Minutes from a meeting I did not attend

The worst part of missing these Watkinsville City Council meetings is not hearing the part where Mayor Jim Luken reads his comments and generally they are not included in what I get from city clerk Julie Sanders (they are in here but Luken almost always adds some colorful but well spoken quote often but not always combining his military and or Cincinnati or Roswell or baseball backgrounds). Luken often reveals the best little nuggets of news in this part of the meeting. But I digress. Thanks to Julie for sending the minutes. I love Watkinsville. Been a pretty good week for Mack Guest III after getting appointed to the Board of Education and now he has another business under his belt. The following are unapproved minutes of last night's meeting, reads like this was a relatively brief and unspectacular or non-controversial gathering:

MINUTES OF MEETING

OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE

November 14, 2007

PRESENT: Mayor Luken, Council members Link, Purcell, Walsh, Walter and City Attorney Reitman

ABSENT: Councilman Brodrick

VISITORS: See attached sheet.

QUORUM CHECK: Mayor Luken acknowledges a quorum is present. All speakers are asked to approach the lectern and address Council.

MINUTES: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2007 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

CAROLE ANNE KELLEY: Councilman Walter moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to approve the business license for CAK Unlimited Design, Inc. at 1141 Stone Shoals Terrace. Motion carried unanimously.

MACK GUEST III: Councilman Link moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to approve the business license for LAD Logistics, Inc. at 109 Barnett Shoals Road. Motion carried unanimously.

CHRISTOPHER BLANCHARD: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to approve the business license for Christopher M. Blanchard, LLC at 31 N. Main Street. Motion carried unanimously.

SARAH SCOTT: Councilman Walter moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to approve the building permit for a 20’ x 38’ detached garage at 1031 Christian Court. Motion carried unanimously.

WISTERIA RIDGE: Represented by Cissy Watson. Councilman Walsh moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to approve the building permit for the 40’ x 40’ leasing office (Building 100) at 95 N. Main Street. Motion carried unanimously.

Councilman Link moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve the building permit for the 74’ x 42’ F1 apartment building (Building 200) at 95 N. Main Street. Motion carried unanimously. This building will include one bedroom, one bath units.

Councilman Link noted that the developers assured the siding on the buildings will be hardiplank and not vinyl. Hardiplank will also be installed between the windows and cultured stone will be used along the bottom of the buildings up approximately three feet, depending on the elevation of the building.

Councilman Walter moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to approve the building permits for the seven (7) 64’2” x 50’4” F2 apartment buildings (Buildings 300, 400, 500, 1000, 1300, 1400 & 1500 at 95 N. Main Street. Motion carried unanimously. These buildings will have 2 bedroom, 2 bath units. Mayor Luken notes the State Fire Marshal’s stamped approval of this plan.

Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to approve the building permits for four (4) 74’ x 38’ F3 apartment buildings (Buildings 800, 900, 1100 & 1200) at 95 N. Main Street. Motion carried unanimously. These buildings will have 3 bedroom, 2 bath units.

Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve the building permits for two (2) 141’ x 60’ G1 & G2 apartment buildings (Buildings 600 & 700) at 95 N. Main Street conditional upon State Fire Marshal approval. Motion carried unanimously. Cissy Watson notes the plans have already been submitted to the State Fire Marshal’s office. These buildings will be fully sprinkled.

FOUR PILLARS CONSTRUCTION: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve the building permit for a 67’9” x 65’3” single family residence (Lot 3 – The Village at Watkinsville) at 105 Village Circle. Motion carried unanimously.

Councilman Walter moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to approve the building permit for a 61’9” x 59’ single family residence (Lot 5 – The Village at Watkinsville) at 100 Village Circle. Motion carried unanimously.

RECONCILIATION REPORTS: Councilman Link moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to approve the September and October, 2007 Reconciliation Reports as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

MAYOR’S REPORT: (1) Christmas Parade – December 1, 2007 @ 11:00 a.m. Line up at 10:00. (2) First Friday – December 7^th . (3) Tree Lighting – December 7^th. (4) Someone got into the water at Harris Shoals Park. The handle has been chained down.

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS: Mr. Johnny Lay asks if the Wisteria Ridge apartment buildings will be subsidized housing. No, per Mrs. Cissy Watson.

OLD BUSINESS: (1) Select Fence Company for Rocket Field: As a first phase to a long term project for Rocket Field, we would like to install a new fence and gates. The existing fence will be removed and replaced with a new four foot fence. The excess poles and score’s booth needs to be taken down also. After discussion, Councilman Walsh moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to approve the bid from D & D Fence Company in the amount of $19,375.00 to remove existing fence, replace with four foot commercial grade fence as well as remove excess poles and score’s booth. Motion carried unanimously.

(2) Joe Reitman, City Attorney, gives an update and recommends an informal first reading of the new subdivision regulations, which process started approximately five months ago. The new regulations set forth clear standards and procedures for plans, preliminary and final plats. The regulations will be reviewed by Oconee County Planning Department. Mayor Luken also suggests having a ½ day workshop before final consideration. Mayor Luken thanks Attorney Reitman for all he has done.

(3) Chief O’Dillon asks the developers of Wisteria Ridge and The Village at Watkinsville to work with them to make sure their developments are have very clearly marked addresses.

ADJOURN: Councilman Link moved and Councilwoman Purcell seconded the motion to adjourn the November 14, 2007 Council Meeting at 8:10 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

JULIE A. SANDERS, CMC