Minutes for January 14, 2008

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

Vice Mayor Terry led the pledge of allegiance.

Municipal Judge Rebecca Dally performed the “Swearing In” oath for Anne Peppers and Angela Porter.

Council Member Porter asked about the birds on the Water Tower on Alcova. City Manager Doug White reported that they were migratory birds and there wasn’t anything to be done about it. It was pointed out that the water tank is closed and no contaminants from the birds could get into the water system from them roosting on the tank.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the agenda as presented. All were in favor.

Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the minutes for December 17, 2007 as amended and December 21, 2007 as presented. All were in favor.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to approve the Financial Statements for December 2007 as presented. All were in favor.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to uphold the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission and approve the withdrawal of the application for rezone for Pat & Kelly McLaughlin and notify them to re-apply when ready. All were in favor.

City Manger Doug White reported that E&D Enterprises was asking for a rezone from R15 to NC at 637 N. Cherokee Road for a restaurant. Vice Mayor Terry opened a public hearing allowing 10 minutes for each side. Dana Sorrow speaking for the project stated that she would be complementing the Social Circle Exchange project across the street. P& Z Chairman Joe Johnston stated he saw no problems with the parking. There being no others present to speak for or against Vice Mayor Terry closed the public hearing. Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to accept the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission and rezone 637 N. Cherokee from R15 to NC for a restaurant with the following stipulations: restaurant only and if proposed to be changed down the line it has to come back before planning & zoning for consideration by the board and the Mayor and Council, all development standards for Neighborhood Commercial be met and a time limit of 12 months for it to be permitted and developed as a restaurant or it reverts back to R15. All were in favor.

Doug White reported that the Planning & Zoning Commission requested Mayor and Council consider a moratorium on zoning. No action was taken.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to appoint Joe Reitman as City Attorney. All were in favor.

Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to appoint Rebecca Dally as Municipal Court Judge and Brad Brownlow as alternate Municipal Court Judge. All were in favor.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to appoint Susan Roper as City Clerk. All were in favor.

Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to appoint Jimmy Phillips to the Planning & Zoning Commission to replace Thomas Jackson for a 2 year term. All were in favor.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the surplus property list as submitted. All were in favor.

After some discussion and a presentation from Mike Mihalik from the MGAG Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the Natural Gas Advantage rebate program as presented. All were in favor.

Council Member Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve the Franchise Fee Ordinance as presented. (2^nd Reading)

Chris Rice and William Brown made a plea to Mayor and Council to waive or at the least reduce the connection fee for water to the First Baptist Church of Social Circle. The hookups would be some $70,000 and would create a financial hardship for the Church according to Rice and Brown. After much discussion and information from Attorney Joe Reitman that waiving or reducing the fee were illegal, Vice Mayor Terry suggested that the Church do their own investigation into the legality of such a request and come back to the February 18^th council meeting. Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Price to table for 30 days. All were in favor.

Meeting adjourned.