Minutes for August 18, 2009

Mayor Burgess called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present: Angela Porter and David Keener. Also present were City Manager Doug White and City Clerk Susan Roper.

Vice Mayor Price and City Attorney Reitman arrived at 6:35 PM

Mayor Burgess led the pledge of allegiance.

Mayor Burgess opened a public hearing for the purpose of a potential Property Tax Increase and introduced Grady Lemonds, Chairman of the Social Circle Development Authority to make the presentation. Chairman Lemonds introduced members of the authority, Hal Dally, Jackie Rainwater, Frank Sherill, Bill Clegg, Bill Thornton and Betty Ray. Chairman Lemonds explained the proposal to raise property taxes 1 mill to pay the interest on investment property in the industrial area of Social Circle. After much discussion and comments from the audience Mayor Burgess thanked everyone for their input and announced that the Council were not going to make a decision tonight on the mill rate for 2009 taxes. They would wait for news from Walton County and explore the offer from Bob Standridge. He stated that a meeting had been scheduled for September 8, 2009 which will also be the regular meeting for September to address the tax mill rate for 2009. Public Hearing closed.

The agenda was approved as submitted.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Price to approve the minutes for July 21, 2009. All were in favor.

Vice Mayor Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the 2009-2010 Budget as presented. All were in favor.

City Manager Doug White explained some problems that Social Circle is having with broken pipes and water infiltration into the system. He suggested that an ordinance be considered giving the City some teeth to control infiltration by having homeowners fined when a break was identified and not fixed. The City Manager was authorized by Mayor and Council to do the smoke test study and identify the problems.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Price to approve the SDS HB 489 Resolution as submitted. All were in favor.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Keener to approve the Mauldin & Jenkins 2009 Audit Engagement Letter. All were in favor.

City Attorney Reitman explained that there were some technical changes to the already approved Temporary Water Easement. Vice Mayor Price made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve the changes. All were in favor.

City Attorney Reitman explained that there were also changes to the already approved Water Service & Tie in Agreement as the plat attached had been updated. Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Price to approve the changes. All were in favor.

Lurie Maddox asked for a list of grants applied for and funded.

Meeting adjourned