Minutes from June 12, 2006, 6PM

Mayor Burgess called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present: Angela Porter, Anne Peppers, Traysa Price and David Terry. Also present were City Attorney Joe Reitman, City Manager Doug White and City Clerk Susan Roper.

Guests present were: Charles M. Bettis, Mary A. Burt, Mollie L. Weldon, Margaret S. Malcom, Paul T. Weldon, Joe Johnston, Emory Thompson, Keith Jackson, Jane Astin

Susan Cox, George Cox, Jamie Peterson, W. Williams, James Griff, Otha Knight, Sarah Ross, Nancy Posner, Charlotte Hill, Rebecca Dally, Hal Dally, Douglas Peters, Beth Wells, J T Marston, Bob Wade, Larry Knox, Tina Mulvihill, Annie Wright, John Zwemer, Esther (?) _______, Mildred Hill, Mabel Standridge, John Anchors, Rosie Crawford, Mary Dorsey, Paul Posner, James Griffin.

Mayor Burgess led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The agenda was amended to exclude the Public Hearing for Annexation and Rezone of the Little River Ventures, Carolyn Penland, Charles Bettis, Brad Bettis, Thomas Campbell and MAB Holding Co. property. (Items 2, 3, 12b, and 13.) Also to add Item 19 to approve DOT Contracts for Section 18 Transportation.

Mayor Burgess opened the public hearing for the Text Amendment. Attorney Joe Reitman explained the process and the amendment to be considered. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak in favor of the amendment. There being none Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak against the amendment. There being none Mayor Burgess closed the hearing.

Mayor Burgess stated that due to the fact that the final plan for the proposed annexation for Little River Ventures, Carolyn Penland, Charles Bettis, Brad Bettis, Thomas Campbell and MAB Holding Co. had not been presented to the Mayor and Council that the Annexation hearing would be postponed pending receipt. Joseph Malcom complained that the public was once again not able to voice their opinion on the matter. He had tried to talk before. Tried to see the Mayor 3 or 4 times. Complained about the notification process and why he didn’t get a letter of notification since he was contiguous to the property and that the signs were too small. Attorney Reitman explained the laws regarding notification. Mayor Burgess agreed that the complaint regarding size of the signs as fair criticism. Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to table the Public Hearing for the Annexation until July 10, 2006 at 6PM in the Community Room at City Hall. All were in favor.

Mayor Burgess opened the public hearing for a rezone for Hal and Rebecca Dally at 163 N Cherokee Road from R15 to GC. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak in favor of the request. Rebecca Dally came forward. Mayor Burgess notified there would be 10 minutes allowed for each side. Mrs. Dally reported that plans were to leave the façade of the house the same. Take out the bathtub and make it a commercial bathroom as opposed to residential. Immediate plans are to have a Bridal Boutique. There being no one else to speak in favor Mayor Burgess allowed Mrs. Dally to reserve her remaining time. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak against the rezone. There being no one present to speak against the rezone Mayor Burgess closed the hearing.

Mayor Burgess stated that due to the fact that the final plan for the proposed rezone for Little River Ventures, Carolyn Penland, Charles Bettis, Brad Bettis, Thomas Campbell and MAB Holding Co. had not been presented to the Mayor and Council that the rezone hearing would be postponed pending receipt.

Mayor Burgess opened the public hearing for a rezone for Emory Thompson at Storey Mobile Home Park at Social Circle Fairplay and Ronthor from RHD to RMD. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak in favor of the request. Emory Thompson came forward. Mayor Burgess notified there would be 10 minutes allowed for each side. Mr. Thompson reported that plans were to get rid of all of the mobile homes and replace with nice looking duplexes. He stated that he felt it would be a good upgrade for the property. There being no one else to speak in favor Mayor Burgess allowed Mr. Thompson to reserve his remaining time. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak against the rezone. There being no one present to speak against the rezone Mayor Burgess closed the hearing.

Mayor Burgess opened the public hearing for a rezone for Emory Thompson at Circle Mobile Home Park on E Hightower at the Railroad Tracks from RHD to RMD. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak in favor of the request. Emory Thompson came forward. Mayor Burgess notified there would be 10 minutes allowed for each side. Mr. Thompson reported that plans were to get rid of all of the mobile homes and replace with nice looking duplexes. He stated that he felt it would be a good upgrade for the property. There being no one else to speak in favor Mayor Burgess allowed Mr. Thompson to reserve his remaining time. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak against the rezone. There being no one present to speak against the rezone Mayor Burgess closed the hearing.

Mayor Burgess opened the public hearing for a rezone for Emory Thompson at Garden Mobile Home Park at Ronthor and Hwy 11 from RHD to RMD. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak in favor of the request. Emory Thompson came forward. Mayor Burgess notified there would be 10 minutes allowed for each side. Mr. Thompson reported that plans were to get rid of all of the mobile homes and replace with nice looking duplexes. He stated that he felt it would be a good upgrade for the property. There being no one else to speak in favor Mayor Burgess allowed Mr. Thompson to reserve his remaining time. Mayor Burgess asked if there was anyone present to speak against the rezone. There being no one present to speak against the rezone Mayor Burgess closed the hearing.

Citizens Requests:

Mayor Burgess recognized John Anchors. Mr. Anchors representing Laurel Oaks Subdivision/CPS Partners. He stated that the entrance to the subdivision was disturbed by a City contractor putting in pipe. He asked for Council to replace with sod as the area was before disturbed. City Manager Doug White and job inspector Fred Eggers reported that Ragsdale was the City contractor and that their contract called for seed and straw which they did. Mr. Anchors reported that Dana Sorrow of CPS Partners had received a quote to replace the sod for +- $4000. Mayor Burgess asked the City Manager to work with John Anchors and Dana Sorrow to come up with a plan to replace with sod maybe using City crews to cut down on cost. Mr. Anchors also asked about speed control in Laurel Oaks. Mr. White reported that speed limit signs and slow children playing signs had been put up. Mayor Burgess asked the City Attorney to look into the City’s ordinance concerning a traffic study which would be cost shared with the developer.

Mayor Burgess recognized Mr. Larry Knox, President of the Historical Society. He asked if Gunter Hall could be exempt from City Utilities. He said he was asking Georgia Power as well to exempt the power costs. Mr. Knox was asked to make his request in writing at which time the City Attorney would research and provide a response. The matter was tabled until July 10, 2006 at 6PM at the next regular meeting.

Mayor Burgess recognized Mrs. Annie Wright, 369 Sweetgum Street. Mrs. Wright complained that the City wanted to put a sewer line on her property. She said the City had done this before and left her yard and garden a mess. Mrs. Wright asked why the old sewer line can’t come up. She was informed that the old sewer line had to stay in place for the sewer system. A new line would be installed 5’ from the old line and she would be hooked to it. The City will put her yard back as it was.

Mayor Burgess recognized Mrs. Beth Wells and Ms. Rosie Crawford. They reported concern over the red line proposal by DOT for the bypass. Mrs. Wells reported that a home was built for Larry Dorsey who is a quadriplegic by private funds as well as corporate donations. She asked if the Mayor and Council would support the residents in Scott Terrace to oppose the proposal from DOT that would go through their neighborhood. Mayor Burgess asked City Attorney Reitman to draft a resolution asking DOT not to pursue this option. Mrs. Crawford asked Mayor Burgess where we were in the process of this project. What happened to the original route? Mayor Burgess explained how we got to today with DOT and the Bypass project and that Social Circle was trying to speed up the process because of the traffic from Solo Cup Distribution Center.

There were no Council Requests.

Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the minutes as submitted. All were in favor.

Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Terry to approve the Financial Statements as presented. All were in favor.

Vice Mayor Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to approve the Zoning Text Amendment as presented. All were in favor.

Vice Mayor Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Terry to approve the recommendation from Planning & Zoning to approve a zoning request from Hal and Rebecca Dally at 163 N Cherokee Road from R15 to GC. All were in favor.

Vice Mayor Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Terry to approve the recommendation from Planning & Zoning to approve a zoning request from Emory Thompson and A. C. Coleman for Storey Mobile Home Park from RHD to RMD. All were in favor.

Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the recommendation from Planning & Zoning to approve a zoning request from Emory Thompson and A. C. Coleman for Circle Mobile Home Park from RHD to RMD. All were in favor.

Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to approve the recommendation from Planning & Zoning to approve a zoning request from Emory Thompson and A. C. Coleman for Garden Mobile Home Park from RHD to RMD. All were in favor.

Staff presented names from the Social Circle Development Authority for consideration of 2 vacancies on the board to be discussed at the July 10, 2006 meeting. All were in favor.

Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve a recommendation from Staff to continue banking services with Georgia Central Bank for 3 years. All were in favor except Vice Mayor Peppers recused herself from the matter.

Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Peppers to approve a contract with Jim Bolton for services at the W H Stanton Memorial Library. All were in favor.

Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve $5,345 to purchase Fit Trail equipment from Southland for the passive park. All were in favor.

Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to approve a condemnation ordinance regarding property belonging to Albert Stowe needed for a sewer easement. All were in favor.

Vice Mayor Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Terry to approve the DOT Contracts for Section 18 Transportation grant. All were in favor.

Meeting adjourned.