CAVE SPRING CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 19, 2013
6:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE Mayor Rob Ware and Councilmembers Mary Littlejohn, Nellie McCain, Ken Landers, Robin Clements and Peggy Allgood were all present.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Ware called the meeting to order.
INVOCATION Dr. Jim Whitworth led the invocation.
PLEDGE OF Mary Littlejohn led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Ware opened the floor for any citizen comments.
TRACY PACKER- Tracy Packer from the Cave Spring Fire Department read a letter concerning his feelings
FIRE DEPARTMENT about the use of the City fire engine. Packer stated that he has worked as the assistant Fire Chief for the City of Cave Spring for 5 years and was disappointed in the public’s view of the Fire Department. He added that the general public has a negative view of Fire Departments and that it is seen as a waste of tax payer dollars. Therefore, a public relations campaign was launched here in Cave Spring using fire prevention education. Some of the events mentioned were: going to schools, opening the station up for tours, helping the Boy and Girl Scouts obtain their badges, special church events, birthday parties, etc. Packer added that due to this education, the number of fires and fire deaths have decreased. Packer stated that fire prevention is one of the most important public relations events that the Fire Department conducts and now, due to liability concerns, is no longer an option. He added that fire prevention education should not be considered a liability. Packer went into details of what happens when the fire engine is taken to a birthday party. He praised the idea saying that unlike school events, at birthday parties they also get to educate the parents and adults as well. Packer then gave details of the birthday party in question and added that he had approved the event the month prior but someone still called and complained to the Mayor that the situation “didn’t look good”. So from now on, any requests for the Fire Department to attend any special events will need to go through the Mayor’s office for a signed directive from the Mayor to the Fire Department. He closed by saying that the men of the Cave Spring Fire Department do not care about personal/political agendas and those involved, they only ask to serve the community and treat all within the community equally. Mayor Ware thanked Packer stating that he had made some good points and this will be taken under consideration.
APPROVAL OF MOTION: Ken Landers made a motion to approve past Council minutes from October 8
PAST MINUTES and October 14. Peggy Allgood seconded the motion. All voted yes.
DAYCARE REPORT This report was in written form. Average daily attendance was 19 and enrollment is 27.
D.D.A. REPORT Martha Macon Crowe reported on several events recently held by the D.D.A. The Cave Spring D.D.A. hosted the quarterly meeting of the Northwest Region D.C.A. on
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Wednesday, November 13. D.D.A. directors from around the region attended and Crowe was proud to be able to show off this unique historical community. Ghost Tours was a
big success this year with many waiting in line to go on a tour. An estimated 500+ people attended the event. The Business Over Coffee held in October was sponsored by Juli Smith and was held at the Cave Spring Library. The possibility of extending the Silver Comet Trail was one of the topics of discussion at the meeting. The Business Over Coffee for November was hosted by the Elementary School and was a positive meeting reassuring those who attended that the school is not closing. The winners of the scarecrow contest were the 1st and 3rd grade classes at Cave Spring Elementary and they were presented with a framed certificate and $50 dollars per class. She also added that there were several Christmas activities scheduled for the month of December and to check the City website for dates and times. Small Town Christmas in the Country is scheduled for December 7th and 8th and also special events are planned the week leading up to the Christmas Parade being held on December 14th.
POLICE REPORT Chief Jerry Ely gave the report. 71 calls were answered and 5 citations were issued.
COURT REPORT Court Clerk Judy Dickinson gave the report. Fines levied for the month of October were $380 while the amount of fines collected were $ 1,039.
FIRE DEPARTMENT These reports were in written form and were the reports from September and October.
REPORT
WATER REPORT This report was in written form and showed an increase in billing and no change in unaccounted for water.
ADJUSTMENTS MOTION: Mary Littlejohn made a motion to approve all City leaks. Peggy Allgood seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION: Mary Littlejohn made a motion to approve billing error adjustments. Nellie McCain seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION: Mary Littlejohn made a motion to approve all adjustments for customers with leak insurance. Nellie McCain seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION: Mary Littlejohn made a motion to approve all sewer/debt service adjustments. Nellie McCain seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION: Nellie McCain made a motion to approve the disputed bill adjustments. Mary Littlejohn seconded the motion. All voted yes.
CLERK’S REPORT City Clerk Judy Dickinson reported that Larry Hestely, member of the Activities Committee, has requested $325 for Christmas parade awards. This will be added to the agenda. The City government Christmas gathering will be discussed at the work session. A work session was scheduled for December 5 5:00 p.m.
MOTION TO PAY MOTION: Mary Littlejohn made a motion to pay bills. Ken Landers seconded the
BILLS motion. All voted yes.
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MOTION TO ADD MOTION: Peggy Allgood made a motion to add to the agenda the Christmas parade
TO AGENDA- awards. Mary Littlejohn seconded the motion. All voted yes.
CHRISTMAS PARADE
AWARDS
OLD BUSINESS NONE
NEW BUSINESS
CITY ELECTION The results for the November 5, 2013 City election, are as follows:
RESULTS
Council Post 3: Nicholas McLemore- 260 votes
No opposition
Council Post 4: J.C. Boehm- 111
Dennis Shoaf- 185
Council Post 5: Margaret Highnote Allgood- 66
Mike Ragland- 144
Rodney Willingham- 91
New Council Members elected are: Nicholas McLemore, Post 3; Dennis Shoaf, Post 4; Mike Ragland, Post 5.
SPLOST RESULTS Results for the SPLOST and EDSPLOST held in Floyd County on November 5, 2013 were as follows:
SPLOST YES- 6909
NO- 6819
EDSPLOST YES- 9283
NO- 4549
$2.6 million was approved for the Fannin Hall rehabilitation.
FANNIN HALL A contract approval is needed with Carter Watkins for architectural services.
RENOVATION MOTION: Peggy Allgood made a motion to empower the Mayor to sign a contract on behalf of the City to perform architectural services for Fannin Hall renovations. Nellie McCain seconded the motion. All voted yes.
PURCHASE ORDERS
TRACKHOE- REPAIR MOTION: Nellie McCain made a motion to have Rhinehart Equipment repair the bucket
TO BUCKET on the trackhoe with a price not to exceed $300. Peggy Allgood seconded the motion. All voted yes.
TIRES FOR WATER MOTION: Nellie McCain made a motion to approve a purchase of tires from Adam
TRUCK Zucker at the State bid price not to exceed $700. Peggy Allgood seconded the motion. All voted yes.
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ETHICS The City of Cave Spring is scheduled to recertify in 2014 as a Certified City of Ethics.
RECERTIFICATION The City must submit to the Georgia Municipal Association for review and approval a copy of any changes to the City’s ethics ordinance and a current resolution signed by a majority of the governing body re-adopting the five ethics principles. This will be discussed at the work session.
AWARDS FOR MOTION: Mary Littlejohn made a motion to approve $325 to the Activities Committee
CHRISTMAS for Christmas parade awards. $100 for the Grand Marshal, $100 for first place, $75 for
PARADE second place, and $50 for third place. Nellie McCain seconded the motion. All voted yes.
ADJOURN Mayor Ware adjourned the meeting.
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MAYOR
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CLERK
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