Watkinsville city council

MINUTES OF MEETING
OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE
April 12, 2006



PRESENT: Mayor Luken, Council members Link, Purcell, Brodrick, Walsh and Walter.



ABSENT: City Attorney Huff.



VISITORS: See attached sheet.



QUORUM CHECK: Mayor Luken acknowledges a quorum is present. Mayor Luken also asks those with non-emergency cell phones to turn them off or down.



WATKINSVILLE BEAUTIFUL YARD AWARD: Dwayne Wilkes of 51 Barnett Shoals Road received the Watkinsville Beautiful Yard Award for the month of April from Delores Schofill of Circa Antiques and Gardens.



MINUTES: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2006 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously.



REGINA BOSWELL: Councilman Link moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve a business license for R. Boswell & Associates d/b/a Oconee Catering at 112 Southland Drive. Motion carried unanimously.



DELORES SCHOFILL: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve a business license for Main Street Markets at 17 North Main Street. Motion carried unanimously.



DEBRA LASSITER: Cindy Haygood represents Debra Lassiter at the meeting. Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to approve a business license for Etiquette and Leadership Institute at 10 Whitehall Road. Motion carried unanimously.



STEPHANIE CARTWRIGHT: No action taken due to the absence of Ms. Cartwright.



JASON DUNKEN: Councilman Walter moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to approve a business license for the Race Car Company, LLC at 1401 Greensboro Highway, Suite 330. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Brodrick expressed concerns about the collection of cars at this business. Mr. Dunken assures they will operate a clean and orderly business without the collection of cars.



CLAY HARTLEY: No action taken due to the absence of Mr. Hartley.



BRAD BUNTING: Councilman Link moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve a business license for Paul Davis Restoration at 1041 Business Boulevard. Motion carried unanimously.



Not read or approved by Council.

Minutes/April 12, 2006/Page 2






MERLE GAY: Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve a building permit for a 20x20 storage building with electricity at 210 Marshall Drive. Motion carried unanimously.



RECONCILIATION REPORT: Councilman Walter moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to approve the February 28, 2006 Reconciliation Report as presented. Motion carried unanimously.



BUDGET NOTIFICATION: City Clerk, Julie Sanders, announces the beginning of the budgetary process for FY2007. Anyone with input for the upcoming budget should contact Julie Sanders, Mayor Luken or the Finance Committee members Joe Walter or Samantha Purcell.



MAYOR’S REPORT: See attached report.



Chief of Police, Lee O’Dillon, explains a number of people have been issued tickets for driving without a driver’s license. Chief explains the number of accidents for March 2006 is down from March 2005. In March 2005, there were 15 traffic accidents with 8 serious injuries. In March 2006, there were 5 traffic accidents with 2 minor injuries. We want people to slow down, be safe and everything else will take care of itself.



CITIZEN’S COMMENTS: Kate McDaniel commends Dwayne Wilkes and Kenneth Peck for the job they are doing by donating and planting trees throughout the City of Watkinsville.



OLD BUSINESS: (1) Bicentennial Reports: Councilwoman Purcell gives an update on the Projects Committee activities. Trees are being planted throughout the City of Watkinsville. 250 total small trees have been given out for planting as well. The committee is now working on an idea for bicentennial boulders at Harris Shoals Park. The Stone Store has agreed to donate the boulders and engrave them for free.



Councilman Walsh gives an update on the Special Events Committee activities. The City and the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) will be combining efforts on April 30th from 2-4 for an Artie Ball Swing Band Concert at Rocket Hall.



Councilman Walter gives an update on the Mementos Committee activities. Tomorrow night will be the final decision making meeting in regard to the banners, which will then be presented to the Steering Committee. Chief O’Dillon is looking into license plates. Ashford Manor will use the logo on chocolate coins covered in foil. The Chappelle Gallery will make some type of pottery using the logo. Dan Matthews has been working on a stamp collection, which hopefully the logo stamp will be sold for use at the post office on the official date of the bicentennial. Delores Schofill will be selling caps with the logo on them.



Councilman Link and Dan Matthews gives an update on the Others Committee activities. The bike ride will be Saturday, April 15th. The Governors Proclamation has been sent out to the next level of government, per Mayor Luken.

Not read or approved by Council.

Minutes/April 12, 2006/Page 3






Councilman Brodrick gives an update on the Coordinating Committee activities. Thanks to Kate McDaniel for media coverage. Fundraising needs to be addressed and we will be putting heads together on that.



Mayor Luken explains the Steering Committee works with all committees and gives approval for funding. There will be a Steering Committee meeting next week. Mayor Luken also notes that the community center room has been painted, chair rail installed and the floors have been stripped and waxed.



(2) Signage ordinance/moratorium (ends 4/22/06): Mayor Luken explains we need a little more time in regard to updating the sign ordinance, which the attorney we are using has suggested a workshop and public meeting. Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to extend the signage moratorium for 45 additional days as of April 22, 2006. Motion carried unanimously.



NEW BUSINESS: (1) Councilwoman Purcell – Tree City USA (Arbor Day Proclamation): Councilwoman Purcell would like to apply for the City of Watkinsville to become a tree city. There are four requirements:

1. We must sign an Arbor Day Proclamation.

2. We must have a tree board.

3. Establish an Urban Forest Ordinance.

4. Prove we spend $2.00 per person on planting and caring for trees.



Mayor Luken reads an Arbor Day Proclamation and signs it (see attached proclamation). Councilwoman Purcell explains a tree board will be established. Mayor Luken encourages citizens to volunteer for the tree board.



(2) Off-System Safety Project: Mayor Luken notes recently Oconee County agreed to wrap the City of Watkinsville’s Off-System Safety Project into their larger project. This will include a barrier on VFW Drive at the hairpin curve and other safety enhancements on Simonton Bridge Road and Harden Hill Road.



ADJOURN: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to adjourn the April 12, 2006 Council Meeting at 8:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.



RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,







JULIE A. SANDERS

CITY CLERK



Not read or approved by Council.

Watkinsville City Council
April 12, 2006
Oconee Living Section
Athens Banner-Herald

Watkinsville Council unveils businesses, bicentennial plans
By Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
Correspondent

Watkinsville City Council approved five business licenses and awarded the beautiful yard award as well as unveiling some aspects of the forthcoming Bicentennial celebration.
Regina Boswell made mouths water by describing her new business called Oconee Catering. Even before the business license was granted, Watkinsville Council member John Walsh, Jr. was informing her that he may contact her in regards to a Bicentennial Bash being put on a Rocket Hall with the Artie Ball Swing Band April 30th as a kick-off of the OCAF concert season.
Boswell intends to create “comfort food” from her home at 112 Southland Drive.
“I love to cook and I do parties really well,” said Boswell. “I thought what better business than to go to a party every day.”
Delores Schofill – who owns Circa Antiques – received a business license for Main Street Markets at 17 N. Main Street just down the street from her current location. She intends to continue selling antiques and some artwork from OCAF. She will also sell home décor. Schofill also selected Dewayne Wilkes as winning the Watkinsville Beautiful Yard award for all he has done with the tree effort all over the Bicentennial City.
“Anything else I might do just let me know,” offered Wilkes.
Kate McDaniel of the website apvoc.com also praised Wilkes and documented the efforts of planting the massive trees all over Watkinsville on her website, including a momentary setback with a busted water main. The big equipment planted the large trees all over Barnett Shoals along the industrial corridor.
Politeness and manners will continue to be taught to children in Watkinsville and the world with the license granted Cindy Haygood, Debra Lassiter and April McClain for their Etiquette and Leadership Institute at 10 Whitehall Road. This office only locally also absorbed the Protocol School of Washington recently. They will certify children’s etiquette consultants.
The local professional motor race mechanical experience grew by a quantum leap with the approval of Race Car Company, LLC featuring the talents of technicians Lee Strum and owner Jason Dunken at 1401 Greensboro Highway, Suite 330. They excel at English and European cars such as Jaguars, Porsches, BMW, Audi and others on a case-by-case basis.
Some concern was raised by the recent garage opening on Barnett Shoals having cars parked outside after promising not to have done so. These concerns were quickly alleviated when the upscale nature of the vehicles worked on by the Race Car mechanics, who promise to maintain a very clean and organized shop.
Brad Bunting received a business license for Paul Davis Restoration, joining a cavalcade of Oconee County businesses relocating to Watkinsville. He will be at 1041 Business Boulevard.
Merle Gay received a building permit for a 20’ x 20’ storage building with electricity at 210 Marshall Drive. This also brought forth an announcement from Mayor Jim Luken that he went with council member Brian Brodrick to Atlanta and met with the head of the state Department of Transportation to get Marshall Drive repaved “stem to stern” said Luken.
The city also received $45,000 for construction of the signalization of the Harden Hill- Simonton Bridge – Main Street intersection.
Luken also recognized the impact of the Nationwide professional golf tour coming with the Athens Regional Foundation classic to the Jennings Mill County Club with a special meal Monday at 6 pm at the Haygood House hosting the fine art of Chappelle Gallery. There will be a special catered barbecue meal open to the public starting at 6 pm with the hope of some of the future PGA stars coming to Watkinsville.
A business owner has donated $1000.00 toward the Bicentennial celebrations that began Saturday with the Bicentennial Bike Ride out of the back of the courthouse parking lot, sponsored by the Oconee County Democratic committee.
Chief Lee O’Dillon reported a significant decrease in the number of accidents in Watkinsville from the municipal police department’s efforts at eradicating speeders and ticketing people without their driving license. Mayor Luken also praised the efforts of the code enforcement officers Robert Hegge and current council member Joe Walter in getting dormant or non-existent business licenses established at dozens of local businesses.
The city also passed another 45-day extension of the moratorium on all signage over six square feet. This one will end June 1. Watkinsville is also going to be a Tree City USA after council member Samantha Purcell completes the application process after Luken read a proclamation.
Some Bicentennial projects unveiled included chocolate foil wrapped coins with the logo at Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast; Police Chief Lee O’Dillon is pricing license plates, postal stamps, cancellations and envelopes are being explored as well.
Clay Hartley of Oconee Heavy Hauling and Stephanie Cartwright of Bread and Budder missed their appearances for business licenses.