Minutes from July 9, 2007

David Terry, Angela Porter, Anne Peppers and Traysa Price. Also present were the City Attorney, Lee Abney, City Manager Doug White and Assistant City Clerk Barbara Schlageter.

Mayor Burgess led the pledge of allegiance.

Mayor Burgess introduced Senator John Douglas who presented a special presentation.

Senator Douglas presented Mr. David Terry with a Senate Resolution Honor signed by the Lt. Governor to honor the memory of Mrs. David (Betty Jo) Terry.

Mayor Burgess opened a public hearing for our 2007-2008 Budget and asked City Manager Doug White to present the budget as a public hearing.

City Manager Doug White stated that there were no sufficient changes in this year’s budget verse last year’s budget. Mr. White said we would have an operational change with Advance Disposal beginning to pickup all debris as well as the household and recycling. The only thing the city will continue to pickup is the yard waste. Mr. White also said there would be no change in the price. City Manager said there would no tax increase for this year.

City Manager Doug White said we are going to replace a couple of cars in Public Safety and add 2 new positions for patrolman.

City Manager Doug White said we have not finalized our plan with Better Home Town and how their program will operate, but we have the money in the budget per their request to consider having a full time director or two part time directors.

City Manager Doug White said we have $481, 000.00 in grants. This is the T-21 Grant for sidewalks.

City Manager Doug White reported that we have about $485.000.00 CDBG Grant. He also reported that we just had the bid opening for the CDBG Grant and the bids are very high. Our Engineer is reviewing the bids now.

Mayor Burgess asks if anyone had any questions.

Jeni Metcalf ask if would be getting someone for code enforcement.

City Manager Doug White said he and the Mayor had talked to great links that we could hire someone part time, but that person has to be qualified and that could be hard to find.

City Manager Doug White reported that the Water and Sewer is a small budget this year because we have spent most of our money on the sewer project with Trunk Line A and Trunk Line B. This is about a 3 year project.

Mayor Burgess ask Mr. White to explain the total structure of what that debt service is for with the Water and Sewer and what we have acccomplished.

City Manager Doug White reported that the City had borrowed $3,000,000.000 on the water side. That was to build 2 water tanks and a new water line up W. Hightower and Alcova.

But, due to expenses raising from Katrina we only got 1 water tank on Alcova and the new water line. Mr. White reported on the waste water side the two main trunk lines were the primary focus. The first thing we tried to do was to increase the size of the waste water plant, but the price came in so high per gallon it did not make sense to do, mainly because of the lot where the waste water plant is located. We looked at the land in Newton County to relocate the waste water plant there. We are still working through the issues that in the future we will need to borrow money to complete the new waste water plant.

Mr. White reported that we have 2 new trunk lines and the lift station work and putting in a new force main from the ball field on AP Henderson up to Oak Drive. Mr. White reported that we had implemented the Capital Cost Recovery on new water taps, which is $3300.00 and sewer taps is $3500.00 in order to repay the debt service back to GEFA. Mr. White said in the future that we may need to increase the Capital Cost Recovery for water to $4000.00 and the sewer to $4500.00 in order to help repay that debt back. This would come back as and action item later. Mr. White said we are talking about a possible rate increase on water and sewer of 15%; this is just due to cost of materials. We have already cut back the water department around $70,000.00 to $80,000.00 for this year for material.

City Manager Doug White reported the Gas department stays pretty consistent

and really depends on the temperature. Our largest industry is American Dehydrated or (ADF) and they are actually working on the odor control which is estimated costing them around $3, 500,000.00 to make the improvement. Mr. White also reported that this came at a good time because we had already budgeted the upgrading of their metering system and this way we can make sure everything is compatible to their upgrades.

City Manager Doug White reported on the Solid Waste Department with the only change being that Advance Disposal will pickup up the debris which will reduce the personnel cost from solid waste and put the work back over into the street activities.

There being no others to speak for or against Mayor Burgess closed the pubic hearing.

Kemel Joseph is representing Habitat for Humanity of Walton County. Mr. Joseph reported that they had agreed to build a house for the Dennis Family on Carver Drive.

Mr. Joseph was asking for a variance on the square foot and the garage due to the fact that they have been getting donations for this house before the Zoning Ordinance on square footage changed last December.

Council Member David Terry made a motion, seconded by Angela Porter to approve the 200 square foot difference and eliminating the garage in a variance granted to 493 Carver Drive. All were in favor.

Public Safety Director Steve Shelton announced the 2 new officers that have joined the Public Safety Department being Michael Sledge who will be and Officer and Jeff Carr who will be the Assistant Public Safety Director.

Mayor Burgess reported that per Council’s request we have a Proclamation that has been presented. The Proclamation in celebration of 175 years of incorporation of the City of Social Circle, that August 11, 2007, is hereby declared as Heritage Day for the City of Social Circle, Georgia.

Council Member Anne Peppers made a motion, seconded by Traysa Price to adopt the Proclamation. All were in favor.

Mayor Burgess stated the Agenda was approved.

Council Member David Terry made a motion, seconded by Traysa Price to approve the minutes for June 11, 2007 as presented. All were in favor.

City Manager Doug White reported that CPS Partners had filed an application for a Major Subdivision on Clegg Farm Road with the zoning staying AG. He also reported that the request had been heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on June 25, 2007 and they recommended approval with a 20 foot utility easement on the strip of land from the Alcova Drive side up between Lot 31 and Lot 32 into the cul-de-sac of Creekside at Riverstone Subdivision.

Mayor Burgess opened a pubic hearing giving both sides 10 minutes to speak. Speaking in favor of the request was Dana Sorrow representing the applicant. Ms. Sorrow gave a brief report on the project and of the easement of the strip of land.

There being no others to speak for or against Mayor Burgess closed the public hearing.

No motions made.

City Manager Doug White reported that Dana Sorrow had filed an application for a Conditional Use for 200 A Brookstone Place. He also reported that the request had been heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 5, 2007 and they recommended approval for the Conditional Use at 200 A Brookstone Place for this beauty salon for Jennifer Meeler and Janice Moyers with the business name Hairbrush & Co. If any name change or change of owner occurs for a beauty salon the matter should come again before Planning and Zoning Commission.

Mayor Burgess called for public comment regarding an application filed for a Conditional Use for 200 A Brookstone Place. Speaking on behalf were Dana Sorrow, Jennifer Meeler and Janice Moyers. There being no other wishing to speak for or against Mayor Burgess closed the public hearing.

Council Member David Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Angela Porter to approve the Conditional Use for 200 A Brookstone Place for the beauty salon for Jennifer Meeler and Janice Moyers with the business name Hairbrush & Co., with these conditions.

1. If any name change or change of owner occurs for a beauty salon the matter should

come again before Planning and Zoning Commission.

2. If property is sold to another individual the conditional use will convert back to the

Original OI zoning without the Conditional Use.

City Manager Doug White reported that the city engineer R.J. Wood & Company had reviewed M.D. Patrick Engineering’s plan on the Forest Lake Estates Subdivision for Mr. Tony Shriver. Mr. White also reported that with his proposal it will eliminate downstream flooding conditions that have been plaguing the homeowners for years in this area.

Council Member David Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Traysa Price for approval of the preliminary plat the Forest Lake Estates Subdivision located on Lakewood Drive and Forest Avenue.

City Manager Doug White reported the CDBG Bid Opening is under review by R.J. Wood & Company and we should have the results within the next week or so.

City Manager Doug White reported that we have a request to rename the softball side of Burk’s Field to Rockie Garrett Field.

Council Member Angela Porter made a motion, seconded by Traysa Price to table the request to rename the Burk’s Field softball portion until we see the design.

6:57 P.M. Meeting Adjourned