M. Tramell 4