REGULAR MEETING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, CITY HALL, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013, 6:30 PM. Mayor Ronnie Johnston presided with Mayor Pro-Tem Janet A. Goodman, Council members: Hawnethia Williams, Michael Whatley, Chris Smith, Ocie Franklin, and Keith Dalton, City Manager Leigh Anne Knight, Deputy City Manager Billy Bouchillon, City Clerk Audra M. Gutierrez, City Attorney E. A. Crudup, Jr., and Associate City Attorney Frank Turner, Jr. present. Mayor Johnston led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Former Mayor Sam Ramsey opened the meeting with prayer. 1. Motion made by Council member Goodman, seconded by Council member Franklin to approve the minutes from the Regular Council Meeting held on September 3, 2013. 2. Motion made by Council member Whatley, seconded by Council member Smith to approve the final reading of an ordinance for the City of Covington: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE COVINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ENACTED AND ADOPTED ON THE 16 TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2001, AS AMENDED BY PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS, TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISION OF TITLE 5 OF THE SAID CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING SECTION 5.12.030 (DEFINITIONS), SECTION 5.12.050 (LOCATION) AND SECTION 5.12.060 (QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSEES) OF CHAPTER 5.12 (ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES) THEREOF, TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 3. Motion made by Council member Goodman, seconded by Council member Whatley to approve the final reading of an ordinance for the City of Covington: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE COVINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ENACTED AND ADOPTED ON THE 16 TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2001, AS AMENDED BY PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS, TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISION OF TITLE 5 OF THE SAID CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING SECTION 5.12.010 (LICENSE REQUIRED), 5.12.030 (DEFINITIONS), SECTION 5.12.050 (LOCATION) AND SECTION 5.12.060 (QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSEES) OF CHAPTER 5.12 (ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES) THEREOF, TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. CoC09162013 1
4. Motion made by Council member Smith, seconded by Council member Franklin to approve amending the agenda to add: -Discussion of voting alternate for Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG). 5. Motion made by Council member Goodman, seconded by Council member Franklin to approve amending the agenda to add: -Enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. Mr. Wayne King discussed subdivision development revisions and stormwater issues on Highland Drive. Former Mayor Sam Ramsey thanked the Council for help in raising monies last year for the homeless shelter and stated the shelter desperately needs help at this time. 6. Motion made by Council member Whatley, seconded by Council member Franklin to decline an offer from SGD requesting a reduced electric rate. 7. Motion made by Council member Whatley, seconded by Council member Dalton to approve a license to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption only for: Stewart Services, Inc. d/b/a Bradley s Barbecue 1160 Church Street 8. Motion made by Council member Franklin, seconded by Council member Smith to approve a license to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption only for: Red Rose Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Don s Superette 3251 Highway 278 NW 9. Motion made by Council member Smith, seconded by Council member Whatley to approve the low bid from Great Estates Landscaping in the amount of $1,838.00 per month, for lawn and ornamentals maintenance around Exit 90 @ US 278, Exit 92 @ Alcovy Road, and grass median @ US 278 in front of Ginn Chrysler, and to amend the 2013-14 Budget. Dante s Lawn Maintenance LLC $7,100.00 $50.00 * CoC09162013 2
Great Estates Landscaping $1,838.00 $30.00* G & G Landscape Management $3,500.00 $35.00* *optional services per man hour 10. Motion made by Council member Franklin, seconded by Council member Goodman to approve the low bid from G & G Landscape Management in the amount of $455.00, for lawn and ornamentals maintenance along the SE Apron at the Covington Municipal Airport. Dante s Lawn Maintenance LLC $1,200.00 $50.00* Great Estates Landscaping $600.00 $30.00* G & G Landscape Management $455.00 $35.00* *optional services per man hour 11. Motion made by Council member Franklin, seconded by Council member Williams to approve the low bid from Great Estates Landscaping in the amount of $750.00 per month, for lawn and ornamentals maintenance on both sides of the roadway from Highway 142 from Home Depot to US 278, contingent upon County approval to share the cost 50/50. Dante s Lawn Maintenance LLC No bid $50.00* Great Estates Landscaping $750.00 $30.00* G & G Landscape Management $910.00 $35.00* *optional services per man hour Airport Manager Vincent Passariello informed the Mayor and Council of a request to film at the Covington Municipal Airport around October 12 th. 12. Motion made by Council member Dalton, seconded by Council member Whatley to reject a bid from Memco and to authorize the Airport Manager to rebid the Airport Fuel System project, due to Memco being unable to keep original time schedule. 13. Motion made by Council member Dalton, seconded by Council member Smith to resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Covington, Georgia identifying projects and tourism product development purposes for which a portion of the excise tax on rooms and lodgings and accommodations shall be dedicated; and for other purposes. CoC09162013 3
14. Motion made by Council member Franklin, seconded by Council member Goodman to authorize the City Manager to approve future hedging and to complete hedging documents and instruments as necessary. 15. Motion made by Council member Dalton, seconded by Council member Williams to approve a resolution authorizing hedging natural gas through MGAG on behalf of the City. 16. Motion made by Council member Dalton, seconded by Council member Whatley to approve an amendment to franchise agreement with Georgia Power. 17. Motion made by Council member Whatley seconded by Council member Franklin to approve requests for road closure on Monticello Street in front of Twelve Oaks for one hour and 15 minutes only on October 5 th and November 11 th. 18. Motion made by Council member Smith, seconded by Council member Dalton to approve road closures for upcoming events: Harvest Festival Change the World Day Road Race October 19 th October 26 th 19. Motion made by Council member Whatley, seconded by Council member Goodman to approve selecting URS as the engineering firm for the Emory Street Pedestrian Bridge project in the amount of $194,500.00. 20. Motion made by Council member Whatley, seconded by Council member Goodman to authorize URS to draft a conceptual design and complete preliminary plans for the Emory Street Pedestrian Bridge. 21. Motion made by Council member Dalton, seconded by Council member Goodman to approve finalization of the abandonment of Odum Circle. CoC09162013 4
22. Motion made by Council member Dalton, seconded by Council member Whatley to approve the following formula for SPOT ads: duration of the air time x number of frequency or airings x.0158 to provide a price per day. 23. Motion made by Council member Goodman, seconded by Council member Dalton to approve selecting Deputy City Manager Billy Bouchillon as voting alternate for ECG. Mr. Wayne King discussed mosquito sprayer, police protection, police vehicles parked at the police station, and vehicles with expired tags. The City Manager discussed: -Police vehicles bids will be on the next agenda -GPS units in the process of being installed Council member Smith asked status of license plate readers. Council member Smith asked that tractor trailers be kept off the square unless delivering to a business and asked the City Manager to look into the matter further. The Deputy City Manager stated the reason that tractor trailers are coming to the square is due to GPS systems routing them through the previous Highway 36 route. Council member Smith asked that signs be put in place directing them. Council member Goodman stated the Friday night concert on the square was a great event. Council member Williams acknowledged the presence of Rhonda Stroud-Holt and Patrick Holt in the audience. The Mayor commented on: -Great concert event on Friday night -Live Events Solutions won bid for holiday lighting -Updating Chamber Economic Development and Tourism Contracts It was the consensus of the Council to schedule a work session on Tuesday, September 24 th from 5:30 to 8 PM to discuss branding Covington. -Proud of the Council s decision to beautify the community The City Manager mentioned the 30 th Anniversary of the Fuzz Run last Saturday. Council member Williams mentioned the Texas Alley/Sandhill Community Reunion was a great success. CoC09162013 5
24. Motion made by Council member Franklin, seconded by Council member Dalton to enter into Executive Session at 7:58 PM for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. 25. Motion made by Council member Goodman, seconded by Council member Whatley to enter back into Regular Session. Being no further business meeting adjourned at 8:27 PM. Audra M. Gutierrez, City Clerk Ronnie Johnston, Mayor CoC09162013 6