Draft of unapproved Watkinsville Council minutes from last meeting

I missed this one due to coaching duties, but glad to hear about the new Montessori school on School Street. My son's very first school was a Montessori School in Watkinsville. As usual, these are unapproved and subject to change and correction:

MINUTES OF MEETING

OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE

February 10, 2010

PRESENT: Mayor Walter, Council members Link, Purcell, Brodrick, Norman and Smith.

VISITORS: See attached sheet.

QUORUM CHECK:  Mayor Walter acknowledges a quorum is present.  He asks for all non-emergency cell phones and pagers to be turned off or silenced.   

MINUTES:  Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Norman seconded the motion to approve the January 13, 2010.  Opportunity for discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

OCONEE STATE BANK PROCLAMATION:  Mayor Walter presents Amrey Harden, President of Oconee State Bank with a Proclamation recognizing Oconee State Bank’s 50^th Birthday (see attached copy of proclamation). 

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA PROCLAMATION:  Mayor Walter presents Mike Kien and Boy Scouts of America with a Proclamation recognizing Boy Scouts of America’s 100^th Anniversary (see attached copy of proclamation). 

JONATHAN JONES:  Catherine Jones presents business license request.  Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to approve the business license for Jones Web Designs to be located at 29A North Main Street, Suite 2.  Opportunity for discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

MARILYNN BUTLER:  Becky Henderson presents business license request.  Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Smith seconded the motion to approve the business license for Home Creations Etc., LLC to be located at 2 South Main Street, Suite 110.  Opportunity for discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

HEATHER & JAN WEISENBORN:  Jan Weisenborn explains the business interest in placing a Montessori School at 26 School Street.  She requests a building permit to renovate the existing residence (see attached plan).  Councilman Link suggests Ms. Weisenborn check with the fire marshall’s office to determine allowed capacity.  Connie Massey, citizen, expresses concerns regarding parking at the site.  Ms. Weisenborn explains they do not anticipate a problem, but will gladly work to resolve any issues.  Robert Hegge, Code Enforcement Officer, notes a concern regarding the “circular drive”.  He doesn’t see the need for a pad, which potentially opens the possibility for someone to park there.  Ms. Weisenborn expresses concerns about parking/stopping on the street.  Councilman Link doesn’t feel we can have children being dropped off in the street and suggests approving the building permit; however looking more into the “circular drive” situation.  Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Norman seconded the motion to approve the building permit for 26 School Street.  Opportunity for discussion. Motion carried unanimously.  Robert Hegge and Chief Lee O’Dillon will meet with Ms. Weisenborn tomorrow to look at the driveway situation. 

RECONCILATION REPORT:  Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to approve the January 31, 2010 Reconciliation Report as presented.  Opportunity for discussion. Motion carried unanimously.

Julie gives a general fund budget update (see attached). 

MAYOR’S REPORT:  Update on the leaking dam:  last month we mentioned we contacted the owner regarding the leaking dam on Simonton Bridge Road.  The owner has made repairs and the dam is no longer leaking.  In driving by this afternoon, there is not a stream of water as there was before.  We will continue to monitor.  If further problems, it may at this point be the responsibility of joint property owners.   

Update on Streetscape II:  Have been in contact with Pat Mahoney/Travis Pruitt & Associates. Per Ms. Mahoney’s email dated February 10, 2010, the Concept Report was submitted to Georgia DOT’s TE Program Manager on December 21.  Comments were received back at the end of January – asking for revisions to the typical sections and for additional information about the existing conditions on SR 15, School Street and Second Street.  They had some minor comments about the construction cost estimate.  The revised Concept Report will be resubmitted this week.  We should see a one to two week turnaround in the Concept Report.  As soon as the Program Manager accepts the Concept Report, they will send it on to Georgia DOT and schedule the Concept Meeting.  Travis Pruitt will submit the Environmental Document to the Program Manager when we get word from them that they have forwarded the Concept Report on to Georgia DOT.   

Update on SPLOST:  SPLOST committee has met and narrowed the field of applicants to three.  Councilman Smith adds that in the selection process a large emphasis was placed on someone who knows Watkinsville since they have knowledge of what Watkinsville wants and how Watkinsville benefits the most.   

Free Trees for Arbor Day:  Free Trees to be given away February 15^th – 19^th at City Hall in celebration of Arbor Day.  Councilwoman Purcell reads the Arbor Day Proclamation and Mayor Walter signs it proclaiming February 19, 2010 as Arbor Day in the City of Watkinsville.  

 Harris Shoals Park Clean-up:  Mayor Walter thanks Lions Club Members for all their hard work in removing invasive plants and cleaning Harris Shoals Park.   

DAR Cemetery Clean-up:  On Sunday, January 31^st, the Daughters of the American Revolution cleaned up the Watkinsville Cemetery.  Mayor Walter notes all should ride by and take a look because the cemetery doesn’t look the same as it did three months ago.   

Calls Creek Monitoring Project:  Mayor Walter shows Calls Creek Water Shed Map.  Several years ago there was a contamination noted in the water shed.  A lot of things have been done since that time to correct the problem.  It is now time for testing.  A joint effort between Oconee County, City of Watkinsville and the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission has been formed to take care of this matter.  Creek walks and monitoring will go on for a number of weeks.  If all declared good, Calls Creek will be removed from the bad list.  If declared bad, problems will be pinpointed, corrected and re-tested to move to the good list.  Letters will be going out tomorrow.   

Committee Breakdown:  See attached list.

Simonton Bridge Road Connector Concept:  A number of years ago, Council designed the Simonton Bridge Road Connector Concept.  This concept has to be put into the subdivision regulations to ensure build out as properties develop.  This does not affect property owners now.  Councilman Brodrick explains the development of the connector was a logical terminus to address traffic concerns in the future through easement/development.  Mayor Walter notes the connector is also on the MACORTS Long Term Radar Plan as well.   

Personnel Manual:  We are working to update the archaic 1978 Personnel Manual.  Julie has worked hard over the past year or so collecting information from different organizations and tailoring a manual to fit the size of Watkinsville.  The department heads have met with me.  Copies of the manual will be given to the personnel committee and our city attorney next week for review.  Three sections will be addressed at a later time.  Those sections are:  performance evaluations, job descriptions and pay scales.  This will give the city as well as employees a mechanism to follow. 

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS:    A representative from Chops & Hops was here asking for approval to sell beer and wine with dinners on Valentine’s Day this year since it was on a Sunday.  Councilwoman Purcell explains doing so would violate a State Law, so we can’t approve such. 

Robert Hegge, Code Enforcement Officer, notes he received a call from Russ Henson, Fire Marshall, with concerns about visibility of fire hydrants.  Jerry and Robert found two fire hydrants overgrown and will be clearing those.  Robert asks if you see any fire hydrants that need to be cleared, please call and bring it to our attention. 

Mayor Walter added that the City’s current nuisance ordinance is old and difficult to enforce.  Robert has been working on a new ordinance for a year or so, which will help prevent problems.  We will be looking to adopt that ordinance soon.

OLD BUSINESS:  (1) Bird Sanctuary Ordinance:  Public hearing #1: See attached ordinance.  Boy Scouts and the Junior Garden Club have agreed to build bird houses, notes Mayor Walter.  Councilwoman Purcell reads the ordinance.  Councilman Brodrick suggests adding a severability clause.  Opportunity for discussion.  No action taken at this time. 

(2) Crosswalk repair update:  Mayor Walter explains he and Wayne Craig were concerned enough that they brought companies/engineers in to look at the crosswalk.  If we replace with stamped and colored cement, the cost will be $22,777.00.  When we put those crosswalks in we “bought” that portion of Main Street.  Spoke with Wayne Craig after he talked with DOT and we may need to make another decision.  If we fix the foundation with cement and fill with asphalt per DOT standards, we lose brick ambiance, but we are no longer responsible for crosswalk.  The Third Street crosswalk is beginning to show signs of breaking.  If we go back with asphalt and painted lines, there is a possibility we may have to reimburse the federal monies used to install the crosswalks.  We can go with stamped asphalt and not go back to the State.  Lastly, Mayor Walter notes that he is meeting next Wednesday with DOT and Wayne Craig.  He will find more information then.  Councilman Norman says it may not be aesthetically pleasing, but will save in maintenance if we just asphalt and stamp it.  Councilman Brodrick and Councilman Link agree with going with asphalt.  Councilwoman Purcell agrees as well.  Opportunity for discussion. No formal motion made. 

(3) Annual report of water quality:  Mayor Walter explains Mark Campbell has completed the City’s Annual Report regarding water quality.  Mark Campbell explains all required criteria has been met.  We are awaiting comments and approval or suggestions at this point, he adds. 

(4) Flower beds:  Councilman Link suggest we bid out landscaping of the flower beds downtown as well as at city hall.  Opportunity for discussion. No action taken or necessary at this time. 

(5)  Residential ordinance:  Councilman Link notes that we are beginning to get a good bit of rental property.  He suggests we look into an ordinance that prohibits more than 2-3 unrelated persons living in one household.  Mayor Walter notes we will work on that.  Opportunity for discussion. No action taken or necessary at this time. 

ADJOURN:  Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Smith seconded the motion to adjourn the February 10, 2010 Council meeting at approximately 8:25 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

JULIE A. SANDERS, CMC