MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 2, 2017
The Mayor and Council of the City of Franklin, Georgia, met in regular session Thursday, February 2, 2017 at city hall at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Rogers began the meeting by welcoming everyone in attendance and gave the invocation. Councilman Almond lead the pledge to the flag.
MINUTES OF JANUARY 5, 2017
Councilman Hayes made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Bradfield to approve the minutes. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Rogers asked to amend the agenda under new business to include the parking striping on the square. Councilman Jiles made a motion, seconded by Councilman Hayes to approve the agenda as amended. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Finance – Finance Officer/City Clerk, Karen Boyd, spoke on the following:
1. All accounts have been balanced and reconciled to the bank. Revenues exceeded expenditures for the month by approximately $15,683.
2. 2016 closed with expenditures exceeding revenue by about $38,416. This was primarily due to sales tax revenue being down approximately $27,357 from the year before.
3. Sales tax revenues increased by $14,982 from last month. They were up by approximately $4,171 from last January. Sales tax revenue for 2016 totaled $434,128. This was $27,357 less than the year before and $276,149 less than five years prior.
4. Past due notices have been mailed out for business licenses not renewed. We are in the process of notifying owners of past due property tax. Penalty and interest charges have begun to accrue.
Police Department - Chief Hannah stated his report would be included with the city attorney’s report concerning city ordinances.
Street Department – Supervisor, Alan Holcomb, had nothing to report.
City Attorney - David Mecklin, spoke on the following:
1. Mecklin suggested implementing an Occupational Tax as a proposed source of city revenue.
2. He advised implementing an ordinance in advance to prohibit adult entertainment type businesses, in the event that a request be made to open one.
3. Mecklin has not heard back from the County Commissioners to approve enacting an excise tax on manufacturing and Mayor Rogers agreed to contact Chairman Boone.
4. Mecklin gave an update on the clean-up at Riverwalk Mobile Home Park. Councilman Jiles expressed frustration with the speed of the process and Mecklin described the legal details of what progress can be made without expensive litigation fees to the city.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. City Ordinances – Mecklin reviewed ordinances that Chief Hannah suggested be updated for clarification to the current codes.
- Disorderly Conduct - Councilwoman Putzek asked for gender neutral wording to be used in the Disorderly Conduct ordinance. Councilman Jiles made the motion, seconded by Councilman Hayes to adopt the Disorderly Conduct ordinance with the proposed change. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
- Nuisances – Councilwoman Bradfield made a motion, seconded by Councilman Jiles to adopt the Nuisances ordinance. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
- Animal Control – Councilman Jiles made a motion, seconded by Councilman Almond to adopt the Animal Control ordinance. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
- Heavy Motor Vehicles – Councilman Jiles made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Bradfield to adopt the Heavy Motor Vehicle ordinance. The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. City of Franklin Zoning Map – Work is under way to adopt an updated city zoning map.
2. Parking Striping – Councilman Hayes stated there is confusion parking on the square due to faded parking striping. Mayor Rogers and Chief Hannah agreed to view the area and determine how the parking striping could be redone for clarity.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
1. Public works Director, Darold Wiggins explained the paving issues on Riverside and Mary Johnson and suggested solutions to go about fixing the roads.
Council Minutes of September 1, 2016 Page 3
MAYOR/COUNCIL COMMENTS:
1. Councilman Almond encouraged the council to explore the movie and television industry becoming so prevalent in Georgia as a possible source of revenue.
2. Mayor Rogers announced a public hearing at 6pm before the next council meeting concerning a grant with HCWA for water and sewage upgrades. Congressman Drew Ferguson will be at City Hall on Thursday, Feb 23rd at 11am.
There was no further business to conduct and Councilman Almond made a motion, seconded by Councilman Jiles, to adjourn. The vote was unanimous.
______
Joel Rogers, Mayor
Members Present: Clerks Present:
Cynthia Putzek, Post #1 Karen Boyd
Willie Almond, Jr., Post #2
Kevin Hayes, Post #3
Alane Bradfield, Post #4
Cliff Jiles, Post #5
Council Minutes of November 3, 2016 Page 3