Transcript

Event transcript
Yep. 00:00:34
All right. Welcome everybody to the August Watkinsville City Council meeting. We do have a quorum here tonight and we will start 00:00:37
with the pledge. If we could all stand, please. 00:00:42
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. 00:00:49
And to the Republic for which it stands. 00:00:53
One nation under God. 00:00:56
Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 00:00:59
Thank you all. We have a. 00:01:07
Reasonably long agenda tonight. So we will move. Let's just put it deliberately through. 00:01:09
The agenda, in an effort to get everybody home at a reasonable hour, of course, will allow all the appropriate levels of public 00:01:15
comment and commentary. 00:01:18
At the right points, but we're going to start with an exciting moment we have. 00:01:22
2 new police officers who will be taking the oath of office tonight. That's Detective Barry Sauceman and Officer Ira Underwood. If 00:01:27
y'all would come forward, I think Attorney Reitman is going to administer the oath. 00:01:32
That's above my paper. 00:01:56
All right. 00:01:59
At this time, gentlemen, if you always raise your right hand, I will do this collectively, together. Do each of you solemnly swear 00:02:00
or affirm that you will faithfully? 00:02:04
Execute the Office of Police Officer. 00:02:09
For the city of Watkinsville. 00:02:11
And to the best of your ability, support and defend the Constitution of the United States. 00:02:13
The Constitution of Georgia. 00:02:19
And the charter, ordinances, and regulations of the City of Watkinsville. And that you are not the holder of any unaccounted for 00:02:21
public money due this State, or any political subdivision or authority thereof. And that you are not the holder of any office of 00:02:29
trust under the Government of the United States, any other state or any foreign state which you, by the laws of the State of 00:02:36
Georgia, would be prohibited from holding. And that you are otherwise qualified to hold set office. 00:02:44
According to the Constitution and law of Georgia and that you will perform the duties of your office. 00:02:51
In the best interest of the City of Watkinsville to the best of your ability, without fear, favor, affection, reward, or 00:02:57
expectation thereof. If you agree and say I do or I do, so help me God. 00:03:03
Hi, congratulations to each welcome. 00:03:09
So. 00:03:13
You all gonna make a big speech. 00:03:15
I think. 00:03:25
Congratulations. 00:03:43
Let's get. 00:04:11
And Officer Underwood, the chief, if you want to jump into yes, Sir. 00:04:18
All right. 00:04:28
Chief, I know you've got a report later, but while we have our. 00:04:36
Guests and their families here. 00:04:41
Is there anything you want to share about your new officers or do you want to do that during the police report? 00:04:45
I've known both of them a good while. 00:04:51
I respect both of them tremendously. I've worked with. 00:04:54
Vary for about 12 years and. 00:04:59
I know what he brings to the table. Over 17 years experience. He is a. 00:05:01
A Christian man, a faithful man of faith. 00:05:05
I met Ira. 00:05:09
About five years ago, at a conference in a. 00:05:11
When when we separated at night, the first thing I told my wife was that would be somebody. 00:05:14
That I would be honored to work with, right? And here we are today, several years later. 00:05:18
But our brings what, over 30? 00:05:23
435 years of experience in law enforcement. 00:05:26
He's dedicated his life to law enforcement. 00:05:30
And to. 00:05:32
His faith as well. 00:05:34
I feel like we have, really. 00:05:36
Some incredible assets to the Police Department with them too and I look forward to working with both of them and hopefully we 00:05:39
have a long. 00:05:42
Tenure together. 00:05:46
OK, perfect. 00:05:48
Notice you have some other officers in here. Did y'all want to get a photo together before Before while we've got everybody. 00:05:49
OK, I don't recognize, I don't recognize the tall one. There's something missing there that I'm used to saying. So. Yeah, yeah. 00:05:55
Yeah, yeah. 00:06:03
I'm afraid. 00:06:14
All right. Next, we're going to announce the winners of the turn Watkinsville Red, White and Blue contest. 00:06:45
It's the same, it's just different. 00:06:52
OK, All right, all right. So our winners for turning Watkinsville red, white and blue are. 00:07:05
Carol Ivy and Stephen Dory Brown. 00:07:11
So if you want to come forward. 00:07:14
I don't know if the vote count was closed this year or not. We've got some Watkinsville goodies and then a gift certificate to 00:07:25
Wing House and one of White Tiger. 00:07:30
I'll let y'all argue everything gets what? 00:07:34
So, yeah, well, congratulations. 00:07:39
All right, our technology is a little different tonight. We had some electrical issues at City Hall in the past few days and it's 00:07:59
affected our ability to broadcast our. 00:08:03
Screen. So we have one screen working here for City Council. I apologize in advance we won't be able to show things behind us for 00:08:07
all of you to see if there's something that you do. 00:08:11
Want to see need to see then feel free to you know, you all know we're pretty casual here. Walk on up here and you can just look 00:08:15
at that screen and then we can discuss it. The meeting is being live broadcast still on on board, so not on board on. 00:08:22
Suite 1, so that is that's happening. 00:08:30
And then of course, our council is set up for those who have trouble hearing. There's a hearing loop system in the chamber that's 00:08:34
a wireless network for people with who have hearing aids. 00:08:38
So if you're having trouble hearing despite the loop, then please see our add a coordinator who is sharing Dickerson. 00:08:42
She'll help you with that. The meeting is also going to be, as I said, broadcast online. There's closed captioning available. 00:08:48
For that, just click the CC icon in the lower right corner and then when the videos posted, the closed captions will automatically 00:08:55
appear at a later date and a transcript of the meetings available. 00:08:59
Currents month agenda as opposed to a week before the meeting to allow time to provide comments and writing to the clerk if 00:09:04
someone can't be here tonight. 00:09:06
We're going to move on to the approval of minutes. 00:09:09
1st we have the June 18th, 2025 regular meeting. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes please? 00:09:12
I make a motion to approve. 00:09:17
We have second, second. 00:09:19
All in favor say aye. 00:09:20
All right. We have a joint special called meeting. That meeting was when we visited. 00:09:22
Some other downtown areas in conjunction with the Downtown Development Authority board members. 00:09:26
Could I have a motion to approve those minutes? 00:09:31
I make a motion to approve. 00:09:33
Do we have a second? 00:09:34
Second, all in favor say aye. 00:09:36
Motion carries. 00:09:39
Move on to approval of the agenda. We do need to add an item to that We have a item 17 will be the 118 Mulberry St. sewage leak of 00:09:42
private service line on city property. 00:09:47
I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda with the new item 17 under new business, please. 00:09:53
Make a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of item number 17. Is there a second second. Any discussion? 00:09:57
Hearing none all in favor say aye. 00:10:05
Motion carries. 00:10:07
Move to administration. 00:10:09
So the pending matter and address the remarks directly to the council. We won't speak to potential litigation attorney-client or 00:10:40
personnel matters. With that, we'll move on to Financial reports Manager Dickerson. 00:10:45
Thank you, Mayor. So everyone should have received the. 00:10:50
Balance sheet. 00:10:54
The pallet sheet for the general fund. 00:10:55
We are. We just started the fiscal year July 1st, so there's. 00:10:57
Not a lot to see yet, but so we're, you know, not a lot to. 00:11:01
To share, but it is. 00:11:05
We're moving forward on the Splice 3, and I apologize that everybody's not able to see all this, but I will try to give you a 00:11:07
little bit of detail on this. So Splash 3. 00:11:11
Was a 2021 referendum. 00:11:15
It expires in September of 27. Right now our at monthly average revenue is around 85,000. 00:11:18
We budgeted for 64,000 so that's good news. 00:11:25
The current. 00:11:29
The current. 00:11:31
Move this over. Hang on. 00:11:33
The current. 00:11:34
The current bank balance is a little bit more than $1,000,000. 00:11:38
The revenues for June came in a little bit more than $94,600. 00:11:41
And I think I've got. 00:11:46
Some again y'all aren't seeing is in this side. I'm going to try to read it because I didn't print this out, but so some of the 00:11:48
items that we use plus three money for include. 00:11:51
Police vehicles. Fire department vehicles. Traffic calming. 00:11:55
The work at Harris Shoals Park, which the mayor will talk about in his report at the end of the meeting. Thomas Farm Preserve, the 00:11:58
acquisition and the master plan improvements. 00:12:02
Rocket field improvements. 00:12:06
Resurfacing our roads, the pedestrian connector that we're currently. 00:12:07
Constructing on Simonton Bridge Rd. that will connect downtown. 00:12:11
To that side of town. 00:12:14
Streetscape improvements and public works equipment and other types of items so very useful. 00:12:16
We cannot do what we. 00:12:21
We could what we're doing without that those funds. 00:12:22
On T spouse that's a transportation special purpose local option sales tax. 00:12:26
Our monthly average revenues are 80,000. We budgeted about 78. So that's really good news this early in the game. 00:12:31
We have that is a that is a tax that the city gets 7.77% of the all the sales tax that's generated within the county. 00:12:37
That began in April 23 and sunsets in March of 28. 00:12:46
Last month's revenues were at $79,604. 00:12:50
Our bank balance is a little bit more than $1,000,000. 00:12:54
On this project, T Sloss is being used for again the sidewalk connection on Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:12:57
Construction of sidewalks throughout the city. 00:13:03
Resurfacing of roads, which we're going to talk about tonight as well. 00:13:05
As well as other improvements. 00:13:09
To parking services around some of the city facilities. 00:13:11
I'll talk a little bit about economic development. I do want to state why everybody's here because the crowd tends as we go on. 00:13:15
That's how important the T's Boston SPLOST is. One of the ways, the way really, that we're keeping property taxes low and able to 00:13:20
repave so many roads. We're going to talk about that tonight with Bishops Vineyard. 00:13:25
We couldn't dream of repaving a neighborhood like Bishop's Vineyard. 00:13:30
Three years ago, we never would have the money to do that, but because of the T splash revenue. 00:13:33
Which is probably 50% being paid by people from outside our county. 00:13:38
We're able to do that. I was at Costco last Sunday. 00:13:41
Counted the cars. That place was a zoo, and I doubt a third of those cars were from Oconee County, but they're putting that penny. 00:13:45
And and we're able to pay y'all's roads and build sidewalks and things because of that. So I just. 00:13:50
We're going to have to choose to vote for that again. And it's going to be real important in a couple years that we all, you know, 00:13:55
get down there and vote because it's it's how the county and the city are keeping your property taxes low and. 00:14:01
And able to find the transportation stuff that we're doing. 00:14:07
I'm sorry, Sharon, go ahead. Absolutely fantastic economic development. 00:14:10
So we have business and alcohol licenses right now. We had nine that came in through the end of July. 00:14:13
As well as some insurance payments. 00:14:18
On the excise tax, we have alcohol and hotel motel did not have any hotel motel. A lot of these taxes come in after so. 00:14:21
Basically, we're not showing anything. We won't show July until the end of this month. 00:14:27
So next month you'll see a little bit of what what's going on there. 00:14:32
On the. 00:14:35
Permitting building permits. We had eight permits for eight individual projects, mostly commercial, some light commercial and some 00:14:36
residential. 00:14:40
Electrical and and sign down. 00:14:46
Type permit, so nothing. 00:14:48
Out of the ordinary. 00:14:51
I do want to take a minute, though, and recognize two of our new employees, our public works employees. If Reese Bridges and Lucas 00:14:52
Wright will come forward just to be recognized by mayor and council. These are your two new technicians. We are now fully staffed 00:14:57
on public works and parks. Yeah. 00:15:01
And I don't know if either one of y'all want to say anything. If y'all just want to say bye, you're welcome to say what it. 00:15:11
I'm sorry, Yeah, Lucas is in the red and Reese is in the is in the green and Reese came on board in June, on June 18th, a little 00:15:16
early, sort of right at the time you had council meeting, so we thought. 00:15:21
We won't scare them off too much. The Lucas has only been here a couple weeks, so he's he's fairly new and his mother is a 00:15:25
commissioner in Athens Park County. 00:15:29
So any would you like to say anything? 00:15:34
They've, they've offered, they have actually today their supervisor, Drayton Criswell was. 00:15:37
Raving about some of the great ideas they had about some things in the. 00:15:42
That they've done, they've offered some suggestions and and really appreciate their they've added a lot of value to the 00:15:45
department. Really glad to have them on board. 00:15:48
Well, the city looks great and you know. 00:15:53
Most people don't realize we don't have many. We have a very lean crew and public works. How many? 4/4 in public works and two and 00:15:55
parks for people in two and parks taking care of, you know, 3 1/2. 00:16:00
Being a little under 3 1/2 square miles of space in the city and. 00:16:05
You are doing a great job already. I can tell a difference being fully staffed so. 00:16:09
Thank you all. 00:16:12
Yeah. Thank you. 00:16:13
Yep. 00:16:17
All right, this is me. 00:16:27
I don't know. Oh, that's right, they don't. 00:16:31
OK, OK, well we get some pictures guys. 00:16:35
So at the beginning of August we have a our second annual barbecue and our first annual bingo event, and it was a lot of fun. 00:16:39
Attendance was down a little bit, it was raining most of the day and I think people kind of got scared because of that, but it 00:16:51
turned out to be a very. 00:16:54
Relatively speaking, cool evening and. 00:16:59
Still, a good number of folks turned out and it was just a really great time. I got to be a judge this year. 00:17:02
It's a lot of pork you eat, so I don't know if I might be doing something else next year, but it is an annual event. We might be 00:17:09
moving the bingo to another. 00:17:14
Time and just kind of expanding some ideas with the BBQ, but it's going to be the first Saturday of August so go ahead and mark 00:17:18
your calendar now and if any of y'all are budding. 00:17:24
Barbecue. 00:17:29
Enthusiasts and want to. 00:17:31
Compete. We would love to have you. 00:17:34
Our first place was Harold's. 00:17:36
2nd place was BCI and 3rd place was smoke and Jays and even though I was a judge, the way the judging works I have no idea what I 00:17:39
ate and what 1 but didn't know that before I judged BBQ. Anyway it was it was a wonderful time. 00:17:47
So we have had a whirlwind of our. 00:17:56
Downtown strategic plan that we were able to pay for thanks to a grant from Georgia Power. 00:18:00
And we are hoping at next month council meeting to actually have the full. 00:18:07
Report we have. 00:18:13
Worked hard to have lots of public input sessions. We have had three different public input sessions. 00:18:15
And we have had those at some of our. 00:18:21
Local businesses and partners, including O Calf and Oconee State Bank. 00:18:25
And Warehouse 15, which is one of our newest event spaces in town. So we're really grateful to all those places to let us do that. 00:18:29
And most of the people in this room, I saw at at least one of those. So I'm also very, very grateful for all of our citizens who 00:18:34
came out. 00:18:39
And participated. 00:18:44
And also we have about 350 online. 00:18:47
Survey. 00:18:52
People who filled out the survey, which was actually different information than what was being gathered at the. 00:18:54
These different public input sessions because it's really important for us. 00:19:00
I hope you all know this, that we don't sit behind here thinking we have it all figured out. The DDA board doesn't think we have 00:19:04
all the answers. 00:19:08
Our job is to. 00:19:12
Gather ideas from the community and then also do some deep dives in other communities and with experts and come up with. 00:19:15
Things that help this community move forward what they. 00:19:23
What y'all want it to look like? So without your input we wouldn't be able to do that. So really excited to see. 00:19:26
The results of that in about a month and also we we approve the the minutes from our special joint called meeting and that's when 00:19:33
we went and toured some different communities to see what they have done. 00:19:39
And that included the city of Milton. 00:19:45
The city of Alpharetta and the city of Suwanee. 00:19:48
And we are not trying to be any of those communities. Those are different communities than we are. But every different community 00:19:51
we go to, we're able to learn different things, glean different things. 00:19:57
Talk to public officials, see what they've been doing, what works, what doesn't work. Public private partnerships, I think. 00:20:03
Honestly, thanks a lot to Mayor Broderick. 00:20:09
We have had tremendous success with public private partnerships that have taken our tiny little. 00:20:12
Tax revenue and being able to stretch it really far with the. 00:20:18
The parks and rocket field and the sidewalks and all the things going on. So tease lost. 00:20:23
And private partnerships, very grateful so. 00:20:28
And then yes, so mark your calendar next, next council meeting is when we're going to be going over the strategic plan and the 00:20:32
deliverables from all of the input that you all gave. 00:20:37
Also this weekend, August 22nd and 23rd, we are having back to school sidewalk sales in downtown, so this is a great time to 00:20:44
support. 00:20:49
Our local businesses, I know it's so easy just to. 00:20:54
Hop online and put something in your Amazon cart. 00:20:58
But we love our downtown businesses, so when you. 00:21:01
Have a gift or a new dress or. 00:21:05
OK. 00:21:09
That might be an end, Kathleen. End of. 00:21:10
Maybe. 00:21:13
This is a great time to support those businesses. 00:21:15
And they'll have specials and sales and also one of the things I love about any of the events in downtown that. 00:21:19
We do. You run into people that maybe you haven't seen for a while or that neighbor that you just wave at from the car, but you 00:21:26
actually get to. 00:21:29
Have a conversation with them, which is one of the goals of the city, is that building of community and that. 00:21:33
Sense of connection, so. 00:21:38
OK also we have a lot. I am getting a little tired of hearing my voice but. 00:21:41
So September 19th, mark your calendar for this is September 17th is our City Council meeting that's will be unveiling the. 00:21:46
Strategic plan. 00:21:53
On September 19th. 00:21:56
Which is a Friday. There is going to be a free lunch and learn at Chops and Hops where we are going through the rural zone tax 00:21:58
credits. 00:22:02
So we have done a few of these before and we talked about particularly the state tax credits, but we have not only the 00:22:07
representative from the state, but an accountant coming who is going to be talking about federal tax credits too that are also 00:22:12
available. And that's not something that we have really dealt into. There are limited spots. There are only 50 spots and we 00:22:18
already have almost half of those. 00:22:24
Filled just from the Grapevine, so. 00:22:30
The Rural Zone is an incredible opportunity to help just continue to revitalize our downtown. 00:22:32
And so. 00:22:40
Check that out if you have any interest in learning more about that or know someone that you think could really benefit from that. 00:22:41
Main Street and pedestrian improvements. So if you will notice, you can't notice. 00:22:50
So we have some steps if you work. 00:22:58
Going through downtown like in front of Dover Grace and. 00:23:02
Elizabeth Ann's There are a few steps, brick steps that go down to the curb. 00:23:07
And, umm. 00:23:13
It was brought to our attention that that might be a tripping hazard, and so the city found and bought some very special tape. 00:23:14
That's very expensive. 00:23:23
To make sure we didn't pick it because it was expensive. We picked it because it's what we needed to do. 00:23:25
To make sure you don't trip. 00:23:31
So just another improvement in downtown? 00:23:32
And then the last thing to mark your calendar by. 00:23:36
Is this year the Christmas parade and tree lighting will be on Sunday, December 7th. 00:23:39
At 4:00 PM. 00:23:46
So shoot. 00:23:47
That's all for me for now. 00:23:51
Thank you, Christine. Chief Allwood will throw it to you. 00:23:54
All right, test. 00:24:01
Well, first of all, I was going to thank the main accounts for having me. It's a privilege to to work for you guys and with you. 00:24:02
Also. 00:24:08
On our monthly reports, some training Sergeant Wade. 00:24:10
Officer Chris in. 00:24:13
Officer Ryan went to sexual assault investigation procedures through Oconee County. They offered it out to us, so. 00:24:15
We did send them to get that training. 00:24:21
Cadet Claire's on Week 7. 00:24:24
In the police Academy, he successfully completed six weeks so far out of the 20. 00:24:26
From my understanding, they're going to change in 20 weeks again down to 16 or 17 because. 00:24:32
It's just a long time to have. 00:24:37
You know, officer tied up for six months when when agencies need them. 00:24:39
And then Sergeant Way and Officer Chris attended the in-house drone law enforcement, drone operations and license preparation. 00:24:43
They did very well, actually. 00:24:50
Officer Chris has already passed. 00:24:53
The license test so he is officially licensed to fly the drone. 00:24:55
Special announcements. We lost a couple officers, our officer and Sergeant, Officer Walker. 00:24:59
And Sergeant Hitler? Unfortunate. 00:25:05
For us to lose them, I wish them the best and whatever they choose to do in their future. 00:25:08
We did hire gain 2 great officers with Ira and Barry. 00:25:12
Saw some and I are Underwood so we look forward to that. Bear will be full time. 00:25:17
I would be part time. 00:25:21
We. 00:25:23
Do have a couple? 00:25:25
Good applicants in the process that we're currently. 00:25:26
Looking over and doing background checks and. 00:25:29
Looking at making another hire or two. 00:25:31
And then the emergency call box. 00:25:34
Does work. It's not completely. 00:25:37
Live yet it's not talking correctly to the dispatch council back and forth. They can hear us, but we can't hear them when they. 00:25:39
Talk back to the to the call box so. 00:25:47
We call back Motorola, see if we can get that worked out and should have it. 00:25:50
Live pretty soon so. 00:25:54
At Thomas Farm. 00:25:57
Preserve. I'm sorry. 00:25:58
Yeah. 00:26:00
Yeah. 00:26:01
Good. It's a good locations. It's on the backside, so I think people that are walking the trails are on a bike. 00:26:03
Feel comfortable and have something back there. I know. 00:26:09
When we go back, we try to at least twice a week. 00:26:12
Get on the UTV and drive through the woods and check out and everybody is very happy seeing us back through there and thanking us 00:26:15
some for for showing some presents. 00:26:19
Police vehicles the explorer on Gov deals bought. 00:26:24
$3700. 00:26:30
I waiting for approval to to get rid of that. 00:26:33
I worked with several different Outfitters the last couple weeks. 00:26:36
And unfortunately most stuff on the 17 does not fit on a 2025. 00:26:40
We will. 00:26:44
Obviously use everything that we possibly can, the radars, the, the. 00:26:45
Radios to, you know, the siren boxes and so forth, but just things that the cars are differently made, you know, in different 00:26:49
shapes so. 00:26:53
Community events We had a. 00:26:58
Danielle Greer put on public safety dinner at Sam and Joe's went to that good just building relationships with all the other 00:27:00
public safety. 00:27:04
Personnel in the county. 00:27:09
And I went to with Jan over to the. 00:27:10
The First Christian Church and had coffee and had a really good time meeting those folks. Super, super, super nice people and. 00:27:15
Proud to just continue building relationships within the. 00:27:22
City and. 00:27:26
One other thing, my wife and I actually finally moved. We are Oconee County residents. It's actually Watkinsville address. This is 00:27:27
not in the city limits, so. 00:27:32
We're very happy for that. We're exhausted, but we're getting there. We're getting there. So we've been there a little over a week 00:27:36
now. 00:27:39
As far as the stats, we had eight arrests, which is. 00:27:43
The most on the year for one month period. Several DUI's. 00:27:46
And suspend a license for driving. 00:27:50
With no license. 00:27:52
And then on the stats on the backside. 00:27:54
And actually, I'm pretty proud of the numbers because we. 00:27:58
Did have some issues going on the place tomorrow and losing a couple. 00:28:01
Officers and actually had some of the highest numbers we had on reports taken. 00:28:05
Total work, total accidents and total arrests. I'm at 8 and 15 on total accidents. 00:28:11
Total calls 277, which is about normal for. 00:28:17
For the month and then security checks were still. 00:28:20
Pretty high on those their self initiative. 00:28:23
And then like I said, the reports of 31 total citations, 45, total warning 73. 00:28:26
Accidents 15 total arrest 8 and no use of force. 00:28:31
So that's always good. 00:28:35
So. 00:28:37
Any questions? 00:28:39
Thank you, Chief. Very good. 00:28:41
All right, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Nobody asked for any items to be removed from the consent agenda when we set the 00:28:44
agenda, so I'll entertain a motion to approve the full consent agenda, please. 00:28:48
Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. 00:28:54
I second. 00:28:58
Any discussion? 00:28:59
Hearing none, all in favor say aye aye. 00:29:01
All right. We will move on to public hearing. We have one public hearing tonight. 00:29:05
And it is a conditional use request at 1725 Electric Ave. I'll let engineer. 00:29:11
Campbell to provide. 00:29:17
Some information on this request. 00:29:19
Thank you, Mayor. 00:29:22
So in case you don't know, 1725 Electric Ave. is Wire Park. 00:29:23
So this specific request. 00:29:28
Is for unit 370, which is actually suite 270. 00:29:30
Just to make things nice and confusing. 00:29:35
But you should have some maps that show the location of that space. The application is by community Fueled LLC is for a special 00:29:37
events. If you will recall as part of the procedure earlier this year within the Watkinsville code of Ordinances, there's an 00:29:44
allowance for places where special events are allowed use by right inserting zoning areas in places where it's allowed as part of 00:29:52
a conditional use permit. So that's what this is. This is special events application as part of. 00:29:59
Conditional use permit. That's why you see that here tonight. So you see a map. I know everybody out here does not see a map. 00:30:07
But it is within, within Wire Park, within the spaces where you can kind of access it from what I would call the eastern side of 00:30:14
Wire Park as you're coming in. But that's part of the request. The applicant has has met the criteria to fill the things out as 00:30:21
they needed to respond to the appropriate questions. But that is the. 00:30:27
Application you see before you tonight. 00:30:34
Happy to answer any questions based on what you've received in your packet. 00:30:36
All right, Council, do we have any questions for Mr. Campbell at this point? 00:30:40
All right. We don't. Then with that, what this requires. So you all know we're going to have a public hearing. 00:30:45
I'll open it before for public hearing. 00:30:50
After everybody's spoken, I'll close it, then we're going to move. It's the exact essentially the same. 00:30:52
Property will have to vote. 00:30:57
To allow that use. So at this point I'm going to open a public hearing. It'll be 4 minutes. 00:30:58
For anyone who wants to come forward and speak in favor or against that the public, the hearing is now open. 00:31:03
All right, seeing no one coming forward, I'll close. The public hearing will now move to the vote. 00:31:11
For that. 00:31:15
Is there any other information we need from staff manager Dickerson? 00:31:17
Mr. Reitman, is there anything else we need to hear from you now? This note for the record, I have reviewed the application. It's 00:31:20
in order, OK? According to our attorney, the applications in order. 00:31:25
Council, any questions at this point for the vote? The applicant is here, the owner of that. 00:31:29
And the owner of Wire Park is here, so we have plenty of representation if you'll have any questions. 00:31:34
About this. 00:31:39
About this parcel. 00:31:40
They are gentlemen of high character. We're glad to have them here and appreciate y'all's investment in Watkinsville. 00:31:44
Hearing no questions from council, I'll entertain a motion. 00:31:49
I make a motion to approve the conditional use request for 1725 Electric Ave. We have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:31:54
We have a second. 00:32:02
Any discussion about this? 00:32:03
Application. 00:32:05
Hearing none. 00:32:07
All in favor say aye aye. Any opposed? 00:32:08
Motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Tool. Congratulations. 00:32:11
All right, we'll move on at that point for our appearances we have. 00:32:15
49 Harden Hill Rd. 00:32:22
We do have a 10 minute time limit for those appearances per state zoning procedures law, but we will kick off. 00:32:26
I don't think we're going to go that far tonight. We'll kick off with manager Dickerson and engineer Campbell for report on this. 00:32:31
I don't know that it's a proposal at this point. I think it's a concept plan. 00:32:37
Thank you, Mayor. 00:32:41
You're correct, this is a concept plan for the. 00:32:42
Partial that's located at 49 Hartnell Rd. that is. 00:32:45
Owned by Gibbs Capital Holdings. 00:32:49
LLC, the existing parcel is bounded not only by Harden Hill Rd. but also by. 00:32:51
Height drive, so it is a corner partial. It's approximately half an acre. 00:32:56
It is zoned attached residential. 00:33:02
There's an existing, you know, residential structure. 00:33:04
That is, that is on that parcel now based on the tax assessor information, that's a mobile home that was constructed in 00:33:08
approximately 1965 that may have an accessory structure with it as well. 00:33:13
And the concept plan that the applicant has has proposed would be to. 00:33:19
Demolish the existing mobile home and to subdivide the track to have. 00:33:23
Two single family residential parcels are structures on that, so approximately splitting it in half. 00:33:28
Those would be accessed from high drive. 00:33:36
Rather than from Harden Hill Rd. They would still be facing. 00:33:39
High Drive. 00:33:43
That will require sing Hardin Hill. I'm sorry I said it the wrong way. I appreciate the clarification. 00:33:45
Front of the buildings will be facing Harden Hill Rd. There'll be access from the rear, which would be high drive. So if you kind 00:33:50
of think about the right parcel maybe being parcel one, the left parcel being parcel 2, as it's oriented on the screen and the 00:33:56
page and the map that you see, you would then drive across the rear of those parcels to access a rear parking area. 00:34:03
The front pedestrian area would be towards the beautiful sidewalk that exists along Harden Hill Rd. 00:34:09
Again, uh. 00:34:16
This will increase because of the. 00:34:17
I'll call it the math. 00:34:20
Because of the geometry and the the nature of that, two parcels on half an acre is is more than the current density would allow. 00:34:22
So not at tonight's meeting, but at a meeting in the future. 00:34:27
It would require. 00:34:32
A rezoning to add a condition to allow that specific density. 00:34:34
On this specific. 00:34:38
Partial so hopefully. 00:34:40
Done a summer even though nobody can see the pictures here currently, but they have been provided in the packet. 00:34:41
If you go online you can see those as well. 00:34:47
So any questions that? 00:34:50
Mayor, Council, my hat. 00:34:52
If we don't, maybe we want to hear from the applicant and then ask questions generally or so. 00:34:55
If we could have either Mr. Gibbs or someone from SPG come forward to walk us through. 00:35:02
Any information the engineer didn't share and then we can do question and answer. 00:35:06
Good evening, Joseph Bates with SPG and representing Duke Gibbs with Gibbs Capital on this project. 00:35:14
I like big ambitious. 00:35:19
Plans as a designer, but also like humble and modest plans as well and ones that I believe that are. 00:35:21
Fit within the character. 00:35:27
Of the neighborhood. 00:35:29
And yeah, I think the big picture is. 00:35:30
This lot has a mobile home on it. 00:35:34
That mobile home has long lived outlived its lifespan. 60 years old. They're usually 30. 00:35:36
Five span of 30. 00:35:42
It's got to go. 00:35:43
An option was to put an eye size home on there. 00:35:45
And then discussing with Duke and thinking about this. 00:35:49
We thought it would be better for the community and the majority. 00:35:52
To be able to build 2 smaller homes. 00:35:55
That the majority could forward versus one larger home. 00:35:57
That only a few. 00:36:00
Could afford. 00:36:01
And that's kind of the the the logic there and the belief that this is what. 00:36:02
Would be better for the community and better for the citizens of Watkinsville and would keep the scale the home down. 00:36:06
The homes down to fit within the scale of the existing neighborhood. 00:36:14
So I think Camp Mark did a great job of explaining the design, but we're here to. 00:36:18
To answer any questions you've got on the design. 00:36:22
And if you got any other. 00:36:25
Questions for us. Yes, I have questions. Shocker. So approximately so that the pictures of the home, the renderings of the 00:36:27
outside, they look like. 00:36:32
They are kind of big grand homes. It's very pretty. I like that there's a variety in the architecture, but what is the approximate 00:36:37
square feet? 00:36:41
Of each of these homes. 00:36:46
I think, I think we're, you know, in the range of like 2000 to maybe 2400. 00:36:48
OK, umm. 00:36:54
So there there are a decent size. 00:36:55
Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong. Yeah. 00:36:58
We're 40 wide and I think about. 00:37:03
You know 50D but that includes like the garage, right that. 00:37:06
I mean, they're, they're pretty. 00:37:12
If they look like that. 00:37:15
Alright, again, we're not taking a vote tonight. This is we're just. 00:37:21
You know this is an opportunity for them to hear from council. 00:37:24
With our thoughts on this. So this is your time to offer thoughts or ask any questions. 00:37:26
I've said before we're kind of casual, so if you want to come on up, Carol, if it's quick, I'll repeat it. If you don't want to 00:37:35
come up, it's up to you, so. 00:37:39
All right. 00:37:43
I'm Carol Ivy. I live at 76 Jackson St. which is just up the street from there. 00:37:53
And have been in Watkinsville for. 00:37:59
50 something years or 60 something years maybe. 00:38:02
And I just feel like that from the written of those two. 00:38:06
Pictures. 00:38:09
They're too big to go on that one little lot. 00:38:10
That's just my opinion of it. 00:38:14
Thank you, Carol. 00:38:17
All right. 00:38:27
Yeah, umm. 00:38:29
OK, well, we'll we'll yeah, do you. 00:38:31
I do wonder if the renderings I mean because of the renderings. 00:38:35
Don't look like they match. 00:38:38
The uh. 00:38:40
The facade. 00:38:43
To 40 feet. 00:38:45
So I also though my depth perception is not my greatest strength so. 00:38:46
Yeah. So I mean I. 00:38:53
Kind of see what Miss Ivy. 00:38:55
The same. 00:38:57
All right, I see Kathleen on the balls of her feet, so she's going to come speak. 00:38:59
We're starting a new fiscal year, Kathleen. This is an opportunity for perfect attendance and comments. 00:39:04
My name is Kathleen Mcquiston. I live at 13 S Barnett Shoals Rd. 00:39:11
And I have to agree with Mrs. Ivy. 00:39:16
The renderings of these houses. 00:39:18
Don't look like a medium size or small houses to me and they don't fit in a. 00:39:21
You know we passed this. 00:39:28
These regulations before about keeping our corridors look like they're matching the houses around them and. 00:39:31
These houses don't match the houses around. 00:39:38
Either across the street or next door or behind them. They just seem completely out of character. 00:39:41
With what's going on on Harden Hill Rd. 00:39:47
Thank you. 00:39:51
I think this is good, Mr. Gibbs is. 00:39:53
Provide us with some plans, but I think this is the idea of this meeting was he can come in here with what the community's 00:39:55
feedback is and take a look at that before something's hard coded and he's coming in to propose that so. 00:40:00
Is there anyone else who wants to? 00:40:06
Share their thoughts. 00:40:08
I'll share mine real quick if we're still doing ours. 00:40:10
I guess right at this point it's a general question. Do we think can we see two houses being on that lot? And I'm not opposed to 00:40:13
that in general, I think, I think the renderings. 00:40:19
Almost deal with a little mislead. It does look like a very grand huge. 00:40:26
Houses there when you said 2000 to 2400 square feet size wise? 00:40:31
Fits into the area. 00:40:37
You know that square footage fits into the area. I think it would be interesting down the road. 00:40:40
Plan goes forward and then to see a more detailed. 00:40:45
Plans of the house, but the general idea to houses. 00:40:49
I would be OK with. 00:40:53
Making the change to to allow that. 00:40:56
And the size square footage that you mentioned seems appropriate for the area and there's really no. 00:40:59
The first thing is there is no given. 00:41:05
House design in that area, it's really. 00:41:08
All over the board. 00:41:11
Which makes it a little more difficult to say it needs to look like this. 00:41:13
Because there isn't a diss on that area. 00:41:18
In my opinion. 00:41:21
And there definitely are. I mean the house directly across height drive from it has. 00:41:22
Was an older ranch that was completely redone and. 00:41:27
Is, I mean very beautifully done to my opinion, several across the street. And so I mean there is, there are. 00:41:34
They're like you're saying, there are many different types of homes on Hardin Hill. 00:41:41
It it it is just hard for me to picture those homes on those lots but. 00:41:47
All right, feel free. Yeah, you just got to come back up. 00:41:54
This is great feedback. And I don't think we're we're locked into a specific style of the architecture and I think we can work on 00:41:59
providing some clarity on the the the scale of those homes they are set back. 00:42:05
There there is a set back along that corridor and we're not. 00:42:12
Proposing houses that are in front of the other houses that are along Arden Hill, and I do, I do feel I agree with Jeff that. 00:42:15
It's kind of an eclectic. 00:42:22
Road and I like the character and the the collectiveness of the different architecture styles that are along there. 00:42:24
But when I said we're not locked into a specific style and would be open to exploring, you know, different style and hearing from 00:42:31
the community what style would be more. 00:42:35
Appropriate what they would like to see. 00:42:40
OK. 00:42:42
So they're going to have a shared driveway. 00:42:45
If you don't mind. 00:42:50
Use the. 00:42:52
I'm staying around. 00:43:00
So you're going to have a shared driveway going in? 00:43:02
So no, no driveway part of them. 00:43:06
Keep that corridor clean and there's an existing 6 foot. 00:43:09
Opaque fence on the backlog loans of the neighbors would be. 00:43:14
What's the distance from the property line to the back of the house? 00:43:18
Believe it's about 30 feet. 00:43:22
And I think one of the. 00:43:28
That we would require a sidewalk along height drive to you know that would go there as well knowing that we may have to do 1 00:43:29
someday so. 00:43:33
OK, so you guys will look at architecture, think about. 00:43:38
Think about the community, you know, variety, things like that. I don't know. 00:43:42
Neither of these guys are hard to find. If anybody does want to reach out to Mr. Bates or Mr. Gibbs with specific feedback, 00:43:46
contact Julie or Sharon at City Hall and we can get you their e-mail addresses and put you in touch with them. 00:43:51
I don't know that we need to. 00:43:57
Batted around here tonight anymore. So with that. 00:43:58
I'm going to wrap this one up. 00:44:01
And we'll move on to old business. 00:44:03
None there. Under new business we have item 16. 00:44:06
I know I've got a couple people here to hear about this one and that is. 00:44:12
How we're going to use some. 00:44:16
Local Maintenance Improvement grant funds for paving along with some T spice funds so. 00:44:18
Manager Dickerson, if you could walk us through that. Again, I apologize. The public won't be able to see this, but I'll try to be 00:44:22
as descriptive as possible. 00:44:26
So we are asking tonight for council to approve a. 00:44:29
Fiscal year 26G dot. 00:44:33
Local maintenance improvement grant application. 00:44:35
To resurface the. 00:44:38
Roads and Bishops Vineyard, including Southland Drive. 00:44:41
Muscat Court and Concord Dr. Niagara Drive has already been paid, was recently paid last year. 00:44:44
We're going to ask that if the application is approved, that mayor and council approve a change in order to the existing FY25 00:44:50
ELMIG resurfacing contract with All About Asphalt as they are still under contract. 00:44:55
And and they have actually provided a price which is within our budget or with within what I'm asking here. So but we do have to 00:45:02
wait for G Dots approval before we can. 00:45:07
Pursue that. 00:45:12
A little bit of background on this in 21 in August of 21, this the Council. 00:45:13
Approved for us to work with an engineering technical engineering firm to evaluate our roads. 00:45:19
And they used many different ways to evaluate the condition of those roads, including lasers. 00:45:25
Specialized surveying equipment. 00:45:31
And they created a pavement management program for us. They basically put in order the roads. 00:45:33
From worst to best. 00:45:39
And we have used that tool to. 00:45:40
Advise Council on which Rd. should be paved next. 00:45:43
And as I mentioned, in August 20th of August 24, Council ordered all that asphalt FY25 element grant that was to pay Mulberry. 00:45:48
The Cemetery Rd. 00:45:56
And Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:45:57
I'm sorry. 00:46:00
Cemetery Rd. from Simonton Bridge, Tucson bridge including. 00:46:01
Some additional monies that were given by the state for a local Rd. assistance grant. 00:46:04
That help pave and resurface. 00:46:09
Stone Shoals Terrace Stone Shoals Way. 00:46:12
And the entrance road to Thomas Farm Preserve. 00:46:15
The this is something that the G dot administers annually. 00:46:20
We apply annually. Sometimes we get extra money. As I said that the state has given us extra money due to do some extra projects 00:46:25
throughout the year. 00:46:28
The. 00:46:33
Pavement management plan currently shows. 00:46:34
Go Back One currently shows the worst Rd. as Durham St. 00:46:37
Durham St. is partially unpaved gravel Rd. that runs from Experiment Station up to Nancy Drive. I'm sorry, all the way up to. 00:46:41
Water Street, but the unpaid portion stops at Nancy Drive. 00:46:49
It's mostly used by two. 00:46:53
Property owners The owner of Aramark. 00:46:55
And. 00:46:58
And then there's a. 00:47:00
Facility right on the corner of. 00:47:01
Of water, I'm sorry, of Durham St. and Experiment station that operates there. And so those are the main, main uses of that. 00:47:04
Everybody else comes through Nancy or comes up on Water St. 00:47:09
To access. 00:47:14
The backside of. 00:47:16
Of downtown. 00:47:17
The application is due in February. We always try to get a head start on these and especially since we have somebody under 00:47:18
contract, it would be useful for us to. 00:47:23
Leverage that at this point. 00:47:27
The. 00:47:30
The second that the second Rd. on the list and I guess let me go back the Durham St. 00:47:32
Is something we talked about, tried to construct. There's a lot of lot to that. There are some pieces that could tie in to 00:47:38
Experiment Station Road when that is expanded. And so Staffs of the opinion that we wait to see how that plays out before we start 00:47:44
spend a lot of money to reconstruct a road that serves 2 businesses. 00:47:49
So right now that one is is off. The is off the list as far as we're concerned until things move forward a little bit. 00:47:55
As I mentioned, Niagara Drive was paid this past year. That's one of the roads and Bishops Vineyard. 00:48:01
And then fortunately. 00:48:06
Oconee County just recently paved. 00:48:07
Column Ferry Rd. including about 100. 00:48:09
95 linear feet of roadway, that is. 00:48:12
Technically in the city limits. 00:48:14
And the calls Creek. 00:48:16
Subdivision. 00:48:18
The 500 linear feet that are essentially within the city limits those. 00:48:20
Because they have a bigger portion of it, they decided to take that and do that for us and so that saved us. 00:48:24
Having to pave those roads and so those roads. 00:48:29
Do not have to be paid by the city. 00:48:32
The next few roads and there's. 00:48:34
There's many roads, I'll tell you. There's segments of roads, but there's 21 miles of roads roughly, and many segments. When they 00:48:36
did the pavement management plan, they broke it into pieces. So between. 00:48:40
Like in this case, we're talking about Concord drive to Niagara or Niagara to. 00:48:45
You know the other side of Concord Dr. 00:48:49
So there are many segments. The next two segments are Williamsburg Place. 00:48:52
And Industrial Drive, both of those are needed. Williamsburg Place is actually a majority of it falls outside the city limits. 00:48:57
Again, we would treat that. We'd like to treat it similar to Calls Creek. When the county decides to pay that, then we would like 00:49:02
to partner with them and contribute if needed to have that. That portion of that road is 450 feet. So it's not a lot of a lot of 00:49:06
space. 00:49:11
And then industrial drive is substantially longer, but it does have heavy industrial equipment that travels on that road. 00:49:16
And it's going to require quite a bit of work and a lot more money than what we have budgeted. So that one, we're asking to step, 00:49:23
step place that one to the side as well. 00:49:27
Since our creation, since the creation of this plan, we have, like I said, tried to go in order by the roads that are listed based 00:49:33
on the technical. 00:49:37
Advice of our consultants. 00:49:42
But Bishops Vineyard, specifically Southland Drive, has has. 00:49:43
You know, we've had several residents, I believe we have some here tonight that have been complained. The roads are in much worse 00:49:47
condition. 00:49:50
I actually. 00:49:53
Took and took an opportunity to go out and drive all of the top 20 roads and I will, I will. 00:49:54
Certainly say that Southland does appear to be in the poorest condition of all the roads that are on the the top 20. 00:50:00
In addition to the visual inspection, we also considered. 00:50:06
Additional criteria. 00:50:10
The number of residents or businesses that are located on the on the roads in in Bishops Vineyard, I think there's 80 homes that 00:50:11
would be affected if we were to be able to pave all that. That's more than any of the other roads. 00:50:16
Even combined, I believe. 00:50:21
The length of the road. 00:50:23
Concord. Concord. 00:50:25
Drive is extremely long. 00:50:26
I think it's a mile. 00:50:29
Yeah, Concorde Dr. is actually a mile. 00:50:31
And then the cost savings for mobilizing a contractor versus having a contractor do one Rd. in Bishops Vineyard, another Rd. on 00:50:34
the other side of the city, etc. So we looked at those things. So based on our evaluation, we're recommending council appropriate 00:50:38
the funds to pave. 00:50:42
The remaining roads and Bishops Vineyard, Concord Dr. Southland Drive and Muscat Dr. I'm sorry, Muscat Court. 00:50:47
Because of the following reasons. So homes were built 40 years ago during the mid 1980s to mid 1990s. 00:50:53
The roads have never been resurfaced that we know of. 00:50:59
There are multiple potholes and large cracks in the pavement along Southland Drive specifically, and there's grass visibly 00:51:03
breaking through the surface of Matt of Muscat Court. 00:51:07
There is a little bit more than half $1,000,000 in T Sloss 2022 that is available for resurfacing roads. 00:51:12
If you had, if you have an opportunity, want to look at the roads that we've resurfaced, there's a list on line that you can look 00:51:20
at. 00:51:23
We basically resurfaced, I think over 3 miles of roads since 2017. That's a significant amount of roads when you figure how much 00:51:26
we're doing at any given time. 00:51:31
But we are requesting tonight that the Council approve the roughly $54,924 from the. 00:51:36
G dot L Meg funding should they approve our application? 00:51:44
And another 145,000 from the T splost to. 00:51:47
To pay for the. 00:51:52
To pave those roads, So that is what we were requesting tonight. 00:51:53
Any questions? 00:51:56
All right, that was a thorough report. Council, any questions? 00:51:59
I know we've got some Bishop Vineyard residents here tonight. Any comments y'all care to make? 00:52:04
So I would just love to see y'all pay before I die, All right? For those who could, for those who couldn't hear, Mr. Owensby said 00:52:09
he wants the road paid before he dies. He looks pretty healthy, so I expect we can get that done. So. 00:52:15
Well, Mrs. Owens, we hopefully he's around for a while after we get this done. That's not what you've been waiting around for, so. 00:52:26
All right, all right. So, Council, you've heard the. 00:52:32
Heard the proposal any. 00:52:36
Questions for the manager. 00:52:38
Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. 00:52:41
And make a motion for. 00:52:43
The administrative recommendation option. 00:52:45
All right. Do we have a 2nd? And that's to do both roads, correct? Three roads, all three roads second. 00:52:49
All right, we have a second. 00:52:57
Any discussion? 00:52:58
All in favor, Say aye. All right, all right. 00:53:00
There we go. Bishops Vineyard is set to be repaid. 00:53:03
Yep, Yep, Yep, Yep. 00:53:09
Yeah, yeah. 00:53:13
All right. 00:53:16
We try to get things done all right. 00:53:21
All right, we'll move on to our new item. 00:53:24
Umm, yeah, this is something that has come up in the past two days and umm. 00:53:28
I don't know that I want to offer much of a preface. 00:53:34
But I will just say this. 00:53:37
And Sharon, you were probably going to say some of it, but. 00:53:39
Sewer in the city is complicated. City doesn't control its own sewer. The county controls the sewer. 00:53:42
But the distance between. 00:53:48
The county sewer line in someone's house can get tricky, and that's what this is one of these situations that's popped up. 00:53:50
I'm gonna let Sharon walk us through. 00:53:57
A very unusual situation related to a sewage leak and how we're going to attempt to fix it very quickly. 00:53:59
Thank you, Mayor. 00:54:05
And I may lean on. 00:54:06
City Engineer Campbell here in a minute to. 00:54:07
So what we're going to ask tonight is that the council approve a temporary construction easement to the property owner at 118 00:54:10
Mulberry St. 00:54:13
For the purpose of repairing the broken private service sewer line with the following conditions that the sewer line service line 00:54:17
be brought up to code and properly connected to Oconee County sewer system and the property owner complete the repair within a 00:54:22
deadline to be established by the city and will be reasonable about that. But there is currently an active sewer leak so it is 00:54:26
very important to get done soon. 00:54:31
Also asking that. 00:54:36
Council consider directing staff to engage the City Engineer to complete a survey for a proposed 20 foot permanent easement and 00:54:38
then direct staff to bring that permanent easement forward for council consideration at a future meeting that will allow. 00:54:43
That property owner to do the service, repairs and maintenance of that line. 00:54:49
Without having to come to the city since it is on city property. Little history on this. The single family home located at 118 00:54:53
Mulberry St. was constructed in 1993 by Brian Burner. 00:54:57
Sometime between Friday of last week and Monday this week, a tree limb fell and broke the private sewer line servicing the 00:55:02
residents at 118 Mulberry St. 00:55:06
On Monday, August 18th, City Engineer Campbell notified me that the contractor, Mark Thomas, had come across the broken, leaking 00:55:10
sewer service line. 00:55:14
That evening, I contacted the property owner, Cleon Walden, regarding the identified sewage leak. 00:55:18
On Tuesday yesterday, the city received an e-mail from Oconee Environmental Health notifying us formally that they had received 00:55:23
complaints at the sewer leak. 00:55:27
And then? 00:55:31
Also yesterday I spoke with the director of Oconee Water Resources, Adam Layfield, regarding the issue. Again, the mayor pointed 00:55:33
out the city does not own or operate the sewer system. The county does that. There's some coordination that has to occur. 00:55:38
And then today I contacted the Oconee County Clerk of Court to verify that there were no easements associated with 118 Mulberry 00:55:44
St. parcel and any of the neighboring city owned parcels. The city now owns the two other parcels that are adjacent to this. 00:55:51
To this property owner. 00:55:59
Some facts and issues the subject tree line does. I'm sorry, tree limb did not appear to have been associated with any work that 00:56:01
is going on. 00:56:04
At our pedestrian connector project. 00:56:08
However, even if it was, the sewer service line is on city property and not on the private owner property. I'm sorry, not on 118 00:56:10
Mulberry streets property. 00:56:14
Is believed that this private service line was installed by the original contractor of the home. 00:56:20
According to the director of Oconee Water Resources, Adam Layfield, the service. 00:56:24
Sewer service line taps into public. 00:56:28
Publicly owned manhole and does not meet current code. 00:56:31
The county will require them to connect to the existing manhole legally. 00:56:34
Correctly, however you want to put that. 00:56:38
Although Oconee County owns and operates A wastewater treatment plant, they have no enforcement capabilities. 00:56:40
Outside of turning the residents water off for failure to comply, and of course we don't want to do that. We don't ask them to do 00:56:44
that. We just need to get the residents to comply and fix the. 00:56:48
To break. 00:56:52
Again, we are the entity that would require the property owner repair the line because it's on our property and because. 00:56:54
The county doesn't have enforcement capabilities for that since it's a service line, a private service line and not. 00:56:59
A county pipe or county? 00:57:05
Line County Water Resources did verify the resident, 118 Mulberry Street, is paying for sewer service. 00:57:08
Staff is recommending the council again grant a temporary construction easement to the property owner at 118 Mulberry. 00:57:16
For the purpose of repairing the broken service line. 00:57:21
Some of the advantages. 00:57:24
Advantages to this are it will. 00:57:26
Keep the project moving forward. That is, we'll make sure that the homeowner is able to go ahead and get on the property and have 00:57:28
the plumber do the work. 00:57:32
It ensures Co compliance, obviously ensuring that the line will be properly installed, meeting all legal and safety standards. 00:57:37
It establishes legal utility service, which up until now has been sort of unclear. 00:57:44
It project, it protects city's long term interests. We're going to commit to a permanent 20 foot easement again so the resident 00:57:49
will have the ability to conduct maintenance and repair and future upgrades to their line. 00:57:54
It bounces flexibility and formality. That is, we're going to grant a temporary, Hopefully Council will grant a temporary easement 00:58:00
now. 00:58:03
With the plan to move forward with a permanent easement later so that we. 00:58:06
Formalize this and not have to deal with it in the future. 00:58:09
And then it shows good faith partnership for the city, being responsive and cooperative with the homeowner. 00:58:12
The only disadvantages are there is a risk the homeowner will not comply. If the homeowner doesn't, we we can ask the county to 00:58:17
turn their water off and that will maybe get their attention, but I don't anticipate that. I anticipate the homeowners going to 00:58:22
want to fix it and get it done right. 00:58:26
The other, the other disadvantage is there's an administrative burden because we're going to the city is going to take it upon 00:58:31
themselves to conduct a survey. 00:58:34
And revisit the matter at another council meeting for the permanent easement. 00:58:38
The I'm sorry, there's one more disadvantage. If we grant a temporary easement, there is a potential that we could be setting a 00:58:42
precedent for future easements. 00:58:46
I don't know how serious this is a utility issue. We don't tend to have these. This is the first one I've had in seven years, so I 00:58:49
don't know. That's a huge concern. 00:58:53
Again, we're asking council grant a temporary construction easement to the property owner, ask that they bring. 00:58:57
The service line up to code properly connect to the sewer. 00:59:02
Completely repair. We'll talk about the timeline. 00:59:05
Direct staff to have the city engineer complete the survey and direct staff to bring forward that permanent 20 foot easement once 00:59:09
the survey is conducted so that the council can consider it a future meeting. 00:59:13
What's the estimated cost of all this work on the city? 00:59:20
A engineer? Do you know what our cost is per survey? 00:59:24
OK, anyway, OK, I think it'd be. 00:59:32
So we'd have the cost of the survey and at this point we don't anticipate. 00:59:34
The cost of the city for repairs to the actual line, correct? No, I would not recommend the city. 00:59:38
Fix the private service line. 00:59:43
OK. 00:59:45
Council questions. 00:59:48
Hearing no questions, do we have a motion? 00:59:53
And make a motion to approve. 00:59:57
Option one. 01:00:00
2nd. 01:00:03
All right, any further discussion? 01:00:04
Hearing none all in favor say aye, Any opposed? 01:00:06
All right. Motion carries unanimously. We'll move on to. 01:00:10
Public comments. 01:00:13
Comments shall be. 01:00:15
Shall be related to agenda items. Actually, now you can talk about what you want to. If you want to come up and speak to speak 01:00:17
from the podium. 4 minutes per person. Refrain from debate argument. Personal attacks are irrelevant discussion. Address only the 01:00:23
merits of the pending matter or the matter that you want to bring before us, since this is public comment. 01:00:28
Address them to council, but we're not going to talk about litigation, attorney-client, or personnel matters. 4 minutes at the 01:00:34
most. If anybody has a public comment they wish to make, now is your time to shine. 01:00:38
Anybody wish to speak? 01:00:45
All right, Lawrence. 01:00:48
Nice to take to do this, but. 01:00:51
My name is Lawrence Stewart. I live at 13 Barney Shoals. 01:00:55
And I. 01:00:59
I don't know how to put this. 01:01:01
I gotta ask you a question. You're gonna put lights along the connector, through the woods, over the cover bridge and all. 01:01:03
We will have some sort of lighting, yes, Yeah. 01:01:09
Well, I don't know what kind of light you're going to buy there, but I'd like you to change it so it doesn't light up. 01:01:12
Just lights up the walk. 01:01:17
Anyway, down through the woods, so when you're driving or just in general, it doesn't feel like. 01:01:19
A lot of the other lights in town. 01:01:25
If that makes sense. 01:01:28
You know, just because it's in the woods and. 01:01:30
Yeah. I think we'll think about how we're lighting. The bridge will be lit differently and then the frequency of the additional 01:01:31
lights is going to be really important whatever we do or whether we do the traditional St. lights. So we're still thinking about 01:01:36
that. We probably will have some sort of light. I just think there's ways to light. 01:01:40
The path. 01:01:45
Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Yep. 01:01:46
All right. Any other public comments? 01:01:54
Yes, Sir. 01:01:57
Anybody come on up? Yes, Sir. Just tell us your name and your address. All right, Mr. Lumpkin. 01:01:59
70 Marsh St. Yes, Sir. OK. And I was just wondering. 01:02:08
If I own my Rd. back up. 01:02:16
How much time I got spent in jail for over my rollback? Which Rd. is that? Is that at the bend or which one? 01:02:19
Is building, yes. 01:02:29
Now I have nothing in the world gets beneficial. 01:02:33
It's not building that doing it. It's the city of Washington. 01:02:36
That I can't have no two openings in that curve. 01:02:40
But it's a mess there because it's hard for me. I read them but at a time. 01:02:44
On my trailer trying to make that turn. 01:02:50
And that's the income. Your driveway comes and you have to turn. 01:02:53
If you're leaving your house, coming down your drive, you have to turn into the new entrance. Then you took a hard lap to come up. 01:02:57
Yeah, yeah. 01:03:01
Yep. Yep. And I haven't hit it twice. Gotcha. Yeah. Yeah. All right, I'm gonna let the engineer comment on that. If he knows 01:03:06
anything about the curb height in that situation. I know exactly what you're talking about, and I've met the contractor yesterday 01:03:11
afternoon to work to pull that curve back. 01:03:16
And to increase the radius. 01:03:21
To your gravel driveway. So. So a little more than 24 hours ago, I was standing right there talking to the contractor to get them 01:03:23
to fix it as soon as possible. 01:03:27
When you said fix. 01:03:34
I've never been told the. 01:03:36
A thirty way stop there. 01:03:38
But now. 01:03:40
One stop sign with no one stopping anyway. But. 01:03:41
One stop sign. 01:03:44
Coming out of my soul. 01:03:46
Stop sign no good. 01:03:48
Because you're exactly right. And again. 01:03:51
I was made aware that the issue recently and I met with the contractor. 01:03:53
Yesterday. 01:03:58
So it is not repaired yet. You're right, it needs work. 01:03:59
It will remain as a three-way stop at that very hard corner. 01:04:04
But we're working with the contractor to repair. 01:04:08
Because the curb as it is in now is not correct. 01:04:12
So. 01:04:16
I'm happy to talk to Mr. Billy Bishop. I met with his contractor yesterday. 01:04:17
With the plan to. 01:04:21
Improve the opening. 01:04:23
Our position is we want to make it safe. 01:04:25
And and it's not done yet, but. 01:04:29
Hopefully well before the next. 01:04:31
City Council meeting. 01:04:34
That will already be taken care of. 01:04:35
So I'm happy to get your information and communicate with you. I can, I can meet you out there on site and talk about it as well. 01:04:37
But I just met with the contractor yesterday. I spoke with the fire department. 01:04:42
They focus in someone then look at it, but they didn't, right? And that was, I'll tell you that was my largest concern was being 01:04:49
able to have an emergency service vehicle be able to get down your driveway. 01:04:54
Well. 01:05:01
I appreciate that. 01:05:02
I don't see I'm the only one on Morrison St. that don't have the own. 01:05:03
Interest, so I mean. 01:05:07
And then the people that in softball. 01:05:09
Field I have to sit down the road and wait for them because not enough room for us to. 01:05:13
You go in and out. 01:05:20
So I was just wondering. 01:05:23
What would happen if I hold my Rd. back up? 01:05:25
I mean, you know, like this, this, this. 01:05:28
This been going on for a minute. 01:05:30
I don't think what what would happen. 01:05:34
If I go ahead. 01:05:37
And open my rolled up. 01:05:40
And that other Rd. I don't see a way that that's going to work and be safe either. So I believe for y'all to meet and then come 01:06:12
back and maybe get a report on that next month, if that's all right. 01:06:17
And we can talk some more, Mr. Lumpkin, if we need to. So, but Chief, can you join for that as well and make sure that I just want 01:06:21
to be sure that that because there are the stop signs. 01:06:26
I feel like they're either. 01:06:31
They're missing flags or they're getting hit or there's something going on there that the way that's working. So I would like us 01:06:32
to look at that intersection. 01:06:36
Well, if we can sit somebody there with with with some blue lights, they might start stopping. It doesn't take too long for that 01:06:42
to that for us to change that. So I. 01:06:46
So that that's probably not that hard to do so. 01:06:52
So let us let us work with you for a month. 01:06:55
Mark's gonna get you his number. 01:06:57
And. 01:06:59
And then come back and come back and talk to us. 01:07:00
Mr. Lumpkin, or call or call me. 01:07:03
Call me if you want to talk about it further and we'll get together. So yes, Sir, thank you for your time. 01:07:05
No, no. Thank you for coming in. Yes, Sir. Yes, Sir. 01:07:10
OK. Thank you, Mark. Thank you, Chief. 01:07:16
Anybody else public comments? 01:07:19
All right. 01:07:22
We're almost done, yo. 01:07:24
All right, we'll go to the mayor's report. We haven't met for two months, so I've got a few things to report. 01:07:25
We did in late June. 01:07:32
Unveil our memorial for the lynching victims from 1905. That's a great tragedy in our community. 01:07:35
That deserve to be recognized and I'm grateful to the county into our African American leaders for helping us with that. That was 01:07:41
a very hot but important day for the city and. 01:07:47
And for that community to see that recognition, which was long overdue, that was on the 120th anniversary of that tragic event. 01:07:53
Tonight we're going to announce 2 committees. 01:07:59
These are our Public Arts committee and our Tom Friends of Thomas Farm Preserve. 01:08:03
The first one is the Public Art Committee. I see Lawrence is here. Lawrence, you're going to be part of that if you're still 01:08:08
willing. 01:08:11
I think it's been a few months since you submitted your application, but we're going to ask Beth Malone as the OCAF Executive 01:08:14
Director to chair that and Mary Lilly Watson to serve as our Vice Chair. The other members are Philip Hamrick, Alicia Holman, 01:08:19
Teresa Bacon, Lawrence Stuke and Ann Peden. 01:08:24
Christine and I'll serve as ex officios. 01:08:30
The focus of this group will be to help us reinvigorate public art in the city. 01:08:33
And one of their first jobs will be to develop some bylaw, bylaws, organizational procedures and then get moving. So Lawrence, 01:08:38
thank you for offering to serve. I know you've done a lot of that through the years, and we're grateful to have you have you 01:08:42
helping us some more. 01:08:47
Our Friends of Thomas Farm Preserve is a little bit bigger. We have more applicants. 01:08:52
Ed Lane from SPG, who helped design it, is going to be the initial chair of that group. 01:08:57
The other members of Rob Simpson. 01:09:02
Leslie, Bobby. Sabaton, Ellie. 01:09:04
Matthew Long, Mark Schroeder, Jimmy Marbutt, Sherry Clark, Alice Huff, Gary Crider, Stephen Arnold, Heather Pamela and Wendy Cook. 01:09:06
Zachary Spencer Wood and Diane Windham. 01:09:14
A variety of skill sets here. People who know about everything from native plants to how to fundraise and volunteer. 01:09:16
And we're really looking for these people to be fundraisers and fundraisers and also arms and legs to help us get organized. 01:09:22
And take care of Thomas Farm Preserve. 100 acres is a massive space. 01:09:28
And with our two person Parks Department, it is really hard for us to keep our arms wrapped around it. So we need a dedicated 01:09:33
group of friends to help us work out there and we're appreciative of all their service. 01:09:37
Hair Shoals Park master Plan is coming along. 01:09:43
Quickly, this is phase 2A little preview. This is the Giordani Green. 01:09:48
We have moved some public art down there from IMI that they donated that used to be at their building. These are some some. 01:09:52
Dandelions that that Don Phillips and his team made. It's a lovely space. We have a little bit more work to go. We have some 01:09:59
additional sod and a dry Creek bed. 01:10:02
And some benches and trash cans to install. We're meeting with the G or Dean Giovanni family next month to prepare for an opening 01:10:07
date there. We're excited about that. 01:10:12
This isn't on the screen. I do think I need to mention it. High up perspectives is opening at O calf. 01:10:17
Tomorrow night or is it Friday night? 01:10:23
Friday night. 01:10:26
Friday night is the first night of perspectives. I believe that used to be, and probably still is, the largest pottery show in 01:10:27
Georgia or the Southeast, Kathleen wanted. 01:10:31
At least Georgia. 01:10:36
It is an awesome event. I would strongly encourage all of you to try to go Friday night. If you can't go Friday night, be sure you 01:10:37
get there. Is it 2 weeks or three weeks? 01:10:41
Three weekend, three weekends. Anyway, it's always amazing. 01:10:46
Yeah, so 3 weeks. 01:10:50
If you can't leave, can't leave without some awesome stuff. 01:10:52
Thomas Farm Preserve, we continue to make some improvements. The women's bathroom opened up, so we now have multiple stalls in the 01:10:56
women's bathroom, multiple stalls and the men's I think we've. 01:11:01
Quintupled our bathroom capacity. 01:11:05
Thomas Farm Preserve With these new restrooms, we also have a water fountain. 01:11:08
With a water bottle refill. 01:11:12
There in terms of other updates. 01:11:14
We hope still, we're hoping to get the dock in. 01:11:17
This summer, Sharon, are we looking at? 01:11:22
No, I contacted him today and. 01:11:26
The jury's out, so the jury's out. 01:11:29
Sometime in the next year, yeah. Hope to get that done. We have a lot going on in the park. 01:11:32
So, so we do have that going on. 01:11:37
We are going to be doing some work or we won't be, but Georgia Power will be doing some work on the right away in the back. 01:11:39
They'll be replacing. 01:11:43
Power comes back with the polls. We'll have to close it again for a little bit of time, but we have mowed the beach bottom bypass 01:12:13
trail, so you'll have full access to the park. You just won't be able to use that one little corner, but you'll be able to get 01:12:18
through except to navigate a little grass in addition to gravel to do that. 01:12:23
We're making great progress. I don't know if anybody drove by today, but you know, we finished up the. 01:12:29
What we would call, I guess, phase one. 01:12:35
For now, of the Simonton Bridge connector that was finished in the past two months, phase two and three are well underway though. 01:12:37
Lights are in. You can see that's what phase two and three looked like a couple days ago. If you go about today, it's wide open at 01:12:45
this point. All the trees are down. 01:12:48
On the routing. 01:12:52
Again, we're targeting the end of the year to get that work done. Our fingers are crossed we can we can pull that off. 01:12:53
We also paved stone Shoals, most of Stone Shoals, Stone Shoals Terrace, Stone Shoals way were repaved during the past two months. 01:12:59
DAR placed flags at veteran grave sites for July 4th. Grateful to DAR, they help us take care of the cemetery. We also installed 01:13:10
some new fencing and bollards. Several families have made some investments in there. 01:13:15
Funeral in their grave, graveside areas and plots and we want to protect those investments, so we've added. 01:13:21
Some bollards and strings there so people don't run over those areas. 01:13:28
We celebrated Friend Friday with ESP That's always a joy. 01:13:32
If you've never done that, be sure you try to come and do that one Friday in the summer if we're selected again. 01:13:36
You wouldn't know it looking at City Hall, but this place was a wreck. Just four days ago we had. 01:13:43
Pipe break under the concrete foundation of this building, which is what? 18 inches thick? 24 inches thick. 01:13:48
So they had to dig out that pipe. 01:13:56
Both of the bathrooms were out of Commission. The kitchen was out of Commission. Everything was in here from stoves to. 01:13:59
Soap dispensers to you name it, this room was full of it. I just want to give a lot of thanks to Sharon, to our contractors, to 01:14:06
everybody who worked really hard to get that done. 01:14:11
The bathrooms were closed for the better part of two weeks, maybe 3 weeks. It was a lot of work. There's pictures up there. I hate 01:14:16
that y'all can't see them because it is it. 01:14:20
Yeah, it's, it's, it's, it was kind of crazy what all had to happen. I mean, the sheetrock halfway up the walls in those rooms. 01:14:25
That's what we did. The emergency appropriation for tonight, it was a real mess. 01:14:31
We are going to have a couple days of work from G dot to help with our storm water situation on Main Street. They're widening out 01:14:36
of culvert. 01:14:39
That will affect traffic somewhat, but that work has to be done as our storms increase in frequency and intensity. 01:14:43
There's just more water than our some of our culverts or some of our drain pot drains can handle, so they're widening a drain for 01:14:50
us at no cost to the city. 01:14:53
This is the way you should put your trash cans out. 01:14:58
You can't see it. 01:15:02
So since you can't, what I will say is you want to have that little silver bar facing the road. 01:15:03
And you want to have that, what, between 3:00 and? 01:15:09
5 feet from the curb. 01:15:12
And then they use their magic new trash can to pick that up and dump the trash. So if you've been putting your trash can 01:15:14
backwards, if you haven't been putting it close to the road, please try to put it 3 to 5 feet away from the road. 01:15:19
Can you put it in the middle of the sidewalk if you have a? 01:15:26
Stretch and the sidewalk. 01:15:30
Probably put it in the grass area between the sidewalk and the street, that little piece. Yeah, yeah. 01:15:34
Yep. 01:15:40
Christmas parade, I think we mentioned earlier, is going to be December 7th. The parade will be at 4, tree lighting at six. 01:15:42
I'm almost done y'all, I promise. 01:15:48
We had a birthday. 01:15:50
Recently, there's council Mayor Pro Tem Tucker. 01:15:52
I hate it. Y'all can't see this? It's the cutest picture of ours. Little girl with cowboy hat on. 01:15:58
Oh, of course, she's got a suitcase. All right. And then I think we have. 01:16:05
A happy birthday to Chuck Garrett from his high school yearbook again, you know, Yeah, yeah. So. So anyway, we've, we've got some 01:16:10
great photos. I hate that y'all can't see them. I think that's it for the mayor's report. 01:16:17
This point we'll move to council, reports Councilman Garrett. 01:16:26
Not a whole lot to report other than I know our citizens will really be happy when the Parkway is finished up going to Publix. 01:16:30
Looks like those guys only last leg. 01:16:37
They should have it all. 01:16:40
Topped out, he said, toward the end of September. 01:16:42
End of September. You've heard it from our paving expert. That's what those guys told me, Councilman Chuck Garrett. 01:16:44
But that is not our project. Yeah. So we're clear. All right, we will go with the. 01:16:51
Tony Massey post to. 01:16:56
All right. And congratulations to both of you for qualifying unopposed. Welcome back. 01:16:59
We'll move on to Mayor Pro Tem Tucker post for. 01:17:04
I already said all the things, she said all the things. Councilman Campbell Post 5. 01:17:08
Nothing to report, nothing to report. 01:17:13
Do we need to have a brief executive session? 01:17:16
Very brief. 01:17:20
All right, so Council maybe don't even stand up. We'll let we'll let the chambers evacuate and we will do our brief executive 01:17:21
session if that sounds good so. 01:17:25
Thank you all for coming tonight. 01:17:29
That'd be great. I make a motion to move into executive session for. 01:17:33
2nd. 01:17:39
Pending and or threatened litigation. 01:17:41
All right. Make a motion to adjourn. Second. Second. All in favor, aye. 01:17:55
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Transcript

Event transcript
Yep. 00:00:34
All right. Welcome everybody to the August Watkinsville City Council meeting. We do have a quorum here tonight and we will start 00:00:37
with the pledge. If we could all stand, please. 00:00:42
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. 00:00:49
And to the Republic for which it stands. 00:00:53
One nation under God. 00:00:56
Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 00:00:59
Thank you all. We have a. 00:01:07
Reasonably long agenda tonight. So we will move. Let's just put it deliberately through. 00:01:09
The agenda, in an effort to get everybody home at a reasonable hour, of course, will allow all the appropriate levels of public 00:01:15
comment and commentary. 00:01:18
At the right points, but we're going to start with an exciting moment we have. 00:01:22
2 new police officers who will be taking the oath of office tonight. That's Detective Barry Sauceman and Officer Ira Underwood. If 00:01:27
y'all would come forward, I think Attorney Reitman is going to administer the oath. 00:01:32
That's above my paper. 00:01:56
All right. 00:01:59
At this time, gentlemen, if you always raise your right hand, I will do this collectively, together. Do each of you solemnly swear 00:02:00
or affirm that you will faithfully? 00:02:04
Execute the Office of Police Officer. 00:02:09
For the city of Watkinsville. 00:02:11
And to the best of your ability, support and defend the Constitution of the United States. 00:02:13
The Constitution of Georgia. 00:02:19
And the charter, ordinances, and regulations of the City of Watkinsville. And that you are not the holder of any unaccounted for 00:02:21
public money due this State, or any political subdivision or authority thereof. And that you are not the holder of any office of 00:02:29
trust under the Government of the United States, any other state or any foreign state which you, by the laws of the State of 00:02:36
Georgia, would be prohibited from holding. And that you are otherwise qualified to hold set office. 00:02:44
According to the Constitution and law of Georgia and that you will perform the duties of your office. 00:02:51
In the best interest of the City of Watkinsville to the best of your ability, without fear, favor, affection, reward, or 00:02:57
expectation thereof. If you agree and say I do or I do, so help me God. 00:03:03
Hi, congratulations to each welcome. 00:03:09
So. 00:03:13
You all gonna make a big speech. 00:03:15
I think. 00:03:25
Congratulations. 00:03:43
Let's get. 00:04:11
And Officer Underwood, the chief, if you want to jump into yes, Sir. 00:04:18
All right. 00:04:28
Chief, I know you've got a report later, but while we have our. 00:04:36
Guests and their families here. 00:04:41
Is there anything you want to share about your new officers or do you want to do that during the police report? 00:04:45
I've known both of them a good while. 00:04:51
I respect both of them tremendously. I've worked with. 00:04:54
Vary for about 12 years and. 00:04:59
I know what he brings to the table. Over 17 years experience. He is a. 00:05:01
A Christian man, a faithful man of faith. 00:05:05
I met Ira. 00:05:09
About five years ago, at a conference in a. 00:05:11
When when we separated at night, the first thing I told my wife was that would be somebody. 00:05:14
That I would be honored to work with, right? And here we are today, several years later. 00:05:18
But our brings what, over 30? 00:05:23
435 years of experience in law enforcement. 00:05:26
He's dedicated his life to law enforcement. 00:05:30
And to. 00:05:32
His faith as well. 00:05:34
I feel like we have, really. 00:05:36
Some incredible assets to the Police Department with them too and I look forward to working with both of them and hopefully we 00:05:39
have a long. 00:05:42
Tenure together. 00:05:46
OK, perfect. 00:05:48
Notice you have some other officers in here. Did y'all want to get a photo together before Before while we've got everybody. 00:05:49
OK, I don't recognize, I don't recognize the tall one. There's something missing there that I'm used to saying. So. Yeah, yeah. 00:05:55
Yeah, yeah. 00:06:03
I'm afraid. 00:06:14
All right. Next, we're going to announce the winners of the turn Watkinsville Red, White and Blue contest. 00:06:45
It's the same, it's just different. 00:06:52
OK, All right, all right. So our winners for turning Watkinsville red, white and blue are. 00:07:05
Carol Ivy and Stephen Dory Brown. 00:07:11
So if you want to come forward. 00:07:14
I don't know if the vote count was closed this year or not. We've got some Watkinsville goodies and then a gift certificate to 00:07:25
Wing House and one of White Tiger. 00:07:30
I'll let y'all argue everything gets what? 00:07:34
So, yeah, well, congratulations. 00:07:39
All right, our technology is a little different tonight. We had some electrical issues at City Hall in the past few days and it's 00:07:59
affected our ability to broadcast our. 00:08:03
Screen. So we have one screen working here for City Council. I apologize in advance we won't be able to show things behind us for 00:08:07
all of you to see if there's something that you do. 00:08:11
Want to see need to see then feel free to you know, you all know we're pretty casual here. Walk on up here and you can just look 00:08:15
at that screen and then we can discuss it. The meeting is being live broadcast still on on board, so not on board on. 00:08:22
Suite 1, so that is that's happening. 00:08:30
And then of course, our council is set up for those who have trouble hearing. There's a hearing loop system in the chamber that's 00:08:34
a wireless network for people with who have hearing aids. 00:08:38
So if you're having trouble hearing despite the loop, then please see our add a coordinator who is sharing Dickerson. 00:08:42
She'll help you with that. The meeting is also going to be, as I said, broadcast online. There's closed captioning available. 00:08:48
For that, just click the CC icon in the lower right corner and then when the videos posted, the closed captions will automatically 00:08:55
appear at a later date and a transcript of the meetings available. 00:08:59
Currents month agenda as opposed to a week before the meeting to allow time to provide comments and writing to the clerk if 00:09:04
someone can't be here tonight. 00:09:06
We're going to move on to the approval of minutes. 00:09:09
1st we have the June 18th, 2025 regular meeting. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes please? 00:09:12
I make a motion to approve. 00:09:17
We have second, second. 00:09:19
All in favor say aye. 00:09:20
All right. We have a joint special called meeting. That meeting was when we visited. 00:09:22
Some other downtown areas in conjunction with the Downtown Development Authority board members. 00:09:26
Could I have a motion to approve those minutes? 00:09:31
I make a motion to approve. 00:09:33
Do we have a second? 00:09:34
Second, all in favor say aye. 00:09:36
Motion carries. 00:09:39
Move on to approval of the agenda. We do need to add an item to that We have a item 17 will be the 118 Mulberry St. sewage leak of 00:09:42
private service line on city property. 00:09:47
I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda with the new item 17 under new business, please. 00:09:53
Make a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of item number 17. Is there a second second. Any discussion? 00:09:57
Hearing none all in favor say aye. 00:10:05
Motion carries. 00:10:07
Move to administration. 00:10:09
So the pending matter and address the remarks directly to the council. We won't speak to potential litigation attorney-client or 00:10:40
personnel matters. With that, we'll move on to Financial reports Manager Dickerson. 00:10:45
Thank you, Mayor. So everyone should have received the. 00:10:50
Balance sheet. 00:10:54
The pallet sheet for the general fund. 00:10:55
We are. We just started the fiscal year July 1st, so there's. 00:10:57
Not a lot to see yet, but so we're, you know, not a lot to. 00:11:01
To share, but it is. 00:11:05
We're moving forward on the Splice 3, and I apologize that everybody's not able to see all this, but I will try to give you a 00:11:07
little bit of detail on this. So Splash 3. 00:11:11
Was a 2021 referendum. 00:11:15
It expires in September of 27. Right now our at monthly average revenue is around 85,000. 00:11:18
We budgeted for 64,000 so that's good news. 00:11:25
The current. 00:11:29
The current. 00:11:31
Move this over. Hang on. 00:11:33
The current. 00:11:34
The current bank balance is a little bit more than $1,000,000. 00:11:38
The revenues for June came in a little bit more than $94,600. 00:11:41
And I think I've got. 00:11:46
Some again y'all aren't seeing is in this side. I'm going to try to read it because I didn't print this out, but so some of the 00:11:48
items that we use plus three money for include. 00:11:51
Police vehicles. Fire department vehicles. Traffic calming. 00:11:55
The work at Harris Shoals Park, which the mayor will talk about in his report at the end of the meeting. Thomas Farm Preserve, the 00:11:58
acquisition and the master plan improvements. 00:12:02
Rocket field improvements. 00:12:06
Resurfacing our roads, the pedestrian connector that we're currently. 00:12:07
Constructing on Simonton Bridge Rd. that will connect downtown. 00:12:11
To that side of town. 00:12:14
Streetscape improvements and public works equipment and other types of items so very useful. 00:12:16
We cannot do what we. 00:12:21
We could what we're doing without that those funds. 00:12:22
On T spouse that's a transportation special purpose local option sales tax. 00:12:26
Our monthly average revenues are 80,000. We budgeted about 78. So that's really good news this early in the game. 00:12:31
We have that is a that is a tax that the city gets 7.77% of the all the sales tax that's generated within the county. 00:12:37
That began in April 23 and sunsets in March of 28. 00:12:46
Last month's revenues were at $79,604. 00:12:50
Our bank balance is a little bit more than $1,000,000. 00:12:54
On this project, T Sloss is being used for again the sidewalk connection on Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:12:57
Construction of sidewalks throughout the city. 00:13:03
Resurfacing of roads, which we're going to talk about tonight as well. 00:13:05
As well as other improvements. 00:13:09
To parking services around some of the city facilities. 00:13:11
I'll talk a little bit about economic development. I do want to state why everybody's here because the crowd tends as we go on. 00:13:15
That's how important the T's Boston SPLOST is. One of the ways, the way really, that we're keeping property taxes low and able to 00:13:20
repave so many roads. We're going to talk about that tonight with Bishops Vineyard. 00:13:25
We couldn't dream of repaving a neighborhood like Bishop's Vineyard. 00:13:30
Three years ago, we never would have the money to do that, but because of the T splash revenue. 00:13:33
Which is probably 50% being paid by people from outside our county. 00:13:38
We're able to do that. I was at Costco last Sunday. 00:13:41
Counted the cars. That place was a zoo, and I doubt a third of those cars were from Oconee County, but they're putting that penny. 00:13:45
And and we're able to pay y'all's roads and build sidewalks and things because of that. So I just. 00:13:50
We're going to have to choose to vote for that again. And it's going to be real important in a couple years that we all, you know, 00:13:55
get down there and vote because it's it's how the county and the city are keeping your property taxes low and. 00:14:01
And able to find the transportation stuff that we're doing. 00:14:07
I'm sorry, Sharon, go ahead. Absolutely fantastic economic development. 00:14:10
So we have business and alcohol licenses right now. We had nine that came in through the end of July. 00:14:13
As well as some insurance payments. 00:14:18
On the excise tax, we have alcohol and hotel motel did not have any hotel motel. A lot of these taxes come in after so. 00:14:21
Basically, we're not showing anything. We won't show July until the end of this month. 00:14:27
So next month you'll see a little bit of what what's going on there. 00:14:32
On the. 00:14:35
Permitting building permits. We had eight permits for eight individual projects, mostly commercial, some light commercial and some 00:14:36
residential. 00:14:40
Electrical and and sign down. 00:14:46
Type permit, so nothing. 00:14:48
Out of the ordinary. 00:14:51
I do want to take a minute, though, and recognize two of our new employees, our public works employees. If Reese Bridges and Lucas 00:14:52
Wright will come forward just to be recognized by mayor and council. These are your two new technicians. We are now fully staffed 00:14:57
on public works and parks. Yeah. 00:15:01
And I don't know if either one of y'all want to say anything. If y'all just want to say bye, you're welcome to say what it. 00:15:11
I'm sorry, Yeah, Lucas is in the red and Reese is in the is in the green and Reese came on board in June, on June 18th, a little 00:15:16
early, sort of right at the time you had council meeting, so we thought. 00:15:21
We won't scare them off too much. The Lucas has only been here a couple weeks, so he's he's fairly new and his mother is a 00:15:25
commissioner in Athens Park County. 00:15:29
So any would you like to say anything? 00:15:34
They've, they've offered, they have actually today their supervisor, Drayton Criswell was. 00:15:37
Raving about some of the great ideas they had about some things in the. 00:15:42
That they've done, they've offered some suggestions and and really appreciate their they've added a lot of value to the 00:15:45
department. Really glad to have them on board. 00:15:48
Well, the city looks great and you know. 00:15:53
Most people don't realize we don't have many. We have a very lean crew and public works. How many? 4/4 in public works and two and 00:15:55
parks for people in two and parks taking care of, you know, 3 1/2. 00:16:00
Being a little under 3 1/2 square miles of space in the city and. 00:16:05
You are doing a great job already. I can tell a difference being fully staffed so. 00:16:09
Thank you all. 00:16:12
Yeah. Thank you. 00:16:13
Yep. 00:16:17
All right, this is me. 00:16:27
I don't know. Oh, that's right, they don't. 00:16:31
OK, OK, well we get some pictures guys. 00:16:35
So at the beginning of August we have a our second annual barbecue and our first annual bingo event, and it was a lot of fun. 00:16:39
Attendance was down a little bit, it was raining most of the day and I think people kind of got scared because of that, but it 00:16:51
turned out to be a very. 00:16:54
Relatively speaking, cool evening and. 00:16:59
Still, a good number of folks turned out and it was just a really great time. I got to be a judge this year. 00:17:02
It's a lot of pork you eat, so I don't know if I might be doing something else next year, but it is an annual event. We might be 00:17:09
moving the bingo to another. 00:17:14
Time and just kind of expanding some ideas with the BBQ, but it's going to be the first Saturday of August so go ahead and mark 00:17:18
your calendar now and if any of y'all are budding. 00:17:24
Barbecue. 00:17:29
Enthusiasts and want to. 00:17:31
Compete. We would love to have you. 00:17:34
Our first place was Harold's. 00:17:36
2nd place was BCI and 3rd place was smoke and Jays and even though I was a judge, the way the judging works I have no idea what I 00:17:39
ate and what 1 but didn't know that before I judged BBQ. Anyway it was it was a wonderful time. 00:17:47
So we have had a whirlwind of our. 00:17:56
Downtown strategic plan that we were able to pay for thanks to a grant from Georgia Power. 00:18:00
And we are hoping at next month council meeting to actually have the full. 00:18:07
Report we have. 00:18:13
Worked hard to have lots of public input sessions. We have had three different public input sessions. 00:18:15
And we have had those at some of our. 00:18:21
Local businesses and partners, including O Calf and Oconee State Bank. 00:18:25
And Warehouse 15, which is one of our newest event spaces in town. So we're really grateful to all those places to let us do that. 00:18:29
And most of the people in this room, I saw at at least one of those. So I'm also very, very grateful for all of our citizens who 00:18:34
came out. 00:18:39
And participated. 00:18:44
And also we have about 350 online. 00:18:47
Survey. 00:18:52
People who filled out the survey, which was actually different information than what was being gathered at the. 00:18:54
These different public input sessions because it's really important for us. 00:19:00
I hope you all know this, that we don't sit behind here thinking we have it all figured out. The DDA board doesn't think we have 00:19:04
all the answers. 00:19:08
Our job is to. 00:19:12
Gather ideas from the community and then also do some deep dives in other communities and with experts and come up with. 00:19:15
Things that help this community move forward what they. 00:19:23
What y'all want it to look like? So without your input we wouldn't be able to do that. So really excited to see. 00:19:26
The results of that in about a month and also we we approve the the minutes from our special joint called meeting and that's when 00:19:33
we went and toured some different communities to see what they have done. 00:19:39
And that included the city of Milton. 00:19:45
The city of Alpharetta and the city of Suwanee. 00:19:48
And we are not trying to be any of those communities. Those are different communities than we are. But every different community 00:19:51
we go to, we're able to learn different things, glean different things. 00:19:57
Talk to public officials, see what they've been doing, what works, what doesn't work. Public private partnerships, I think. 00:20:03
Honestly, thanks a lot to Mayor Broderick. 00:20:09
We have had tremendous success with public private partnerships that have taken our tiny little. 00:20:12
Tax revenue and being able to stretch it really far with the. 00:20:18
The parks and rocket field and the sidewalks and all the things going on. So tease lost. 00:20:23
And private partnerships, very grateful so. 00:20:28
And then yes, so mark your calendar next, next council meeting is when we're going to be going over the strategic plan and the 00:20:32
deliverables from all of the input that you all gave. 00:20:37
Also this weekend, August 22nd and 23rd, we are having back to school sidewalk sales in downtown, so this is a great time to 00:20:44
support. 00:20:49
Our local businesses, I know it's so easy just to. 00:20:54
Hop online and put something in your Amazon cart. 00:20:58
But we love our downtown businesses, so when you. 00:21:01
Have a gift or a new dress or. 00:21:05
OK. 00:21:09
That might be an end, Kathleen. End of. 00:21:10
Maybe. 00:21:13
This is a great time to support those businesses. 00:21:15
And they'll have specials and sales and also one of the things I love about any of the events in downtown that. 00:21:19
We do. You run into people that maybe you haven't seen for a while or that neighbor that you just wave at from the car, but you 00:21:26
actually get to. 00:21:29
Have a conversation with them, which is one of the goals of the city, is that building of community and that. 00:21:33
Sense of connection, so. 00:21:38
OK also we have a lot. I am getting a little tired of hearing my voice but. 00:21:41
So September 19th, mark your calendar for this is September 17th is our City Council meeting that's will be unveiling the. 00:21:46
Strategic plan. 00:21:53
On September 19th. 00:21:56
Which is a Friday. There is going to be a free lunch and learn at Chops and Hops where we are going through the rural zone tax 00:21:58
credits. 00:22:02
So we have done a few of these before and we talked about particularly the state tax credits, but we have not only the 00:22:07
representative from the state, but an accountant coming who is going to be talking about federal tax credits too that are also 00:22:12
available. And that's not something that we have really dealt into. There are limited spots. There are only 50 spots and we 00:22:18
already have almost half of those. 00:22:24
Filled just from the Grapevine, so. 00:22:30
The Rural Zone is an incredible opportunity to help just continue to revitalize our downtown. 00:22:32
And so. 00:22:40
Check that out if you have any interest in learning more about that or know someone that you think could really benefit from that. 00:22:41
Main Street and pedestrian improvements. So if you will notice, you can't notice. 00:22:50
So we have some steps if you work. 00:22:58
Going through downtown like in front of Dover Grace and. 00:23:02
Elizabeth Ann's There are a few steps, brick steps that go down to the curb. 00:23:07
And, umm. 00:23:13
It was brought to our attention that that might be a tripping hazard, and so the city found and bought some very special tape. 00:23:14
That's very expensive. 00:23:23
To make sure we didn't pick it because it was expensive. We picked it because it's what we needed to do. 00:23:25
To make sure you don't trip. 00:23:31
So just another improvement in downtown? 00:23:32
And then the last thing to mark your calendar by. 00:23:36
Is this year the Christmas parade and tree lighting will be on Sunday, December 7th. 00:23:39
At 4:00 PM. 00:23:46
So shoot. 00:23:47
That's all for me for now. 00:23:51
Thank you, Christine. Chief Allwood will throw it to you. 00:23:54
All right, test. 00:24:01
Well, first of all, I was going to thank the main accounts for having me. It's a privilege to to work for you guys and with you. 00:24:02
Also. 00:24:08
On our monthly reports, some training Sergeant Wade. 00:24:10
Officer Chris in. 00:24:13
Officer Ryan went to sexual assault investigation procedures through Oconee County. They offered it out to us, so. 00:24:15
We did send them to get that training. 00:24:21
Cadet Claire's on Week 7. 00:24:24
In the police Academy, he successfully completed six weeks so far out of the 20. 00:24:26
From my understanding, they're going to change in 20 weeks again down to 16 or 17 because. 00:24:32
It's just a long time to have. 00:24:37
You know, officer tied up for six months when when agencies need them. 00:24:39
And then Sergeant Way and Officer Chris attended the in-house drone law enforcement, drone operations and license preparation. 00:24:43
They did very well, actually. 00:24:50
Officer Chris has already passed. 00:24:53
The license test so he is officially licensed to fly the drone. 00:24:55
Special announcements. We lost a couple officers, our officer and Sergeant, Officer Walker. 00:24:59
And Sergeant Hitler? Unfortunate. 00:25:05
For us to lose them, I wish them the best and whatever they choose to do in their future. 00:25:08
We did hire gain 2 great officers with Ira and Barry. 00:25:12
Saw some and I are Underwood so we look forward to that. Bear will be full time. 00:25:17
I would be part time. 00:25:21
We. 00:25:23
Do have a couple? 00:25:25
Good applicants in the process that we're currently. 00:25:26
Looking over and doing background checks and. 00:25:29
Looking at making another hire or two. 00:25:31
And then the emergency call box. 00:25:34
Does work. It's not completely. 00:25:37
Live yet it's not talking correctly to the dispatch council back and forth. They can hear us, but we can't hear them when they. 00:25:39
Talk back to the to the call box so. 00:25:47
We call back Motorola, see if we can get that worked out and should have it. 00:25:50
Live pretty soon so. 00:25:54
At Thomas Farm. 00:25:57
Preserve. I'm sorry. 00:25:58
Yeah. 00:26:00
Yeah. 00:26:01
Good. It's a good locations. It's on the backside, so I think people that are walking the trails are on a bike. 00:26:03
Feel comfortable and have something back there. I know. 00:26:09
When we go back, we try to at least twice a week. 00:26:12
Get on the UTV and drive through the woods and check out and everybody is very happy seeing us back through there and thanking us 00:26:15
some for for showing some presents. 00:26:19
Police vehicles the explorer on Gov deals bought. 00:26:24
$3700. 00:26:30
I waiting for approval to to get rid of that. 00:26:33
I worked with several different Outfitters the last couple weeks. 00:26:36
And unfortunately most stuff on the 17 does not fit on a 2025. 00:26:40
We will. 00:26:44
Obviously use everything that we possibly can, the radars, the, the. 00:26:45
Radios to, you know, the siren boxes and so forth, but just things that the cars are differently made, you know, in different 00:26:49
shapes so. 00:26:53
Community events We had a. 00:26:58
Danielle Greer put on public safety dinner at Sam and Joe's went to that good just building relationships with all the other 00:27:00
public safety. 00:27:04
Personnel in the county. 00:27:09
And I went to with Jan over to the. 00:27:10
The First Christian Church and had coffee and had a really good time meeting those folks. Super, super, super nice people and. 00:27:15
Proud to just continue building relationships within the. 00:27:22
City and. 00:27:26
One other thing, my wife and I actually finally moved. We are Oconee County residents. It's actually Watkinsville address. This is 00:27:27
not in the city limits, so. 00:27:32
We're very happy for that. We're exhausted, but we're getting there. We're getting there. So we've been there a little over a week 00:27:36
now. 00:27:39
As far as the stats, we had eight arrests, which is. 00:27:43
The most on the year for one month period. Several DUI's. 00:27:46
And suspend a license for driving. 00:27:50
With no license. 00:27:52
And then on the stats on the backside. 00:27:54
And actually, I'm pretty proud of the numbers because we. 00:27:58
Did have some issues going on the place tomorrow and losing a couple. 00:28:01
Officers and actually had some of the highest numbers we had on reports taken. 00:28:05
Total work, total accidents and total arrests. I'm at 8 and 15 on total accidents. 00:28:11
Total calls 277, which is about normal for. 00:28:17
For the month and then security checks were still. 00:28:20
Pretty high on those their self initiative. 00:28:23
And then like I said, the reports of 31 total citations, 45, total warning 73. 00:28:26
Accidents 15 total arrest 8 and no use of force. 00:28:31
So that's always good. 00:28:35
So. 00:28:37
Any questions? 00:28:39
Thank you, Chief. Very good. 00:28:41
All right, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Nobody asked for any items to be removed from the consent agenda when we set the 00:28:44
agenda, so I'll entertain a motion to approve the full consent agenda, please. 00:28:48
Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. 00:28:54
I second. 00:28:58
Any discussion? 00:28:59
Hearing none, all in favor say aye aye. 00:29:01
All right. We will move on to public hearing. We have one public hearing tonight. 00:29:05
And it is a conditional use request at 1725 Electric Ave. I'll let engineer. 00:29:11
Campbell to provide. 00:29:17
Some information on this request. 00:29:19
Thank you, Mayor. 00:29:22
So in case you don't know, 1725 Electric Ave. is Wire Park. 00:29:23
So this specific request. 00:29:28
Is for unit 370, which is actually suite 270. 00:29:30
Just to make things nice and confusing. 00:29:35
But you should have some maps that show the location of that space. The application is by community Fueled LLC is for a special 00:29:37
events. If you will recall as part of the procedure earlier this year within the Watkinsville code of Ordinances, there's an 00:29:44
allowance for places where special events are allowed use by right inserting zoning areas in places where it's allowed as part of 00:29:52
a conditional use permit. So that's what this is. This is special events application as part of. 00:29:59
Conditional use permit. That's why you see that here tonight. So you see a map. I know everybody out here does not see a map. 00:30:07
But it is within, within Wire Park, within the spaces where you can kind of access it from what I would call the eastern side of 00:30:14
Wire Park as you're coming in. But that's part of the request. The applicant has has met the criteria to fill the things out as 00:30:21
they needed to respond to the appropriate questions. But that is the. 00:30:27
Application you see before you tonight. 00:30:34
Happy to answer any questions based on what you've received in your packet. 00:30:36
All right, Council, do we have any questions for Mr. Campbell at this point? 00:30:40
All right. We don't. Then with that, what this requires. So you all know we're going to have a public hearing. 00:30:45
I'll open it before for public hearing. 00:30:50
After everybody's spoken, I'll close it, then we're going to move. It's the exact essentially the same. 00:30:52
Property will have to vote. 00:30:57
To allow that use. So at this point I'm going to open a public hearing. It'll be 4 minutes. 00:30:58
For anyone who wants to come forward and speak in favor or against that the public, the hearing is now open. 00:31:03
All right, seeing no one coming forward, I'll close. The public hearing will now move to the vote. 00:31:11
For that. 00:31:15
Is there any other information we need from staff manager Dickerson? 00:31:17
Mr. Reitman, is there anything else we need to hear from you now? This note for the record, I have reviewed the application. It's 00:31:20
in order, OK? According to our attorney, the applications in order. 00:31:25
Council, any questions at this point for the vote? The applicant is here, the owner of that. 00:31:29
And the owner of Wire Park is here, so we have plenty of representation if you'll have any questions. 00:31:34
About this. 00:31:39
About this parcel. 00:31:40
They are gentlemen of high character. We're glad to have them here and appreciate y'all's investment in Watkinsville. 00:31:44
Hearing no questions from council, I'll entertain a motion. 00:31:49
I make a motion to approve the conditional use request for 1725 Electric Ave. We have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:31:54
We have a second. 00:32:02
Any discussion about this? 00:32:03
Application. 00:32:05
Hearing none. 00:32:07
All in favor say aye aye. Any opposed? 00:32:08
Motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Tool. Congratulations. 00:32:11
All right, we'll move on at that point for our appearances we have. 00:32:15
49 Harden Hill Rd. 00:32:22
We do have a 10 minute time limit for those appearances per state zoning procedures law, but we will kick off. 00:32:26
I don't think we're going to go that far tonight. We'll kick off with manager Dickerson and engineer Campbell for report on this. 00:32:31
I don't know that it's a proposal at this point. I think it's a concept plan. 00:32:37
Thank you, Mayor. 00:32:41
You're correct, this is a concept plan for the. 00:32:42
Partial that's located at 49 Hartnell Rd. that is. 00:32:45
Owned by Gibbs Capital Holdings. 00:32:49
LLC, the existing parcel is bounded not only by Harden Hill Rd. but also by. 00:32:51
Height drive, so it is a corner partial. It's approximately half an acre. 00:32:56
It is zoned attached residential. 00:33:02
There's an existing, you know, residential structure. 00:33:04
That is, that is on that parcel now based on the tax assessor information, that's a mobile home that was constructed in 00:33:08
approximately 1965 that may have an accessory structure with it as well. 00:33:13
And the concept plan that the applicant has has proposed would be to. 00:33:19
Demolish the existing mobile home and to subdivide the track to have. 00:33:23
Two single family residential parcels are structures on that, so approximately splitting it in half. 00:33:28
Those would be accessed from high drive. 00:33:36
Rather than from Harden Hill Rd. They would still be facing. 00:33:39
High Drive. 00:33:43
That will require sing Hardin Hill. I'm sorry I said it the wrong way. I appreciate the clarification. 00:33:45
Front of the buildings will be facing Harden Hill Rd. There'll be access from the rear, which would be high drive. So if you kind 00:33:50
of think about the right parcel maybe being parcel one, the left parcel being parcel 2, as it's oriented on the screen and the 00:33:56
page and the map that you see, you would then drive across the rear of those parcels to access a rear parking area. 00:34:03
The front pedestrian area would be towards the beautiful sidewalk that exists along Harden Hill Rd. 00:34:09
Again, uh. 00:34:16
This will increase because of the. 00:34:17
I'll call it the math. 00:34:20
Because of the geometry and the the nature of that, two parcels on half an acre is is more than the current density would allow. 00:34:22
So not at tonight's meeting, but at a meeting in the future. 00:34:27
It would require. 00:34:32
A rezoning to add a condition to allow that specific density. 00:34:34
On this specific. 00:34:38
Partial so hopefully. 00:34:40
Done a summer even though nobody can see the pictures here currently, but they have been provided in the packet. 00:34:41
If you go online you can see those as well. 00:34:47
So any questions that? 00:34:50
Mayor, Council, my hat. 00:34:52
If we don't, maybe we want to hear from the applicant and then ask questions generally or so. 00:34:55
If we could have either Mr. Gibbs or someone from SPG come forward to walk us through. 00:35:02
Any information the engineer didn't share and then we can do question and answer. 00:35:06
Good evening, Joseph Bates with SPG and representing Duke Gibbs with Gibbs Capital on this project. 00:35:14
I like big ambitious. 00:35:19
Plans as a designer, but also like humble and modest plans as well and ones that I believe that are. 00:35:21
Fit within the character. 00:35:27
Of the neighborhood. 00:35:29
And yeah, I think the big picture is. 00:35:30
This lot has a mobile home on it. 00:35:34
That mobile home has long lived outlived its lifespan. 60 years old. They're usually 30. 00:35:36
Five span of 30. 00:35:42
It's got to go. 00:35:43
An option was to put an eye size home on there. 00:35:45
And then discussing with Duke and thinking about this. 00:35:49
We thought it would be better for the community and the majority. 00:35:52
To be able to build 2 smaller homes. 00:35:55
That the majority could forward versus one larger home. 00:35:57
That only a few. 00:36:00
Could afford. 00:36:01
And that's kind of the the the logic there and the belief that this is what. 00:36:02
Would be better for the community and better for the citizens of Watkinsville and would keep the scale the home down. 00:36:06
The homes down to fit within the scale of the existing neighborhood. 00:36:14
So I think Camp Mark did a great job of explaining the design, but we're here to. 00:36:18
To answer any questions you've got on the design. 00:36:22
And if you got any other. 00:36:25
Questions for us. Yes, I have questions. Shocker. So approximately so that the pictures of the home, the renderings of the 00:36:27
outside, they look like. 00:36:32
They are kind of big grand homes. It's very pretty. I like that there's a variety in the architecture, but what is the approximate 00:36:37
square feet? 00:36:41
Of each of these homes. 00:36:46
I think, I think we're, you know, in the range of like 2000 to maybe 2400. 00:36:48
OK, umm. 00:36:54
So there there are a decent size. 00:36:55
Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong. Yeah. 00:36:58
We're 40 wide and I think about. 00:37:03
You know 50D but that includes like the garage, right that. 00:37:06
I mean, they're, they're pretty. 00:37:12
If they look like that. 00:37:15
Alright, again, we're not taking a vote tonight. This is we're just. 00:37:21
You know this is an opportunity for them to hear from council. 00:37:24
With our thoughts on this. So this is your time to offer thoughts or ask any questions. 00:37:26
I've said before we're kind of casual, so if you want to come on up, Carol, if it's quick, I'll repeat it. If you don't want to 00:37:35
come up, it's up to you, so. 00:37:39
All right. 00:37:43
I'm Carol Ivy. I live at 76 Jackson St. which is just up the street from there. 00:37:53
And have been in Watkinsville for. 00:37:59
50 something years or 60 something years maybe. 00:38:02
And I just feel like that from the written of those two. 00:38:06
Pictures. 00:38:09
They're too big to go on that one little lot. 00:38:10
That's just my opinion of it. 00:38:14
Thank you, Carol. 00:38:17
All right. 00:38:27
Yeah, umm. 00:38:29
OK, well, we'll we'll yeah, do you. 00:38:31
I do wonder if the renderings I mean because of the renderings. 00:38:35
Don't look like they match. 00:38:38
The uh. 00:38:40
The facade. 00:38:43
To 40 feet. 00:38:45
So I also though my depth perception is not my greatest strength so. 00:38:46
Yeah. So I mean I. 00:38:53
Kind of see what Miss Ivy. 00:38:55
The same. 00:38:57
All right, I see Kathleen on the balls of her feet, so she's going to come speak. 00:38:59
We're starting a new fiscal year, Kathleen. This is an opportunity for perfect attendance and comments. 00:39:04
My name is Kathleen Mcquiston. I live at 13 S Barnett Shoals Rd. 00:39:11
And I have to agree with Mrs. Ivy. 00:39:16
The renderings of these houses. 00:39:18
Don't look like a medium size or small houses to me and they don't fit in a. 00:39:21
You know we passed this. 00:39:28
These regulations before about keeping our corridors look like they're matching the houses around them and. 00:39:31
These houses don't match the houses around. 00:39:38
Either across the street or next door or behind them. They just seem completely out of character. 00:39:41
With what's going on on Harden Hill Rd. 00:39:47
Thank you. 00:39:51
I think this is good, Mr. Gibbs is. 00:39:53
Provide us with some plans, but I think this is the idea of this meeting was he can come in here with what the community's 00:39:55
feedback is and take a look at that before something's hard coded and he's coming in to propose that so. 00:40:00
Is there anyone else who wants to? 00:40:06
Share their thoughts. 00:40:08
I'll share mine real quick if we're still doing ours. 00:40:10
I guess right at this point it's a general question. Do we think can we see two houses being on that lot? And I'm not opposed to 00:40:13
that in general, I think, I think the renderings. 00:40:19
Almost deal with a little mislead. It does look like a very grand huge. 00:40:26
Houses there when you said 2000 to 2400 square feet size wise? 00:40:31
Fits into the area. 00:40:37
You know that square footage fits into the area. I think it would be interesting down the road. 00:40:40
Plan goes forward and then to see a more detailed. 00:40:45
Plans of the house, but the general idea to houses. 00:40:49
I would be OK with. 00:40:53
Making the change to to allow that. 00:40:56
And the size square footage that you mentioned seems appropriate for the area and there's really no. 00:40:59
The first thing is there is no given. 00:41:05
House design in that area, it's really. 00:41:08
All over the board. 00:41:11
Which makes it a little more difficult to say it needs to look like this. 00:41:13
Because there isn't a diss on that area. 00:41:18
In my opinion. 00:41:21
And there definitely are. I mean the house directly across height drive from it has. 00:41:22
Was an older ranch that was completely redone and. 00:41:27
Is, I mean very beautifully done to my opinion, several across the street. And so I mean there is, there are. 00:41:34
They're like you're saying, there are many different types of homes on Hardin Hill. 00:41:41
It it it is just hard for me to picture those homes on those lots but. 00:41:47
All right, feel free. Yeah, you just got to come back up. 00:41:54
This is great feedback. And I don't think we're we're locked into a specific style of the architecture and I think we can work on 00:41:59
providing some clarity on the the the scale of those homes they are set back. 00:42:05
There there is a set back along that corridor and we're not. 00:42:12
Proposing houses that are in front of the other houses that are along Arden Hill, and I do, I do feel I agree with Jeff that. 00:42:15
It's kind of an eclectic. 00:42:22
Road and I like the character and the the collectiveness of the different architecture styles that are along there. 00:42:24
But when I said we're not locked into a specific style and would be open to exploring, you know, different style and hearing from 00:42:31
the community what style would be more. 00:42:35
Appropriate what they would like to see. 00:42:40
OK. 00:42:42
So they're going to have a shared driveway. 00:42:45
If you don't mind. 00:42:50
Use the. 00:42:52
I'm staying around. 00:43:00
So you're going to have a shared driveway going in? 00:43:02
So no, no driveway part of them. 00:43:06
Keep that corridor clean and there's an existing 6 foot. 00:43:09
Opaque fence on the backlog loans of the neighbors would be. 00:43:14
What's the distance from the property line to the back of the house? 00:43:18
Believe it's about 30 feet. 00:43:22
And I think one of the. 00:43:28
That we would require a sidewalk along height drive to you know that would go there as well knowing that we may have to do 1 00:43:29
someday so. 00:43:33
OK, so you guys will look at architecture, think about. 00:43:38
Think about the community, you know, variety, things like that. I don't know. 00:43:42
Neither of these guys are hard to find. If anybody does want to reach out to Mr. Bates or Mr. Gibbs with specific feedback, 00:43:46
contact Julie or Sharon at City Hall and we can get you their e-mail addresses and put you in touch with them. 00:43:51
I don't know that we need to. 00:43:57
Batted around here tonight anymore. So with that. 00:43:58
I'm going to wrap this one up. 00:44:01
And we'll move on to old business. 00:44:03
None there. Under new business we have item 16. 00:44:06
I know I've got a couple people here to hear about this one and that is. 00:44:12
How we're going to use some. 00:44:16
Local Maintenance Improvement grant funds for paving along with some T spice funds so. 00:44:18
Manager Dickerson, if you could walk us through that. Again, I apologize. The public won't be able to see this, but I'll try to be 00:44:22
as descriptive as possible. 00:44:26
So we are asking tonight for council to approve a. 00:44:29
Fiscal year 26G dot. 00:44:33
Local maintenance improvement grant application. 00:44:35
To resurface the. 00:44:38
Roads and Bishops Vineyard, including Southland Drive. 00:44:41
Muscat Court and Concord Dr. Niagara Drive has already been paid, was recently paid last year. 00:44:44
We're going to ask that if the application is approved, that mayor and council approve a change in order to the existing FY25 00:44:50
ELMIG resurfacing contract with All About Asphalt as they are still under contract. 00:44:55
And and they have actually provided a price which is within our budget or with within what I'm asking here. So but we do have to 00:45:02
wait for G Dots approval before we can. 00:45:07
Pursue that. 00:45:12
A little bit of background on this in 21 in August of 21, this the Council. 00:45:13
Approved for us to work with an engineering technical engineering firm to evaluate our roads. 00:45:19
And they used many different ways to evaluate the condition of those roads, including lasers. 00:45:25
Specialized surveying equipment. 00:45:31
And they created a pavement management program for us. They basically put in order the roads. 00:45:33
From worst to best. 00:45:39
And we have used that tool to. 00:45:40
Advise Council on which Rd. should be paved next. 00:45:43
And as I mentioned, in August 20th of August 24, Council ordered all that asphalt FY25 element grant that was to pay Mulberry. 00:45:48
The Cemetery Rd. 00:45:56
And Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:45:57
I'm sorry. 00:46:00
Cemetery Rd. from Simonton Bridge, Tucson bridge including. 00:46:01
Some additional monies that were given by the state for a local Rd. assistance grant. 00:46:04
That help pave and resurface. 00:46:09
Stone Shoals Terrace Stone Shoals Way. 00:46:12
And the entrance road to Thomas Farm Preserve. 00:46:15
The this is something that the G dot administers annually. 00:46:20
We apply annually. Sometimes we get extra money. As I said that the state has given us extra money due to do some extra projects 00:46:25
throughout the year. 00:46:28
The. 00:46:33
Pavement management plan currently shows. 00:46:34
Go Back One currently shows the worst Rd. as Durham St. 00:46:37
Durham St. is partially unpaved gravel Rd. that runs from Experiment Station up to Nancy Drive. I'm sorry, all the way up to. 00:46:41
Water Street, but the unpaid portion stops at Nancy Drive. 00:46:49
It's mostly used by two. 00:46:53
Property owners The owner of Aramark. 00:46:55
And. 00:46:58
And then there's a. 00:47:00
Facility right on the corner of. 00:47:01
Of water, I'm sorry, of Durham St. and Experiment station that operates there. And so those are the main, main uses of that. 00:47:04
Everybody else comes through Nancy or comes up on Water St. 00:47:09
To access. 00:47:14
The backside of. 00:47:16
Of downtown. 00:47:17
The application is due in February. We always try to get a head start on these and especially since we have somebody under 00:47:18
contract, it would be useful for us to. 00:47:23
Leverage that at this point. 00:47:27
The. 00:47:30
The second that the second Rd. on the list and I guess let me go back the Durham St. 00:47:32
Is something we talked about, tried to construct. There's a lot of lot to that. There are some pieces that could tie in to 00:47:38
Experiment Station Road when that is expanded. And so Staffs of the opinion that we wait to see how that plays out before we start 00:47:44
spend a lot of money to reconstruct a road that serves 2 businesses. 00:47:49
So right now that one is is off. The is off the list as far as we're concerned until things move forward a little bit. 00:47:55
As I mentioned, Niagara Drive was paid this past year. That's one of the roads and Bishops Vineyard. 00:48:01
And then fortunately. 00:48:06
Oconee County just recently paved. 00:48:07
Column Ferry Rd. including about 100. 00:48:09
95 linear feet of roadway, that is. 00:48:12
Technically in the city limits. 00:48:14
And the calls Creek. 00:48:16
Subdivision. 00:48:18
The 500 linear feet that are essentially within the city limits those. 00:48:20
Because they have a bigger portion of it, they decided to take that and do that for us and so that saved us. 00:48:24
Having to pave those roads and so those roads. 00:48:29
Do not have to be paid by the city. 00:48:32
The next few roads and there's. 00:48:34
There's many roads, I'll tell you. There's segments of roads, but there's 21 miles of roads roughly, and many segments. When they 00:48:36
did the pavement management plan, they broke it into pieces. So between. 00:48:40
Like in this case, we're talking about Concord drive to Niagara or Niagara to. 00:48:45
You know the other side of Concord Dr. 00:48:49
So there are many segments. The next two segments are Williamsburg Place. 00:48:52
And Industrial Drive, both of those are needed. Williamsburg Place is actually a majority of it falls outside the city limits. 00:48:57
Again, we would treat that. We'd like to treat it similar to Calls Creek. When the county decides to pay that, then we would like 00:49:02
to partner with them and contribute if needed to have that. That portion of that road is 450 feet. So it's not a lot of a lot of 00:49:06
space. 00:49:11
And then industrial drive is substantially longer, but it does have heavy industrial equipment that travels on that road. 00:49:16
And it's going to require quite a bit of work and a lot more money than what we have budgeted. So that one, we're asking to step, 00:49:23
step place that one to the side as well. 00:49:27
Since our creation, since the creation of this plan, we have, like I said, tried to go in order by the roads that are listed based 00:49:33
on the technical. 00:49:37
Advice of our consultants. 00:49:42
But Bishops Vineyard, specifically Southland Drive, has has. 00:49:43
You know, we've had several residents, I believe we have some here tonight that have been complained. The roads are in much worse 00:49:47
condition. 00:49:50
I actually. 00:49:53
Took and took an opportunity to go out and drive all of the top 20 roads and I will, I will. 00:49:54
Certainly say that Southland does appear to be in the poorest condition of all the roads that are on the the top 20. 00:50:00
In addition to the visual inspection, we also considered. 00:50:06
Additional criteria. 00:50:10
The number of residents or businesses that are located on the on the roads in in Bishops Vineyard, I think there's 80 homes that 00:50:11
would be affected if we were to be able to pave all that. That's more than any of the other roads. 00:50:16
Even combined, I believe. 00:50:21
The length of the road. 00:50:23
Concord. Concord. 00:50:25
Drive is extremely long. 00:50:26
I think it's a mile. 00:50:29
Yeah, Concorde Dr. is actually a mile. 00:50:31
And then the cost savings for mobilizing a contractor versus having a contractor do one Rd. in Bishops Vineyard, another Rd. on 00:50:34
the other side of the city, etc. So we looked at those things. So based on our evaluation, we're recommending council appropriate 00:50:38
the funds to pave. 00:50:42
The remaining roads and Bishops Vineyard, Concord Dr. Southland Drive and Muscat Dr. I'm sorry, Muscat Court. 00:50:47
Because of the following reasons. So homes were built 40 years ago during the mid 1980s to mid 1990s. 00:50:53
The roads have never been resurfaced that we know of. 00:50:59
There are multiple potholes and large cracks in the pavement along Southland Drive specifically, and there's grass visibly 00:51:03
breaking through the surface of Matt of Muscat Court. 00:51:07
There is a little bit more than half $1,000,000 in T Sloss 2022 that is available for resurfacing roads. 00:51:12
If you had, if you have an opportunity, want to look at the roads that we've resurfaced, there's a list on line that you can look 00:51:20
at. 00:51:23
We basically resurfaced, I think over 3 miles of roads since 2017. That's a significant amount of roads when you figure how much 00:51:26
we're doing at any given time. 00:51:31
But we are requesting tonight that the Council approve the roughly $54,924 from the. 00:51:36
G dot L Meg funding should they approve our application? 00:51:44
And another 145,000 from the T splost to. 00:51:47
To pay for the. 00:51:52
To pave those roads, So that is what we were requesting tonight. 00:51:53
Any questions? 00:51:56
All right, that was a thorough report. Council, any questions? 00:51:59
I know we've got some Bishop Vineyard residents here tonight. Any comments y'all care to make? 00:52:04
So I would just love to see y'all pay before I die, All right? For those who could, for those who couldn't hear, Mr. Owensby said 00:52:09
he wants the road paid before he dies. He looks pretty healthy, so I expect we can get that done. So. 00:52:15
Well, Mrs. Owens, we hopefully he's around for a while after we get this done. That's not what you've been waiting around for, so. 00:52:26
All right, all right. So, Council, you've heard the. 00:52:32
Heard the proposal any. 00:52:36
Questions for the manager. 00:52:38
Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. 00:52:41
And make a motion for. 00:52:43
The administrative recommendation option. 00:52:45
All right. Do we have a 2nd? And that's to do both roads, correct? Three roads, all three roads second. 00:52:49
All right, we have a second. 00:52:57
Any discussion? 00:52:58
All in favor, Say aye. All right, all right. 00:53:00
There we go. Bishops Vineyard is set to be repaid. 00:53:03
Yep, Yep, Yep, Yep. 00:53:09
Yeah, yeah. 00:53:13
All right. 00:53:16
We try to get things done all right. 00:53:21
All right, we'll move on to our new item. 00:53:24
Umm, yeah, this is something that has come up in the past two days and umm. 00:53:28
I don't know that I want to offer much of a preface. 00:53:34
But I will just say this. 00:53:37
And Sharon, you were probably going to say some of it, but. 00:53:39
Sewer in the city is complicated. City doesn't control its own sewer. The county controls the sewer. 00:53:42
But the distance between. 00:53:48
The county sewer line in someone's house can get tricky, and that's what this is one of these situations that's popped up. 00:53:50
I'm gonna let Sharon walk us through. 00:53:57
A very unusual situation related to a sewage leak and how we're going to attempt to fix it very quickly. 00:53:59
Thank you, Mayor. 00:54:05
And I may lean on. 00:54:06
City Engineer Campbell here in a minute to. 00:54:07
So what we're going to ask tonight is that the council approve a temporary construction easement to the property owner at 118 00:54:10
Mulberry St. 00:54:13
For the purpose of repairing the broken private service sewer line with the following conditions that the sewer line service line 00:54:17
be brought up to code and properly connected to Oconee County sewer system and the property owner complete the repair within a 00:54:22
deadline to be established by the city and will be reasonable about that. But there is currently an active sewer leak so it is 00:54:26
very important to get done soon. 00:54:31
Also asking that. 00:54:36
Council consider directing staff to engage the City Engineer to complete a survey for a proposed 20 foot permanent easement and 00:54:38
then direct staff to bring that permanent easement forward for council consideration at a future meeting that will allow. 00:54:43
That property owner to do the service, repairs and maintenance of that line. 00:54:49
Without having to come to the city since it is on city property. Little history on this. The single family home located at 118 00:54:53
Mulberry St. was constructed in 1993 by Brian Burner. 00:54:57
Sometime between Friday of last week and Monday this week, a tree limb fell and broke the private sewer line servicing the 00:55:02
residents at 118 Mulberry St. 00:55:06
On Monday, August 18th, City Engineer Campbell notified me that the contractor, Mark Thomas, had come across the broken, leaking 00:55:10
sewer service line. 00:55:14
That evening, I contacted the property owner, Cleon Walden, regarding the identified sewage leak. 00:55:18
On Tuesday yesterday, the city received an e-mail from Oconee Environmental Health notifying us formally that they had received 00:55:23
complaints at the sewer leak. 00:55:27
And then? 00:55:31
Also yesterday I spoke with the director of Oconee Water Resources, Adam Layfield, regarding the issue. Again, the mayor pointed 00:55:33
out the city does not own or operate the sewer system. The county does that. There's some coordination that has to occur. 00:55:38
And then today I contacted the Oconee County Clerk of Court to verify that there were no easements associated with 118 Mulberry 00:55:44
St. parcel and any of the neighboring city owned parcels. The city now owns the two other parcels that are adjacent to this. 00:55:51
To this property owner. 00:55:59
Some facts and issues the subject tree line does. I'm sorry, tree limb did not appear to have been associated with any work that 00:56:01
is going on. 00:56:04
At our pedestrian connector project. 00:56:08
However, even if it was, the sewer service line is on city property and not on the private owner property. I'm sorry, not on 118 00:56:10
Mulberry streets property. 00:56:14
Is believed that this private service line was installed by the original contractor of the home. 00:56:20
According to the director of Oconee Water Resources, Adam Layfield, the service. 00:56:24
Sewer service line taps into public. 00:56:28
Publicly owned manhole and does not meet current code. 00:56:31
The county will require them to connect to the existing manhole legally. 00:56:34
Correctly, however you want to put that. 00:56:38
Although Oconee County owns and operates A wastewater treatment plant, they have no enforcement capabilities. 00:56:40
Outside of turning the residents water off for failure to comply, and of course we don't want to do that. We don't ask them to do 00:56:44
that. We just need to get the residents to comply and fix the. 00:56:48
To break. 00:56:52
Again, we are the entity that would require the property owner repair the line because it's on our property and because. 00:56:54
The county doesn't have enforcement capabilities for that since it's a service line, a private service line and not. 00:56:59
A county pipe or county? 00:57:05
Line County Water Resources did verify the resident, 118 Mulberry Street, is paying for sewer service. 00:57:08
Staff is recommending the council again grant a temporary construction easement to the property owner at 118 Mulberry. 00:57:16
For the purpose of repairing the broken service line. 00:57:21
Some of the advantages. 00:57:24
Advantages to this are it will. 00:57:26
Keep the project moving forward. That is, we'll make sure that the homeowner is able to go ahead and get on the property and have 00:57:28
the plumber do the work. 00:57:32
It ensures Co compliance, obviously ensuring that the line will be properly installed, meeting all legal and safety standards. 00:57:37
It establishes legal utility service, which up until now has been sort of unclear. 00:57:44
It project, it protects city's long term interests. We're going to commit to a permanent 20 foot easement again so the resident 00:57:49
will have the ability to conduct maintenance and repair and future upgrades to their line. 00:57:54
It bounces flexibility and formality. That is, we're going to grant a temporary, Hopefully Council will grant a temporary easement 00:58:00
now. 00:58:03
With the plan to move forward with a permanent easement later so that we. 00:58:06
Formalize this and not have to deal with it in the future. 00:58:09
And then it shows good faith partnership for the city, being responsive and cooperative with the homeowner. 00:58:12
The only disadvantages are there is a risk the homeowner will not comply. If the homeowner doesn't, we we can ask the county to 00:58:17
turn their water off and that will maybe get their attention, but I don't anticipate that. I anticipate the homeowners going to 00:58:22
want to fix it and get it done right. 00:58:26
The other, the other disadvantage is there's an administrative burden because we're going to the city is going to take it upon 00:58:31
themselves to conduct a survey. 00:58:34
And revisit the matter at another council meeting for the permanent easement. 00:58:38
The I'm sorry, there's one more disadvantage. If we grant a temporary easement, there is a potential that we could be setting a 00:58:42
precedent for future easements. 00:58:46
I don't know how serious this is a utility issue. We don't tend to have these. This is the first one I've had in seven years, so I 00:58:49
don't know. That's a huge concern. 00:58:53
Again, we're asking council grant a temporary construction easement to the property owner, ask that they bring. 00:58:57
The service line up to code properly connect to the sewer. 00:59:02
Completely repair. We'll talk about the timeline. 00:59:05
Direct staff to have the city engineer complete the survey and direct staff to bring forward that permanent 20 foot easement once 00:59:09
the survey is conducted so that the council can consider it a future meeting. 00:59:13
What's the estimated cost of all this work on the city? 00:59:20
A engineer? Do you know what our cost is per survey? 00:59:24
OK, anyway, OK, I think it'd be. 00:59:32
So we'd have the cost of the survey and at this point we don't anticipate. 00:59:34
The cost of the city for repairs to the actual line, correct? No, I would not recommend the city. 00:59:38
Fix the private service line. 00:59:43
OK. 00:59:45
Council questions. 00:59:48
Hearing no questions, do we have a motion? 00:59:53
And make a motion to approve. 00:59:57
Option one. 01:00:00
2nd. 01:00:03
All right, any further discussion? 01:00:04
Hearing none all in favor say aye, Any opposed? 01:00:06
All right. Motion carries unanimously. We'll move on to. 01:00:10
Public comments. 01:00:13
Comments shall be. 01:00:15
Shall be related to agenda items. Actually, now you can talk about what you want to. If you want to come up and speak to speak 01:00:17
from the podium. 4 minutes per person. Refrain from debate argument. Personal attacks are irrelevant discussion. Address only the 01:00:23
merits of the pending matter or the matter that you want to bring before us, since this is public comment. 01:00:28
Address them to council, but we're not going to talk about litigation, attorney-client, or personnel matters. 4 minutes at the 01:00:34
most. If anybody has a public comment they wish to make, now is your time to shine. 01:00:38
Anybody wish to speak? 01:00:45
All right, Lawrence. 01:00:48
Nice to take to do this, but. 01:00:51
My name is Lawrence Stewart. I live at 13 Barney Shoals. 01:00:55
And I. 01:00:59
I don't know how to put this. 01:01:01
I gotta ask you a question. You're gonna put lights along the connector, through the woods, over the cover bridge and all. 01:01:03
We will have some sort of lighting, yes, Yeah. 01:01:09
Well, I don't know what kind of light you're going to buy there, but I'd like you to change it so it doesn't light up. 01:01:12
Just lights up the walk. 01:01:17
Anyway, down through the woods, so when you're driving or just in general, it doesn't feel like. 01:01:19
A lot of the other lights in town. 01:01:25
If that makes sense. 01:01:28
You know, just because it's in the woods and. 01:01:30
Yeah. I think we'll think about how we're lighting. The bridge will be lit differently and then the frequency of the additional 01:01:31
lights is going to be really important whatever we do or whether we do the traditional St. lights. So we're still thinking about 01:01:36
that. We probably will have some sort of light. I just think there's ways to light. 01:01:40
The path. 01:01:45
Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Yep. 01:01:46
All right. Any other public comments? 01:01:54
Yes, Sir. 01:01:57
Anybody come on up? Yes, Sir. Just tell us your name and your address. All right, Mr. Lumpkin. 01:01:59
70 Marsh St. Yes, Sir. OK. And I was just wondering. 01:02:08
If I own my Rd. back up. 01:02:16
How much time I got spent in jail for over my rollback? Which Rd. is that? Is that at the bend or which one? 01:02:19
Is building, yes. 01:02:29
Now I have nothing in the world gets beneficial. 01:02:33
It's not building that doing it. It's the city of Washington. 01:02:36
That I can't have no two openings in that curve. 01:02:40
But it's a mess there because it's hard for me. I read them but at a time. 01:02:44
On my trailer trying to make that turn. 01:02:50
And that's the income. Your driveway comes and you have to turn. 01:02:53
If you're leaving your house, coming down your drive, you have to turn into the new entrance. Then you took a hard lap to come up. 01:02:57
Yeah, yeah. 01:03:01
Yep. Yep. And I haven't hit it twice. Gotcha. Yeah. Yeah. All right, I'm gonna let the engineer comment on that. If he knows 01:03:06
anything about the curb height in that situation. I know exactly what you're talking about, and I've met the contractor yesterday 01:03:11
afternoon to work to pull that curve back. 01:03:16
And to increase the radius. 01:03:21
To your gravel driveway. So. So a little more than 24 hours ago, I was standing right there talking to the contractor to get them 01:03:23
to fix it as soon as possible. 01:03:27
When you said fix. 01:03:34
I've never been told the. 01:03:36
A thirty way stop there. 01:03:38
But now. 01:03:40
One stop sign with no one stopping anyway. But. 01:03:41
One stop sign. 01:03:44
Coming out of my soul. 01:03:46
Stop sign no good. 01:03:48
Because you're exactly right. And again. 01:03:51
I was made aware that the issue recently and I met with the contractor. 01:03:53
Yesterday. 01:03:58
So it is not repaired yet. You're right, it needs work. 01:03:59
It will remain as a three-way stop at that very hard corner. 01:04:04
But we're working with the contractor to repair. 01:04:08
Because the curb as it is in now is not correct. 01:04:12
So. 01:04:16
I'm happy to talk to Mr. Billy Bishop. I met with his contractor yesterday. 01:04:17
With the plan to. 01:04:21
Improve the opening. 01:04:23
Our position is we want to make it safe. 01:04:25
And and it's not done yet, but. 01:04:29
Hopefully well before the next. 01:04:31
City Council meeting. 01:04:34
That will already be taken care of. 01:04:35
So I'm happy to get your information and communicate with you. I can, I can meet you out there on site and talk about it as well. 01:04:37
But I just met with the contractor yesterday. I spoke with the fire department. 01:04:42
They focus in someone then look at it, but they didn't, right? And that was, I'll tell you that was my largest concern was being 01:04:49
able to have an emergency service vehicle be able to get down your driveway. 01:04:54
Well. 01:05:01
I appreciate that. 01:05:02
I don't see I'm the only one on Morrison St. that don't have the own. 01:05:03
Interest, so I mean. 01:05:07
And then the people that in softball. 01:05:09
Field I have to sit down the road and wait for them because not enough room for us to. 01:05:13
You go in and out. 01:05:20
So I was just wondering. 01:05:23
What would happen if I hold my Rd. back up? 01:05:25
I mean, you know, like this, this, this. 01:05:28
This been going on for a minute. 01:05:30
I don't think what what would happen. 01:05:34
If I go ahead. 01:05:37
And open my rolled up. 01:05:40
And that other Rd. I don't see a way that that's going to work and be safe either. So I believe for y'all to meet and then come 01:06:12
back and maybe get a report on that next month, if that's all right. 01:06:17
And we can talk some more, Mr. Lumpkin, if we need to. So, but Chief, can you join for that as well and make sure that I just want 01:06:21
to be sure that that because there are the stop signs. 01:06:26
I feel like they're either. 01:06:31
They're missing flags or they're getting hit or there's something going on there that the way that's working. So I would like us 01:06:32
to look at that intersection. 01:06:36
Well, if we can sit somebody there with with with some blue lights, they might start stopping. It doesn't take too long for that 01:06:42
to that for us to change that. So I. 01:06:46
So that that's probably not that hard to do so. 01:06:52
So let us let us work with you for a month. 01:06:55
Mark's gonna get you his number. 01:06:57
And. 01:06:59
And then come back and come back and talk to us. 01:07:00
Mr. Lumpkin, or call or call me. 01:07:03
Call me if you want to talk about it further and we'll get together. So yes, Sir, thank you for your time. 01:07:05
No, no. Thank you for coming in. Yes, Sir. Yes, Sir. 01:07:10
OK. Thank you, Mark. Thank you, Chief. 01:07:16
Anybody else public comments? 01:07:19
All right. 01:07:22
We're almost done, yo. 01:07:24
All right, we'll go to the mayor's report. We haven't met for two months, so I've got a few things to report. 01:07:25
We did in late June. 01:07:32
Unveil our memorial for the lynching victims from 1905. That's a great tragedy in our community. 01:07:35
That deserve to be recognized and I'm grateful to the county into our African American leaders for helping us with that. That was 01:07:41
a very hot but important day for the city and. 01:07:47
And for that community to see that recognition, which was long overdue, that was on the 120th anniversary of that tragic event. 01:07:53
Tonight we're going to announce 2 committees. 01:07:59
These are our Public Arts committee and our Tom Friends of Thomas Farm Preserve. 01:08:03
The first one is the Public Art Committee. I see Lawrence is here. Lawrence, you're going to be part of that if you're still 01:08:08
willing. 01:08:11
I think it's been a few months since you submitted your application, but we're going to ask Beth Malone as the OCAF Executive 01:08:14
Director to chair that and Mary Lilly Watson to serve as our Vice Chair. The other members are Philip Hamrick, Alicia Holman, 01:08:19
Teresa Bacon, Lawrence Stuke and Ann Peden. 01:08:24
Christine and I'll serve as ex officios. 01:08:30
The focus of this group will be to help us reinvigorate public art in the city. 01:08:33
And one of their first jobs will be to develop some bylaw, bylaws, organizational procedures and then get moving. So Lawrence, 01:08:38
thank you for offering to serve. I know you've done a lot of that through the years, and we're grateful to have you have you 01:08:42
helping us some more. 01:08:47
Our Friends of Thomas Farm Preserve is a little bit bigger. We have more applicants. 01:08:52
Ed Lane from SPG, who helped design it, is going to be the initial chair of that group. 01:08:57
The other members of Rob Simpson. 01:09:02
Leslie, Bobby. Sabaton, Ellie. 01:09:04
Matthew Long, Mark Schroeder, Jimmy Marbutt, Sherry Clark, Alice Huff, Gary Crider, Stephen Arnold, Heather Pamela and Wendy Cook. 01:09:06
Zachary Spencer Wood and Diane Windham. 01:09:14
A variety of skill sets here. People who know about everything from native plants to how to fundraise and volunteer. 01:09:16
And we're really looking for these people to be fundraisers and fundraisers and also arms and legs to help us get organized. 01:09:22
And take care of Thomas Farm Preserve. 100 acres is a massive space. 01:09:28
And with our two person Parks Department, it is really hard for us to keep our arms wrapped around it. So we need a dedicated 01:09:33
group of friends to help us work out there and we're appreciative of all their service. 01:09:37
Hair Shoals Park master Plan is coming along. 01:09:43
Quickly, this is phase 2A little preview. This is the Giordani Green. 01:09:48
We have moved some public art down there from IMI that they donated that used to be at their building. These are some some. 01:09:52
Dandelions that that Don Phillips and his team made. It's a lovely space. We have a little bit more work to go. We have some 01:09:59
additional sod and a dry Creek bed. 01:10:02
And some benches and trash cans to install. We're meeting with the G or Dean Giovanni family next month to prepare for an opening 01:10:07
date there. We're excited about that. 01:10:12
This isn't on the screen. I do think I need to mention it. High up perspectives is opening at O calf. 01:10:17
Tomorrow night or is it Friday night? 01:10:23
Friday night. 01:10:26
Friday night is the first night of perspectives. I believe that used to be, and probably still is, the largest pottery show in 01:10:27
Georgia or the Southeast, Kathleen wanted. 01:10:31
At least Georgia. 01:10:36
It is an awesome event. I would strongly encourage all of you to try to go Friday night. If you can't go Friday night, be sure you 01:10:37
get there. Is it 2 weeks or three weeks? 01:10:41
Three weekend, three weekends. Anyway, it's always amazing. 01:10:46
Yeah, so 3 weeks. 01:10:50
If you can't leave, can't leave without some awesome stuff. 01:10:52
Thomas Farm Preserve, we continue to make some improvements. The women's bathroom opened up, so we now have multiple stalls in the 01:10:56
women's bathroom, multiple stalls and the men's I think we've. 01:11:01
Quintupled our bathroom capacity. 01:11:05
Thomas Farm Preserve With these new restrooms, we also have a water fountain. 01:11:08
With a water bottle refill. 01:11:12
There in terms of other updates. 01:11:14
We hope still, we're hoping to get the dock in. 01:11:17
This summer, Sharon, are we looking at? 01:11:22
No, I contacted him today and. 01:11:26
The jury's out, so the jury's out. 01:11:29
Sometime in the next year, yeah. Hope to get that done. We have a lot going on in the park. 01:11:32
So, so we do have that going on. 01:11:37
We are going to be doing some work or we won't be, but Georgia Power will be doing some work on the right away in the back. 01:11:39
They'll be replacing. 01:11:43
Power comes back with the polls. We'll have to close it again for a little bit of time, but we have mowed the beach bottom bypass 01:12:13
trail, so you'll have full access to the park. You just won't be able to use that one little corner, but you'll be able to get 01:12:18
through except to navigate a little grass in addition to gravel to do that. 01:12:23
We're making great progress. I don't know if anybody drove by today, but you know, we finished up the. 01:12:29
What we would call, I guess, phase one. 01:12:35
For now, of the Simonton Bridge connector that was finished in the past two months, phase two and three are well underway though. 01:12:37
Lights are in. You can see that's what phase two and three looked like a couple days ago. If you go about today, it's wide open at 01:12:45
this point. All the trees are down. 01:12:48
On the routing. 01:12:52
Again, we're targeting the end of the year to get that work done. Our fingers are crossed we can we can pull that off. 01:12:53
We also paved stone Shoals, most of Stone Shoals, Stone Shoals Terrace, Stone Shoals way were repaved during the past two months. 01:12:59
DAR placed flags at veteran grave sites for July 4th. Grateful to DAR, they help us take care of the cemetery. We also installed 01:13:10
some new fencing and bollards. Several families have made some investments in there. 01:13:15
Funeral in their grave, graveside areas and plots and we want to protect those investments, so we've added. 01:13:21
Some bollards and strings there so people don't run over those areas. 01:13:28
We celebrated Friend Friday with ESP That's always a joy. 01:13:32
If you've never done that, be sure you try to come and do that one Friday in the summer if we're selected again. 01:13:36
You wouldn't know it looking at City Hall, but this place was a wreck. Just four days ago we had. 01:13:43
Pipe break under the concrete foundation of this building, which is what? 18 inches thick? 24 inches thick. 01:13:48
So they had to dig out that pipe. 01:13:56
Both of the bathrooms were out of Commission. The kitchen was out of Commission. Everything was in here from stoves to. 01:13:59
Soap dispensers to you name it, this room was full of it. I just want to give a lot of thanks to Sharon, to our contractors, to 01:14:06
everybody who worked really hard to get that done. 01:14:11
The bathrooms were closed for the better part of two weeks, maybe 3 weeks. It was a lot of work. There's pictures up there. I hate 01:14:16
that y'all can't see them because it is it. 01:14:20
Yeah, it's, it's, it's, it was kind of crazy what all had to happen. I mean, the sheetrock halfway up the walls in those rooms. 01:14:25
That's what we did. The emergency appropriation for tonight, it was a real mess. 01:14:31
We are going to have a couple days of work from G dot to help with our storm water situation on Main Street. They're widening out 01:14:36
of culvert. 01:14:39
That will affect traffic somewhat, but that work has to be done as our storms increase in frequency and intensity. 01:14:43
There's just more water than our some of our culverts or some of our drain pot drains can handle, so they're widening a drain for 01:14:50
us at no cost to the city. 01:14:53
This is the way you should put your trash cans out. 01:14:58
You can't see it. 01:15:02
So since you can't, what I will say is you want to have that little silver bar facing the road. 01:15:03
And you want to have that, what, between 3:00 and? 01:15:09
5 feet from the curb. 01:15:12
And then they use their magic new trash can to pick that up and dump the trash. So if you've been putting your trash can 01:15:14
backwards, if you haven't been putting it close to the road, please try to put it 3 to 5 feet away from the road. 01:15:19
Can you put it in the middle of the sidewalk if you have a? 01:15:26
Stretch and the sidewalk. 01:15:30
Probably put it in the grass area between the sidewalk and the street, that little piece. Yeah, yeah. 01:15:34
Yep. 01:15:40
Christmas parade, I think we mentioned earlier, is going to be December 7th. The parade will be at 4, tree lighting at six. 01:15:42
I'm almost done y'all, I promise. 01:15:48
We had a birthday. 01:15:50
Recently, there's council Mayor Pro Tem Tucker. 01:15:52
I hate it. Y'all can't see this? It's the cutest picture of ours. Little girl with cowboy hat on. 01:15:58
Oh, of course, she's got a suitcase. All right. And then I think we have. 01:16:05
A happy birthday to Chuck Garrett from his high school yearbook again, you know, Yeah, yeah. So. So anyway, we've, we've got some 01:16:10
great photos. I hate that y'all can't see them. I think that's it for the mayor's report. 01:16:17
This point we'll move to council, reports Councilman Garrett. 01:16:26
Not a whole lot to report other than I know our citizens will really be happy when the Parkway is finished up going to Publix. 01:16:30
Looks like those guys only last leg. 01:16:37
They should have it all. 01:16:40
Topped out, he said, toward the end of September. 01:16:42
End of September. You've heard it from our paving expert. That's what those guys told me, Councilman Chuck Garrett. 01:16:44
But that is not our project. Yeah. So we're clear. All right, we will go with the. 01:16:51
Tony Massey post to. 01:16:56
All right. And congratulations to both of you for qualifying unopposed. Welcome back. 01:16:59
We'll move on to Mayor Pro Tem Tucker post for. 01:17:04
I already said all the things, she said all the things. Councilman Campbell Post 5. 01:17:08
Nothing to report, nothing to report. 01:17:13
Do we need to have a brief executive session? 01:17:16
Very brief. 01:17:20
All right, so Council maybe don't even stand up. We'll let we'll let the chambers evacuate and we will do our brief executive 01:17:21
session if that sounds good so. 01:17:25
Thank you all for coming tonight. 01:17:29
That'd be great. I make a motion to move into executive session for. 01:17:33
2nd. 01:17:39
Pending and or threatened litigation. 01:17:41
All right. Make a motion to adjourn. Second. Second. All in favor, aye. 01:17:55