MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

April 12, 2011

7:00 P.M.

Members Present – Mayor Glenn Newsome, Mayor Pro Tem Russell Gross, Councilmember Bobby Jacobs, Councilmember Katherine Alexander, and Councilmember Bryan Standifer. Councilmember Martha Pompey arrived at 7:25 pm.

Staff Present – Bob Schwartz, City Manager, Peggy Billerman, City Clerk, and Police Chief Bobby Norris.

Media Present – Ted Dunagan of the Monticello News.

Citizens Present – David Wease, Reverend William Gibson, Bobby Sutton, David Dammann, Tony Tanner, Mitch McEwen, and Bertha Montfort.

Regular Meeting - Mayor Newsome called the meeting to order, offered the invocation, and led the pledge of allegiance. City Clerk Peggy Billerman called the roll.

Agenda Approval – Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Alexander, to approve the agenda as presented. All in favor.

Citizen Comments –

Reverend William Gibson asked if a date had been set for the community yard sale. Councilmember Alexander responded that the date had not been set. Reverend Gibson reminded Council that Advanced Disposal Service had offered to have a free pickup day this spring, perhaps in conjunction with the yard sale. Councilmember Alexander responded that perhaps the week following the yard sale would be most beneficial.

David Dammann asked Council to review the policy requiring each residential utility account to pay for curbside garbage pickup at $12.00 per month.

Minutes – Motion by Councilmember Alexander, seconded by Councilmember Jacobs, to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2011 regular meeting as presented. All in favor.

Presentations

Downtown Development Authority – Chairman David Dammann reported that the Sunrise Thrift Store had requested an extension of their lease. This will be considered when the real estate sales contract expires in June 2011. Mr. Dammann also complained that business owners are mad at the city because utility bills are too high. Staff doesn’t know what kilowatt charges are when asked by a customer.

Police Chief’s Report – Chief Bobby Norris’ March report included 36 citations, fines in the amount of $5,004, and 274 calls for service.

Consent Agenda – Payables, the GDOT contract for right-of-way acquisition by the City for the Streetscape Phase II project, and an agreement with Jasper County Probate Judge Linda Mock Keller to serve as election superintendent for 2011 were approved as presented. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gross, seconded by Councilmember Standifer, to approve the payables. All in favor.

Old Business

Police Cars - The Budget and Finance committee reviewed options for the purchase and financing of two police cars and recommended the purchase of two new cars in the 2012 budget to be financed through GMA. Motion to approve by Mayor Pro Tem Gross, seconded by Councilmember Pompey. All in favor.

West View Park – The Parks committee met and created a list of improvements to West View Park for Council’s consideration. Councilmember Jacobs explained the list which included a picnic shelter over the old tennis court pavement, sealing the pavement, building a split rail fence along Westview Street, replacing swing seats, adding sand under the swings, painting the old playground equipment, and pricing a concrete walkway or apron around the playground equipment for FY2012. Councilmember Pompey expressed concern that Funderburg Park was not included in the list of improvements. Mayor Newsome explained that the committee was appointed to review West View Park and agreed it would be good to appoint an overall Recreation committee. Councilmember Alexander requested a maintenance schedule for the parks and stated that there should be a permanent trash container to match the benches at West View Park. Councilmember Pompey motioned to table consideration of the list of improvements until the May meeting, seconded by Councilmembers Standifer. Councilmembers Standifer and Pompey voted yes, Councilmembers Jacobs, Councilmember Alexander, and Mayor Pro Tem Gross voted no. Motion to table failed 3 -2. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gross to investigate pricing for the picnic shelter. All in favor. City Manager Bob Schwartz reminded Council that the expenditures would be revisited during the budget process. Councilmember Standifer stated that preventive maintenance should be scheduled for both West View and Funderburg parks and added to park maintenance in the FY2012 budget.

Piedmont Academy Request – Headmaster Tony Tanner and Chairman Mitch McEwen asked that Piedmont Academy be released as a City of Monticello electric utility customer. Councilmember Jacobs recused himself from consideration of this request and left the council chambers. Headmaster Tanner stated that after communication with Central Georgia EMC, Piedmont Academy was advised that they would save $8,000 or $9,000 per year by switching to CGEMC. Mr. McEwen stated that CGEMC had agreed to replace some existing equipment due to safety issues, as well as installing a master meter. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gross to install a master meter at Piedmont, if beneficial, and to address all safety concerns. Second by Councilmember Alexander. Discussion included the ongoing cost of service study and setting a special school rate. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gross to close debate, seconded by Councilmember Alexander. All in favor. Debate was closed. Mayor Pro Tem Gross, Councilmember Standifer, and Councilmember Alexander voted to install a master meter, if beneficial, and to address all safety concerns. Councilmember Pompey voted against. Motion carried 3-1.

New Business

Annual Audit - Herring CPA Group located in Tifton was the lowest of seven bidders at $9,125 for each of the three years stated in the RFP. Motion by Councilmember Pompey, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gross to accept the bid for a period of one year rather than three. Mayor Pro Tem Gross and Councilmembers Alexander, Standifer and Pompey voted to approve. Councilmember Jacobs abstained. Motion carried.

SPLOST – The SPLOST committee, Councilmembers Jacobs, Alexander, and Pompey, proposed a preliminary list of SPLOST projects including reservoir improvements to increase capacity and pumping. Also included were water supply improvements, parks and recreation improvements, street resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Capital improvements to the hospital were also listed. Councilmember Jacobs reminded Council that SPLOST collections could be for a term of five or six years and that the City deserved a greater percentage than was currently agreed. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gross to accept the preliminary list. All in favor.

Mayor Pro Tem Gross stated that water should be the top priority. A meeting of the SPLOST committee was scheduled for Thursday, April 14th beginning at 5 pm in the third floor conference room.

Brian Mason of 10877 Hwy 16 East requested release as a City electric utility customer to be served by Central GA EMC. The Utility Committee recommended no after reviewing the Territorial Act. Motion to deny by Councilmember Jacobs, seconded by Councilmember Pompey. All in favor.

Jasper County Food Bank – The Food Bank asked that the City participate in Operation Round Up for Hunger by allowing city utility customers to support the program by having their utility bills rounded up to the dollar with the difference going to the Food Bank. All Councilmembers commented that the program was a worthy one, but each felt the time was not right to adopt the program. Motion by Councilmember Jacobs to table the request until January 1, 2012, seconded by Councilmember Pompey. Mayor Pro Tem Gross and Councilmembers Alexander, Pompey, and Jacobs voted to table. Councilmember Standifer voted against. Motion carried.

CDBG Update – The sewer line evaluation by AUI at a cost of $40,936.12 is nearing completion. The DCA conducted a successful monitoring visit of this project on April 6th.

Executive Session – Motion by Councilmember Pompey, seconded by Councilmember Alexander to enter into executive session to discuss personnel at 9pm. All in favor. Motion by Councilmember Standifer, seconded by Councilmember Pompey, to return to regular session at 9:25 pm. All in favor. Councilmember Pompey left the meeting at that time.

Council Comments

Councilmember Jacobs asked the City Manager to ask the City Attorney if it was correct for a councilmember who owed back taxes to vote on the City budget. Councilmember Alexander thanked Randy Parker and his crew of volunteers for their work on the Square and stated that the City could do better. Mayor Newsome noted that there were eight more meetings of this Council and that it had been a difficult time to serve in local government.

Adjournment –Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gross, seconded by Councilmember Standifer, to adjourn at 9:45 p.m. All in favor.

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