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1239 self initiative calls. 00:00:00
18 reports taken, 64 written citations, 78 written warnings, 7 accidents and six total arrest. 00:00:03
There's the rest on the side there. Most of them are. 00:00:10
Of some type of driving violation there's one family violence and one wanted person out of Houston County that they did want so 00:00:14
we. 00:00:17
We had to take that person into the jail. 00:00:21
Did y'all just happen to pull him over or was that through one of our multiple cameras that we had? No that was actually at a 00:00:24
business in town called and reported this person was acting very strange and weird and. 00:00:30
Just so happened when we went. 00:00:37
Ran the person. 00:00:39
They were wanted. 00:00:40
And a warrants on them. 00:00:42
Kind of worked out. 00:00:43
That's great. 00:00:46
The the. 00:00:51
Community events, so have a bunch of them as we continue. Touch Truck was March 29th. It was great. The we took the UTV down there 00:00:54
and that was a hit with all the kids. They loved it. 00:00:59
Easter egg hunt on the 10th at one of the preschools we actually have the other preschool on the 18th we just. 00:01:05
Finished that this week. We're going to go. 00:01:11
Friday and do a Easter egg hunt with the kids there. The 19th we have our event which is. 00:01:14
Which is pretty big. We have 10,000 eggs and. 00:01:19
A table full of candy and gifts. So please guys, show up. 00:01:23
Saturday at 10 o'clock 10 AM. You'll have some fun. We're going to try to. 00:01:28
Get it done an hour, an hour and a half hopefully and. 00:01:32
It looks like we're going to have really good weather and have some fun we're going to have. 00:01:35
A couple other snacks and drinks and things and out there for the kids. So I think on Ice is actually going to come to give ices 00:01:39
away so. 00:01:43
Should be a good time for the kids. 00:01:47
Cops and bobbers. 00:01:51
We have a Google document right now. I think it's it's about 45 right now full. So we're we're going to stop it probably around 00:01:53
100. I think we can handle 100. 00:01:58
Lake at Thomas Farm so. 00:02:03
Again, we have. 00:02:05
Crates full of fishing poles and tackle boxes and giveaways from. 00:02:07
Local businesses. 00:02:12
A lot of a lot of gifts we have. 00:02:14
Revival Baptist has offered about 10 volunteers to help out with the Easter egg hunt and the cops and Bobbers, which is thankful. 00:02:16
So anybody that would like to volunteer, you get a free T-shirt out of it. Come help us out. 00:02:24
Support badges and benevolence. 00:02:30
And that is it. 00:02:37
Any questions? 00:02:40
Thank you. Thank you. Questions for Chief. 00:02:42
No, thank you, Chief. Thank you. I did have one I forgot to ask about. I know we talked about badges and benevolence supporting 00:02:45
some of our. 00:02:49
Improvements for Thomas Farm, you know, the water stuff. 00:02:53
Are you guys still looking at doing the drone and that situation is that the drone special announcements that that section I guess 00:02:57
I missed we ordered a drone it is in. 00:03:01
Kyle does have experience. He doesn't have a license to fly for actual calls yet, but we've done some practice runs with it. 00:03:07
And we would like to get you guys out there maybe and show you how it operates, how the thermal imaging works. 00:03:14
Myself and Tristan, Officer Walker went out and hit in the woods. 00:03:20
Last weekend and he found us with thermal imaging. It's really good, it's just the heat protection is what it does. 00:03:24
Foundation probably. 00:03:32
7-8 minutes, we were all the way at the back. 00:03:34
In the power lines, in the woods and. 00:03:37
It's it's, it's pretty remarkable. I mean, I've seen a first hand work catch missing kids, missing elderly. 00:03:39
People that run from us, you know that we're obviously trying to arrest, but. 00:03:46
It is a great tool and it's going to work well at the farm. 00:03:50
Cool. 00:03:53
All right, I like that. 00:03:55
Kind of innovative and cool. I think we're the first ones in the area maybe to have one of those so excited about that. 00:03:56
And you'll partner up with the county if they want to work with us and those sort of things, right, the company we have coming 00:04:02
into license. 00:04:05
Sergeant Hitler will also license another officer for free. It's no cost to us. It's I just need room. But they also have some 00:04:09
outside agencies come in and get get license through the program too. Great. OK. 00:04:14
Awesome. 00:04:20
Thank you. All right. 00:04:21
Any other questions for Chief? 00:04:23
All right, we don't have any. We'll move on to the consent agenda. Can I have a motion to approve? 00:04:25
I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. All right. Do I have a second? I'll second. 00:04:30
All right. All in favor, say aye, aye. OK. 00:04:34
We'll move to public hearing. 00:04:38
We have a few of these tonight. 00:04:40
And just for context, some of them are zoning related where we have a hearing and then a vote that's related to those. 00:04:43
So it'll feel a little bit janky. We'll have to open up a public hearing, talk about. 00:04:48
Zoning amendment and then we'll actually vote on the actual item on that. But the first one is a little bit more simple. 00:04:53
And that's what Sharon was talking about. So for those of you are here who are here our budget process. 00:04:58
Over the next month, Sharon and I will present a budget to Council. 00:05:03
But before we present that budget, we want to hear from the public. And so if you have. 00:05:06
Suggestions. This is the time you can certainly come to one of the other public hearings and react. 00:05:10
To the budget as it's presented. 00:05:15
But we also like to offer the public an opportunity before that budget is. 00:05:17
Worked up and presented to council if there's anything a member of the public would like to see us include. 00:05:22
In our operating budget, we'd love to hear from you. And so I'm going to open a public hearing. 00:05:26
At this point, for anyone who wants to step forward, state your name and address and address the Council about any items that you 00:05:31
would like to see us consider having in the budget for fiscal year. 00:05:36
26. 00:05:40
So. 00:05:42
The hearing is open, come forward if you wish to add anything you can also. 00:05:43
E-mail us, we're pretty casual so you can e-mail me or e-mail share and if you've got thoughts on that too. 00:05:47
All right. I don't have anybody coming up, so we'll close that hearing. 00:05:54
And we'll move on to a public hearing related to zoning text amendments. 00:05:58
To amend our outdoor dining and use regulations related to mobile vendors. 00:06:02
And without all that, Manager Dickerson and Attorney Reitman, give us a brief report and we'll open up the public hearing. OK, I'm 00:06:07
going to, I'm going to handle the text amendment. 00:06:11
Piece of it. 00:06:15
We had a application from Wire Park to allow. 00:06:16
A certain type of mobile vendor that currently you all may recall we have a mobile vendor. 00:06:20
It we have an ordinance ordinance that handles mobile vendors, but under that did not have a definition for this particular mobile 00:06:26
vendor, so they submitted a text amendment. 00:06:30
They are asking for mobile oil and or tire maintenance vendor that can be mobile. 00:06:34
And they completed the in their application. 00:06:40
They stated that there would be no impact, that it's a similar. 00:06:43
Similar businesses are working in that area. No effect to the service as the service would be mobile and not permanent. 00:06:48
The commercial use is similar to other uses allowed in that district. That's the next use, office district. 00:06:54
They don't anticipate any effects to the character of the district since it's a commercial district. 00:07:00
And the property already hosts a number of other commercial uses of the property not negatively be impacted. 00:07:06
By allowing this this mobile use. 00:07:12
And so part of what we're asking for tonight is consideration to add a definition for an oil change and or light vehicle 00:07:15
maintenance. 00:07:19
Vendor under the mobile vendor. 00:07:23
Part of our ordinance. 00:07:26
There are other changes I'm going to let Joe talk about those or some housekeeping changes that as we were doing we figured we go 00:07:28
ahead and click clean these up at the same time and I'll. 00:07:32
Pass that over to him. It's it's very tedious. But the ones that are highlighted in Gray, so most of them are under MUO mixed-use 00:07:36
office. There's one under. 00:07:40
Employment Center. 00:07:45
Which we just need to correct because that's already happening there and needs to be covered so. 00:07:47
OK. And left side of the chart, Sharon has already covered the garage repair EC is highlighted and then? 00:07:51
If you move to the right side chart, you'll note halfway down. 00:08:00
These are uses that are, I believe, customary. 00:08:05
In the MU oh and I think actually being performed that's what we meant when we said housekeeping. This is to ensure they are in 00:08:08
compliance. Restaurant Cafe has the highlighted dot below that fine restaurant and then. 00:08:15
Next line below, 2 lines below restaurants, small scale and then a few more lines down school private and I think that 00:08:23
synchronizes us up with similar zoning districts. 00:08:29
Particularly the emphasis on the restaurants to. 00:08:34
Again, the kind of a housekeeping measure here to ensure that those are in compliance with any questions. 00:08:37
So I have questions about the. 00:08:47
Is the person who's asking with the. 00:08:50
The applicant for the mobile vendor, auto mobile vendor. 00:08:53
Have anybody here from Wire Park or from the mobile vendor? 00:08:57
We don't. 00:09:00
OK, well maybe I am ignorant in this and other people can fill me in. 00:09:01
So. 00:09:06
Like I have seen mobile. 00:09:07
Car wash detailing. 00:09:09
Once had that done, it was delightful. 00:09:12
An oil change to me, by definition, is a very messy. 00:09:15
Thing I have never changed my oil though I've always taken it somewhere so I guess I'm just curious like. 00:09:19
How does a mobile oil change work? Like it's one thing if someone's like has attack. 00:09:25
Flat tire and they need their tire put on but like. 00:09:30
A lot of tire and oil stuff that just doesn't seem. 00:09:33
Like umm. 00:09:37
Clean. 00:09:38
Something you want in a the Wire Park parking lot. I mean, is that what this is asking? I guess I'm just confused about what this 00:09:39
is. Yes. So I can give you some first hand experience on that. Not not at Wire Park, but. 00:09:45
With my, with my personal vehicle and also from a. 00:09:51
From a company standpoint. 00:09:53
But yes, so if you have a relationship, if you purchase a vehicle. 00:09:55
From a dealership that they're moving towards that trend to being able to have a service technician come out and it's limited 00:09:59
things that can be done right. 00:10:04
But but they can come out as long as you have the space. And sometimes similarly, if you workout, you know where you say hi, like 00:10:08
my car wash, but my person that I work with would also like their car wash and that you can do the same thing where where you can, 00:10:14
I'm going to use a name. It's not an endorsement, is it? But you can call Akins forward and say. 00:10:19
I need to will change to my truck and the tires rotated and check to see if there's any air filters or windshield wiper blades or 00:10:25
anything needed. And so does a co-worker or so does somebody else and and they can come and and mobily do it so you don't have to 00:10:30
drive the Winder. 00:10:34
You can stay at your office in Watkinsville and you could have all those things done and they take care of everything because 00:10:39
they're in a sprinter van that's like a. 00:10:43
You know a Mercedes, you know work. 00:10:47
Van or truck and they have all the materials that they need. 00:10:50
So they ensure it's disposed of appropriately and everything like that, Mark. 00:10:54
That's correct. So, so yeah, if they, if they come to my office to do that, they're not asking us to dispose of the, the 10W30, 00:10:58
right? They're they're taking it back to their facility where they do all their normal maintenance and the other things. And so 00:11:03
all the fluids and everything are come in a truck. 00:11:07
And they leave in the truck and nothing stays there. 00:11:12
So if we approve this. 00:11:15
Are there ordinances out there likes to be able to do this business, you have to have a state license that ensures. 00:11:16
That you. 00:11:24
Have what you're describing or could we have you know? 00:11:25
Joe Schmo decide they want to start doing this and they. 00:11:31
Change oil at my I just remember my dad changing oil in the in the driveway as a kid and it didn't seem clean to me. Like it just 00:11:35
seemed like it was an audience. I'm just. 00:11:40
I want to make sure what you're describing seems very reasonable, but our is, are we protected? Well, they have to, they actually 00:11:45
have to apply to be a mobile vendor. They can't do it. They have there's a mobile vendor license or permit. 00:11:51
So they have to actually come to us. 00:11:57
So it's not anybody can just pick it up and start doing it. 00:11:59
Although, you know, technically people could, if they're not based in Watkinsville, you could probably just call somebody and they 00:12:02
could come to your house and just like a car wash person could. 00:12:06
But the difference is these people want to be based in Watkinsville and operate from here, I think. Is that accurate? Yeah. 00:12:10
So is it a conditional use the way it's anticipated or it's allowable use OK. 00:12:16
Yeah. So and will this be allowed anywhere in Wire Park or is it a designated area in Wire Park? 00:12:20
Yeah. I mean, we didn't get into a specific parking lot or anything like that. I mean. 00:12:27
That potentially could be in my purview, you know, when we get the license for you know, we could say, but I mean technically 00:12:33
anywhere in the any area that's. 00:12:36
Designate as a mixed-use office could. 00:12:40
Could potentially do this as long as they make the application. Yeah, I'm going to go off the Aikens Ford reference. 00:12:43
You know, I'm sure that they do a great job of spill containment and stuff. That would be my concern is. 00:12:49
You know, if we are doing oil changes in. 00:12:54
The parking lot, you know? Then it drips on the. 00:12:56
More so, you know, anyway, let's contact oil containment and fluid containment. Well, we certainly have the right. I mean they're 00:12:59
getting a permit so we can regulate it if we get complaints, if we get several complaints or there's a, you know, we happen to 00:13:03
see, I mean. 00:13:07
We could say you can't have the permit anymore. So we have that. They're asking for a permit, they're going to meet certain 00:13:12
things. If we have issues, we can withdraw that permit. 00:13:16
Could you look at the permits and consider? 00:13:20
I don't think it requires council approval, but as you think about the permits, just make sure that for. 00:13:23
These kind of operators you have very high standards in terms of. 00:13:27
How the vehicles look and how and what our expectations are in terms of. 00:13:31
Maintenance and that sort of stuff, I think that. 00:13:35
Would allay some of the fears of council, you know. 00:13:37
You know, so set a really high bar for in terms of what we're going to allow in terms of. 00:13:41
Mobile vendors and how to. 00:13:45
The vehicle should be maintained and disposal. You know, I think we could add some language in there. I haven't seen that permit, 00:13:47
but I think if you could do that, that would be great. 00:13:50
And I also AM. 00:13:54
You know. 00:13:56
A Going again off of Mark's example, so you they have. 00:13:57
Four different Co workers who are. 00:14:01
Taking use of the service and parking at wire park in the front, there's not a lot of parking spaces. Like is there a way to say 00:14:04
they can't do it? There has to be in like the side of the back parking lot? Like are we allowed to do that? Because I guess I'm 00:14:09
picturing this like. 00:14:14
Yeah, we have a. 00:14:20
Saturday and. 00:14:21
And maybe it's not normally done on Saturdays, but I don't know, I could just see someone taking over. 00:14:23
You know nothing do I think the owner would regulate that right? Like that is an awesome. 00:14:28
I think we. 00:14:35
To me, that's a little bit of don't worry about that, OK? 00:14:36
And I think they're doing it on weekdays for all practical matters. 00:14:40
No problem. 00:14:44
OK. Any other questions? 00:14:47
All right, so we need to have a public hearing. 00:14:49
So if any member of the public would like to come forward and. 00:14:52
Discuss any of these changes. They're welcome to do so. So I'll open the public hearing, please. 00:14:55
And one additional change to note, you'll see near the bottom right vending machine. 00:14:59
Highlighted to make that an option and mixed-use only as well. 00:15:04
And again, the purpose of most of these restaurants and I think also the vending is to ensure compliance of businesses that are 00:15:09
probably already operational Wire Park, am I right? 00:15:14
Thank you. 00:15:18
All right, public hearings open. 00:15:21
All right. I'll close the public hearing the applicants not here. 00:15:25
So we'll move on to a vote. 00:15:30
So the vote would be for the text amendments as outlined. 00:15:32
By the attorney that includes the outdoor dining updates under Article 10. 00:15:35
And the use regulations for clarifications and updates. 00:15:41
Around mobile vendors and the use of the chart in 1301. 00:15:44
Council, do we have a motion? 00:15:47
I'll make a motion to approve the zoning text amendment. 00:15:53
To amend Article 10 for outdoor. 00:15:58
Dining and and use. 00:16:01
As it says, yeah. 00:16:04
All right, do we have a second? 00:16:06
Second, all right, any discussion? 00:16:08
Hearing none all in favor say aye. 00:16:11
Any opposed? 00:16:13
Motion carries 40. 00:16:15
All right, we'll move on to the rezone of 39 Durham St. 00:16:17
It says resign, but that's really what we're doing here, is modifying a development agreement. 00:16:22
We don't have planned unit developments in Watkinsville or some of the more complicated things, but we do have development 00:16:28
agreements with most of our. 00:16:31
Major projects and in order to modify that development agreement. Technically that qualifies as a rezone. 00:16:34
And so I'm going to ask Engineer Campbell to offer the first report on 39 Durham St. 00:16:40
Related to a projecting wall sign that was not contemplated in that development agreement. 00:16:46
Thank you, Mayor. 00:16:50
So this this is a property that was rezone to attach residential with the development agreement. 00:16:51
And so that the requested changes not for the size of the building or the parking or any of those other functions for the project 00:16:57
that's currently under construction, but it is specifically for. 00:17:02
A signage. 00:17:08
So if you don't know where waters walk is located or or seen it going up as it becomes vertical, there it is it there at the water 00:17:10
and and Durham St. 00:17:14
So this is a picture as of a week or so ago. You can see that the elements that's from the corner of of water in Durham, the sign 00:17:20
will actually be located. 00:17:25
On that corner, based on the information provided by. 00:17:29
The applicant. So instead of having a pole sign. 00:17:32
Or a monument sign. This will be a sign that's not attached flat to the wall. 00:17:35
Which is a little bit more standard. This is a. 00:17:40
A projecting sign from the edge of the building, so. 00:17:43
The next picture. This is part of what the applicant has submitted. They submitted several different pages with a little bit more. 00:17:46
Detail on the height of each letter. 00:17:52
Some of those other things, but you can see there. 00:17:55
Again, the the upper left hand corner kind of gives you a placement on the building that may. 00:17:57
Reference back to the picture on the previous page, but then you can see some scale waters walk. It is a does have an address of 00:18:02
39 Durham St. because the access is from Durham St. 00:18:07
Even though there's pedestrian access from Water St. you see there at the corner. 00:18:12
You'll go down into the entrance of the building. 00:18:16
The buildings itself. 00:18:19
You know, sits below the street, but then as if you recall. 00:18:21
When you reviewed this several years ago as you access from Durham that there's actually an additional story so that the building 00:18:25
is higher as you go lower. 00:18:28
This is an effort to actually have some signage up so that if you're. 00:18:32
On Water St. 00:18:36
Or you're coming around some of those areas you'll be able to see, you know, now where is 39 Durham St. You'll see the projected 00:18:38
sign on the building. That's what the applicant has requested. 00:18:43
This wasn't specifically prohibited during the rezoning process and development agreement, it just wasn't contemplated anyway. So 00:18:48
from a signage standpoint, I know there's not a lot of surface area or places for them to be able to locate a sign. 00:18:54
Based on the plan they've submitted and it's been approved so that this is the project overview, they're requesting specific 00:19:00
signage design on this project and it's part of an amendment to the development agreement. So based on what the applicant has 00:19:06
provided, since this was done during the rezone process, this is a rezoning essentially for this amendment specific to the 00:19:12
signage, they have created an exhibit, they called it Exhibit E. 00:19:17
There's no other changes to any other aspects of the project of the of the number of units for this 55 plus senior living number 00:19:24
of parking spaces, no other changes to landscaping or anything that that effect is specifically. 00:19:30
For the projecting sign. 00:19:36
And then this is the actual proposed language that would change the the actual amendment is underlined is in red. 00:19:40
So it will actually be specific. It also leaves open the opportunity if there's other. 00:19:47
Signage issues in the future, we did not. We didn't delete out that last line before the final line so that we're specific about 00:19:52
this projecting sign. 00:19:56
All right, you've heard the report from Engineer Campbell. Any questions from council? 00:20:03
I do have a question. Can we go back to the first picture? 00:20:08
Of the front of the building. Keep going back one more. 00:20:11
All right, so this is an 18 foot sign on the next picture, it actually shows that it's on the front of the building. 00:20:14
I just so if we go back, there's windows right there that are. 00:20:21
Probably less than 18 feet apart. 00:20:25
Are we going to put it on the side? One of the sides? 00:20:27
Of that building, why don't we have Mr. Is it Mr. A Halter? Who's our if you want to come up and maybe address that question. 00:20:29
I'm guessing it's probably going to, you know, it's kind of a diagonal face and the rendering doesn't really show the diagonal 00:20:38
face, but. 00:20:41
I'm Ken, by the way. I can't. Yeah. 00:20:45
Chief, will you turn on the mic? Is it going to go on the left hand, left hand side of the? 00:20:53
Trying to reach. 00:20:59
Where everybody can see. Come over here. Where everybody can see. 00:21:02
Bar your signs going to actually fit right here between these two windows, OK? 00:21:07
So it's going to be projecting right in this area, right here. 00:21:13
Emma like that. 00:21:18
You'll be able to see it from. 00:21:20
All over the side and over here is wrong. 00:21:21
Over here is where it goes OK. 00:21:24
Yeah. 00:21:26
From the the next picture, it looked like it was going on the front. I was like, there's there's, there's windows there. It's a 00:21:28
little bit of a drawing challenge. We got that location. 00:21:32
Yeah. 00:21:39
Thank you. 00:21:40
It's going to be built out of it. 00:21:41
And feel free to stay at the podium. 00:21:43
Is there anything else you want to share about the sign or is there any other questions from Council about the Sun? 00:21:45
I'd love to build it and get it up for you, OK? 00:21:51
When the Council I have gone back is this is to come out of the ground and looked at the landscaping plans and the. 00:21:54
You know, I don't think we have a rendering in here of how the project looks, but it is, it's, it's really going to be nice when 00:22:00
it's done. 00:22:03
The landscaping is top notch and I think the signage will be a nice addition. 00:22:07
Trees along all the sidewalks there. The sidewalks will be built all the way around the corner. 00:22:12
A with a variety of variety of trees and nice plantings and flowers so. 00:22:18
The urban forestry appreciates that because usually it's the last thing thought about. 00:22:23
Least amount of money spent. Yeah, you could. You could tell that. I think WNA did the landscaping and they really put a lot of 00:22:27
thought into it. It's nice. Do you have a projected complete date? 00:22:33
Do you have a range for complete Sharon's got that I think. 00:22:40
I think it's end of the year, right. Well, it's October, they're going to start leasing. The sign for leasing I think was going 00:22:45
up. 00:22:48
Supposed to be going up shortly, so I OK, supposed to be October's what Mr. Russell told us for us to build the sign. We don't 00:22:50
start building the sign until we make sure we've crossed those TS and out of those eyes and got a permit in our hands. 00:22:56
So we know we're good to go and then we start building the sign and. 00:23:03
I would imagine. 00:23:07
What do you think? 00:23:08
How long Bill signs 6 to 8 weeks on a good day. 00:23:09
And this isn't so much about the sign, I just have a lot of people asking me what's going on. What's that? I thought since I have 00:23:14
you, I might as well ask. 00:23:17
So oh, you're just a sign builder. 00:23:21
I think, I think optimistically, October. 00:23:32
Last time I talked to David, he said By the end of the year, for sure. 00:23:36
So yeah. 00:23:39
They put a sign up and they've got a phone number and. 00:23:42
They've started taking calls and getting all that going. So we'll have that sign up, but into April, mid June. 00:23:45
No, May. June. Yeah, June. 00:23:51
Into May, mid June, OK, All right. 00:23:54
Great. That's the plan. OK. 00:23:57
All right. Thank you. I think I still need to have a public hearing on this, so feel free to take a seat. 00:23:59
This point I'll have the public hearing if anybody has questions specifically about. 00:24:05
The revised development agreement. 00:24:10
Please come forward. 00:24:13
Is your one time. 00:24:19
Kathleen Mcquisten, 13 S Barnett Shoals Rd. How is it lit? 00:24:26
LED lights. 00:24:31
How is it with? 00:24:32
It's going to be internal. The letters will be internally illuminated with LED's inside the cans. 00:24:33
So there won't be. 00:24:40
Light emanating from the sign so much as light Halo Halo against the body of the sign if you look at the drawing. 00:24:41
See the white out? Yeah. 00:24:48
That's that's an impression of the lighting that will be reflected on the sign of the. 00:24:50
Face of the sign behind the. 00:24:55
OK, so it'll be soft. It won't. It's not going to glare down. You'll have a Halo. 00:24:57
OK. Thank you. Thank you. 00:25:06
Good question. 00:25:09
All right. So the light will be lit kind of backlit letters is what we heard there with LEDs. Sounds nice. 00:25:11
All right. I'm going to close the public hearing unless anybody else wants to come forward and we will. We've heard from. 00:25:20
The Waters Walk representative. 00:25:25
So at this point we will move forward to the. 00:25:27
Rezone, which is essentially an amendment to the development agreement. 00:25:31
Council, do we have a motion? 00:25:34
I make a motion to approve. Do we have a second? 00:25:36
I'll second. 00:25:40
We have a motion, we have a second. Any further discussion of the sign? 00:25:41
Hearing none all in favor say aye. Any opposed Lakeside? 00:25:44
All right. Motion carries 40. Thanks for coming, gentlemen. 00:25:48
We'll move on to appearances. We have none. We'll move to old business. We have none. We'll move on to new business. 00:25:52
We have. 00:25:57
Five items under new business. So we will start with our. 00:26:00
6 items under New Business. 00:26:06
We'll move on with local Rd. Assistant Grant Application Manager Dickerson if you want to. 00:26:07
Tell us what we're paving next. 00:26:12
So tonight we're asking for approval to submit our local Rd. assistance application to G dot the. 00:26:15
Well, we'll talk about this and anyone would authorize the city manager, myself and the city engineer to negotiate with the 00:26:23
contractor who we are still under contract with. 00:26:27
For the FY25 Elm egg projects. 00:26:31
Since so we can avoid having to maybe go back out for an RFP and get this project moving. 00:26:34
Hopefully it'll be reasonable and we can we can do that. So that's what we're asking tonight. I'll remind everyone little history. 00:26:38
We do have a pavement management project program. 00:26:43
That was created that actually lists the the streets and the condition of those streets. 00:26:48
And they go from worst to best. And then we work down that list. We'll talk a little bit about that tonight and what the 00:26:54
recommendation is. 00:26:58
The mayor did ask. I will let me point out that the governor did pass. They did. 00:27:02
Legislature did pass. 00:27:06
A budget amendment which is allowing for this extra funding of about almost $58,000. 00:27:08
For us to use on. 00:27:13
On paving. 00:27:14
The mayor had asked me to put together a list of streets. This is not all the street, you know. This is the streets I've known 00:27:16
sort of since I've been here, but fiscal year 17. 00:27:20
All the way through present. 00:27:25
And we've spent about $1.1 million. 00:27:26
A little less than 3 miles of Rd. which is about 14% of our total miles. We have 21. 00:27:30
Total miles that city is responsible for. 00:27:36
Cost per mile roughly is about $388,000 a mile. Now obviously depends on the road, depends on what has to be done, but that sort 00:27:39
of the average so. 00:27:43
We since 2020 I think to see 20 since fiscal year 21. 00:27:47
We've started using the. 00:27:54
Payment management. 00:27:56
Program to actually direct instead of me and the city engineer, the public works guys going now what weather needs to be behaved 00:27:57
or maybe with the mayor, somebody else might say we actually have a very technical document that we reference that tells us the 00:28:01
condition and it's what we use. 00:28:06
So the pavement management plan actually identifies the top five roads are identified. The full sheet is in the packet. 00:28:12
The first three are actually segments, and I mean this to the extent of it's literally the city line and account. The city county 00:28:20
line runs down a a section of Rd. which wouldn't necessarily be at an intersection. 00:28:27
So if you're going on Williamsburg Place, you may only go 450 feet, but the road to the next intersection is 6 or 700 feet. 00:28:34
So it's kind of and and and maybe not useful for us to pave just that little bit when we could, should and and could coordinate 00:28:41
with the county when they're ready to resurface the entire St. And so that's true for both. 00:28:47
Williamsburg Place and Cause Creek Circle and calls Creek Drive, those segments where the line just barely covers. 00:28:53
Into those areas, the next one on the list and I did mention that Durham St. is the worst and that's something we'll address as 00:28:58
the development. 00:29:02
Is built as Waters Walk is built, and as more funds become available, we'll address that probably in the next iteration. 00:29:07
But Stone Shoals is the next street that is actually. 00:29:14
In the city. 00:29:18
It's a little less than 2/10 of a mile. We're talking about the West End. So if you go into the subdivision and you turn right, 00:29:19
we're talking about that segment from there to the cul-de-sac. 00:29:24
And that's the recommendation that we're talking about. I'm going to mention industrial drive because that is when we talked 00:29:29
about. 00:29:32
Paving, but you will see by our estimate it's significantly more there's it also will probably require a little bit heavier. 00:29:35
Asphalt. That estimate probably is under underestimated. 00:29:43
Because we've got such heavy vehicles that are on that road. 00:29:46
We haven't forgotten about it. The industrial park is very important to the city. 00:29:49
And we will address that as well. Those are some high priorities and we'll certainly continue to work on it. But the 00:29:53
recommendation is. 00:29:56
For Stone Shoals Terrace, the West End of. 00:29:59
Of that, we're estimating about 100,000. 00:30:02
Maybe please less? 00:30:07
But but with our G dot funds, we'll need a supplement from the T splost of a little bit less, a little bit more than $42,000. 00:30:08
And then this is just my budget where everybody knows I like spreadsheets. This is just the budget worksheet to show. 00:30:17
The G dot, which is very small for those who sit in the audience, but it shows the G dot supplement as well as our supplement and 00:30:22
and. 00:30:26
That's really all that does so. 00:30:31
So again, the recommendation is for us and we're submitting this, the state still has to approve it. We typically don't have 00:30:34
issues, especially because they know we're working off of a of a, you know, technical document. 00:30:39
We're asking for you all to approve us submitting this application for Stone Shoals Terrace. 00:30:44
And for us, that is this. For myself and the city engineer to negotiate with our existing contractor to get that paved. 00:30:50
Questions for. 00:31:00
Manager Dickerson. 00:31:02
Right. And you feel like we don't need to take this back out to bid? 00:31:05
We can. 00:31:08
I don't, I mean we just went out and I can't remember exactly. I mean all that asphalt is our current vendor and he's still under 00:31:09
contract. So it saves us 30 days of 30 days plus having to come back for you also. 00:31:15
I think we can look at it. We get a crazy bid from him. We'll come back, you know, we'll go out for, but I think you know. 00:31:21
He's still under contract, he still has work to do for us. I think it'd be worthwhile to try to use him if we can. 00:31:27
OK. All right. Any other questions? 00:31:32
Is our paving expert have any concerns about this process? 00:31:35
All right, it's good to have one here. 00:31:38
All right, hearing none, then we'll entertain a motion to approve the manager's recommendation. 00:31:42
To pave Stone Shoals Terrace and extend our gratitude to the. 00:31:48
Governor and the legislature for some additional funds to help us get that done. 00:31:52
I make a motion to approve. 00:31:57
Manager Dickerson's recommendation? 00:32:01
All right, do we have a 2nd? I'll second. All right, we have a met. 00:32:04
We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion hearing none, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? 00:32:07
All right, motion carries 4 O. 00:32:12
We'll move on to approving wastewater capacity allocation request for 116 Morrison St. Engineer Campbell, if you want to offer a 00:32:14
report, please. Thank you, Mayor. 00:32:18
So, 116 Morrison St. If you're familiar with Morrison St. you might ask where that is located on Morrison St. 00:32:21
Is actually at the corner of Motion St. and column Ferry Rd. 00:32:28
So the. 00:32:32
Request is for wastewater capacity the. 00:32:34
Size of the lot is very small. 00:32:37
So it's less than 1/4 of an acre lot. 00:32:40
Which means that on site septic system would not be a viable alternative. 00:32:42
For sanitary sewer wastewater disposal on this slot. 00:32:48
So that map shows you where in relation to, again, kind of across from the southwestern corner of Trove and some of that green 00:32:51
space there and very near Colin Ferry Elementary School. 00:32:56
On the southern side of the city limits as you're going out of town or coming into town from Coffee Rd. 00:33:01
If you wonder when this lot was platted. 00:33:07
The answer is 1969. 00:33:09
So you can see there the the plat for that lot, they said it was .22 acres in 1969. That's still .22 acres. 00:33:12
So the again, the only reason a wastewater application would be possible was because of a gravity sewer line that was installed 00:33:19
by. 00:33:23
15 properties as part of a kind of an overall development that went all the way to Colin Ferry Elementary School back in 00:33:28
approximately 2007. 00:33:32
Now that that Senator sewer line is on what I'll call the. 00:33:36
Opposite side or the northern side of Motion Street. At that point, once it goes a little bit further to the east, it then comes 00:33:41
back down and and ultimately ends up. 00:33:45
In a, you know, a gravity sewer that's that's at the end of Jerry Smith Dr. You may recall that as part of some other projects, 00:33:49
but that's a reference to an as built that was done again by precision planning for that project that 15 properties did some. 00:33:56
Man, it's it's a lot longer or good than it seems like so. 00:34:04
This is a picture of what it looks like there at that corner now. 00:34:10
The house that you see is actually on 1/14. 00:34:15
Not on one 16116 is the is the applicant. 00:34:18
So, umm. 00:34:21
Next slide please the. 00:34:22
Again, just a summary. 00:34:25
Wastewater capacity allocation for one residence. Single family. Single residents. 00:34:26
Wastewater for a .22 acre parcel. 00:34:31
It was shown in Platte Book 3. 00:34:34
Page 205 again applicant submitted information that is not sufficient size for on site septic system. 00:34:36
Just a reminder, the applicant has to meet all the requirements for the City of Watkinsville wastewater capacity. 00:34:42
Allocation regulations, that's detailed. 00:34:48
In the Section 43, and that still again has to go through, has to meet all the requirements for Oconee County water resources. I 00:34:51
mentioned that again that the nearest gravity manhole is on the opposite side of Morrison St. but that coordination will need to 00:34:56
be made. 00:35:01
With the county. 00:35:07
Happy to answer any other questions. 00:35:08
Manager Dickerson, do you have anything you want to add? 00:35:12
Yeah. So the wastewater capacities is our tracking sheet. 00:35:14
So the applicants only asking for 260 gallons, we certainly have that capacity and that's really all that is. 00:35:17
I think the other thing worth noting here is that whatever is built there has to meet the standards of the Watkinsville detached 00:35:24
residential building code, right? So we're not here tonight to. 00:35:28
Debate over what is to be built there, but understand that whatever if something is proposed there that follows a separate process 00:35:33
and comes back in. 00:35:36
To staff to work through that process and it's got to meet those standards building envelope and all those sort of things, 00:35:41
correct? 00:35:44
OK, I got something completely not related to water capacity. 00:35:47
But about this piece of property, if you notice the picture. 00:35:50
The driveway goes for 1/14 is in the middle of. 00:35:53
This address. 00:35:58
Well, I think the applicant would if they bring a. 00:35:59
Permit forward would have to resolve that on Mr. Watson. Do you want to address that? Do you want to are you? 00:36:02
No, yeah. 00:36:07
Yeah, but I don't. Obviously they couldn't build a house without resolving the driveway situation for. 00:36:11
The neighbor. 00:36:18
And another question that I have, which again is maybe a little premature, but I know this. 00:36:19
Has come up in the past. 00:36:25
With other properties. 00:36:27
So the lot of the house that we can see the lot next door. 00:36:29
It looks really is it? 00:36:33
With the sewer line, is it currently connected to the sewer? Does it? 00:36:36
But I guess what I'm wondering is, is there any chance of the house next door? 00:36:39
Is this? 00:36:44
Current empty lot. 00:36:45
If they have a septic system, is any part of their drain fields or system actually on this lot? 00:36:47
Do we know that? I mean, simply ask that question. I've been told it's not. 00:36:54
So it's it's the the house next door we've been told is connected to sanitary sewer. 00:36:58
Oh, it is connected to sanitary sewer County, but again, that's that's what I've been doing. 00:37:02
OK, OK. 00:37:07
Good questions. 00:37:11
Any others? 00:37:13
All right, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. 00:37:14
I'll make a motion to approve the wastewater capacity. 00:37:21
Or 116 Morrison St. 00:37:24
All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:37:26
Second, all right, we have a motion. We have a second further questions or discussion. 00:37:29
Hearing none all in favor say aye aye. Any opposed like some? 00:37:34
Motion carries unanimously 40. 00:37:38
All right. We'll move on to approving the ward of garbage recycling and leaf and limb collection services contract manager 00:37:41
Dickerson. 00:37:44
Grab the notes. 00:37:50
Thank you, Mayor. 00:37:52
I get a little history here. So in May of 2020, we, the council awarded a contract to curbside services after we've released an 00:37:54
RFP for that. 00:37:58
For those services and we had a. 00:38:02
Three-year contract with a 2 year extension. We have actually you all have approved those extensions and we are approaching the 00:38:05
June 30th expiration of those extensions and so. 00:38:09
In February, we issued an RFP for the garbage recycling and leaf and limb collection services as published in the Oconee 00:38:15
Enterprise on the 27th of February and on the 6th of March. 00:38:20
On April 4th, we formally received proposals from Curbside Services Inc and Waste Pro of Georgia. 00:38:25
The the proposal of this cut for this contract and and I'll explain a little bit why, but we are recommending A5 year contract, 00:38:33
not a three-year, A5 year with two one year incremental extensions. 00:38:39
Part of that is because of one of the items that we're going to talk a little bit about, one of the features that we didn't have 00:38:45
current, we don't currently have that. 00:38:49
That makes it more valuable. 00:38:54
So the proposal is for garbage collection once a week, on Wednesday as we normally get it. 00:38:56
This time around, we're at we actually asked the proposers to give us a price for providing a 65 gallon roll cart. 00:39:02
For the garbage. 00:39:09
We have residents who drag their their containers to the curb. We have residents who just put bags at the curb. 00:39:11
And we felt like this is a good way we can brand it for the city. It'll make things cleaner. It'll keep, you know, help with 00:39:18
public safe of public health, public safety. 00:39:23
And so that's part of the reason that we're asking for a longer term so that they can, you know, so we can. 00:39:27
Pay for those carts over time as well as the as the the look of it. 00:39:32
That proposal for recycling is the same. It would be, you know, once a week, Wednesday. 00:39:37
Residents in this case and have this has been the case that residents. 00:39:41
Contract with our contractor on their own for that. That's not something the city covers through the property taxes that we 00:39:46
collect. 00:39:50
Leaf and limb collection will continue to be serviced the same way as well. 00:39:54
Weekly pickup. 00:39:59
Collection of both limbs and leaves. 00:40:01
And of course, meeting all the APD requirements. 00:40:03
We did evaluate both offers, but both of the service providers have the ability to provide these services. 00:40:06
Curbside Services is the only one who quoted our leaf and limb collection services. It's currently being provided. So the leaf and 00:40:14
limb, the vacuum on the leaves. 00:40:18
The limbs being in the chipper. 00:40:22
The other. 00:40:24
Contractors was just going to pick it up, throw it in the back of a rear loader and off they go. And I think. 00:40:24
That would require BAT for all the leaves to be bagged. That's another step residents would have to handle. 00:40:30
And we'll look at the prices and we'll talk about why we while we're making our recommendation. But curbside services have been 00:40:35
our service provider for many years, I guess 19 for garbage and and they've provided leaf and limb for 8:00. 00:40:42
We. 00:40:49
Have had complaints but when we have there been few they have worked to resolve those and and so that is. 00:40:49
Our recommendation is to go with curbside services. You'll see here that the price was pretty close and so it you know, $27.00 00:40:56
versus $27.19. 00:41:00
But again I go back to the service. 00:41:05
What the residents have become used to as far as leaf and limb. 00:41:07
Makes it easier and then the cart provided and then the fact that we've worked with them and we haven't had any major issues so. 00:41:12
That is. 00:41:18
That is, our recommendation is to award the contract to curbside services. 00:41:20
And. 00:41:24
And for you all to approve the contract agreement and the mayor and city clerk to sign those documents. 00:41:26
All right. Questions for manager Dickerson. 00:41:33
So this is a minor thing. 00:41:37
But I noticed that it said that recycling will be done on Wednesday for those who so we pay for recycling currently and it comes 00:41:39
on Tuesday. So is that going to change? 00:41:43
If you're going to, yeah, that's probably my, that's probably my error. Not that. OK. So it's like, that'd be great. The number of 00:41:48
times we have accidentally put the wrong thing on the street on that day is. 00:41:53
Yeah, that's that's probably my error because I was writing the report. So I was really excited actually. It'll still be weekly so 00:41:58
but we'll work with them. However it's been being provided. We'll continue with that. And Jesse and Jennifer, if y'all, if you 00:42:03
have anything you want to add, feel free to step forward. We happy to hear from y'all. 00:42:09
So. 00:42:14
Well, come on up, we may have some more questions. So. 00:42:17
I will point out Jennifer and Jesse, although it's not something that we evaluate in our RFP, it is locally owned business here in 00:42:22
Oconee County. We appreciate. 00:42:26
Everything I've done for us. 00:42:31
Where we own the bins or will y'all own the bins? 00:42:33
We would own the bins. We would. 00:42:37
OK. So if the contract went in a different direction in six or seven years, then the bins stay with us, is that right? 00:42:39
There are bins, you said they're yours. I'm sorry you're purchasing for us. The way the RFP was presented was that we would 00:42:46
purchase the bin. 00:42:49
Part of that is so if one gets damaged, they have to replace it. It's not our responsibility to go out and replace, you know, 00:42:53
they, that's how they run their business model. Now if they have customers who, you know, they have a certain level, they get, 00:42:58
they buy their bin or they don't or they provide their own bin, there's a different price. And so they priced it where they own 00:43:02
the bin and they're responsible for replacing it if something happens to it. 00:43:07
Well, will the Bend be branded for the city of Watkinsville? Did discuss that we can brand it for the city of Watkinsville. 00:43:11
Can we recycle our old bins? 00:43:18
People may ask. 00:43:22
Any other questions for? 00:43:24
I'm sorry. 00:43:26
This might be more of my. 00:43:29
Paying job professional capacity. So how does it work practically when? 00:43:31
Someone doesn't provide their own bins, someone moves. 00:43:36
Does the a new house is built or like is there a process for getting a new bin or? 00:43:39
So because it's inside the city limits and the bin would stay with the home and so if it's if it's. 00:43:47
A bin that needs to be replaced because it's damaged or excessively dirty, then it then will, you know, swap it out. 00:43:53
We have instances where people want just a new one because they want a new one. 00:43:59
You know, that would be something we would have to talk to Mayor Council, whether you want us to do that every time when they're 00:44:04
moving in and out. Sometimes that could be not. The way that the contract was written or the RFP for me is we are providing the 00:44:08
cans. They're going to go to the homes, but unless they're damaged, then we're not going to swap them out every time somebody. 00:44:13
Yeah, no. 00:44:18
Absolutely. And so will it be just like. 00:44:24
A day of massive garbage can drops. Like I'm just kind of curious to see how. 00:44:28
I mean, that's a lot of garbage cans all at once. 00:44:32
Easily to deliver that, that volume, OK. 00:44:36
I have been in contact with Mark Jennings, who owns the old Smith Setzer plant, and he's going to allow me to rent that property 00:44:41
from him to deliver the cars. Let's put them together and get them delivered from there. 00:44:47
Otherwise, we would spend countless hours going back and forth. 00:44:52
To from here to Lane Creek Rd. and it would take. 00:44:57
Three times as long. 00:45:00
It's a process. They come to us on a tractor trailer. You have to add the wheels a minute that they don't come to us the way that 00:45:02
you get them. We have to put there is some assembly required from us. 00:45:06
That'll take us about two weeks with our crews or estimation to do that. 00:45:10
We've already, you know, the contract is awarded, we hope to. 00:45:14
Get the carts here by June 1st. We've talked to Mr. James. 00:45:18
Urging Jennings, Jennings, sorry about that, so that we can get those put together so that it would take about two weeks for us to 00:45:22
get those delivered we talked to. 00:45:27
Mr. Person about possibly, you know, a process of maybe the city helping us with some of that. 00:45:34
Because you're looking at almost, you know, 2000 carts that we're going to get out at one time. 00:45:40
Our truck holds. 00:45:45
25. 00:45:46
So it'll be a process, but we have a plan already in motion. We talked to her briefly about it. 00:45:48
Until it was awarded, we, you know, didn't get. 00:45:54
Quite into the logistics with her. We've just been working on our end to be prepared for it. 00:45:57
And I also just want to say kind of what has already been said, but your service is fantastic. I actually recommend you. 00:46:03
To everyone who gets to choose their their garbage service y'all you get real people on the phone that really care about you and 00:46:11
that is. 00:46:14
Rare in today's age, so thank you guys for that. 00:46:18
One question for me. So what do we do with our privately owned? 00:46:22
Trash bins that we currently have. 00:46:25
I guess we can, I mean throw them away there. We haven't really talked about that yet as as I had a customer, it hasn't had a 00:46:27
potential person moving into the city that was asking about the Canada. 00:46:33
Heard my staff talking about that today. I thought, oh don't go by 1 yet. I don't know how. I mean it's a process, but they have 00:46:39
to for a couple of weeks or months, you know, before it takes through the streets. 00:46:44
Most people's cans need to be thrown away anyway. 00:46:50
I mean, when we pick them up, you know, the handles fall off, the wheels fall off. 00:46:52
You know, half of us in pieces, so the cans that we provide are so much sturdy earlier. 00:46:56
It's different, yeah. It's such a difference than what you can go and purchase at just the store. Your handles come off. They're 00:47:02
not made, you know, for for that. They're made for you to just sit in your garage. So there's a big difference. 00:47:08
Right. Any other questions? 00:47:15
All right, hearing none, we'll entertain a motion. No questions. But I want to thank you for helping to keep the city clean all 00:47:19
these years and doing a good job. Thank you. Thank you. 00:47:23
Yeah, yeah. I think it's. 00:47:27
Goes without saying that y'all are also very civically minded and we're appreciative of that helping with Fall Festival and some 00:47:30
other things too. So thank you all. Thank you. 00:47:33
Sure, you're gonna have to come up. Yep. 00:47:38
So are we only allowed the one? 00:47:41
Correct, correct. Our current contract states that you're supposed to have a 45 gallon trash can. 00:47:45
If you they add the 65 gallon will be what can we purchase any additional or. 00:47:50
I think, I think what we talked about was if the, if the customer wanted more that they would have to work that out with. 00:47:58
Curbside, because the city has a standard that we provide across the board for everybody that 65 is more than what we're doing 00:48:04
now. And some people use more, some people use less. And so the only fairway to do it would be anything over what we're providing. 00:48:09
You would have to go to the contractor and work that out on a fee system. That's just a large change from what we've seen right 00:48:14
now. There is, as far as I know, no limit. 00:48:20
To have people restricted to 1 can might become an issue. 00:48:25
Not not to mention, I mean, I assume that the bid didn't change over the past five, five years without restricting most. 00:48:30
Of our. 00:48:36
Most of our people to 1 can, but the bid didn't change. So I'm kind of curious as to why the bid didn't. And so just a couple 00:48:37
things, just some semantics. So it's a, it was a price proposal, it's not a bid. So we don't go with the lowest. We always go. We 00:48:42
look at the overall service of it. 00:48:47
The the ordinance actually says. 00:48:53
I think it actually says 32 gallon, not 45. So that's really all you're supposed to be getting. But curbside has been incredible 00:48:55
over the years. They just, they take everything. 00:49:00
We've got to set a standard and that so we've set the standard at 65 and they've responded to that saying 65. If you have more, 00:49:05
there are options. If you have more, you can either, like I said, work with them directly or you can take it to one of the drop 00:49:10
off sites in the county and buy the bags that the county has for those convenient sites. I mean those are there are options, but 00:49:16
but there has to be a standard. Otherwise, I mean because you've got some people that. 00:49:21
You know, they live an individual who may live by themselves who may only generate 20 gallons, somebody else who has a family of 00:49:27
five who may generate 90 gallons. But at some point we had to set a standard. And so the standard 65. So we went higher than what 00:49:33
we're currently allowing, but maybe lower than what some people possibly write down that that ordinance for for me because I I 00:49:39
read it and I didn't see it. Yeah. No, I can, if you could offer your name. Yeah. It's Ryan Lynn, 1110 Katie Lane. 00:49:46
So Mr. Lynch, Miss Dickerson can get in touch with you with those details. And I will say, I think curbside is flexible within 00:49:54
reason to pick things up, but there are some houses that. 00:49:58
You know if it's a. 00:50:03
Consistently more than more than that, then I think they should have the ability to say no we can't do this. And all the same with 00:50:05
leaf and limb where we used to have. Some people are serious serial abusers of. 00:50:10
Leaf Lim and you know, and, and so we had to kind of set a standard and I, I concur that there needs to be a standard, but you 00:50:15
know, I have a family of four mice myself and I often need 222 cans. I don't want to. 00:50:20
Have to spend the minimum driving up to up by Heritage Park. 00:50:25
Believe the minimum is $1212.00. I don't want to spend $1212.00 a week. 00:50:30
Going up and bringing an additional can because we, you know, we go through a lot of trash. I have a. 00:50:34
Newborn who goes through diapers like like that so you know and I'm like I'll file forth you all have been. 00:50:40
Fantastic. I love, you know, not a single complaint so. 00:50:46
Yep, that's that's my concern. Thank you. 00:50:50
Have people that do currently pay us for more volume so you can contact our office and you know contract for more. We have people 00:50:52
that. 00:50:57
That rent our 96 gallon now we have people to do it so it's already kind of in place how we do that. But but I mean Miss Dickerson 00:51:01
is right that we just. 00:51:06
You know, we try to be flexible. 00:51:11
As we can, but there is a standard that. 00:51:13
Right, OK. 00:51:17
Thank you. Thank you. 00:51:18
Any further questions on trash? 00:51:21
Mr. Garrett, I would think those new cans probably going to hold at least 8 of 10 bags, right? 00:51:26
4:00 to 5:00, I mean four or five of your regular kitchen. 00:51:33
Yeah. 00:51:38
Yeah, OK. 00:51:41
And I'll put in a plug for recycling. I will say that once, and I know it's an add-on, but once we started recycling, our trash 00:51:43
volume probably went down by half. 00:51:46
You know so. 00:51:52
I wish we could accommodate it in the. 00:51:54
You know, but it's super expensive so you do have to pay for it one off, but. 00:51:57
We were blown away how our family of five. 00:52:00
Trash volume went down by half once we started recycling the bulky items. 00:52:03
I fill up my 22 recycled bins everywhere. Yeah. 00:52:09
They've got bins for recycling too, and they're a lot easier to handle those little things. 00:52:18
Yeah. All right. Any other questions? 00:52:22
Preference for curbside hearing. None will entertain a motion to approve awarding the. 00:52:25
Collection services contract at curbside. 00:52:30
I make a motion to approve. 00:52:32
Do we have a second? 00:52:34
I'll second. 00:52:36
All right, we have a motion. We have a second further discussion. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. 00:52:37
Any opposed? 00:52:42
Right motion carries 40. 00:52:43
All right, we will move on. Our last two items, last two of our last three we have. 00:52:45
The Simonton Bridge sidewalk. 00:52:51
Project. So what you're going to hear in items 18 and 19. Here are the next two phases. 00:52:53
That will connect the sidewalk that just started. 00:52:59
Pouring today in front of Thomas Farm Preserve that will actually connect that to. 00:53:02
Rocket field. So this is an exciting. 00:53:07
Project Probably we've had a lot of. 00:53:09
Exciting projects happened in Watkinsville over the past few years, but this this is certainly going to be in the top 10. 00:53:12
Just getting that pedestrian connection, I'll also say. 00:53:18
For those of you have been around a little while. 00:53:21
We've all heard from the residents of Simonton Bridge Rd. How can you get us connected to downtown? 00:53:24
So we're really excited to be making that happen with this project. 00:53:28
And getting that going. So item 18 is going to be I think what we call phase two, item 19. 00:53:32
Would be phase three and I'm going to let. 00:53:39
For item 18. 00:53:42
What Engineer Campbell? Take it from here. 00:53:44
Yeah, I think, I think both of us are in town. I'll start off the history of it. I think you sort of gave a pretty good history 00:53:46
so. 00:53:49
But what we're asking for is to award Mark Thomas Enterprises the contract for phase two, which is the mostly the sidewalk side. 00:53:52
Again, the mayor mentioned sidewalk and then phase 3 is the bridge. So this is the sidewalk that comes up towards the bridge. 00:53:59
We are asking for approval of the contract agreement with Mr. Thomas. 00:54:06
And for the mayor and city clerk to sign all those documents. 00:54:09
Just a reminder that this project is a result of a one and a half million dollar grant and a $2.2 million loan from the Georgia 00:54:13
Transportation Infrastructure Bank. 00:54:17
It does come down in front of Simonton Bridge and it will cut behind or to the left of the cemetery and up towards Mulberry and 00:54:22
over to Rocket Field next to OCAF. 00:54:27
We did release the Council. We released an RFP for phase one in August of 24. 00:54:32
In September of 24, that was awarded to Gant Construction and if anybody's been up and down Simonton Bridge Day, you will see that 00:54:38
they began pouring concrete. That is also a mayor's gift for his birthday. 00:54:44
He got he got the concrete started. We teased him he should go put his hamper in it. 00:54:50
And then on the 20th of this of this year, fit, sorry, February 20th of this year, we released an RFP for the Phase two, which 00:54:55
we're talking about tonight. 00:54:59
We had four. 00:55:04
Price proposals received again, I mentioned price proposal because we are not going with lowest bid necessarily. We look at the 00:55:06
overall project and what they bring and what the contractor can bring to the table. 00:55:11
We had these 4 Mark Thomas Enterprises, Smith and Co has been construction and structural resources provide pricing as a visual 00:55:15
you'll see Phase 1 is that section that I mentioned runs in front of Thomas Farm along Simonton Bridge. 00:55:22
Phase 3 is in between sandwich between 1:00 and 2:00 and two goes from. 00:55:29
Essentially, Mulberry St. the end of Mulberry St. to rocket Field. I'm going to turn over to Engineer Campbell to explain maybe a 00:55:34
little bit more in detail some of what you're going to see on the screen. 00:55:39
Right, so Phase 2 is. If you think about it this way, each phase gets slightly shorter and more difficult. 00:55:44
So, so phase two would be I'll call the rocket field. 00:55:52
Side of the connection Mulberry Street is now a paved St. 00:55:56
So this will go along the southern side of Mulberry St. which is not a very. 00:56:01
Will travel St. 00:56:05
But if you're a pedestrian, it's a much better Ave. to travel than walking along. 00:56:07
Portions of Savant and Bridge Rd. at the bridge there so. 00:56:12
This is not just a sidewalk project, but it's also a drainage project if you're familiar with when we did the Harden Hill Rd. 00:56:16
project. 00:56:19
There was a drainage function of that as well, so. 00:56:23
Almost 1300, twelve 170 linear feet of sidewalk connection, but there's 800 linear feet of pipe associated with this as well. So 00:56:25
it will involve also crossing of 3rd Street where Mulberry and 3rd St. connect. That also gives us an opportunity to do some 00:56:32
traffic calming there as part of that crosswalk. So they'll be now a three-way stop. 00:56:38
At 3rd St. there's to make sure that we do stop for all pedestrians. That will certainly help the residents in that area as well. 00:56:45
It will go around the newly created patent court for a connection to the existing pedestrian facilities there along the beautiful 00:56:55
rocket field. So that is phase two-part of the process. 00:57:01
The people providing proposals had a very long time to review the plans. 00:57:08
We had a mandatory meeting here in this room. 00:57:12
Where everybody had a chance to attend that. 00:57:15
And then we did get some great proposals as part of that. 00:57:17
We are recommending Mark Thomas Enterprises be. 00:57:21
Awarded based on their responsiveness, the information they included in their proposal, as well as just the overall questions that 00:57:24
were asked. 00:57:28
And the quality of the work. 00:57:33
And then I'll I'll just add that we are. 00:57:36
We are recommending. 00:57:38
A contingency of 15% above just because this is a pretty tight project and. 00:57:41
And there may be some. 00:57:45
Unknown things that we come across, so we were recommending that. 00:57:47
I will assure you that there is. 00:57:50
Plenty of money for that at this point. And so we're the recommendation will be for a 15% contingency up to a 15% contingency that 00:57:52
will be addressed as needed through the project. 00:57:58
All right, Mr. Thomas, do you have anything you want to add? 00:58:08
OK, questions from Council. 00:58:11
OK, no questions. 00:58:16
No comments. We will. I'll entertain a motion to approve to award. 00:58:18
Mark Thomas Enterprises, the contract for phase two of the Simonton Bridge Rd. Mulberry Connector. 00:58:23
So moved. 00:58:28
We have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:58:30
Second, all right, we have a motion, we have a second. All in favor say aye. Any other actions, we have an abstention. I think so. 00:58:31
30 with one abstention. 00:58:39
All right, we'll move on to phase three. 00:58:44
I think we've provided a fair bit of context, but. 00:58:46
I think what is interested in. I'm assuming there will be some. 00:58:50
Pictures here, but there's umm. 00:58:53
One of the challenges that we issued to the folks who are thinking about this, this is going to be a. 00:58:55
Is it 250? It's not 250 foot long bridge is it? 00:59:01
150 foot long bridge so. 00:59:05
We really. 00:59:07
What is it? 00:59:08
105 OK. 00:59:10
105 foot bridge. 00:59:12
And I guess you know, before we turn it over to the technical folks, my. 00:59:15
Hope and expectation is that we can create something that is. 00:59:20
You know, uh. 00:59:24
Is a defining element of Watkinsville. You know, one of the things I love about great towns is they've got. 00:59:25
Places. 00:59:30
You know, people love to go to have their picture taken. Have you seen that? Have you done that? And one of our challenges to all 00:59:31
of our partners on this project was. 00:59:35
Don't just build a bridge, but think about a. 00:59:39
A bridge that speaks to our history speaks to who Watkinsville is today. 00:59:43
It speaks to what sets our community apart, makes it unique and think about something that. 00:59:47
Is going to encourage folks to stop and visit our community. 00:59:53
And to pause and to think about it. And you know, so we had several proposals that people gave their best shot at that, but I'm 00:59:56
really excited about the recommendation here from the. 01:00:01
From staff tonight, because I think they really were very thoughtful in terms of how they accomplished that goal. So with that, 01:00:06
I'll turn it over to you guys. OK, I'll just start with what we're requesting, which is an award to industrial mechanical. 01:00:12
Inc for the contract for phase three, again, on this one, we're actually asking for a 20% contingency, mainly because it's the 01:00:18
bridge and it is a pretty significant critical piece of this project. 01:00:23
Contract agreement to be signed and for the mayor and clerk to be able to do those signatures again. 01:00:29
All the stuff we've talked about up until now and we just talked about on the on the previous one on April 4th at 10:00, we 01:00:36
received 3 proposals, industrial, mechanical has been construction and structural resources. 01:00:42
And just to explain real quickly, structural resources provided different types of bridges and that's why they there's a range in 01:00:48
there of theirs. Again, remind everybody these are the phases. Phase 3 is the bridge right there smack between the two. Do you 01:00:54
want to point out again, this is a price proposal, not a bid. So we did not have to go with lowest bid. We looked at all of the 01:00:59
aspects of the of the proposals that were brought in. 01:01:05
The mayor waited on this because he had a personal, personal interest in doing that. 01:01:11
I am. I was the only company to propose a covered bridge. We'll share that in a minute. 01:01:17
That is a choice that is significant and has a lot of meaning because it honors the site's history. 01:01:21
As the original location of Elder Mill Covered Bridge was there before it was relocated in 1924. 01:01:26
IMI was founded in 1990, has a small group of employees that perform all sorts of craft trades, so the bridge will be built here 01:01:32
in the city by local workers. 01:01:36
And then phase three the project will be need to be closely coordinated with. 01:01:41
The Phase two and the contractor we've recommended that you've approved for Phase 2, Mark Thomas Enterprises has a good working 01:01:44
relationship with IMI. 01:01:48
So those are the reasons where our recommendation here is a. 01:01:51
Just a sketch, obviously not the final version, but it sort of a sketch of what they're recommending. 01:01:55
There's a side view and I believe there's a. 01:02:04
Dissection here sort of how the frame, so it'll be a steel frame. 01:02:07
With. 01:02:10
Gravel Pan. 01:02:12
And I believe that's, I think it's metal roofing. I'm not sure Ron, but dud. 01:02:14
Mr. Phillips may want to get up and and mention that, but anyway, so that's what we're recommending. 01:02:18
I did want to point out we have again. 01:02:23
I've shared with the mayor and the city engineer knows we do have plenty of funds for this right now and. 01:02:26
That we're very fortunate for, again, coming from the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank. 01:02:33
So again, we're asking that the award be given to Industrial Mechanical Incorporated with an up to 20% contingency that would be 01:02:38
addressed as needed. 01:02:42
And for the contract to be signed by the mayor and city clerk. 01:02:47
All right, one thing I do want to get clear and I made, we made it Mr. Thomas or Mr. Phillips to get that right. The elder 01:02:53
Millbridge was not located here. 01:02:57
Is that correct? 01:03:01
It was located somewhere else, is that right, Mark? 01:03:02
Yes Sir, please. I just want to get that right. Someone people to be confused. 01:03:04
But. 01:03:08
Yes, Sir, Mr. Meyer, the bridge that you're referring to. 01:03:12
Was located on Hwy. 441 at Cause Creek. 01:03:16
And so that one was taken apart. 01:03:20
Piece by piece. 01:03:23
And then reassembled at Elder Mill where it is currently today. 01:03:24
But there was an old bridge down here and we really don't know what it was. So it could, there could have been a covered bridge, I 01:03:30
guess, or it could have just been an open bridge. We don't know. Right? Yeah. 01:03:33
You know that era. 01:03:38
Most of the time if you had. 01:03:40
Large drop offs on each side. It was a covered bridge because most the travel was by horse and gut and buggy or either a horse. 01:03:43
And if a horse looked over the side, it would freak him out. And so, you know, normally they, that's why there were so many 01:03:50
covered bridges in this area. 01:03:55
Yeah. So the chances are is that. 01:04:01
This particular bridge was covered bridge as well. 01:04:03
And one of the things on this design, I think that's interesting, a lot of covered bridges can be really dark and the way that the 01:04:08
way that IMI left it opened, you can still appreciate it so. 01:04:12
It's a pretty area down there, so you can still lookout and appreciate that, and it doesn't feel like you're in a tunnel as you're 01:04:17
going through, but it still has that that aesthetic, which is nice. 01:04:21
Mr. Phillips, is there anything you want to share or anybody from your team? 01:04:25
I've been putting that fence post all this from whoops so bear with me. 01:04:32
Yeah, this, this thing does have some challenges because there's old foundations there from the original bridge, right, Mark? 01:04:38
And the center ones especially challenging because of the. 01:04:46
Where it's located and we're going to have to get in between that thing and it get kind of creative to salvage all that so. 01:04:51
We're going to leave the old foundations underneath the bridge. 01:04:58
So there's. 01:05:02
Two that I know of. 01:05:03
Just the 2. 01:05:06
Yeah, that's going to be. 01:05:08
Really challenging and Mark. 01:05:10
He's going to do our grading force and. 01:05:12
You got. 01:05:16
50 or 60 trees, it's got to come out of there, right? And some of them are. 01:05:17
Pretty bad. 01:05:21
Especially one. 01:05:23
To the cemetery side. 01:05:26
Could easily take out the foundations. 01:05:28
He doesn't do it right. 01:05:32
So, But yeah, we're looking forward to doing this and this is something that, you know, right now we're. 01:05:36
Getting at a phase where we'll be kind of between some work with Georgia Power. 01:05:43
So, you know, we can get after it pretty quick and I think you can start Monday. 01:05:47
That's right. 01:05:52
This is exciting. It's it's. 01:05:55
Really wouldn't be a pretty thing to look at when you travel down that road. 01:05:57
So I don't know when the last time a new covered bridge was built in the state of Georgia. So I think this is going to be pretty 01:06:03
exciting for pretty exciting. 01:06:06
For Watkinsville, we looked at a lot of solutions, but if you guys choose to approve this some. 01:06:11
Very excited about. 01:06:15
Keeping these dollars local and. 01:06:16
And, you know, doing something that I think will be. 01:06:19
Be iconic for Watkinsville for. 01:06:22
Decades and decades so. 01:06:24
Any questions for our bidders or for staff? 01:06:26
Miss Poquista. 01:06:30
Come on up. 01:06:31
I just want to know how it's lit. 01:06:35
And along this path. 01:06:41
Right. Can you, can you repeat that question? Miss Mcquiston asked how it's going to be lit. 01:06:43
So, Mr. Dickerson, do you want to take a first shot or do we want to talk about that? 01:06:50
Some extra funds. At this point it just depends on how things go. 01:06:56
But we we feel like there's an opportunity for us to address that after it's built or as it's being built. We can look into that. 01:07:00
I'm. 01:07:03
Yeah. So I think that's something we can address. I don't know that we know the answer how it's going to be. We do have lights 01:07:07
that Georgia Power, the the similar torch light or the. 01:07:11
The spearheaded lights you see downtown, the Lamp St. lamps are going to be lining the Simonton Bridge Rd. 01:07:16
Segment as well as any side along time, possibly long Mulberry as well. We're still talking about whether or not that'll just be a 01:07:21
standard St. lighter fiddle have a. 01:07:25
Street lamp like what we have downtown, but as far as the bridge, I think we've got some flexibility there. That wasn't part of 01:07:30
what we talked about, but I think you know. 01:07:34
That's something we started talking about since we have. 01:07:38
Do believe we've got some extra funds. So I think given the open panels, it's not going to feel as dark, but for night time and 01:07:40
evening travel through there, we want to. 01:07:45
Have a lighting solution in the bridge. It may be motion sensitive so didn't let all the time, but something that would. 01:07:50
Do that. So I would anticipate as long as we can stay within budget working with the contractors to find a lighting solution 01:07:55
there. 01:07:58
And then we're what we're really hoping to do is connect our downtown streetscape over to the new sidewalk by the park, so it all 01:08:01
feels consistent if someone's walking that. 01:08:05
That we'll be able to have that consistent feel in terms of our streetscape. 01:08:09
Yeah. Any other questions? 01:08:13
The wood that will be used, will it be what type of wood? 01:08:16
Just curious, is it going to be like? 01:08:21
Thick, plain wood like we'd see at Elder Mill. Or is it? 01:08:23
A lot of pine trees around here. 01:08:27
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So one of the things that we talked about is that some of the large trees that are. 01:08:29
In that area. 01:08:40
That we will harvest those and then repurpose them. 01:08:41
For the bridge. 01:08:45
And plan to use pine because predominantly every bridge in this area was pine. 01:08:46
And so that's that's what we're planning on using. 01:08:52
And then the roof itself will be a standing seam roof. 01:08:55
And so basically everything the structure itself is is solid. 01:08:58
So the wood and everything around it, this is going to be a facade. 01:09:03
But you don't think we need to use traded mark or will we just need to maintain that and take care of that once we get it on 01:09:07
there? 01:09:10
You know that would be an option, but the treated lumber? 01:09:13
Today is treated lumber and lasts very long. 01:09:17
And so with the roof overhang, the water is not going to be. 01:09:21
Touching the wood and so I feel like it if you go to. 01:09:25
The cover bridge now and look at it. 01:09:30
You don't see any issues there either, and it's for that reason that's that the water gets away from it. 01:09:32
OK, so I feel like it doesn't need to be treated. 01:09:39
Obviously could be painted. 01:09:42
OK. And the way it is designed that if? 01:09:45
That over 30 years from now, 40 years from now, 20 years from now, the wood was deteriorating because would eventually would 01:09:51
eventually is going to deteriorate. It won't. 01:09:55
Hurt the integrity of the actual bridge so we wouldn't have to shut the bridge down. Well, that was being fixed. 01:10:00
OK. 01:10:07
And I think. 01:10:09
Mentioned earlier was there was going to be a gravel pan. 01:10:10
But our intention was to be concrete, to match the. 01:10:14
Sidewalks on each side. 01:10:18
Yep. 01:10:20
Other questions? 01:10:25
I've got one but I lost it. 01:10:27
I think that just so the public knows that it would will be rated not to allow traditional vehicular traffic, but if we need to 01:10:32
pull a side by side across there or in case of emergency a UTV or something like that. 01:10:37
There'll be bollards installed, but done. It'll be able to handle that kind of weight, correct? 01:10:42
Yeah. 01:10:46
So all right, any other questions? 01:10:47
And we hope to get this done by the end of the year, right, guys? That's. 01:10:52
What we're targeting. 01:10:55
OK. 01:10:57
We got 1 coming to Wire park Saturday for an egg hunt. I know. So you know we can you can start that conversation. 01:11:00
Yep. 01:11:05
All right, Council. 01:11:08
What's your pleasure? I'll make a motion to approve. 01:11:09
All right. We have a motion to award Industrial Mechanical Ink the contract for Phase three. 01:11:14
Of the Simonton Bridge Rd. Mulberry connector. Do we have a second? 01:11:19
2nd, We have a second from Councilman Garrett. 01:11:22
All in favor say aye. 01:11:25
Any of those. 01:11:26
Motion carries 40. 01:11:28
330 Yeah, Brett Yeah, Recuse. 01:11:30
All right. Motion carries 30. Thank you, gentlemen. 01:11:34
We'll move on to our last item tonight is preliminary mileage rate estimate before we move to public comments and a quick council 01:11:36
reports. 01:11:40
All right, Mayor. 01:11:45
So most people will recall that Georgia House Bill 581, known as Save the Homes Act, was enacted. 01:11:46
To provide property tax relief and reform across the state. It was signed in law in April of 24 and the constitutional amendment 01:11:53
was approved by the voters in November of 24. It took effect January 1. 01:11:58
As a result, and the Council decided so the the. 01:12:03
The way this worked was if you wanted to. 01:12:07
That you only had to opt out if you didn't want to participate. But the council wanted here, wanted to put it on the record that 01:12:11
they were not going to opt out. So in February of this year, council approved not docked out, which was not required, but again, 01:12:16
wanted to make sure that the citizens knew that they heard. 01:12:22
Heard them right now what we're dealing with is the because of this rule, I'm going to skip to this part. 01:12:28
So part of House Bill 581 required some of some reforms to the property tax assessment and the way it's handled. 01:12:34
The the biggest piece that we're dealing with tonight is assessment notices have to go out the 1st of May, so the tax commissioner 01:12:42
has told all the cities and counties that she has to. 01:12:47
That we have to provide a note they have that we have to provide the estimated rollback by April 18th. 01:12:52
To them so that they can get these notices out to the public. 01:12:58
The notices normally would have. 01:13:01
The previous year's tax estimate. 01:13:04
Now they're going to have an estimated rollback and it's probably going to confuse the heck of it. A lot of people. That's not 01:13:07
something we we vote, you know that just wait is. 01:13:11
And so. 01:13:15
We have been, so we have. I have provided the mayor with an estimate of what I think the mileage rate will be. 01:13:16
But again, until it's presented the council, it can't be finalized. That's not going to happen until the end of this month. We 01:13:23
have to have something to them by the 18th. 01:13:27
So by the end of this week, so again. 01:13:30
What we've been, what we're going to recommend or what I'm recommending for you guys to consider, the current mileage rate is 2 01:13:34
point. 01:13:38
756 mills. 01:13:41
I believe we're going to be able to keep it there. 01:13:44
However. 01:13:46
Because it hasn't made it for council, I don't want to say that. I'd rather say let's say it's going to be 3 and I don't 01:13:47
anticipate being that high. 01:13:51
And so my recommendation would be for you guys to vote and say that the preliminary estimated rollback rate for 2025 is 3. 01:13:55
With the understanding that I don't think we're going to be near that. 01:14:03
So that is what we need tonight is from Y'all. We have to have a record on record. 01:14:07
OK, so this sounds like a technicality so, so much. 01:14:12
Yeah. And basically what we don't want to do is have to. 01:14:17
Project. 01:14:20
A skinny Raiders, you know, mileage rate and then we can't hit that and then we have to increase it right. So ideally. 01:14:21
We'll work through the budget process, we'll understand what it is and we'll bring that forward. But the last thing we want to 01:14:26
have to do is tell the public this is the number and then. 01:14:30
We work through the budget process and we have to go up. That's not what we want to do so. 01:14:33
We think it's safer just to project the. 01:14:37
3.0 mileage rate. 01:14:40
And and then once we have time to really work through the budget process with all of you, then we'll have we'll do the here. If we 01:14:41
need to do hearings, we'll do hearings if not. 01:14:45
Will umm. 01:14:49
You know Will. 01:14:50
Move forward, but we just don't have enough clarity right now to know to what to project. And and we're not the only community. I 01:14:52
mean there's lots of local governments. I'm not really sure how Oconee counties handle it, but I know several of my colleagues and 01:14:55
other cities have said. 01:14:59
On my list serve that they're all in the same predicament. They're doing the same thing. They're just going to shoot higher 01:15:03
knowing it's going to be lower because they don't want to have to deal with, you know, having to deal with going up if it is so, 01:15:08
and I'll know Sharon did a really good job of reaching out to other cities on the list serve generated kind of compilation of all 01:15:13
those. We ran that up to the flagpole to GMA legal counsel. They approved this process you're going through tonight. Again, it's a 01:15:18
preliminary estimate. 01:15:23
Questions for the manager. 01:15:32
All right, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. 01:15:35
And that motion would be. 01:15:38
Approve the preliminary mileage rate. 01:15:40
Preliminary estimated 2025 mileage rate of 3.0. 01:15:42
2025 or 2026 that 2025? 01:15:47
All right, that so moved. 01:15:50
OK, so we have a motion to that effect from. 01:15:52
Mayor Pro Tem, do we have a second? 01:15:55
I'll second. 01:15:58
We have a second any discussion? 01:15:59
All in favor say aye aye. Motion carries. 01:16:01
All right, we'll move to public comments. 01:16:04
If anybody wants to come forward, the same rules as I outlined before, speak from the podium. 4 minutes per person, the topic of 01:16:07
your choice. 01:16:10
All right, Kathleen, you've already got your questions out. That's good. 01:16:15
All right. Thank you for being here. Yes, Sir. Ryan. 01:16:19
Come on up. 01:16:23
There was a flashing light at the corner of Simonton Bridge and 3rd St. that got take taken out. 01:16:24
Is there plans to put that back up? I noticed it was. 01:16:30
Removed and not placed. Placed back, Manager Dickerson. Sure. So someone hit that pole. That is not the city's poll. That is a 01:16:33
county poll. The county is. The intention is to not string the light across to avoid future problems like that. They actually have 01:16:40
ordered a poll that will go into place that will have an arm that goes across with the flashing light and they're just waiting to 01:16:46
get the supplies and get it installed. And I had one additional question. Sure. The culverts. 01:16:53
And drainage ditches along I believe it's experiment space station have gotten pretty bad. Are there plans to? I know last month 01:17:00
y'all talked about there's a budget particularly for stormwater repair starting with the White Sub subdivision. Is that on that 01:17:05
list? 01:17:09
No, that's a, that's a state road. So I think what we, what we would do would be report that to the state. 01:17:14
They don't need to address it or they're going to need to put up some kind of a barrier there that is unsafe. Think I shared last 01:17:19
week that I saw it, saw two guys staring at their lawnmower down in there one day last week. 01:17:23
It's not. Thankfully nobody was hurt down there and to make a comment on that I've solved it. The dot had there. 01:17:28
Third party engineer of maintenance crews working on that today. OK, they'll probably looks like you're gonna be doing the whole. 01:17:36
Ditch line up through there. 01:17:44
Good. Got you. 01:17:47
We didn't even report that, so maybe they noticed it on their own. 01:17:48
Yeah. But yeah, for those who want to wear what Mr. Lynch described in the sidewalk, the ditch in front of a mayor pride which has 01:17:52
gotten just really deep, Yeah. 01:17:56
Yep, Yep. Thank you. Anything else? Nope. OK. 01:18:00
Hi, anybody else? 01:18:04
All right, we'll closeout public comments. We'll move on to. 01:18:07
Mayor's report. 01:18:10
All right. 01:18:14
This umm. 01:18:15
We, we publicize this a good bit, so I'm not going to belabor it, but. 01:18:17
This was a. 01:18:21
You know, 40 years coming, you know, we had this pole in the middle of our sidewalk on Main Street. 01:18:22
Made it really hard for. 01:18:28
Anybody who is handicapped or anybody pushing a stroller. 01:18:30
Or even anybody to. 01:18:33
Walking side by side down that sidewalk to get around there. 01:18:34
I just want to give a lot of audits to Georgia Power. They really came to the table with a solution there when we've been told for 01:18:37
years that nothing could happen. 01:18:40
There, they solved it. They attacked it. They did it fast. 01:18:44
They warned us that power would be out for four hours. Power was out for 30 minutes. They warned us it would take two days. They 01:18:47
did it in one day. It's a great example of, you know, managing expectations. And overall, they just did a great job with that. 01:18:52
Project and minimizing the disruption. 01:18:58
And we're grateful for that. 01:19:01
Moving on, Norton Road traffic circle, I know that's been a item of interest for several of y'all. 01:19:03
Where they've made some. 01:19:09
Some improvements out there. They still have some landscaping to do, but they've definitely made some adjustments out there around 01:19:11
the edges and on the interior. Is that right, Mr. Campbell? 01:19:15
But I don't think we've totally approved and turned them loose on that at this point, so. 01:19:19
Anything else we need to share? 01:19:24
OK. 01:19:26
Harris Shoals. For those of you who haven't been down there, it's kind of hard to see, but when you go through the park. 01:19:29
The GRDD Green process is well underway. The team from LMA. 01:19:34
I think they brought in about 16 truckloads of dirt and we're spreading that around down there and they are really moving quickly. 01:19:39
We were down there with them for about an hour today talking about tree placement and some other things. 01:19:46
But it's really going to be nice when it's done and they're doing doing a great job. They've got the laser levelers out there and 01:19:51
are. 01:19:54
You know Joe. 01:19:57
The owner of the company told me today said I want it to be like a putt and green when we're done out here. This is how he wants 01:19:59
that grass to feel and look and. 01:20:03
They're doing a great job and tracking well on budget. 01:20:07
We are continuing to make improvements at Thomas Farm Preserve. 01:20:10
We've replaced the roofs on. 01:20:14
On the old garage, the block garage and the old dairy building. 01:20:16
We're adding bathrooms and three toilets in a sink. I think that will have a nice larger women's restroom available. 01:20:20
They are Sharon, do you know when that what the timing is on getting that work done? 01:20:27
I believe by the end of the month we should have that done. I think, you know, we had some rain delays and some of the septic work 01:20:33
we were doing so. 01:20:35
I think it's pretty soon, I think by the end of the month for sure. 01:20:38
Upgrades to the septic tank or not the tank itself, but the transportation between the bathroom and the septic tank needed to be 01:20:43
improved. So we're working on that and then we'll also concrete. 01:20:47
Once that's done while our contractors working on the sidewalks. 01:20:52
He'll also go back and. 01:20:56
Connect Add the sidewalks between the pavilion. 01:20:58
And the restrooms and the pavilion and the existing paths. 01:21:01
If you went down Simonton Bridge Rd. today, you probably noticed the sidewalk is. 01:21:04
Underway, which is exciting again, that first phase will connect Simonton Place to the end of the cemetery and then we'll pick up 01:21:08
with Mr. Thomas and Mr. Phillips teams who will finish that out hopefully by the end of the year. 01:21:13
The library has issued their RFP. 01:21:19
For the artwork at the new library, that was part of their agreement with us that they would invest in a significant piece of 01:21:22
public art. 01:21:26
That will be at Wire Park and at the new library. So they've made that call if you. 01:21:30
No artists I know. We've got a couple here in the room tonight. 01:21:34
Please help us spread the word and take a look at that and participate in that RFP. 01:21:38
And I've got a couple more two things. 01:21:43
To mention just Saturday is going to be a really. 01:21:46
I know, Christine mentioned. 01:21:48
Saturday, a lot happened in Watkinsville. We have the egg hunt here, we have egg hunts at Wire Park, we have. 01:21:50
The downtown event we have the grand opening for the. 01:21:57
Hwy. 15 warehouse. I think they're doing an open house as well. 01:22:01
So it'll be a very busy day in Watkinsville. That's exciting. 01:22:05
And then we'll probably have more information on this next week, but because we get a lot of public questions there. 01:22:08
The flashing beacon signs on Water St. Hardin Hill. 01:22:13
Should all be fixed in the next six weeks. 01:22:17
I think next six weeks and then we're also adding. 01:22:20
Those signs in front of Wire Park. So the connection between Stone Shoals and Wire Park. 01:22:25
A lot of the neighbors there have expressed some concern about the visibility when they're crossing Barnett Shoals roads to the 01:22:29
county. 01:22:31
Has agreed to allow us to install one there as well, so that's coming soon, so. 01:22:34
That's all I have if we want to move on to. 01:22:38
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, this. 01:22:43
OK, yeah, Connie did start it. I did not submit that picture, but yeah. 01:22:47
That was me. 01:22:51
49 years and two months ago. So thank you. Yeah. 01:22:53
Milestone today. 01:22:56
All right, we'll move on to Councilman Garret. 01:22:58
OK, Councilwoman Massey. 01:23:02
Report. 01:23:04
All right, Councilman Thomas. 01:23:05
Mayor Pro Tem Tucker, Nothing here. 01:23:08
We're missing Councilman Campbell. 01:23:10
And we don't have an executive session. 01:23:12
So I think we can entertain a motion to adjourn. So I make a motion to adjourn, all right. 01:23:14
All right, all in favor. Say aye. All right, we're done. 01:23:20
I do need. 01:23:26
OK. 01:23:30
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1239 self initiative calls. 00:00:00
18 reports taken, 64 written citations, 78 written warnings, 7 accidents and six total arrest. 00:00:03
There's the rest on the side there. Most of them are. 00:00:10
Of some type of driving violation there's one family violence and one wanted person out of Houston County that they did want so 00:00:14
we. 00:00:17
We had to take that person into the jail. 00:00:21
Did y'all just happen to pull him over or was that through one of our multiple cameras that we had? No that was actually at a 00:00:24
business in town called and reported this person was acting very strange and weird and. 00:00:30
Just so happened when we went. 00:00:37
Ran the person. 00:00:39
They were wanted. 00:00:40
And a warrants on them. 00:00:42
Kind of worked out. 00:00:43
That's great. 00:00:46
The the. 00:00:51
Community events, so have a bunch of them as we continue. Touch Truck was March 29th. It was great. The we took the UTV down there 00:00:54
and that was a hit with all the kids. They loved it. 00:00:59
Easter egg hunt on the 10th at one of the preschools we actually have the other preschool on the 18th we just. 00:01:05
Finished that this week. We're going to go. 00:01:11
Friday and do a Easter egg hunt with the kids there. The 19th we have our event which is. 00:01:14
Which is pretty big. We have 10,000 eggs and. 00:01:19
A table full of candy and gifts. So please guys, show up. 00:01:23
Saturday at 10 o'clock 10 AM. You'll have some fun. We're going to try to. 00:01:28
Get it done an hour, an hour and a half hopefully and. 00:01:32
It looks like we're going to have really good weather and have some fun we're going to have. 00:01:35
A couple other snacks and drinks and things and out there for the kids. So I think on Ice is actually going to come to give ices 00:01:39
away so. 00:01:43
Should be a good time for the kids. 00:01:47
Cops and bobbers. 00:01:51
We have a Google document right now. I think it's it's about 45 right now full. So we're we're going to stop it probably around 00:01:53
100. I think we can handle 100. 00:01:58
Lake at Thomas Farm so. 00:02:03
Again, we have. 00:02:05
Crates full of fishing poles and tackle boxes and giveaways from. 00:02:07
Local businesses. 00:02:12
A lot of a lot of gifts we have. 00:02:14
Revival Baptist has offered about 10 volunteers to help out with the Easter egg hunt and the cops and Bobbers, which is thankful. 00:02:16
So anybody that would like to volunteer, you get a free T-shirt out of it. Come help us out. 00:02:24
Support badges and benevolence. 00:02:30
And that is it. 00:02:37
Any questions? 00:02:40
Thank you. Thank you. Questions for Chief. 00:02:42
No, thank you, Chief. Thank you. I did have one I forgot to ask about. I know we talked about badges and benevolence supporting 00:02:45
some of our. 00:02:49
Improvements for Thomas Farm, you know, the water stuff. 00:02:53
Are you guys still looking at doing the drone and that situation is that the drone special announcements that that section I guess 00:02:57
I missed we ordered a drone it is in. 00:03:01
Kyle does have experience. He doesn't have a license to fly for actual calls yet, but we've done some practice runs with it. 00:03:07
And we would like to get you guys out there maybe and show you how it operates, how the thermal imaging works. 00:03:14
Myself and Tristan, Officer Walker went out and hit in the woods. 00:03:20
Last weekend and he found us with thermal imaging. It's really good, it's just the heat protection is what it does. 00:03:24
Foundation probably. 00:03:32
7-8 minutes, we were all the way at the back. 00:03:34
In the power lines, in the woods and. 00:03:37
It's it's, it's pretty remarkable. I mean, I've seen a first hand work catch missing kids, missing elderly. 00:03:39
People that run from us, you know that we're obviously trying to arrest, but. 00:03:46
It is a great tool and it's going to work well at the farm. 00:03:50
Cool. 00:03:53
All right, I like that. 00:03:55
Kind of innovative and cool. I think we're the first ones in the area maybe to have one of those so excited about that. 00:03:56
And you'll partner up with the county if they want to work with us and those sort of things, right, the company we have coming 00:04:02
into license. 00:04:05
Sergeant Hitler will also license another officer for free. It's no cost to us. It's I just need room. But they also have some 00:04:09
outside agencies come in and get get license through the program too. Great. OK. 00:04:14
Awesome. 00:04:20
Thank you. All right. 00:04:21
Any other questions for Chief? 00:04:23
All right, we don't have any. We'll move on to the consent agenda. Can I have a motion to approve? 00:04:25
I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. All right. Do I have a second? I'll second. 00:04:30
All right. All in favor, say aye, aye. OK. 00:04:34
We'll move to public hearing. 00:04:38
We have a few of these tonight. 00:04:40
And just for context, some of them are zoning related where we have a hearing and then a vote that's related to those. 00:04:43
So it'll feel a little bit janky. We'll have to open up a public hearing, talk about. 00:04:48
Zoning amendment and then we'll actually vote on the actual item on that. But the first one is a little bit more simple. 00:04:53
And that's what Sharon was talking about. So for those of you are here who are here our budget process. 00:04:58
Over the next month, Sharon and I will present a budget to Council. 00:05:03
But before we present that budget, we want to hear from the public. And so if you have. 00:05:06
Suggestions. This is the time you can certainly come to one of the other public hearings and react. 00:05:10
To the budget as it's presented. 00:05:15
But we also like to offer the public an opportunity before that budget is. 00:05:17
Worked up and presented to council if there's anything a member of the public would like to see us include. 00:05:22
In our operating budget, we'd love to hear from you. And so I'm going to open a public hearing. 00:05:26
At this point, for anyone who wants to step forward, state your name and address and address the Council about any items that you 00:05:31
would like to see us consider having in the budget for fiscal year. 00:05:36
26. 00:05:40
So. 00:05:42
The hearing is open, come forward if you wish to add anything you can also. 00:05:43
E-mail us, we're pretty casual so you can e-mail me or e-mail share and if you've got thoughts on that too. 00:05:47
All right. I don't have anybody coming up, so we'll close that hearing. 00:05:54
And we'll move on to a public hearing related to zoning text amendments. 00:05:58
To amend our outdoor dining and use regulations related to mobile vendors. 00:06:02
And without all that, Manager Dickerson and Attorney Reitman, give us a brief report and we'll open up the public hearing. OK, I'm 00:06:07
going to, I'm going to handle the text amendment. 00:06:11
Piece of it. 00:06:15
We had a application from Wire Park to allow. 00:06:16
A certain type of mobile vendor that currently you all may recall we have a mobile vendor. 00:06:20
It we have an ordinance ordinance that handles mobile vendors, but under that did not have a definition for this particular mobile 00:06:26
vendor, so they submitted a text amendment. 00:06:30
They are asking for mobile oil and or tire maintenance vendor that can be mobile. 00:06:34
And they completed the in their application. 00:06:40
They stated that there would be no impact, that it's a similar. 00:06:43
Similar businesses are working in that area. No effect to the service as the service would be mobile and not permanent. 00:06:48
The commercial use is similar to other uses allowed in that district. That's the next use, office district. 00:06:54
They don't anticipate any effects to the character of the district since it's a commercial district. 00:07:00
And the property already hosts a number of other commercial uses of the property not negatively be impacted. 00:07:06
By allowing this this mobile use. 00:07:12
And so part of what we're asking for tonight is consideration to add a definition for an oil change and or light vehicle 00:07:15
maintenance. 00:07:19
Vendor under the mobile vendor. 00:07:23
Part of our ordinance. 00:07:26
There are other changes I'm going to let Joe talk about those or some housekeeping changes that as we were doing we figured we go 00:07:28
ahead and click clean these up at the same time and I'll. 00:07:32
Pass that over to him. It's it's very tedious. But the ones that are highlighted in Gray, so most of them are under MUO mixed-use 00:07:36
office. There's one under. 00:07:40
Employment Center. 00:07:45
Which we just need to correct because that's already happening there and needs to be covered so. 00:07:47
OK. And left side of the chart, Sharon has already covered the garage repair EC is highlighted and then? 00:07:51
If you move to the right side chart, you'll note halfway down. 00:08:00
These are uses that are, I believe, customary. 00:08:05
In the MU oh and I think actually being performed that's what we meant when we said housekeeping. This is to ensure they are in 00:08:08
compliance. Restaurant Cafe has the highlighted dot below that fine restaurant and then. 00:08:15
Next line below, 2 lines below restaurants, small scale and then a few more lines down school private and I think that 00:08:23
synchronizes us up with similar zoning districts. 00:08:29
Particularly the emphasis on the restaurants to. 00:08:34
Again, the kind of a housekeeping measure here to ensure that those are in compliance with any questions. 00:08:37
So I have questions about the. 00:08:47
Is the person who's asking with the. 00:08:50
The applicant for the mobile vendor, auto mobile vendor. 00:08:53
Have anybody here from Wire Park or from the mobile vendor? 00:08:57
We don't. 00:09:00
OK, well maybe I am ignorant in this and other people can fill me in. 00:09:01
So. 00:09:06
Like I have seen mobile. 00:09:07
Car wash detailing. 00:09:09
Once had that done, it was delightful. 00:09:12
An oil change to me, by definition, is a very messy. 00:09:15
Thing I have never changed my oil though I've always taken it somewhere so I guess I'm just curious like. 00:09:19
How does a mobile oil change work? Like it's one thing if someone's like has attack. 00:09:25
Flat tire and they need their tire put on but like. 00:09:30
A lot of tire and oil stuff that just doesn't seem. 00:09:33
Like umm. 00:09:37
Clean. 00:09:38
Something you want in a the Wire Park parking lot. I mean, is that what this is asking? I guess I'm just confused about what this 00:09:39
is. Yes. So I can give you some first hand experience on that. Not not at Wire Park, but. 00:09:45
With my, with my personal vehicle and also from a. 00:09:51
From a company standpoint. 00:09:53
But yes, so if you have a relationship, if you purchase a vehicle. 00:09:55
From a dealership that they're moving towards that trend to being able to have a service technician come out and it's limited 00:09:59
things that can be done right. 00:10:04
But but they can come out as long as you have the space. And sometimes similarly, if you workout, you know where you say hi, like 00:10:08
my car wash, but my person that I work with would also like their car wash and that you can do the same thing where where you can, 00:10:14
I'm going to use a name. It's not an endorsement, is it? But you can call Akins forward and say. 00:10:19
I need to will change to my truck and the tires rotated and check to see if there's any air filters or windshield wiper blades or 00:10:25
anything needed. And so does a co-worker or so does somebody else and and they can come and and mobily do it so you don't have to 00:10:30
drive the Winder. 00:10:34
You can stay at your office in Watkinsville and you could have all those things done and they take care of everything because 00:10:39
they're in a sprinter van that's like a. 00:10:43
You know a Mercedes, you know work. 00:10:47
Van or truck and they have all the materials that they need. 00:10:50
So they ensure it's disposed of appropriately and everything like that, Mark. 00:10:54
That's correct. So, so yeah, if they, if they come to my office to do that, they're not asking us to dispose of the, the 10W30, 00:10:58
right? They're they're taking it back to their facility where they do all their normal maintenance and the other things. And so 00:11:03
all the fluids and everything are come in a truck. 00:11:07
And they leave in the truck and nothing stays there. 00:11:12
So if we approve this. 00:11:15
Are there ordinances out there likes to be able to do this business, you have to have a state license that ensures. 00:11:16
That you. 00:11:24
Have what you're describing or could we have you know? 00:11:25
Joe Schmo decide they want to start doing this and they. 00:11:31
Change oil at my I just remember my dad changing oil in the in the driveway as a kid and it didn't seem clean to me. Like it just 00:11:35
seemed like it was an audience. I'm just. 00:11:40
I want to make sure what you're describing seems very reasonable, but our is, are we protected? Well, they have to, they actually 00:11:45
have to apply to be a mobile vendor. They can't do it. They have there's a mobile vendor license or permit. 00:11:51
So they have to actually come to us. 00:11:57
So it's not anybody can just pick it up and start doing it. 00:11:59
Although, you know, technically people could, if they're not based in Watkinsville, you could probably just call somebody and they 00:12:02
could come to your house and just like a car wash person could. 00:12:06
But the difference is these people want to be based in Watkinsville and operate from here, I think. Is that accurate? Yeah. 00:12:10
So is it a conditional use the way it's anticipated or it's allowable use OK. 00:12:16
Yeah. So and will this be allowed anywhere in Wire Park or is it a designated area in Wire Park? 00:12:20
Yeah. I mean, we didn't get into a specific parking lot or anything like that. I mean. 00:12:27
That potentially could be in my purview, you know, when we get the license for you know, we could say, but I mean technically 00:12:33
anywhere in the any area that's. 00:12:36
Designate as a mixed-use office could. 00:12:40
Could potentially do this as long as they make the application. Yeah, I'm going to go off the Aikens Ford reference. 00:12:43
You know, I'm sure that they do a great job of spill containment and stuff. That would be my concern is. 00:12:49
You know, if we are doing oil changes in. 00:12:54
The parking lot, you know? Then it drips on the. 00:12:56
More so, you know, anyway, let's contact oil containment and fluid containment. Well, we certainly have the right. I mean they're 00:12:59
getting a permit so we can regulate it if we get complaints, if we get several complaints or there's a, you know, we happen to 00:13:03
see, I mean. 00:13:07
We could say you can't have the permit anymore. So we have that. They're asking for a permit, they're going to meet certain 00:13:12
things. If we have issues, we can withdraw that permit. 00:13:16
Could you look at the permits and consider? 00:13:20
I don't think it requires council approval, but as you think about the permits, just make sure that for. 00:13:23
These kind of operators you have very high standards in terms of. 00:13:27
How the vehicles look and how and what our expectations are in terms of. 00:13:31
Maintenance and that sort of stuff, I think that. 00:13:35
Would allay some of the fears of council, you know. 00:13:37
You know, so set a really high bar for in terms of what we're going to allow in terms of. 00:13:41
Mobile vendors and how to. 00:13:45
The vehicle should be maintained and disposal. You know, I think we could add some language in there. I haven't seen that permit, 00:13:47
but I think if you could do that, that would be great. 00:13:50
And I also AM. 00:13:54
You know. 00:13:56
A Going again off of Mark's example, so you they have. 00:13:57
Four different Co workers who are. 00:14:01
Taking use of the service and parking at wire park in the front, there's not a lot of parking spaces. Like is there a way to say 00:14:04
they can't do it? There has to be in like the side of the back parking lot? Like are we allowed to do that? Because I guess I'm 00:14:09
picturing this like. 00:14:14
Yeah, we have a. 00:14:20
Saturday and. 00:14:21
And maybe it's not normally done on Saturdays, but I don't know, I could just see someone taking over. 00:14:23
You know nothing do I think the owner would regulate that right? Like that is an awesome. 00:14:28
I think we. 00:14:35
To me, that's a little bit of don't worry about that, OK? 00:14:36
And I think they're doing it on weekdays for all practical matters. 00:14:40
No problem. 00:14:44
OK. Any other questions? 00:14:47
All right, so we need to have a public hearing. 00:14:49
So if any member of the public would like to come forward and. 00:14:52
Discuss any of these changes. They're welcome to do so. So I'll open the public hearing, please. 00:14:55
And one additional change to note, you'll see near the bottom right vending machine. 00:14:59
Highlighted to make that an option and mixed-use only as well. 00:15:04
And again, the purpose of most of these restaurants and I think also the vending is to ensure compliance of businesses that are 00:15:09
probably already operational Wire Park, am I right? 00:15:14
Thank you. 00:15:18
All right, public hearings open. 00:15:21
All right. I'll close the public hearing the applicants not here. 00:15:25
So we'll move on to a vote. 00:15:30
So the vote would be for the text amendments as outlined. 00:15:32
By the attorney that includes the outdoor dining updates under Article 10. 00:15:35
And the use regulations for clarifications and updates. 00:15:41
Around mobile vendors and the use of the chart in 1301. 00:15:44
Council, do we have a motion? 00:15:47
I'll make a motion to approve the zoning text amendment. 00:15:53
To amend Article 10 for outdoor. 00:15:58
Dining and and use. 00:16:01
As it says, yeah. 00:16:04
All right, do we have a second? 00:16:06
Second, all right, any discussion? 00:16:08
Hearing none all in favor say aye. 00:16:11
Any opposed? 00:16:13
Motion carries 40. 00:16:15
All right, we'll move on to the rezone of 39 Durham St. 00:16:17
It says resign, but that's really what we're doing here, is modifying a development agreement. 00:16:22
We don't have planned unit developments in Watkinsville or some of the more complicated things, but we do have development 00:16:28
agreements with most of our. 00:16:31
Major projects and in order to modify that development agreement. Technically that qualifies as a rezone. 00:16:34
And so I'm going to ask Engineer Campbell to offer the first report on 39 Durham St. 00:16:40
Related to a projecting wall sign that was not contemplated in that development agreement. 00:16:46
Thank you, Mayor. 00:16:50
So this this is a property that was rezone to attach residential with the development agreement. 00:16:51
And so that the requested changes not for the size of the building or the parking or any of those other functions for the project 00:16:57
that's currently under construction, but it is specifically for. 00:17:02
A signage. 00:17:08
So if you don't know where waters walk is located or or seen it going up as it becomes vertical, there it is it there at the water 00:17:10
and and Durham St. 00:17:14
So this is a picture as of a week or so ago. You can see that the elements that's from the corner of of water in Durham, the sign 00:17:20
will actually be located. 00:17:25
On that corner, based on the information provided by. 00:17:29
The applicant. So instead of having a pole sign. 00:17:32
Or a monument sign. This will be a sign that's not attached flat to the wall. 00:17:35
Which is a little bit more standard. This is a. 00:17:40
A projecting sign from the edge of the building, so. 00:17:43
The next picture. This is part of what the applicant has submitted. They submitted several different pages with a little bit more. 00:17:46
Detail on the height of each letter. 00:17:52
Some of those other things, but you can see there. 00:17:55
Again, the the upper left hand corner kind of gives you a placement on the building that may. 00:17:57
Reference back to the picture on the previous page, but then you can see some scale waters walk. It is a does have an address of 00:18:02
39 Durham St. because the access is from Durham St. 00:18:07
Even though there's pedestrian access from Water St. you see there at the corner. 00:18:12
You'll go down into the entrance of the building. 00:18:16
The buildings itself. 00:18:19
You know, sits below the street, but then as if you recall. 00:18:21
When you reviewed this several years ago as you access from Durham that there's actually an additional story so that the building 00:18:25
is higher as you go lower. 00:18:28
This is an effort to actually have some signage up so that if you're. 00:18:32
On Water St. 00:18:36
Or you're coming around some of those areas you'll be able to see, you know, now where is 39 Durham St. You'll see the projected 00:18:38
sign on the building. That's what the applicant has requested. 00:18:43
This wasn't specifically prohibited during the rezoning process and development agreement, it just wasn't contemplated anyway. So 00:18:48
from a signage standpoint, I know there's not a lot of surface area or places for them to be able to locate a sign. 00:18:54
Based on the plan they've submitted and it's been approved so that this is the project overview, they're requesting specific 00:19:00
signage design on this project and it's part of an amendment to the development agreement. So based on what the applicant has 00:19:06
provided, since this was done during the rezone process, this is a rezoning essentially for this amendment specific to the 00:19:12
signage, they have created an exhibit, they called it Exhibit E. 00:19:17
There's no other changes to any other aspects of the project of the of the number of units for this 55 plus senior living number 00:19:24
of parking spaces, no other changes to landscaping or anything that that effect is specifically. 00:19:30
For the projecting sign. 00:19:36
And then this is the actual proposed language that would change the the actual amendment is underlined is in red. 00:19:40
So it will actually be specific. It also leaves open the opportunity if there's other. 00:19:47
Signage issues in the future, we did not. We didn't delete out that last line before the final line so that we're specific about 00:19:52
this projecting sign. 00:19:56
All right, you've heard the report from Engineer Campbell. Any questions from council? 00:20:03
I do have a question. Can we go back to the first picture? 00:20:08
Of the front of the building. Keep going back one more. 00:20:11
All right, so this is an 18 foot sign on the next picture, it actually shows that it's on the front of the building. 00:20:14
I just so if we go back, there's windows right there that are. 00:20:21
Probably less than 18 feet apart. 00:20:25
Are we going to put it on the side? One of the sides? 00:20:27
Of that building, why don't we have Mr. Is it Mr. A Halter? Who's our if you want to come up and maybe address that question. 00:20:29
I'm guessing it's probably going to, you know, it's kind of a diagonal face and the rendering doesn't really show the diagonal 00:20:38
face, but. 00:20:41
I'm Ken, by the way. I can't. Yeah. 00:20:45
Chief, will you turn on the mic? Is it going to go on the left hand, left hand side of the? 00:20:53
Trying to reach. 00:20:59
Where everybody can see. Come over here. Where everybody can see. 00:21:02
Bar your signs going to actually fit right here between these two windows, OK? 00:21:07
So it's going to be projecting right in this area, right here. 00:21:13
Emma like that. 00:21:18
You'll be able to see it from. 00:21:20
All over the side and over here is wrong. 00:21:21
Over here is where it goes OK. 00:21:24
Yeah. 00:21:26
From the the next picture, it looked like it was going on the front. I was like, there's there's, there's windows there. It's a 00:21:28
little bit of a drawing challenge. We got that location. 00:21:32
Yeah. 00:21:39
Thank you. 00:21:40
It's going to be built out of it. 00:21:41
And feel free to stay at the podium. 00:21:43
Is there anything else you want to share about the sign or is there any other questions from Council about the Sun? 00:21:45
I'd love to build it and get it up for you, OK? 00:21:51
When the Council I have gone back is this is to come out of the ground and looked at the landscaping plans and the. 00:21:54
You know, I don't think we have a rendering in here of how the project looks, but it is, it's, it's really going to be nice when 00:22:00
it's done. 00:22:03
The landscaping is top notch and I think the signage will be a nice addition. 00:22:07
Trees along all the sidewalks there. The sidewalks will be built all the way around the corner. 00:22:12
A with a variety of variety of trees and nice plantings and flowers so. 00:22:18
The urban forestry appreciates that because usually it's the last thing thought about. 00:22:23
Least amount of money spent. Yeah, you could. You could tell that. I think WNA did the landscaping and they really put a lot of 00:22:27
thought into it. It's nice. Do you have a projected complete date? 00:22:33
Do you have a range for complete Sharon's got that I think. 00:22:40
I think it's end of the year, right. Well, it's October, they're going to start leasing. The sign for leasing I think was going 00:22:45
up. 00:22:48
Supposed to be going up shortly, so I OK, supposed to be October's what Mr. Russell told us for us to build the sign. We don't 00:22:50
start building the sign until we make sure we've crossed those TS and out of those eyes and got a permit in our hands. 00:22:56
So we know we're good to go and then we start building the sign and. 00:23:03
I would imagine. 00:23:07
What do you think? 00:23:08
How long Bill signs 6 to 8 weeks on a good day. 00:23:09
And this isn't so much about the sign, I just have a lot of people asking me what's going on. What's that? I thought since I have 00:23:14
you, I might as well ask. 00:23:17
So oh, you're just a sign builder. 00:23:21
I think, I think optimistically, October. 00:23:32
Last time I talked to David, he said By the end of the year, for sure. 00:23:36
So yeah. 00:23:39
They put a sign up and they've got a phone number and. 00:23:42
They've started taking calls and getting all that going. So we'll have that sign up, but into April, mid June. 00:23:45
No, May. June. Yeah, June. 00:23:51
Into May, mid June, OK, All right. 00:23:54
Great. That's the plan. OK. 00:23:57
All right. Thank you. I think I still need to have a public hearing on this, so feel free to take a seat. 00:23:59
This point I'll have the public hearing if anybody has questions specifically about. 00:24:05
The revised development agreement. 00:24:10
Please come forward. 00:24:13
Is your one time. 00:24:19
Kathleen Mcquisten, 13 S Barnett Shoals Rd. How is it lit? 00:24:26
LED lights. 00:24:31
How is it with? 00:24:32
It's going to be internal. The letters will be internally illuminated with LED's inside the cans. 00:24:33
So there won't be. 00:24:40
Light emanating from the sign so much as light Halo Halo against the body of the sign if you look at the drawing. 00:24:41
See the white out? Yeah. 00:24:48
That's that's an impression of the lighting that will be reflected on the sign of the. 00:24:50
Face of the sign behind the. 00:24:55
OK, so it'll be soft. It won't. It's not going to glare down. You'll have a Halo. 00:24:57
OK. Thank you. Thank you. 00:25:06
Good question. 00:25:09
All right. So the light will be lit kind of backlit letters is what we heard there with LEDs. Sounds nice. 00:25:11
All right. I'm going to close the public hearing unless anybody else wants to come forward and we will. We've heard from. 00:25:20
The Waters Walk representative. 00:25:25
So at this point we will move forward to the. 00:25:27
Rezone, which is essentially an amendment to the development agreement. 00:25:31
Council, do we have a motion? 00:25:34
I make a motion to approve. Do we have a second? 00:25:36
I'll second. 00:25:40
We have a motion, we have a second. Any further discussion of the sign? 00:25:41
Hearing none all in favor say aye. Any opposed Lakeside? 00:25:44
All right. Motion carries 40. Thanks for coming, gentlemen. 00:25:48
We'll move on to appearances. We have none. We'll move to old business. We have none. We'll move on to new business. 00:25:52
We have. 00:25:57
Five items under new business. So we will start with our. 00:26:00
6 items under New Business. 00:26:06
We'll move on with local Rd. Assistant Grant Application Manager Dickerson if you want to. 00:26:07
Tell us what we're paving next. 00:26:12
So tonight we're asking for approval to submit our local Rd. assistance application to G dot the. 00:26:15
Well, we'll talk about this and anyone would authorize the city manager, myself and the city engineer to negotiate with the 00:26:23
contractor who we are still under contract with. 00:26:27
For the FY25 Elm egg projects. 00:26:31
Since so we can avoid having to maybe go back out for an RFP and get this project moving. 00:26:34
Hopefully it'll be reasonable and we can we can do that. So that's what we're asking tonight. I'll remind everyone little history. 00:26:38
We do have a pavement management project program. 00:26:43
That was created that actually lists the the streets and the condition of those streets. 00:26:48
And they go from worst to best. And then we work down that list. We'll talk a little bit about that tonight and what the 00:26:54
recommendation is. 00:26:58
The mayor did ask. I will let me point out that the governor did pass. They did. 00:27:02
Legislature did pass. 00:27:06
A budget amendment which is allowing for this extra funding of about almost $58,000. 00:27:08
For us to use on. 00:27:13
On paving. 00:27:14
The mayor had asked me to put together a list of streets. This is not all the street, you know. This is the streets I've known 00:27:16
sort of since I've been here, but fiscal year 17. 00:27:20
All the way through present. 00:27:25
And we've spent about $1.1 million. 00:27:26
A little less than 3 miles of Rd. which is about 14% of our total miles. We have 21. 00:27:30
Total miles that city is responsible for. 00:27:36
Cost per mile roughly is about $388,000 a mile. Now obviously depends on the road, depends on what has to be done, but that sort 00:27:39
of the average so. 00:27:43
We since 2020 I think to see 20 since fiscal year 21. 00:27:47
We've started using the. 00:27:54
Payment management. 00:27:56
Program to actually direct instead of me and the city engineer, the public works guys going now what weather needs to be behaved 00:27:57
or maybe with the mayor, somebody else might say we actually have a very technical document that we reference that tells us the 00:28:01
condition and it's what we use. 00:28:06
So the pavement management plan actually identifies the top five roads are identified. The full sheet is in the packet. 00:28:12
The first three are actually segments, and I mean this to the extent of it's literally the city line and account. The city county 00:28:20
line runs down a a section of Rd. which wouldn't necessarily be at an intersection. 00:28:27
So if you're going on Williamsburg Place, you may only go 450 feet, but the road to the next intersection is 6 or 700 feet. 00:28:34
So it's kind of and and and maybe not useful for us to pave just that little bit when we could, should and and could coordinate 00:28:41
with the county when they're ready to resurface the entire St. And so that's true for both. 00:28:47
Williamsburg Place and Cause Creek Circle and calls Creek Drive, those segments where the line just barely covers. 00:28:53
Into those areas, the next one on the list and I did mention that Durham St. is the worst and that's something we'll address as 00:28:58
the development. 00:29:02
Is built as Waters Walk is built, and as more funds become available, we'll address that probably in the next iteration. 00:29:07
But Stone Shoals is the next street that is actually. 00:29:14
In the city. 00:29:18
It's a little less than 2/10 of a mile. We're talking about the West End. So if you go into the subdivision and you turn right, 00:29:19
we're talking about that segment from there to the cul-de-sac. 00:29:24
And that's the recommendation that we're talking about. I'm going to mention industrial drive because that is when we talked 00:29:29
about. 00:29:32
Paving, but you will see by our estimate it's significantly more there's it also will probably require a little bit heavier. 00:29:35
Asphalt. That estimate probably is under underestimated. 00:29:43
Because we've got such heavy vehicles that are on that road. 00:29:46
We haven't forgotten about it. The industrial park is very important to the city. 00:29:49
And we will address that as well. Those are some high priorities and we'll certainly continue to work on it. But the 00:29:53
recommendation is. 00:29:56
For Stone Shoals Terrace, the West End of. 00:29:59
Of that, we're estimating about 100,000. 00:30:02
Maybe please less? 00:30:07
But but with our G dot funds, we'll need a supplement from the T splost of a little bit less, a little bit more than $42,000. 00:30:08
And then this is just my budget where everybody knows I like spreadsheets. This is just the budget worksheet to show. 00:30:17
The G dot, which is very small for those who sit in the audience, but it shows the G dot supplement as well as our supplement and 00:30:22
and. 00:30:26
That's really all that does so. 00:30:31
So again, the recommendation is for us and we're submitting this, the state still has to approve it. We typically don't have 00:30:34
issues, especially because they know we're working off of a of a, you know, technical document. 00:30:39
We're asking for you all to approve us submitting this application for Stone Shoals Terrace. 00:30:44
And for us, that is this. For myself and the city engineer to negotiate with our existing contractor to get that paved. 00:30:50
Questions for. 00:31:00
Manager Dickerson. 00:31:02
Right. And you feel like we don't need to take this back out to bid? 00:31:05
We can. 00:31:08
I don't, I mean we just went out and I can't remember exactly. I mean all that asphalt is our current vendor and he's still under 00:31:09
contract. So it saves us 30 days of 30 days plus having to come back for you also. 00:31:15
I think we can look at it. We get a crazy bid from him. We'll come back, you know, we'll go out for, but I think you know. 00:31:21
He's still under contract, he still has work to do for us. I think it'd be worthwhile to try to use him if we can. 00:31:27
OK. All right. Any other questions? 00:31:32
Is our paving expert have any concerns about this process? 00:31:35
All right, it's good to have one here. 00:31:38
All right, hearing none, then we'll entertain a motion to approve the manager's recommendation. 00:31:42
To pave Stone Shoals Terrace and extend our gratitude to the. 00:31:48
Governor and the legislature for some additional funds to help us get that done. 00:31:52
I make a motion to approve. 00:31:57
Manager Dickerson's recommendation? 00:32:01
All right, do we have a 2nd? I'll second. All right, we have a met. 00:32:04
We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion hearing none, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? 00:32:07
All right, motion carries 4 O. 00:32:12
We'll move on to approving wastewater capacity allocation request for 116 Morrison St. Engineer Campbell, if you want to offer a 00:32:14
report, please. Thank you, Mayor. 00:32:18
So, 116 Morrison St. If you're familiar with Morrison St. you might ask where that is located on Morrison St. 00:32:21
Is actually at the corner of Motion St. and column Ferry Rd. 00:32:28
So the. 00:32:32
Request is for wastewater capacity the. 00:32:34
Size of the lot is very small. 00:32:37
So it's less than 1/4 of an acre lot. 00:32:40
Which means that on site septic system would not be a viable alternative. 00:32:42
For sanitary sewer wastewater disposal on this slot. 00:32:48
So that map shows you where in relation to, again, kind of across from the southwestern corner of Trove and some of that green 00:32:51
space there and very near Colin Ferry Elementary School. 00:32:56
On the southern side of the city limits as you're going out of town or coming into town from Coffee Rd. 00:33:01
If you wonder when this lot was platted. 00:33:07
The answer is 1969. 00:33:09
So you can see there the the plat for that lot, they said it was .22 acres in 1969. That's still .22 acres. 00:33:12
So the again, the only reason a wastewater application would be possible was because of a gravity sewer line that was installed 00:33:19
by. 00:33:23
15 properties as part of a kind of an overall development that went all the way to Colin Ferry Elementary School back in 00:33:28
approximately 2007. 00:33:32
Now that that Senator sewer line is on what I'll call the. 00:33:36
Opposite side or the northern side of Motion Street. At that point, once it goes a little bit further to the east, it then comes 00:33:41
back down and and ultimately ends up. 00:33:45
In a, you know, a gravity sewer that's that's at the end of Jerry Smith Dr. You may recall that as part of some other projects, 00:33:49
but that's a reference to an as built that was done again by precision planning for that project that 15 properties did some. 00:33:56
Man, it's it's a lot longer or good than it seems like so. 00:34:04
This is a picture of what it looks like there at that corner now. 00:34:10
The house that you see is actually on 1/14. 00:34:15
Not on one 16116 is the is the applicant. 00:34:18
So, umm. 00:34:21
Next slide please the. 00:34:22
Again, just a summary. 00:34:25
Wastewater capacity allocation for one residence. Single family. Single residents. 00:34:26
Wastewater for a .22 acre parcel. 00:34:31
It was shown in Platte Book 3. 00:34:34
Page 205 again applicant submitted information that is not sufficient size for on site septic system. 00:34:36
Just a reminder, the applicant has to meet all the requirements for the City of Watkinsville wastewater capacity. 00:34:42
Allocation regulations, that's detailed. 00:34:48
In the Section 43, and that still again has to go through, has to meet all the requirements for Oconee County water resources. I 00:34:51
mentioned that again that the nearest gravity manhole is on the opposite side of Morrison St. but that coordination will need to 00:34:56
be made. 00:35:01
With the county. 00:35:07
Happy to answer any other questions. 00:35:08
Manager Dickerson, do you have anything you want to add? 00:35:12
Yeah. So the wastewater capacities is our tracking sheet. 00:35:14
So the applicants only asking for 260 gallons, we certainly have that capacity and that's really all that is. 00:35:17
I think the other thing worth noting here is that whatever is built there has to meet the standards of the Watkinsville detached 00:35:24
residential building code, right? So we're not here tonight to. 00:35:28
Debate over what is to be built there, but understand that whatever if something is proposed there that follows a separate process 00:35:33
and comes back in. 00:35:36
To staff to work through that process and it's got to meet those standards building envelope and all those sort of things, 00:35:41
correct? 00:35:44
OK, I got something completely not related to water capacity. 00:35:47
But about this piece of property, if you notice the picture. 00:35:50
The driveway goes for 1/14 is in the middle of. 00:35:53
This address. 00:35:58
Well, I think the applicant would if they bring a. 00:35:59
Permit forward would have to resolve that on Mr. Watson. Do you want to address that? Do you want to are you? 00:36:02
No, yeah. 00:36:07
Yeah, but I don't. Obviously they couldn't build a house without resolving the driveway situation for. 00:36:11
The neighbor. 00:36:18
And another question that I have, which again is maybe a little premature, but I know this. 00:36:19
Has come up in the past. 00:36:25
With other properties. 00:36:27
So the lot of the house that we can see the lot next door. 00:36:29
It looks really is it? 00:36:33
With the sewer line, is it currently connected to the sewer? Does it? 00:36:36
But I guess what I'm wondering is, is there any chance of the house next door? 00:36:39
Is this? 00:36:44
Current empty lot. 00:36:45
If they have a septic system, is any part of their drain fields or system actually on this lot? 00:36:47
Do we know that? I mean, simply ask that question. I've been told it's not. 00:36:54
So it's it's the the house next door we've been told is connected to sanitary sewer. 00:36:58
Oh, it is connected to sanitary sewer County, but again, that's that's what I've been doing. 00:37:02
OK, OK. 00:37:07
Good questions. 00:37:11
Any others? 00:37:13
All right, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. 00:37:14
I'll make a motion to approve the wastewater capacity. 00:37:21
Or 116 Morrison St. 00:37:24
All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:37:26
Second, all right, we have a motion. We have a second further questions or discussion. 00:37:29
Hearing none all in favor say aye aye. Any opposed like some? 00:37:34
Motion carries unanimously 40. 00:37:38
All right. We'll move on to approving the ward of garbage recycling and leaf and limb collection services contract manager 00:37:41
Dickerson. 00:37:44
Grab the notes. 00:37:50
Thank you, Mayor. 00:37:52
I get a little history here. So in May of 2020, we, the council awarded a contract to curbside services after we've released an 00:37:54
RFP for that. 00:37:58
For those services and we had a. 00:38:02
Three-year contract with a 2 year extension. We have actually you all have approved those extensions and we are approaching the 00:38:05
June 30th expiration of those extensions and so. 00:38:09
In February, we issued an RFP for the garbage recycling and leaf and limb collection services as published in the Oconee 00:38:15
Enterprise on the 27th of February and on the 6th of March. 00:38:20
On April 4th, we formally received proposals from Curbside Services Inc and Waste Pro of Georgia. 00:38:25
The the proposal of this cut for this contract and and I'll explain a little bit why, but we are recommending A5 year contract, 00:38:33
not a three-year, A5 year with two one year incremental extensions. 00:38:39
Part of that is because of one of the items that we're going to talk a little bit about, one of the features that we didn't have 00:38:45
current, we don't currently have that. 00:38:49
That makes it more valuable. 00:38:54
So the proposal is for garbage collection once a week, on Wednesday as we normally get it. 00:38:56
This time around, we're at we actually asked the proposers to give us a price for providing a 65 gallon roll cart. 00:39:02
For the garbage. 00:39:09
We have residents who drag their their containers to the curb. We have residents who just put bags at the curb. 00:39:11
And we felt like this is a good way we can brand it for the city. It'll make things cleaner. It'll keep, you know, help with 00:39:18
public safe of public health, public safety. 00:39:23
And so that's part of the reason that we're asking for a longer term so that they can, you know, so we can. 00:39:27
Pay for those carts over time as well as the as the the look of it. 00:39:32
That proposal for recycling is the same. It would be, you know, once a week, Wednesday. 00:39:37
Residents in this case and have this has been the case that residents. 00:39:41
Contract with our contractor on their own for that. That's not something the city covers through the property taxes that we 00:39:46
collect. 00:39:50
Leaf and limb collection will continue to be serviced the same way as well. 00:39:54
Weekly pickup. 00:39:59
Collection of both limbs and leaves. 00:40:01
And of course, meeting all the APD requirements. 00:40:03
We did evaluate both offers, but both of the service providers have the ability to provide these services. 00:40:06
Curbside Services is the only one who quoted our leaf and limb collection services. It's currently being provided. So the leaf and 00:40:14
limb, the vacuum on the leaves. 00:40:18
The limbs being in the chipper. 00:40:22
The other. 00:40:24
Contractors was just going to pick it up, throw it in the back of a rear loader and off they go. And I think. 00:40:24
That would require BAT for all the leaves to be bagged. That's another step residents would have to handle. 00:40:30
And we'll look at the prices and we'll talk about why we while we're making our recommendation. But curbside services have been 00:40:35
our service provider for many years, I guess 19 for garbage and and they've provided leaf and limb for 8:00. 00:40:42
We. 00:40:49
Have had complaints but when we have there been few they have worked to resolve those and and so that is. 00:40:49
Our recommendation is to go with curbside services. You'll see here that the price was pretty close and so it you know, $27.00 00:40:56
versus $27.19. 00:41:00
But again I go back to the service. 00:41:05
What the residents have become used to as far as leaf and limb. 00:41:07
Makes it easier and then the cart provided and then the fact that we've worked with them and we haven't had any major issues so. 00:41:12
That is. 00:41:18
That is, our recommendation is to award the contract to curbside services. 00:41:20
And. 00:41:24
And for you all to approve the contract agreement and the mayor and city clerk to sign those documents. 00:41:26
All right. Questions for manager Dickerson. 00:41:33
So this is a minor thing. 00:41:37
But I noticed that it said that recycling will be done on Wednesday for those who so we pay for recycling currently and it comes 00:41:39
on Tuesday. So is that going to change? 00:41:43
If you're going to, yeah, that's probably my, that's probably my error. Not that. OK. So it's like, that'd be great. The number of 00:41:48
times we have accidentally put the wrong thing on the street on that day is. 00:41:53
Yeah, that's that's probably my error because I was writing the report. So I was really excited actually. It'll still be weekly so 00:41:58
but we'll work with them. However it's been being provided. We'll continue with that. And Jesse and Jennifer, if y'all, if you 00:42:03
have anything you want to add, feel free to step forward. We happy to hear from y'all. 00:42:09
So. 00:42:14
Well, come on up, we may have some more questions. So. 00:42:17
I will point out Jennifer and Jesse, although it's not something that we evaluate in our RFP, it is locally owned business here in 00:42:22
Oconee County. We appreciate. 00:42:26
Everything I've done for us. 00:42:31
Where we own the bins or will y'all own the bins? 00:42:33
We would own the bins. We would. 00:42:37
OK. So if the contract went in a different direction in six or seven years, then the bins stay with us, is that right? 00:42:39
There are bins, you said they're yours. I'm sorry you're purchasing for us. The way the RFP was presented was that we would 00:42:46
purchase the bin. 00:42:49
Part of that is so if one gets damaged, they have to replace it. It's not our responsibility to go out and replace, you know, 00:42:53
they, that's how they run their business model. Now if they have customers who, you know, they have a certain level, they get, 00:42:58
they buy their bin or they don't or they provide their own bin, there's a different price. And so they priced it where they own 00:43:02
the bin and they're responsible for replacing it if something happens to it. 00:43:07
Well, will the Bend be branded for the city of Watkinsville? Did discuss that we can brand it for the city of Watkinsville. 00:43:11
Can we recycle our old bins? 00:43:18
People may ask. 00:43:22
Any other questions for? 00:43:24
I'm sorry. 00:43:26
This might be more of my. 00:43:29
Paying job professional capacity. So how does it work practically when? 00:43:31
Someone doesn't provide their own bins, someone moves. 00:43:36
Does the a new house is built or like is there a process for getting a new bin or? 00:43:39
So because it's inside the city limits and the bin would stay with the home and so if it's if it's. 00:43:47
A bin that needs to be replaced because it's damaged or excessively dirty, then it then will, you know, swap it out. 00:43:53
We have instances where people want just a new one because they want a new one. 00:43:59
You know, that would be something we would have to talk to Mayor Council, whether you want us to do that every time when they're 00:44:04
moving in and out. Sometimes that could be not. The way that the contract was written or the RFP for me is we are providing the 00:44:08
cans. They're going to go to the homes, but unless they're damaged, then we're not going to swap them out every time somebody. 00:44:13
Yeah, no. 00:44:18
Absolutely. And so will it be just like. 00:44:24
A day of massive garbage can drops. Like I'm just kind of curious to see how. 00:44:28
I mean, that's a lot of garbage cans all at once. 00:44:32
Easily to deliver that, that volume, OK. 00:44:36
I have been in contact with Mark Jennings, who owns the old Smith Setzer plant, and he's going to allow me to rent that property 00:44:41
from him to deliver the cars. Let's put them together and get them delivered from there. 00:44:47
Otherwise, we would spend countless hours going back and forth. 00:44:52
To from here to Lane Creek Rd. and it would take. 00:44:57
Three times as long. 00:45:00
It's a process. They come to us on a tractor trailer. You have to add the wheels a minute that they don't come to us the way that 00:45:02
you get them. We have to put there is some assembly required from us. 00:45:06
That'll take us about two weeks with our crews or estimation to do that. 00:45:10
We've already, you know, the contract is awarded, we hope to. 00:45:14
Get the carts here by June 1st. We've talked to Mr. James. 00:45:18
Urging Jennings, Jennings, sorry about that, so that we can get those put together so that it would take about two weeks for us to 00:45:22
get those delivered we talked to. 00:45:27
Mr. Person about possibly, you know, a process of maybe the city helping us with some of that. 00:45:34
Because you're looking at almost, you know, 2000 carts that we're going to get out at one time. 00:45:40
Our truck holds. 00:45:45
25. 00:45:46
So it'll be a process, but we have a plan already in motion. We talked to her briefly about it. 00:45:48
Until it was awarded, we, you know, didn't get. 00:45:54
Quite into the logistics with her. We've just been working on our end to be prepared for it. 00:45:57
And I also just want to say kind of what has already been said, but your service is fantastic. I actually recommend you. 00:46:03
To everyone who gets to choose their their garbage service y'all you get real people on the phone that really care about you and 00:46:11
that is. 00:46:14
Rare in today's age, so thank you guys for that. 00:46:18
One question for me. So what do we do with our privately owned? 00:46:22
Trash bins that we currently have. 00:46:25
I guess we can, I mean throw them away there. We haven't really talked about that yet as as I had a customer, it hasn't had a 00:46:27
potential person moving into the city that was asking about the Canada. 00:46:33
Heard my staff talking about that today. I thought, oh don't go by 1 yet. I don't know how. I mean it's a process, but they have 00:46:39
to for a couple of weeks or months, you know, before it takes through the streets. 00:46:44
Most people's cans need to be thrown away anyway. 00:46:50
I mean, when we pick them up, you know, the handles fall off, the wheels fall off. 00:46:52
You know, half of us in pieces, so the cans that we provide are so much sturdy earlier. 00:46:56
It's different, yeah. It's such a difference than what you can go and purchase at just the store. Your handles come off. They're 00:47:02
not made, you know, for for that. They're made for you to just sit in your garage. So there's a big difference. 00:47:08
Right. Any other questions? 00:47:15
All right, hearing none, we'll entertain a motion. No questions. But I want to thank you for helping to keep the city clean all 00:47:19
these years and doing a good job. Thank you. Thank you. 00:47:23
Yeah, yeah. I think it's. 00:47:27
Goes without saying that y'all are also very civically minded and we're appreciative of that helping with Fall Festival and some 00:47:30
other things too. So thank you all. Thank you. 00:47:33
Sure, you're gonna have to come up. Yep. 00:47:38
So are we only allowed the one? 00:47:41
Correct, correct. Our current contract states that you're supposed to have a 45 gallon trash can. 00:47:45
If you they add the 65 gallon will be what can we purchase any additional or. 00:47:50
I think, I think what we talked about was if the, if the customer wanted more that they would have to work that out with. 00:47:58
Curbside, because the city has a standard that we provide across the board for everybody that 65 is more than what we're doing 00:48:04
now. And some people use more, some people use less. And so the only fairway to do it would be anything over what we're providing. 00:48:09
You would have to go to the contractor and work that out on a fee system. That's just a large change from what we've seen right 00:48:14
now. There is, as far as I know, no limit. 00:48:20
To have people restricted to 1 can might become an issue. 00:48:25
Not not to mention, I mean, I assume that the bid didn't change over the past five, five years without restricting most. 00:48:30
Of our. 00:48:36
Most of our people to 1 can, but the bid didn't change. So I'm kind of curious as to why the bid didn't. And so just a couple 00:48:37
things, just some semantics. So it's a, it was a price proposal, it's not a bid. So we don't go with the lowest. We always go. We 00:48:42
look at the overall service of it. 00:48:47
The the ordinance actually says. 00:48:53
I think it actually says 32 gallon, not 45. So that's really all you're supposed to be getting. But curbside has been incredible 00:48:55
over the years. They just, they take everything. 00:49:00
We've got to set a standard and that so we've set the standard at 65 and they've responded to that saying 65. If you have more, 00:49:05
there are options. If you have more, you can either, like I said, work with them directly or you can take it to one of the drop 00:49:10
off sites in the county and buy the bags that the county has for those convenient sites. I mean those are there are options, but 00:49:16
but there has to be a standard. Otherwise, I mean because you've got some people that. 00:49:21
You know, they live an individual who may live by themselves who may only generate 20 gallons, somebody else who has a family of 00:49:27
five who may generate 90 gallons. But at some point we had to set a standard. And so the standard 65. So we went higher than what 00:49:33
we're currently allowing, but maybe lower than what some people possibly write down that that ordinance for for me because I I 00:49:39
read it and I didn't see it. Yeah. No, I can, if you could offer your name. Yeah. It's Ryan Lynn, 1110 Katie Lane. 00:49:46
So Mr. Lynch, Miss Dickerson can get in touch with you with those details. And I will say, I think curbside is flexible within 00:49:54
reason to pick things up, but there are some houses that. 00:49:58
You know if it's a. 00:50:03
Consistently more than more than that, then I think they should have the ability to say no we can't do this. And all the same with 00:50:05
leaf and limb where we used to have. Some people are serious serial abusers of. 00:50:10
Leaf Lim and you know, and, and so we had to kind of set a standard and I, I concur that there needs to be a standard, but you 00:50:15
know, I have a family of four mice myself and I often need 222 cans. I don't want to. 00:50:20
Have to spend the minimum driving up to up by Heritage Park. 00:50:25
Believe the minimum is $1212.00. I don't want to spend $1212.00 a week. 00:50:30
Going up and bringing an additional can because we, you know, we go through a lot of trash. I have a. 00:50:34
Newborn who goes through diapers like like that so you know and I'm like I'll file forth you all have been. 00:50:40
Fantastic. I love, you know, not a single complaint so. 00:50:46
Yep, that's that's my concern. Thank you. 00:50:50
Have people that do currently pay us for more volume so you can contact our office and you know contract for more. We have people 00:50:52
that. 00:50:57
That rent our 96 gallon now we have people to do it so it's already kind of in place how we do that. But but I mean Miss Dickerson 00:51:01
is right that we just. 00:51:06
You know, we try to be flexible. 00:51:11
As we can, but there is a standard that. 00:51:13
Right, OK. 00:51:17
Thank you. Thank you. 00:51:18
Any further questions on trash? 00:51:21
Mr. Garrett, I would think those new cans probably going to hold at least 8 of 10 bags, right? 00:51:26
4:00 to 5:00, I mean four or five of your regular kitchen. 00:51:33
Yeah. 00:51:38
Yeah, OK. 00:51:41
And I'll put in a plug for recycling. I will say that once, and I know it's an add-on, but once we started recycling, our trash 00:51:43
volume probably went down by half. 00:51:46
You know so. 00:51:52
I wish we could accommodate it in the. 00:51:54
You know, but it's super expensive so you do have to pay for it one off, but. 00:51:57
We were blown away how our family of five. 00:52:00
Trash volume went down by half once we started recycling the bulky items. 00:52:03
I fill up my 22 recycled bins everywhere. Yeah. 00:52:09
They've got bins for recycling too, and they're a lot easier to handle those little things. 00:52:18
Yeah. All right. Any other questions? 00:52:22
Preference for curbside hearing. None will entertain a motion to approve awarding the. 00:52:25
Collection services contract at curbside. 00:52:30
I make a motion to approve. 00:52:32
Do we have a second? 00:52:34
I'll second. 00:52:36
All right, we have a motion. We have a second further discussion. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. 00:52:37
Any opposed? 00:52:42
Right motion carries 40. 00:52:43
All right, we will move on. Our last two items, last two of our last three we have. 00:52:45
The Simonton Bridge sidewalk. 00:52:51
Project. So what you're going to hear in items 18 and 19. Here are the next two phases. 00:52:53
That will connect the sidewalk that just started. 00:52:59
Pouring today in front of Thomas Farm Preserve that will actually connect that to. 00:53:02
Rocket field. So this is an exciting. 00:53:07
Project Probably we've had a lot of. 00:53:09
Exciting projects happened in Watkinsville over the past few years, but this this is certainly going to be in the top 10. 00:53:12
Just getting that pedestrian connection, I'll also say. 00:53:18
For those of you have been around a little while. 00:53:21
We've all heard from the residents of Simonton Bridge Rd. How can you get us connected to downtown? 00:53:24
So we're really excited to be making that happen with this project. 00:53:28
And getting that going. So item 18 is going to be I think what we call phase two, item 19. 00:53:32
Would be phase three and I'm going to let. 00:53:39
For item 18. 00:53:42
What Engineer Campbell? Take it from here. 00:53:44
Yeah, I think, I think both of us are in town. I'll start off the history of it. I think you sort of gave a pretty good history 00:53:46
so. 00:53:49
But what we're asking for is to award Mark Thomas Enterprises the contract for phase two, which is the mostly the sidewalk side. 00:53:52
Again, the mayor mentioned sidewalk and then phase 3 is the bridge. So this is the sidewalk that comes up towards the bridge. 00:53:59
We are asking for approval of the contract agreement with Mr. Thomas. 00:54:06
And for the mayor and city clerk to sign all those documents. 00:54:09
Just a reminder that this project is a result of a one and a half million dollar grant and a $2.2 million loan from the Georgia 00:54:13
Transportation Infrastructure Bank. 00:54:17
It does come down in front of Simonton Bridge and it will cut behind or to the left of the cemetery and up towards Mulberry and 00:54:22
over to Rocket Field next to OCAF. 00:54:27
We did release the Council. We released an RFP for phase one in August of 24. 00:54:32
In September of 24, that was awarded to Gant Construction and if anybody's been up and down Simonton Bridge Day, you will see that 00:54:38
they began pouring concrete. That is also a mayor's gift for his birthday. 00:54:44
He got he got the concrete started. We teased him he should go put his hamper in it. 00:54:50
And then on the 20th of this of this year, fit, sorry, February 20th of this year, we released an RFP for the Phase two, which 00:54:55
we're talking about tonight. 00:54:59
We had four. 00:55:04
Price proposals received again, I mentioned price proposal because we are not going with lowest bid necessarily. We look at the 00:55:06
overall project and what they bring and what the contractor can bring to the table. 00:55:11
We had these 4 Mark Thomas Enterprises, Smith and Co has been construction and structural resources provide pricing as a visual 00:55:15
you'll see Phase 1 is that section that I mentioned runs in front of Thomas Farm along Simonton Bridge. 00:55:22
Phase 3 is in between sandwich between 1:00 and 2:00 and two goes from. 00:55:29
Essentially, Mulberry St. the end of Mulberry St. to rocket Field. I'm going to turn over to Engineer Campbell to explain maybe a 00:55:34
little bit more in detail some of what you're going to see on the screen. 00:55:39
Right, so Phase 2 is. If you think about it this way, each phase gets slightly shorter and more difficult. 00:55:44
So, so phase two would be I'll call the rocket field. 00:55:52
Side of the connection Mulberry Street is now a paved St. 00:55:56
So this will go along the southern side of Mulberry St. which is not a very. 00:56:01
Will travel St. 00:56:05
But if you're a pedestrian, it's a much better Ave. to travel than walking along. 00:56:07
Portions of Savant and Bridge Rd. at the bridge there so. 00:56:12
This is not just a sidewalk project, but it's also a drainage project if you're familiar with when we did the Harden Hill Rd. 00:56:16
project. 00:56:19
There was a drainage function of that as well, so. 00:56:23
Almost 1300, twelve 170 linear feet of sidewalk connection, but there's 800 linear feet of pipe associated with this as well. So 00:56:25
it will involve also crossing of 3rd Street where Mulberry and 3rd St. connect. That also gives us an opportunity to do some 00:56:32
traffic calming there as part of that crosswalk. So they'll be now a three-way stop. 00:56:38
At 3rd St. there's to make sure that we do stop for all pedestrians. That will certainly help the residents in that area as well. 00:56:45
It will go around the newly created patent court for a connection to the existing pedestrian facilities there along the beautiful 00:56:55
rocket field. So that is phase two-part of the process. 00:57:01
The people providing proposals had a very long time to review the plans. 00:57:08
We had a mandatory meeting here in this room. 00:57:12
Where everybody had a chance to attend that. 00:57:15
And then we did get some great proposals as part of that. 00:57:17
We are recommending Mark Thomas Enterprises be. 00:57:21
Awarded based on their responsiveness, the information they included in their proposal, as well as just the overall questions that 00:57:24
were asked. 00:57:28
And the quality of the work. 00:57:33
And then I'll I'll just add that we are. 00:57:36
We are recommending. 00:57:38
A contingency of 15% above just because this is a pretty tight project and. 00:57:41
And there may be some. 00:57:45
Unknown things that we come across, so we were recommending that. 00:57:47
I will assure you that there is. 00:57:50
Plenty of money for that at this point. And so we're the recommendation will be for a 15% contingency up to a 15% contingency that 00:57:52
will be addressed as needed through the project. 00:57:58
All right, Mr. Thomas, do you have anything you want to add? 00:58:08
OK, questions from Council. 00:58:11
OK, no questions. 00:58:16
No comments. We will. I'll entertain a motion to approve to award. 00:58:18
Mark Thomas Enterprises, the contract for phase two of the Simonton Bridge Rd. Mulberry Connector. 00:58:23
So moved. 00:58:28
We have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:58:30
Second, all right, we have a motion, we have a second. All in favor say aye. Any other actions, we have an abstention. I think so. 00:58:31
30 with one abstention. 00:58:39
All right, we'll move on to phase three. 00:58:44
I think we've provided a fair bit of context, but. 00:58:46
I think what is interested in. I'm assuming there will be some. 00:58:50
Pictures here, but there's umm. 00:58:53
One of the challenges that we issued to the folks who are thinking about this, this is going to be a. 00:58:55
Is it 250? It's not 250 foot long bridge is it? 00:59:01
150 foot long bridge so. 00:59:05
We really. 00:59:07
What is it? 00:59:08
105 OK. 00:59:10
105 foot bridge. 00:59:12
And I guess you know, before we turn it over to the technical folks, my. 00:59:15
Hope and expectation is that we can create something that is. 00:59:20
You know, uh. 00:59:24
Is a defining element of Watkinsville. You know, one of the things I love about great towns is they've got. 00:59:25
Places. 00:59:30
You know, people love to go to have their picture taken. Have you seen that? Have you done that? And one of our challenges to all 00:59:31
of our partners on this project was. 00:59:35
Don't just build a bridge, but think about a. 00:59:39
A bridge that speaks to our history speaks to who Watkinsville is today. 00:59:43
It speaks to what sets our community apart, makes it unique and think about something that. 00:59:47
Is going to encourage folks to stop and visit our community. 00:59:53
And to pause and to think about it. And you know, so we had several proposals that people gave their best shot at that, but I'm 00:59:56
really excited about the recommendation here from the. 01:00:01
From staff tonight, because I think they really were very thoughtful in terms of how they accomplished that goal. So with that, 01:00:06
I'll turn it over to you guys. OK, I'll just start with what we're requesting, which is an award to industrial mechanical. 01:00:12
Inc for the contract for phase three, again, on this one, we're actually asking for a 20% contingency, mainly because it's the 01:00:18
bridge and it is a pretty significant critical piece of this project. 01:00:23
Contract agreement to be signed and for the mayor and clerk to be able to do those signatures again. 01:00:29
All the stuff we've talked about up until now and we just talked about on the on the previous one on April 4th at 10:00, we 01:00:36
received 3 proposals, industrial, mechanical has been construction and structural resources. 01:00:42
And just to explain real quickly, structural resources provided different types of bridges and that's why they there's a range in 01:00:48
there of theirs. Again, remind everybody these are the phases. Phase 3 is the bridge right there smack between the two. Do you 01:00:54
want to point out again, this is a price proposal, not a bid. So we did not have to go with lowest bid. We looked at all of the 01:00:59
aspects of the of the proposals that were brought in. 01:01:05
The mayor waited on this because he had a personal, personal interest in doing that. 01:01:11
I am. I was the only company to propose a covered bridge. We'll share that in a minute. 01:01:17
That is a choice that is significant and has a lot of meaning because it honors the site's history. 01:01:21
As the original location of Elder Mill Covered Bridge was there before it was relocated in 1924. 01:01:26
IMI was founded in 1990, has a small group of employees that perform all sorts of craft trades, so the bridge will be built here 01:01:32
in the city by local workers. 01:01:36
And then phase three the project will be need to be closely coordinated with. 01:01:41
The Phase two and the contractor we've recommended that you've approved for Phase 2, Mark Thomas Enterprises has a good working 01:01:44
relationship with IMI. 01:01:48
So those are the reasons where our recommendation here is a. 01:01:51
Just a sketch, obviously not the final version, but it sort of a sketch of what they're recommending. 01:01:55
There's a side view and I believe there's a. 01:02:04
Dissection here sort of how the frame, so it'll be a steel frame. 01:02:07
With. 01:02:10
Gravel Pan. 01:02:12
And I believe that's, I think it's metal roofing. I'm not sure Ron, but dud. 01:02:14
Mr. Phillips may want to get up and and mention that, but anyway, so that's what we're recommending. 01:02:18
I did want to point out we have again. 01:02:23
I've shared with the mayor and the city engineer knows we do have plenty of funds for this right now and. 01:02:26
That we're very fortunate for, again, coming from the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank. 01:02:33
So again, we're asking that the award be given to Industrial Mechanical Incorporated with an up to 20% contingency that would be 01:02:38
addressed as needed. 01:02:42
And for the contract to be signed by the mayor and city clerk. 01:02:47
All right, one thing I do want to get clear and I made, we made it Mr. Thomas or Mr. Phillips to get that right. The elder 01:02:53
Millbridge was not located here. 01:02:57
Is that correct? 01:03:01
It was located somewhere else, is that right, Mark? 01:03:02
Yes Sir, please. I just want to get that right. Someone people to be confused. 01:03:04
But. 01:03:08
Yes, Sir, Mr. Meyer, the bridge that you're referring to. 01:03:12
Was located on Hwy. 441 at Cause Creek. 01:03:16
And so that one was taken apart. 01:03:20
Piece by piece. 01:03:23
And then reassembled at Elder Mill where it is currently today. 01:03:24
But there was an old bridge down here and we really don't know what it was. So it could, there could have been a covered bridge, I 01:03:30
guess, or it could have just been an open bridge. We don't know. Right? Yeah. 01:03:33
You know that era. 01:03:38
Most of the time if you had. 01:03:40
Large drop offs on each side. It was a covered bridge because most the travel was by horse and gut and buggy or either a horse. 01:03:43
And if a horse looked over the side, it would freak him out. And so, you know, normally they, that's why there were so many 01:03:50
covered bridges in this area. 01:03:55
Yeah. So the chances are is that. 01:04:01
This particular bridge was covered bridge as well. 01:04:03
And one of the things on this design, I think that's interesting, a lot of covered bridges can be really dark and the way that the 01:04:08
way that IMI left it opened, you can still appreciate it so. 01:04:12
It's a pretty area down there, so you can still lookout and appreciate that, and it doesn't feel like you're in a tunnel as you're 01:04:17
going through, but it still has that that aesthetic, which is nice. 01:04:21
Mr. Phillips, is there anything you want to share or anybody from your team? 01:04:25
I've been putting that fence post all this from whoops so bear with me. 01:04:32
Yeah, this, this thing does have some challenges because there's old foundations there from the original bridge, right, Mark? 01:04:38
And the center ones especially challenging because of the. 01:04:46
Where it's located and we're going to have to get in between that thing and it get kind of creative to salvage all that so. 01:04:51
We're going to leave the old foundations underneath the bridge. 01:04:58
So there's. 01:05:02
Two that I know of. 01:05:03
Just the 2. 01:05:06
Yeah, that's going to be. 01:05:08
Really challenging and Mark. 01:05:10
He's going to do our grading force and. 01:05:12
You got. 01:05:16
50 or 60 trees, it's got to come out of there, right? And some of them are. 01:05:17
Pretty bad. 01:05:21
Especially one. 01:05:23
To the cemetery side. 01:05:26
Could easily take out the foundations. 01:05:28
He doesn't do it right. 01:05:32
So, But yeah, we're looking forward to doing this and this is something that, you know, right now we're. 01:05:36
Getting at a phase where we'll be kind of between some work with Georgia Power. 01:05:43
So, you know, we can get after it pretty quick and I think you can start Monday. 01:05:47
That's right. 01:05:52
This is exciting. It's it's. 01:05:55
Really wouldn't be a pretty thing to look at when you travel down that road. 01:05:57
So I don't know when the last time a new covered bridge was built in the state of Georgia. So I think this is going to be pretty 01:06:03
exciting for pretty exciting. 01:06:06
For Watkinsville, we looked at a lot of solutions, but if you guys choose to approve this some. 01:06:11
Very excited about. 01:06:15
Keeping these dollars local and. 01:06:16
And, you know, doing something that I think will be. 01:06:19
Be iconic for Watkinsville for. 01:06:22
Decades and decades so. 01:06:24
Any questions for our bidders or for staff? 01:06:26
Miss Poquista. 01:06:30
Come on up. 01:06:31
I just want to know how it's lit. 01:06:35
And along this path. 01:06:41
Right. Can you, can you repeat that question? Miss Mcquiston asked how it's going to be lit. 01:06:43
So, Mr. Dickerson, do you want to take a first shot or do we want to talk about that? 01:06:50
Some extra funds. At this point it just depends on how things go. 01:06:56
But we we feel like there's an opportunity for us to address that after it's built or as it's being built. We can look into that. 01:07:00
I'm. 01:07:03
Yeah. So I think that's something we can address. I don't know that we know the answer how it's going to be. We do have lights 01:07:07
that Georgia Power, the the similar torch light or the. 01:07:11
The spearheaded lights you see downtown, the Lamp St. lamps are going to be lining the Simonton Bridge Rd. 01:07:16
Segment as well as any side along time, possibly long Mulberry as well. We're still talking about whether or not that'll just be a 01:07:21
standard St. lighter fiddle have a. 01:07:25
Street lamp like what we have downtown, but as far as the bridge, I think we've got some flexibility there. That wasn't part of 01:07:30
what we talked about, but I think you know. 01:07:34
That's something we started talking about since we have. 01:07:38
Do believe we've got some extra funds. So I think given the open panels, it's not going to feel as dark, but for night time and 01:07:40
evening travel through there, we want to. 01:07:45
Have a lighting solution in the bridge. It may be motion sensitive so didn't let all the time, but something that would. 01:07:50
Do that. So I would anticipate as long as we can stay within budget working with the contractors to find a lighting solution 01:07:55
there. 01:07:58
And then we're what we're really hoping to do is connect our downtown streetscape over to the new sidewalk by the park, so it all 01:08:01
feels consistent if someone's walking that. 01:08:05
That we'll be able to have that consistent feel in terms of our streetscape. 01:08:09
Yeah. Any other questions? 01:08:13
The wood that will be used, will it be what type of wood? 01:08:16
Just curious, is it going to be like? 01:08:21
Thick, plain wood like we'd see at Elder Mill. Or is it? 01:08:23
A lot of pine trees around here. 01:08:27
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So one of the things that we talked about is that some of the large trees that are. 01:08:29
In that area. 01:08:40
That we will harvest those and then repurpose them. 01:08:41
For the bridge. 01:08:45
And plan to use pine because predominantly every bridge in this area was pine. 01:08:46
And so that's that's what we're planning on using. 01:08:52
And then the roof itself will be a standing seam roof. 01:08:55
And so basically everything the structure itself is is solid. 01:08:58
So the wood and everything around it, this is going to be a facade. 01:09:03
But you don't think we need to use traded mark or will we just need to maintain that and take care of that once we get it on 01:09:07
there? 01:09:10
You know that would be an option, but the treated lumber? 01:09:13
Today is treated lumber and lasts very long. 01:09:17
And so with the roof overhang, the water is not going to be. 01:09:21
Touching the wood and so I feel like it if you go to. 01:09:25
The cover bridge now and look at it. 01:09:30
You don't see any issues there either, and it's for that reason that's that the water gets away from it. 01:09:32
OK, so I feel like it doesn't need to be treated. 01:09:39
Obviously could be painted. 01:09:42
OK. And the way it is designed that if? 01:09:45
That over 30 years from now, 40 years from now, 20 years from now, the wood was deteriorating because would eventually would 01:09:51
eventually is going to deteriorate. It won't. 01:09:55
Hurt the integrity of the actual bridge so we wouldn't have to shut the bridge down. Well, that was being fixed. 01:10:00
OK. 01:10:07
And I think. 01:10:09
Mentioned earlier was there was going to be a gravel pan. 01:10:10
But our intention was to be concrete, to match the. 01:10:14
Sidewalks on each side. 01:10:18
Yep. 01:10:20
Other questions? 01:10:25
I've got one but I lost it. 01:10:27
I think that just so the public knows that it would will be rated not to allow traditional vehicular traffic, but if we need to 01:10:32
pull a side by side across there or in case of emergency a UTV or something like that. 01:10:37
There'll be bollards installed, but done. It'll be able to handle that kind of weight, correct? 01:10:42
Yeah. 01:10:46
So all right, any other questions? 01:10:47
And we hope to get this done by the end of the year, right, guys? That's. 01:10:52
What we're targeting. 01:10:55
OK. 01:10:57
We got 1 coming to Wire park Saturday for an egg hunt. I know. So you know we can you can start that conversation. 01:11:00
Yep. 01:11:05
All right, Council. 01:11:08
What's your pleasure? I'll make a motion to approve. 01:11:09
All right. We have a motion to award Industrial Mechanical Ink the contract for Phase three. 01:11:14
Of the Simonton Bridge Rd. Mulberry connector. Do we have a second? 01:11:19
2nd, We have a second from Councilman Garrett. 01:11:22
All in favor say aye. 01:11:25
Any of those. 01:11:26
Motion carries 40. 01:11:28
330 Yeah, Brett Yeah, Recuse. 01:11:30
All right. Motion carries 30. Thank you, gentlemen. 01:11:34
We'll move on to our last item tonight is preliminary mileage rate estimate before we move to public comments and a quick council 01:11:36
reports. 01:11:40
All right, Mayor. 01:11:45
So most people will recall that Georgia House Bill 581, known as Save the Homes Act, was enacted. 01:11:46
To provide property tax relief and reform across the state. It was signed in law in April of 24 and the constitutional amendment 01:11:53
was approved by the voters in November of 24. It took effect January 1. 01:11:58
As a result, and the Council decided so the the. 01:12:03
The way this worked was if you wanted to. 01:12:07
That you only had to opt out if you didn't want to participate. But the council wanted here, wanted to put it on the record that 01:12:11
they were not going to opt out. So in February of this year, council approved not docked out, which was not required, but again, 01:12:16
wanted to make sure that the citizens knew that they heard. 01:12:22
Heard them right now what we're dealing with is the because of this rule, I'm going to skip to this part. 01:12:28
So part of House Bill 581 required some of some reforms to the property tax assessment and the way it's handled. 01:12:34
The the biggest piece that we're dealing with tonight is assessment notices have to go out the 1st of May, so the tax commissioner 01:12:42
has told all the cities and counties that she has to. 01:12:47
That we have to provide a note they have that we have to provide the estimated rollback by April 18th. 01:12:52
To them so that they can get these notices out to the public. 01:12:58
The notices normally would have. 01:13:01
The previous year's tax estimate. 01:13:04
Now they're going to have an estimated rollback and it's probably going to confuse the heck of it. A lot of people. That's not 01:13:07
something we we vote, you know that just wait is. 01:13:11
And so. 01:13:15
We have been, so we have. I have provided the mayor with an estimate of what I think the mileage rate will be. 01:13:16
But again, until it's presented the council, it can't be finalized. That's not going to happen until the end of this month. We 01:13:23
have to have something to them by the 18th. 01:13:27
So by the end of this week, so again. 01:13:30
What we've been, what we're going to recommend or what I'm recommending for you guys to consider, the current mileage rate is 2 01:13:34
point. 01:13:38
756 mills. 01:13:41
I believe we're going to be able to keep it there. 01:13:44
However. 01:13:46
Because it hasn't made it for council, I don't want to say that. I'd rather say let's say it's going to be 3 and I don't 01:13:47
anticipate being that high. 01:13:51
And so my recommendation would be for you guys to vote and say that the preliminary estimated rollback rate for 2025 is 3. 01:13:55
With the understanding that I don't think we're going to be near that. 01:14:03
So that is what we need tonight is from Y'all. We have to have a record on record. 01:14:07
OK, so this sounds like a technicality so, so much. 01:14:12
Yeah. And basically what we don't want to do is have to. 01:14:17
Project. 01:14:20
A skinny Raiders, you know, mileage rate and then we can't hit that and then we have to increase it right. So ideally. 01:14:21
We'll work through the budget process, we'll understand what it is and we'll bring that forward. But the last thing we want to 01:14:26
have to do is tell the public this is the number and then. 01:14:30
We work through the budget process and we have to go up. That's not what we want to do so. 01:14:33
We think it's safer just to project the. 01:14:37
3.0 mileage rate. 01:14:40
And and then once we have time to really work through the budget process with all of you, then we'll have we'll do the here. If we 01:14:41
need to do hearings, we'll do hearings if not. 01:14:45
Will umm. 01:14:49
You know Will. 01:14:50
Move forward, but we just don't have enough clarity right now to know to what to project. And and we're not the only community. I 01:14:52
mean there's lots of local governments. I'm not really sure how Oconee counties handle it, but I know several of my colleagues and 01:14:55
other cities have said. 01:14:59
On my list serve that they're all in the same predicament. They're doing the same thing. They're just going to shoot higher 01:15:03
knowing it's going to be lower because they don't want to have to deal with, you know, having to deal with going up if it is so, 01:15:08
and I'll know Sharon did a really good job of reaching out to other cities on the list serve generated kind of compilation of all 01:15:13
those. We ran that up to the flagpole to GMA legal counsel. They approved this process you're going through tonight. Again, it's a 01:15:18
preliminary estimate. 01:15:23
Questions for the manager. 01:15:32
All right, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. 01:15:35
And that motion would be. 01:15:38
Approve the preliminary mileage rate. 01:15:40
Preliminary estimated 2025 mileage rate of 3.0. 01:15:42
2025 or 2026 that 2025? 01:15:47
All right, that so moved. 01:15:50
OK, so we have a motion to that effect from. 01:15:52
Mayor Pro Tem, do we have a second? 01:15:55
I'll second. 01:15:58
We have a second any discussion? 01:15:59
All in favor say aye aye. Motion carries. 01:16:01
All right, we'll move to public comments. 01:16:04
If anybody wants to come forward, the same rules as I outlined before, speak from the podium. 4 minutes per person, the topic of 01:16:07
your choice. 01:16:10
All right, Kathleen, you've already got your questions out. That's good. 01:16:15
All right. Thank you for being here. Yes, Sir. Ryan. 01:16:19
Come on up. 01:16:23
There was a flashing light at the corner of Simonton Bridge and 3rd St. that got take taken out. 01:16:24
Is there plans to put that back up? I noticed it was. 01:16:30
Removed and not placed. Placed back, Manager Dickerson. Sure. So someone hit that pole. That is not the city's poll. That is a 01:16:33
county poll. The county is. The intention is to not string the light across to avoid future problems like that. They actually have 01:16:40
ordered a poll that will go into place that will have an arm that goes across with the flashing light and they're just waiting to 01:16:46
get the supplies and get it installed. And I had one additional question. Sure. The culverts. 01:16:53
And drainage ditches along I believe it's experiment space station have gotten pretty bad. Are there plans to? I know last month 01:17:00
y'all talked about there's a budget particularly for stormwater repair starting with the White Sub subdivision. Is that on that 01:17:05
list? 01:17:09
No, that's a, that's a state road. So I think what we, what we would do would be report that to the state. 01:17:14
They don't need to address it or they're going to need to put up some kind of a barrier there that is unsafe. Think I shared last 01:17:19
week that I saw it, saw two guys staring at their lawnmower down in there one day last week. 01:17:23
It's not. Thankfully nobody was hurt down there and to make a comment on that I've solved it. The dot had there. 01:17:28
Third party engineer of maintenance crews working on that today. OK, they'll probably looks like you're gonna be doing the whole. 01:17:36
Ditch line up through there. 01:17:44
Good. Got you. 01:17:47
We didn't even report that, so maybe they noticed it on their own. 01:17:48
Yeah. But yeah, for those who want to wear what Mr. Lynch described in the sidewalk, the ditch in front of a mayor pride which has 01:17:52
gotten just really deep, Yeah. 01:17:56
Yep, Yep. Thank you. Anything else? Nope. OK. 01:18:00
Hi, anybody else? 01:18:04
All right, we'll closeout public comments. We'll move on to. 01:18:07
Mayor's report. 01:18:10
All right. 01:18:14
This umm. 01:18:15
We, we publicize this a good bit, so I'm not going to belabor it, but. 01:18:17
This was a. 01:18:21
You know, 40 years coming, you know, we had this pole in the middle of our sidewalk on Main Street. 01:18:22
Made it really hard for. 01:18:28
Anybody who is handicapped or anybody pushing a stroller. 01:18:30
Or even anybody to. 01:18:33
Walking side by side down that sidewalk to get around there. 01:18:34
I just want to give a lot of audits to Georgia Power. They really came to the table with a solution there when we've been told for 01:18:37
years that nothing could happen. 01:18:40
There, they solved it. They attacked it. They did it fast. 01:18:44
They warned us that power would be out for four hours. Power was out for 30 minutes. They warned us it would take two days. They 01:18:47
did it in one day. It's a great example of, you know, managing expectations. And overall, they just did a great job with that. 01:18:52
Project and minimizing the disruption. 01:18:58
And we're grateful for that. 01:19:01
Moving on, Norton Road traffic circle, I know that's been a item of interest for several of y'all. 01:19:03
Where they've made some. 01:19:09
Some improvements out there. They still have some landscaping to do, but they've definitely made some adjustments out there around 01:19:11
the edges and on the interior. Is that right, Mr. Campbell? 01:19:15
But I don't think we've totally approved and turned them loose on that at this point, so. 01:19:19
Anything else we need to share? 01:19:24
OK. 01:19:26
Harris Shoals. For those of you who haven't been down there, it's kind of hard to see, but when you go through the park. 01:19:29
The GRDD Green process is well underway. The team from LMA. 01:19:34
I think they brought in about 16 truckloads of dirt and we're spreading that around down there and they are really moving quickly. 01:19:39
We were down there with them for about an hour today talking about tree placement and some other things. 01:19:46
But it's really going to be nice when it's done and they're doing doing a great job. They've got the laser levelers out there and 01:19:51
are. 01:19:54
You know Joe. 01:19:57
The owner of the company told me today said I want it to be like a putt and green when we're done out here. This is how he wants 01:19:59
that grass to feel and look and. 01:20:03
They're doing a great job and tracking well on budget. 01:20:07
We are continuing to make improvements at Thomas Farm Preserve. 01:20:10
We've replaced the roofs on. 01:20:14
On the old garage, the block garage and the old dairy building. 01:20:16
We're adding bathrooms and three toilets in a sink. I think that will have a nice larger women's restroom available. 01:20:20
They are Sharon, do you know when that what the timing is on getting that work done? 01:20:27
I believe by the end of the month we should have that done. I think, you know, we had some rain delays and some of the septic work 01:20:33
we were doing so. 01:20:35
I think it's pretty soon, I think by the end of the month for sure. 01:20:38
Upgrades to the septic tank or not the tank itself, but the transportation between the bathroom and the septic tank needed to be 01:20:43
improved. So we're working on that and then we'll also concrete. 01:20:47
Once that's done while our contractors working on the sidewalks. 01:20:52
He'll also go back and. 01:20:56
Connect Add the sidewalks between the pavilion. 01:20:58
And the restrooms and the pavilion and the existing paths. 01:21:01
If you went down Simonton Bridge Rd. today, you probably noticed the sidewalk is. 01:21:04
Underway, which is exciting again, that first phase will connect Simonton Place to the end of the cemetery and then we'll pick up 01:21:08
with Mr. Thomas and Mr. Phillips teams who will finish that out hopefully by the end of the year. 01:21:13
The library has issued their RFP. 01:21:19
For the artwork at the new library, that was part of their agreement with us that they would invest in a significant piece of 01:21:22
public art. 01:21:26
That will be at Wire Park and at the new library. So they've made that call if you. 01:21:30
No artists I know. We've got a couple here in the room tonight. 01:21:34
Please help us spread the word and take a look at that and participate in that RFP. 01:21:38
And I've got a couple more two things. 01:21:43
To mention just Saturday is going to be a really. 01:21:46
I know, Christine mentioned. 01:21:48
Saturday, a lot happened in Watkinsville. We have the egg hunt here, we have egg hunts at Wire Park, we have. 01:21:50
The downtown event we have the grand opening for the. 01:21:57
Hwy. 15 warehouse. I think they're doing an open house as well. 01:22:01
So it'll be a very busy day in Watkinsville. That's exciting. 01:22:05
And then we'll probably have more information on this next week, but because we get a lot of public questions there. 01:22:08
The flashing beacon signs on Water St. Hardin Hill. 01:22:13
Should all be fixed in the next six weeks. 01:22:17
I think next six weeks and then we're also adding. 01:22:20
Those signs in front of Wire Park. So the connection between Stone Shoals and Wire Park. 01:22:25
A lot of the neighbors there have expressed some concern about the visibility when they're crossing Barnett Shoals roads to the 01:22:29
county. 01:22:31
Has agreed to allow us to install one there as well, so that's coming soon, so. 01:22:34
That's all I have if we want to move on to. 01:22:38
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, this. 01:22:43
OK, yeah, Connie did start it. I did not submit that picture, but yeah. 01:22:47
That was me. 01:22:51
49 years and two months ago. So thank you. Yeah. 01:22:53
Milestone today. 01:22:56
All right, we'll move on to Councilman Garret. 01:22:58
OK, Councilwoman Massey. 01:23:02
Report. 01:23:04
All right, Councilman Thomas. 01:23:05
Mayor Pro Tem Tucker, Nothing here. 01:23:08
We're missing Councilman Campbell. 01:23:10
And we don't have an executive session. 01:23:12
So I think we can entertain a motion to adjourn. So I make a motion to adjourn, all right. 01:23:14
All right, all in favor. Say aye. All right, we're done. 01:23:20
I do need. 01:23:26
OK. 01:23:30
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