Town Of North High Shoals March & April Notes from Fred

High Shoals has election fraud? Can someone refresh my mind on that one? This post is by Fred Johnson
Sincerely, 
Dan Matthews

Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 18:55:41 -0700
From: ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com
Subject: TONHS March & April Notes from Fred
To: ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com


Dear Fellow High Shoalers,                                                                                          May 15, 2011

I have combined the notes for the last two meetings below.  During March the town continued discussions about road repairs, completed the animal control section of the code, and accepted the rulings of the Secretary of State's Office concerning the 2007 election by voting to pay the fines for the town and the election superintendent.  During the April meeting the town completed plans for the 2nd annual Dog Day, reduced the fine for an incident of harvesting timber in the city without a permit, and agreed to send letters to the owners of two abandoned structures in the town informing them of rules in the city code pertaining to their properties.

Next NHS Council Meeting ………………………………………May 16th
Budget Hearing ………………………………………7 pm on May 16th


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
March 29, 2011
By Fred Johnson

Council Members at the Meeting:  Council Members, Mayor Kim Kraeling, Jason Wisniewski, Steve Holzman, David Lawrence, and Stephen Arnold.

Citizens and Guests: Mike Beall, Wes Donegan, and Fred Johnson.

Agenda Setting
  • Motion by Council Member Lawrence to accept agenda with addition of Secretary of State Consent Order under New Business.  2nd by Council Member Holzman.  Approved 4-0.

Monthly Business:
  • Presentation of Draft Minutes for February, 2011.  Motion by Council Member Lawrence to accept the minutes with edits.  2nd by Council Member Wisniewski.  Approved 4-0.
  • Presentation of Financial Statement for February, 2011.  Motion by Council Member Lawrence to accept the financial statements.  2nd by Council Member Arnold.  Approved 4-0.
Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items:
  • No Comments were made.

Old Business:
1. Street Update
  • Mayor Kraeling stated she has talked to DOT about getting help Gober or Jefferson.  Council Member Holzman reintroduced the topic of having a community meeting for deciding road repair priorities with SPLOST money.  Council decided to have a community meeting on May 2nd or 9th at HSES.  Council Member Lawrence continues to paint speed bumps.

2. City Park Update
  • Council Member Lawrence described repairs he and other community member have made on equipment and grounds at the park.

3. Dog Day, April 23
  • Mayor Kraeling explained the activities for the annual Dog Day event at the park.  She offered opportunities for people to volunteer for the event.

4. Grant Update
  • Mayor Kraeling explained that the town did not get the grant for trails in the park from the state.

5. Logging Update
  • Letters have been sent with fines assigned for logging without a permit in the city limits.

New Business:

1. Business License Request (Performance Motors, ETL LLC)
  • Motion to approve the Occupational Tax Certificate for Performance Motors Works by Council Member Holzman.  2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 3-0-1(Lawrence abstains).
  •  Motion to approve the Occupational Tax Certificate for ETL LLC by Council Member Wisniewski.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-0 (Kraeling recused herself and Holzman ran this portion of the meeting).

2. Park Maintenance Bid
  • Mayor Kraeling opened and read the seven bids in front of the council and assigned council members to organize the bids in a manner for the council to compare their specifics.  Council then discussed the bids.
  • Motion to award the bid pending reference checks by Mayor Kraeling to Butler Landscaping by Council Member Holzman.  2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 4-0.

3. Oconee Co. Animal Control Ordinance
  • Mayor Kraeling explained the past readings of this ordinance  The town had the required readings of this ordinance and it is ready for a vote.
  • Motion to add the Oconee County Animal control ordinance to the town code by Council Member Holzman.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 4-0.

4. Building Permit Request by Steve Holzman
  • Steve Holzman recused himself and explained the bathroom remodeling project.
  • Motion to approved the permit by Council Member Wisniewski.  2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 3-0.

5. Building Permit Forms
  • Mayor Kraeling asked the council to work on improving these forms.

6. Tiller Family Hardship
  • Mayor Kraeling explained the details of the hardship exemption for 115 Jefferson Road.
  • Motion to extend exemption for one year by Council Member Holzman.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 4-0.

7. Secretary of State Consent Order from Elections Board
  • Mayor Kraeling explained the two consent orders offered by the Secretary of State to the City of North High Shoals and to former election superintendent Sandy Brooks for 2007 election violations.
  • Motion to pay the $100 fine for the town by the Office of the Secretary of State by Council Member Holzman.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 4-0.
  • Motion to pay the $400 fine for the former superintendent of elections Sandy Brooks by the Office of the Secretary of State by Council Member Lawrence.  2nd by Council Member Arnold. 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, May 16, 2011.)
  • Mayor Kraeling announced that the town had received three bids for removing a large pine tree from behind town hall with the lowest bid coming from Tops Tree Service.
  • Mayor Kraeling told the council that inspections have been completed for the cell tower.
  • Motion made by Council Member Holzman to adjourn.  2nd by Council Member Arnold.  Approved 4-0.

Unofficial Town of North High Shoals Council Meeting Notes
April 18, 2011
By Fred Johnson

Council Members at the Meeting:  Council Members, Jason Wisniewski, Steve Holzman, David Lawrence, Stephen Arnold, and Mayor Pro Tempore Violet Dawe.

Citizens and Guests: Mike Beall, John MacKay, Tony Capomacchia, and Perry Glass

Agenda Setting
  • Motion by Council Member Holzman to accept agenda with addition of timber permit placed at the top of old business and moving dog day to second place under old business.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence.  Approved 4-0.

Monthly Business:
  • Presentation of Draft Minutes for March, 2011.  Motion by Council Member Holzman to accept the minutes with edits.  2nd by Council Member Arnold.  Approved 4-0.
  • Presentation of Financial Statement for March, 2011.  Motion by Council Member Holzman to accept the financial statements.  2nd by Council Member Arnold.  Approved 4-0.
Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items:
  • Karl Berg asked when the council will talk about city street issues and the council told him the agenda item.

Old Business:
1. Timber Permit Fine
  • Council Member Holzman introduced the issue and explained the reason for the fine as it pertains to the city code and the letter sent by the city to the timber company.  Council, landowner, and a representative of the timber company discussed the issue.
  • Motion by Council Member Holzman to reduce the fine by half to $250.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence.  Approved 3-0-1 (Wisniewski abstained).

2. Dog Day, April 23.
  • John MacKay explained preparations for the event and talked to the city about needs.  Council discussed how they could support this event.

3. Street Update
  • The Council discussed their efforts to get LMIG funds for Jefferson Rd; they decided to postpone a meeting of the town until the state has decided their distribution of road funds.  The Council decided to ask the county for help with counting the cars traveling on Jefferson.
  • Arnold introduced the adopt a mile program to the council and offered to do research for the Council for the next meeting.

4. City Park Update
  • Council Member Lawrence met with the new company which is maintaining the city park.  He reported on their plans and informed the council that the company was doing a good job.  Between biking events and birthday parties, the park is being well used.  He suggested that the town schedule a work day in June to take care of some park needs.

5. Animal Control Ordinance Resolution
  • Council Member Holzman explained this ordinance for a third time.  It has been posted on the web site and available at town hall for months.
  • Motion by Council Member Holzman to accept the revised Oconee County Animal Control Ordinance.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence.  Approved 4-0.

6. Abandoned Houses (code enforcement)
  • Council Member Lawrence explained that community members have brought forward code violations of two abandoned houses in the city.  One of the houses is on Jefferson Road and the other is on Hillsboro Road.
  • Motion by Council Member Holzman to send a letter and copies of the code to the two property owners requesting their response in 30 days.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence.  Approved 3-1(Wisniewski).

7. Code Enforcement Officer
  • Council discussed hiring a code enforcement officer on an as needed basis.  Item will be discussed at the next meeting.

New Business:

1. Business License Request(Young Female Farmers)
  • Citizen removed request for this month.

2. Budget
  • Council discussed having public hearings before the May and June meetings.

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, May 16, 2011.)
  • Mayor Pro Tempore presented the invoice of $4,326 for insurance to the Council.  Arnold answered questions about the policy.  
  • Latest census figures show 652 people in the town.
  • Council Member Holzman requested that a short summary of the meeting be published the day after the meeting.
  • Karl Berg asked the Council to pay attention to the drainage issues of Jefferson Road before any paving is done.
  • Motion made by Council Member Lawrence to adjourn.  2nd by Council Member Wisniewski.  Approved 4-0.



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