Town of North High Shoals June & July Note from Fred



Begin forwarded message:

From: Fred Johnson ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com
Date: August 21, 2012 7:26:43 PM EDT
To: Fred Johnson ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com
Subject: TONHS June and July Note from Fred
Reply-To: Fred Johnson ilovehighshoals@yahoo.com

Dear Fellow High Shoalers,                                                                August 21, 2012
The council set the budget and millage rate for the next year in June and July; taxes were left unchanged from this past year.  As you can imagine, all the discussion centered around justification for current spending and ways to manage the budget best.  The majority of the town's spending is in the area of road repairs, road maintenance, road signage, and road lighting.  SPLOST money and state grants are being utilized well by the town to help manage these expenses.
Council Member Lawrence continues to manage the park for the city through making repairs and working with the sheriff's office to get people who damage the park to come back and fix their damage.  The annual audit is on track to be completed.  The council has started the process of rewriting our subdivision and zoning regulations with work sessions and community imput.
   Next NHS Council Meeting ………………………………………….September 18th
Town Web Site……………………………………………www.northhighshoals.org
Mayor Mike Beall………………………………………nhsmayor.beall@gmail.com
Clerk Carolyn Pritchett………………………………………nhsclerk@yahoo.com
Thank you for your support of North High Shoals; I'll see you at the next meeting, if not before.
Fred Johnson

Unofficial Town of North High Shoals Council Meeting Notes
June 18, 2012
By Fred Johnson
Council Members at the Meeting: Council Members Mayor Mike Beall, Council Members Jason Wisniewski, Steve Holzman, and David Lawrence.
Citizens and Guests: Jim Luken,
 
Agenda Setting:
·         Motion by Council Member Holzman to accept the agenda as written. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-0.
Presentation of Draft Minutes:
·         Motion to approve draft minutes, by Council Member Holzman. 2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 3-0.
·         Motion to approve draft minutes, by Council Member Lawrence. 2nd by Council Member Holzman. Approved 3-0.

Presentation of Financial Statements:
·         Motion to accept April & May Financial Statements as presented by Council Member Holzman. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-0.

Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items:
·         Jim Luken explained the importance of electing Chuck Horton as commission chair for ensuring the inclusion of all local government voices in the process of making local decisions.  The council also asked him questions about county SPL
OST spending.
Old Business:
1. Street Update – M. Beall
·         Mayor Beall reported on the completion of the work on Jefferson road saying the project is wrapping up well with specific comments on the work done to complete intersections.  The county will return to paint the roads.  This project was paid for with SPLOST, state, and city funding.
·         Council Member Holzman led discussion on replacing the removed speed bump on Jefferson more will be done on this issue at July's meeting.   The Council is collecting speed data with county and city measuring devices.  The Council then discussed how speed limits on Hillsboro were being worked out with the county.
2. City Park Update - D. Lawrence
·         Council Member Lawrence reported that the person caught spinning his car in the parking lot returned to the parking lot with a rake to fix the damage he created.  Council Member Lawrence caught this person in the act spinning in the park parking lot and was able to have the sheriff's office persuade the person to repair the damage.
·         Lawrence discussed other repairs and asked the city to purchase more sand for the sand box.
3. Speed Monitor – D. Lawrence
·         Council Member Lawrence has been operating the town's new speed monitor which is currently located on Hillsboro.  The town is collecting data on speed as well as informing people of their speed; council members discussed how they could better collect this data and use this data.
·         Motion by Council Member Lawrence to purchase the software device needed to further analyze the speed data. 2nd by Council Member Holzman. Approved 3-0.
New Business:

1. 2012-2013 Budget Adoption – M. Beall
·         Mayor Beall led discussion on the version of the budget the council has prepared over the last 3 months.
·         Motion by Council Member Holzman to adopt the 2012-2013 budget.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-0.

2. Occupation Tax Certificate – ETL, LLC
·         Motion by Council Member Holzman to renew the ETL certificate. 2nd  by Council Member Lawrence.  Approved 3-0.
3. 2011-12 Budget Reallocation – M. Beall
·         Motion by Council Member Holzman to move $4,600.00 of unspent funds to public safety to pay for radar signs.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence.  Approved 3-0.
4. Town Hall Committee – M. Beall
·         Mayor Beall led discussion on formation of the Town Hall Committee.
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 18, 2012.)
·         Mayor Beall reminded council members about their ethics filings and weather alert system.

Motion made by Council Member Lawrence to adjourn.  2nd by Council Member Holzman. Approved 3-0.
Unofficial Town of North High Shoals Council Meeting Notes
July 16, 2012
By Fred Johnson
Council Members at the Meeting: Council Members Mayor Mike Beall, Jason Wisniewski, Steven Arnold, Violet Dawe, and David Lawrence.
Citizens and Guests: Jane Hutchins, Dave Evans, Horst Klein, Heike Meuler, Trey Adcock, Mrs. Adcock, and Fred Johnson.
 
Agenda Setting:
·         Motion by Council Member Lawrence to accept the agenda with the movement of a permit request on Gober Road to the top[ of the agenda.  2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 4-0.
Presentation of Draft Minutes:
·         Motion to approve draft minutes, by Council Member Lawrence. 2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 3-0-1(Dawe abstained).

Presentation of Financial Statements:
·         Motion to accept June Financial Statements as presented by Council Member Wisniewski. 2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 4-0.
Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items:
·         No comments
New Business:

1. Gober Road Building Permit at 247 Gober Road
·         Mayor Beall invited the builder to present the planned addition to this home.  The builder has already started to work with the town's inspector on requirements; he explained the steps they are taking to comply with city regulations.
·         Motion by Council Member Lawrence to approve this permit application.  2nd by Council Member Wisniewski. Approved 4-0.
Old Business:
1. Street Update – M. Beall
·         Mayor Beall reported on the completion of the inspection and paperwork on the work on Jefferson road.  DOT paid $31,000 of this project while the town is using $34,000 of SLPOST funds to pay the remainder.  Oconee County contracted with the city to complete this project.
·         Council discussed possible next projects including work on Dickens Lane.  Resident Trey Adcock asked the council to pave Dickens Lane.
·         Council also discussed the work with the county and state on setting speed limits on Hillsboro.
2. City Park Update - D. Lawrence
·         Council Member Lawrence explained a request to use the city baseball park for four Sundays.  He also reported on other general use of the park.
·         Motion by Council Member Arnold to allow the use of the park to a baseball team for $30 fee.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 4-0.
3. Speed Monitor – D. Lawrence
·         Council Member Lawrence led discussion on the data gathered by the speed sign on Hillsboro.
4. Weather Warning System
·         Council Members discussed signing up for a weather alert system.
New Business:
1. 2012-2013 Milage Rate – M. Beall
·         Council discussed options for setting the milage rate.  They discussed either cutting it or maintaining the rate at the rollback level which would keep taxes at their current level. 
·         Motion by Council Member Dawe to set the milage rate at 1.491.  2nd by Council Member Lawrence. Approved 3-1(Wisniewski).

2. Budget/Audit – M. Beall
·         Mayor Beall discussed progress on the town audit which will be moving to completion next month.
·         Council also discussed moving town money from the checking account to the money market account.
·         Mayor Beall asked council to consider giving a town donation to the High Shoals Fire Department.
3. Review of Subdivision Regulations – V. Dawe
·         Council Member Dawe discussed the need for these regulations to be updated before new building activity increases.
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, August 20, 2012.)
·         Mayor Beall reported gunshots on June 21 which prompted the mayor to send the sheriff a copy of the town gun ordinances.

Motion made by Council Member Wisniewski to adjourn.  2nd by Council Member Arnold. Approved 4-0.

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