Dear Fellow High Shoalers, September 19, 2010
The Town Council had two meetings for five total hours last month. Because they do not have a bunch of employees they take care of the details themselves. With limited funds the seven of them work together well. While watching them I've observed that they always come back to two questions in their discussions of every issue: Is this a project the town should be doing with our limited budget and scope of authority? Where is the money going to come from for this project? Because our town has only one employee who works her tail off part time, we do not have a bevy of employees taking care of the details of planning and implementing SPLOST and other projects. The Town Council continues to volunteer many hours between meetings managing projects and in most cases being the people who physically do the projects. Every one of them puts in extra hours outside of the meetings digging, typing, researching, getting estimates, painting, running errands, and communicating with each other and the Town Clerk. Please thank them when you have the chance. They need our encouragement for their volunteer work.
Our first SPLOST project is finished. The Town built a sidewalk along Elder Road connecting the entrances of Hickory Lake. I spotted people walking it the first day it was open. The Town Council is very interested in knowing what you think they should next. The Council also passed the new city code. Now you have one document you can access on the town web site for city rules.
Farmers Market in Watkinsville…………………………Every Saturday morning
Next Public Council Meeting ……………………………September 20th
Thanks for your support of North High Shoals; I'll see you at the next meeting.
Peace, Fred Johnson
Unofficial Town of North High Shoals Council Meeting Notes
August 16, 2010
By Fred Johnson
Council Members at the Meeting: Council Members Violet Dawe (as Maypr Pro Tempore), Jason Wisniewski, Stephen Arnold(arrived in time for Old Business), Steve Holzman, David Lawrence, and Clerk Carolyn Pritchett.
Citizens and Guests: John MacKay, Mike Beall, Mark Campbell, Jeff Thomas, Molly Swan, & Fred Johnson
Agenda Setting
- Motion by Council Member Holzman to consolidate numbers 2 and 3 under New Business. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence; approved 3-0.
Monthly Business:
- Presentation of Draft Minutes for July 2010. Motion to accept the minutes by Council Member Holzman. 2nd by Council Member Wisniewski; approved 3-0.
- Presentation of Financial Statement for July 2010 and Financial Statements Audit Material Sent to accountant Hawkins. Motion to approve financial statements by Council Member Holzman. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence; approved 3-0.
- Three bids for sidewalk construction were opened and presented to the council for a later vote.
Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items:
Old Business:
1. Steeplechase Subdivision Update (J. MacKay)
- Correspondence concerning issues in Steeplechase was read to the Town Council. John MacKay discussed the issue with them.
- Motion to invite Elerbee and Reitman to the next meeting to discuss the issue for the town by Council Member Holzman. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-0.
2. Speed Rumble Strip Modifications (S. Arnold)
- Council heard from Oconee County on a requirement for the town to submit an engineering report if the town wants to adjust the rumble strips.
- Motion to leave the rumble strips while noting the engineering cost to the town and potential liability by Council Member Wisniewski. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-0.
3. Park Maintenance /Herbicide & Pesticide Use (S. Holzman)
- The Council discussed ways to maintain weeds on the track in the park.
4. City Park Update, incl. Trash Removal and Porta-Potty (D. Lawrence)
- Council Member Lawrence thanked Fred Johnson for helping him build the horseshoe pit in the park. He also thanked Harry Bradbury, Mitch Bradbury, and Violet Dawe for helping to complete the trench for the water lines for the new drinking fountain for the park. The plumbers will need to be brought in to complete the job. He also thanked Molly Swan for pulling poison ivy in the park.
- Council Member Lawrence also informed the council that a new baseball team is interested in using the park from September to June; they will complete some work on the field and provide a porta-potty for the park.
- Motion to hire a plumber to complete the work on the water lines and fountain in the park not to exceed $1,000 by Council Member Lawrence. 2nd by Council Member Holzman. Approved 3-0.
5. Building Inspector Possible Vote
- Motion to hire Mr. Wheeler as the as-needed inspector for the town by Council Member Lawrence. 2nd by Council Member Holzman. Approved 3-0.
6. Frazier Hill Road
- Mayor Pro Tempore Dawe informed the council that the town attorney would like the closed area of Frazier Hill road to be surveyed and legal actions to complete the process to be done as soon as possible. Jeff Thomas informed the council that he is proceeding to have this work done quickly.
New Business:
1. Award Contract for Sidewalk Construction for sidewalk connecting Hickory Lake entrances
- Town engineer Mark Campbell presented the bids to the town and made the recommendation to award the contract to Zavere Construction. All specifications of the council had been met by this company and they offered the lowest bid at $16,297.
- Council Member Arnold made a motion to award the bid to Zavere Construction; 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 4-0.
2. Building Permits and Building Permit Procedures (Mr. Steven Owens; Mr. Jeff Thomas)
- Council Member Holzman explained that he is waiting on one item of wording from the town lawyer.
- Council Member Holzman made a motion to approve a building permit for Mr. Steven Owens; 2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 4-0.
- Council Members discussed whether the proper channels were followed for issuing this permit for a structure which was built before a building permit was requested and the request was made as an emergency for the safety of animals.
- Council Member Holzman made a motion to approve a building permit for Mr. Jeff Thomas; 2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 3-1(Lawrence).
3. Proposal for Use of Other Town Buildings (Molly Swan)
- Molly Swan presented a proposal for her to use the town fire hall as office space. The Council engaged in extensive discussion about how structures would be changed and how the project would impact the town's budget.
- Motion made by Council Member Lawrence to allow Molly Swan to complete volunteer work on gutters on the fire hall with town funds not to exceed $100; 2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 4-0.
4. Street Update
- The Council discussed the striping of Plantation Road.
- Motion made by Council Member Holzman to set continuous roads with the county to speed limits coordinated with the Oconee County as part of the Town Ordinances; 2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 4-0.
5. Code Update (V. Dawe)
- The Council discussed provisions of the code they have been working on over the past two years and the merits of passing the document as it stands.
- Council Member Holzman made a motion to have a work session on the code on August 30, 2010; 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-1(Lawrence).
- Motion made by Council Member Wisniewski to pass the new town code; 2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 4-0.
Motion made by Council Member Arnold to move the remaining items to a called meeting on August 30, 2011; 2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 4-0.
Mayor's Update:
(All requests to be on the agenda must be submitted at least 7 days before a meeting. Direct your agenda items to Town Clerk Carolyn Pritchett or any Town Council Member. Look for the agenda for the next council meeting on the town's web site one week before the next meeting. The next council meeting will be held at 7: 30 pm on Monday, September 20, 2010.)
- Mayor Pro Tempore read a thank you note from Lt. Laura Kuhn for boxes sent to her unit from our town.
- Motion made by Council Member Wisniewski to adjourn. 2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 4-0.
Unofficial Town of North High Shoals Council Meeting Notes
August 30, 2010
By Fred Johnson
Council Members at the Meeting: Mayor Kim Kraeling, Council Members Violet Dawe, Jason Wisniewski, Stephen Arnold, Steve Holzman, David Lawrence, and Clerk Carolyn Pritchett.
Citizens and Guests: Mike Beall, Molly Swan, & Fred Johnson
New Business:
1. Plantation Road Striping/One Way Potential (Steve Holzman)
- The Council discussed the condition of Plantation in great detail and remedies for its maintenance. They also discussed limitations to funds and where the money should be taken in the budget
- Motion made by Council Member Holzman to buy reflectors and adhesive to place between the yellow lines on Plantation Rd.; 2nd by Council Member Dawe. Approved 5-0.
- The Council discussed the need to gather information from citizens of the town on road repair priorities. The Council discussed the needs for maintaining the town's roads
- Motion made by Council Member Dawe to set a date for a public hearing on the roads of the town to gather input for the Council to set priorities; 2ndby Council Member Holzman. Approved 5-0.
- The Council discussed the needs for maintaining the town's roads.
2. Proposal for Use of Other Town Buildings (Molly Swan)
- Molly Swan presented a proposal for her to use the town fire hall as office space. She offered specific information about taking care of the water run-off from the fire hall with gutters and rain collection. She reported on information gathered on the building through meeting with the Town's building inspector, Mr. Wheeler. The Council engaged in extensive discussion about how structures would be changed and how the project would impact the town's budget.
- Motion made by Council Member Lawrence to table this item until a more detailed construction budget can be presented to the town; 2nd by Council Member Holzman. Approved 5-0.
- The Council continued to discuss issues of maintenance for the Town's three buildings.
- Motion made by Council Member Dawe to place gutters on town hall and take other steps to keep water out of the Town Hall basement not to exceed $1,200 with money coming from the contingency fund; 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 5-0.
Mayor's Update:
(All requests to be on the agenda must be submitted at least 7 days before a meeting. Direct your agenda items to Town Clerk Carolyn Pritchett or any Town Council Member. Look for the agenda for the next council meeting on the town's web site one week before the next meeting. The next council meeting will be held at 7: 30 pm on Monday, September 20, 2010.)
- Motion made by Council Member Holzman to adjourn. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 5-0.
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