Transcript

Event transcript
All right. Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the October Watkinsville City Council meeting. We have a quorum. We'll miss 00:00:20
Councilman Thomas at this meeting. He had to. 00:00:24
He was called out of town for work at the last minute. 00:00:29
But I'm sure he'll be back next month. 00:00:32
But with that, we'll start with the pledge. Let's all stand, please. 00:00:35
I pledge allegiance to the flag. 00:00:39
Of the United States of America. 00:00:41
And to the Republic for which it stands. 00:00:43
One Nation. 00:00:46
Under God. 00:00:47
Indivisible. 00:00:48
With liberty and justice for all. 00:00:50
All right, Council. 00:01:03
And Public will remind everyone that we do have a hearing loop system installed for anyone who needs assistance with that. The 00:01:05
signals can be picked up by most hearing aids. The city also has some loop receivers for anyone who needs assistance with that. 00:01:11
You would need to talk to our ADA coordinator, which is Manager Dickerson, if you need assistance with hearing. 00:01:18
Already those issues are meetings are typically closed captioned. 00:01:24
Online you can click the CC to see that and then when the meetings recorded and posted. 00:01:27
The captions automatically appear. 00:01:33
Current month's agenda is posted a week before the meeting to allow time to provide comments and writing to the clerk should you 00:01:35
not be able to attend the meeting. 00:01:38
Our first item up is approval of the previous meetings Minutes Council. You've had those and they're available to review. Do you 00:01:45
have any comments? 00:01:48
Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes. 00:01:52
And make a motion to approve the minutes. Second, second. 00:01:55
All in favor say aye. Any opposed? 00:01:58
Motion carries. Next, we'll move to the approval of the agenda. I have no changes to the agenda. 00:02:01
Do any of you have any changes to the agenda or anything you want to remove from the consent agenda? 00:02:05
Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda as presented. 00:02:13
I make a motion to approve the agenda. Do we have a second? Second. 00:02:16
All in favor say aye aye. 00:02:20
Motion carries unanimously. 00:02:23
We'll move on to administration. I will remind everybody that we do have a less formal public comment process here that's. 00:02:24
At the discretion of the mayor and council, of course. We're happy to, if it gets aggressive, revert to the normal. 00:02:31
Processes, but we do like to keep it kind of informal here. So if you have a question about an item as the manager presents it, 00:02:37
just raise your hand. 00:02:40
And we'll ask you to come forward and ask that question again. That is at Council's discretion. If you do come forward, please 00:02:44
speak from the podium. We'll make sure that the microphones off offer your address. 00:02:48
And please don't debate or argue with us or do any personal attacks. I don't anticipate that tonight. 00:02:53
But it has happened occasionally in the past and we wouldn't want any irrelevant discussion. 00:02:59
We will have a moment for formal public comment later in the meeting and then we'll also have public comments at any moments that 00:03:03
are called for on the agenda. 00:03:07
With that, we'll move forward to the administrative part of the report. We'll start with financial reports and that's Manager 00:03:11
Dickerson. Thank you, Mayor. So you should have the balance sheet for the general fund as well as our revenues and expenditure 00:03:16
reports for each department. If you have any questions, just let me know that everything's. 00:03:21
Moving smoothly along, we're only a couple months into the fiscal year. 00:03:27
On the splice side, so we have two special purpose local option sales tax. The first one is our SPLOST 3 which began in 21 in 00:03:31
October 21 and sunsets and set on September 30th, 27 I believe this next year we'll start talking about. 00:03:38
A potential. 00:03:45
SPLOST 4. 00:03:46
So be on the lookout for that. We are averaging about 85,000 per month. 00:03:47
We budgeted about 64, so that's always good. The number you see, just wanted to point out the number down the lower right corner 00:03:51
says 660,000 projected. 00:03:56
Anticipated. 00:04:00
What you need to know about that number is that actually is positive because those are our G Tib reimbursements for our grant. 00:04:01
That money's coming back to us temporarily until we roll everything into a loan. So it's going to look a little off for a little 00:04:05
while just. 00:04:09
Point that out to y'all. 00:04:13
On the actual monthly. 00:04:16
You'll see that. Well, so this one, we our deposit was actually deposited on 10/1. So I don't have anything to report, but I can 00:04:18
tell you that it's up about 3%. I think we were at like 95,000. 00:04:23
Because it did. 00:04:28
Post it just posted after the end of the fiscal month of the of the month. Sorry so I didn't include it on this. You'll see it 00:04:29
next month so it'll look kind of crazy seeing the. 00:04:33
September and. 00:04:37
The August and September together will be. 00:04:39
Shown in September the way it came in so not quite sure why that happened but. 00:04:41
Have a little bit more than $1,000,000 in the bank. 00:04:45
And just as usual, just pointing out some of the projects we have, public safety projects. 00:04:47
We have rec and parks a lot at Thomas Farm right now. We had some at right at Harris Shoals recently. 00:04:52
And our roads are resurfacing projects some of the. 00:04:57
Actually the project we just did, the mayor I'll talk about later in the meeting was actually out of tea slaw. So we'll talk about 00:05:00
that as well. And of course all of our Simonton Bridge Rd. project will come out of SPLOST 3 and some out of T SPLOST. 00:05:06
On our transportation slots that started in April of 23, that will sunset in March of 28. 00:05:12
We get 7.77% of the. 00:05:18
All the sales tax in the county, so that's. 00:05:21
Really good. And that's I shared today with the mayor some numbers on that there. I think averaging about a million a month and 00:05:23
we're getting the percentage of that. So that's good. 00:05:27
There we are. We projected. 00:05:31
We protected 78,000 a month. We are getting about 81,000 a month, so more than what we projected. 00:05:33
But we are a little behind 8 ball because we're starting out in this this project a little bit younger than the other one, so. 00:05:40
On cheese, Boston again deposited, wasn't made until. 00:05:45
October 1, so that will be reported next month, but we have a little bit more than a million in the bank on that one as well. 00:05:48
And then just some projects mentioned, Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:05:55
We don't have any traffic efficiency improvements. That's something we'll talk about probably during the retreat in February. 00:05:58
And then our resurfacing the. 00:06:03
Project Recent project at Bishop. 00:06:05
Bishops Vineyard was. 00:06:08
Resurfaced as a result of some of these funds along with our local maintenance improvement grant from the state. 00:06:09
In manager Dickerson, I'm going to beat this drum a little bit. 00:06:14
Over the next couple months because we will have to vote again on T spots and. 00:06:17
SPLOST in the next year, probably. 00:06:21
I do think it's important for the members of the public to understand that's a way that we keep the property taxes lower. 00:06:24
The majority of those sales taxes are at least 50% of those sales taxes are typically paid by people from outside the county in 00:06:29
Oconee County. So they're going to Costco, they're going to Publix. 00:06:33
They're going to Epps Bridge. 00:06:38
Then we get a percentage of the county's total revenue for SPLOST and T SPLOST, which means. 00:06:39
Our property taxes as Watkinsville residents aren't as high to have to fund the road improvements and the other things that we 00:06:45
need to do so. 00:06:48
That's why the T SPLOST and the SPLOST are so important is that drives sales tax dollars back into Watkinsville and that's a mix 00:06:52
of people from across the region who are supporting those projects. 00:06:57
And you know what, people from across the region are driving on our roads, so it's not really like we need people in Watkinsville 00:07:02
just to have to pay for those when we've got people from Athens and people from other areas. 00:07:07
Using those facilities that we're paying for. 00:07:12
So go ahead. 00:07:14
So we'll move into economic development. 00:07:16
We have a little bit more than $600 in business, business licenses that were were accepted. We didn't have any alcohol this month. 00:07:18
Or last month. 00:07:26
And then for September, again remind everybody that we don't get the money for September until. 00:07:27
Until the end of. 00:07:33
Gosh, now I gotta think about this a minute. 00:07:36
They we don't get the money for August until the end of September and because it's the month behind. So anyway, that's why you see 00:07:38
the numbers a little bit less. We did get some money obviously in but for this is for alcohol and for our short term vacation 00:07:43
rentals and the motel that we'll be talking about tonight. 00:07:47
On building permits, we had 10 permits for 9 projects. A lot of these were Fire Protection. I think that's driven a little bit by 00:07:53
the current construction and then also some existing business licenses that were waiting in line to get. 00:07:59
To get reviewed for their fire. 00:08:06
Safety, yeah. 00:08:08
Any questions on those? 00:08:09
OK. 00:08:12
All right, so another month a lot. 00:08:15
Happened again in our downtown. 00:08:19
The strategic planning process is. 00:08:22
Almost coming to an end. We had a great meeting yesterday about it and we are anticipating in the November meeting to have that 00:08:25
presentation report. 00:08:29
We had a tax incentive lunch and learn. 00:08:33
At chops and hops. 00:08:37
And it was talking about the rural zone, which is a great. 00:08:39
Tax incentive for development and job creation in downtown Watkinsville. 00:08:44
And then they also spoke about some federal tax credits that are. 00:08:50
Open. 00:08:54
To people here. 00:08:55
We have 3 new businesses open in this last month, so Jay Mac. 00:08:56
Which has I guess now has its own. 00:09:02
Like official store all the time. He's been making beautiful clothes for a long time, but it's even more accessible to people now. 00:09:04
And also has some women's retail. 00:09:12
We have next to each other the Meadow Monastery Play Studio, so this is a place that you can come. 00:09:15
And bring your children, you stay with them. It's. 00:09:22
Just a fun activity that you can do with your kiddos. 00:09:25
And that is on School St. And then also we. 00:09:29
Anticipate Classic City Golf Lounge. 00:09:33
Opening uh. 00:09:35
Mid-december, maybe grand opening in January and this is a. 00:09:37
Going to be a. 00:09:43
Kind of state-of-the-art practice facility for people with stimulators. Obviously if it's off of school, St. 00:09:44
And it sounds like it might almost be a 24/7 kind of thing like you get a membership, you can go in. So that's really another 00:09:52
exciting opportunity we have in our. 00:09:57
Little town. 00:10:03
Fields of Faith happened at Rocket Field October six. We had a great turn out despite the rain. 00:10:05
And we have some upcoming events. This Saturday is the Fall Festival. 00:10:12
It brings in tons of people to our community. It is a. 00:10:17
Just great to run into people in the community. Support local craftspeople. 00:10:23
Here's a map. 00:10:29
Of it, obviously some roads are. 00:10:30
Kind of closed off they'll. 00:10:34
Like I said, be a lot of people, so come and join in. 00:10:36
And then we also have on. 00:10:40
Thursday, October 23rd we have the Northeast Georgia Heart Walk. 00:10:44
Which is supporting the National. 00:10:49
Wait, yes. 00:10:52
And it is open to the public. And there's another great 'cause that it's happening at Rocket Field. 00:10:55
And last, well, maybe not lastly. 00:11:00
We have trick or treat downtown. Halloween this year is on a Friday so it is 4 to 6. 00:11:04
Jan, our DDA director, has created this really cute map. We're getting even more businesses. 00:11:11
Participating but. 00:11:17
This is. 00:11:19
Really fun. 00:11:19
Event for the community. 00:11:21
If you have your kids, bring them downtown. 00:11:23
Get all their candy. 00:11:26
And if you don't have kids, don't drive down Main Street between 4:00 and 6:00 on Halloween. 00:11:28
And then 01 more thing. So we are doing something a little new this year. We have a downtown business holiday decorating contest. 00:11:36
We are theming it around the parade theme. 00:11:45
And the judging will be on Sunday, December 5th, the day of the parade. So we are hoping that we have that holiday spirit. 00:11:48
Umm, throughout our downtown. 00:11:56
So that's it. 00:11:59
Alright, chief. 00:12:02
As always, thank you guys for having me Mayor Council, I really appreciate. 00:12:08
Being here more than I can express always. 00:12:13
Thankful for. 00:12:16
Are completed and scheduled training Officer Higgins is up to date and. 00:12:17
Just a quick understanding is he left law enforcement 2017? 00:12:21
So whatever hours he did not get in 17, we had to make those up. 00:12:26
And then? 00:12:29
Get them up to date on 2025 which are. 00:12:30
A lot more stringent, a lot more courses to take, but he is, he's good to go. He's ready. 00:12:33
All satisfied. Georgia post. So he is actually an FTL program with Sergeant Wade. 00:12:39
Learning, relearning the streets and. 00:12:45
Going out, making, making friends and. 00:12:47
Doing please. Thanks. 00:12:51
Sergeant England, we already got him in a supervision, Class A. 00:12:53
He successfully passed. It is 16 hour course. 00:12:57
Down at Gypstick. 00:13:01
And we hosted public works and Parks Department on a on a Traffic Safety. 00:13:02
Program just to make sure they're safe out there when they need to stop traffic or. 00:13:07
Like the other day they they got a lot more stuck in the ditch over on making highways. So we assisted with that. But we want to 00:13:12
make sure they're safe and they understand what they need to do because. 00:13:16
There's a lot of distracted drivers these days. 00:13:21
Sergeant. 00:13:24
Brian Anglin got promoted. 00:13:26
We're very happy with that. I think he's going to be. 00:13:28
A great Sergeant and and a great future forum within our organization. He's one that wants to stay here for a long time and 00:13:31
hopefully. 00:13:34
He'll make a career out of here, Watkinsville, and we would love to keep them here. 00:13:38
The emergency call box is live. 00:13:42
Actually, I made a video or attempted to make a video with. 00:13:44
Miss Lauren, right? She sent me her video which is much better. 00:13:49
Today, so I'll be posting that on Facebook. So we'll have two videos, one from her she works at. 00:13:54
Goes to class at UGA through the. 00:13:59
Grady News School, I believe it is. 00:14:01
Let's see. Oh, I learned something from. 00:14:04
Thomas, he's not here, but he sent me a text. He's in a class and asked if we had. 00:14:08
Of the 911 text alert to dispatch. 00:14:13
I was unaware of that, so I went to dispatch and there is such a thing. 00:14:16
You can text 911 and go straight to dispatch. 00:14:19
And they already have a preset of questions and it's really quick. 00:14:22
Seeing how it operates, they will send it back, text it back to you. 00:14:25
What's emergency? What do you need? So forth. 00:14:28
Really neat, so it's good to get out there. 00:14:31
For everybody to know that we have that. 00:14:33
Connect and create had a. 00:14:37
Really good interaction with. 00:14:38
A lady from Athens, she was stopped by Sergeant Wade and I called her because she wanted, wanted to talk. 00:14:40
And her first sentence was, look, I want to know, I don't like the police. 00:14:46
So I thought it was going to be a complaint. 00:14:50
And she said Sergeant White pulled me over for speeding and I was in a hurry to get to the pharmacy, had some medicine to pick up. 00:14:52
And as she said, it was absolutely the most joyful experience I ever had with police officer. 00:14:59
So it went from oh to That's great. 00:15:04
A really good call. We talked about 15 minutes on the phone. I'm proud that the guys that have worked with. 00:15:08
That they can convince somebody that all police are not. 00:15:14
Bad people, right? So. 00:15:17
Great job, Sergeant. Wait on that. 00:15:19
Police vehicles. 00:15:21
OK, it showed location on a map with the call box so. 00:15:24
Police vehicles, our new Explorer came in. It is actually being a sober chance graphics with the decals being put on it. He 00:15:28
finished up this afternoon. 00:15:32
We'll be taking it. 00:15:36
Later this week, tomorrow, Friday, to get it equipped and. 00:15:38
We will have it on the road. 00:15:41
We're doing a clean up. 00:15:43
Try to get manager Dixon a list of many things we have in closets and. 00:15:45
Storage and. 00:15:50
Stuff from Crown Vics to Explorers to everything else. If we can get rid of some of that, make some room. 00:15:51
A Community events obviously preparing this weekend for the Fall Festival. 00:15:58
I've already covered it with the guys one time on assignments in our. 00:16:03
Our safety plan, going to do it again one more time. 00:16:06
Saturday morning before we go out. 00:16:09
And take our post, we have Halloween. 00:16:11
Again in Christmas. Already working on a Christmas plan. 00:16:14
A parade. 00:16:17
We went to D Facts, had a safety appreciation lunch for all. Public safety was really nice. 00:16:19
Had some good time to talk with the sheriff and some of the Oconee staff. Always want to. 00:16:26
People good relationship with them. 00:16:30
And then? 00:16:32
Sergeant Wade and and Officer Higgins, so every. 00:16:34
3rd I believe it is third Monday. 00:16:38
First Christian Church has the. 00:16:42
Kind of a meet and greet and have has coffee and stuff. I've been over a few times with with Jan and I try to get the officers or 00:16:44
somebody to show up every time that we can go to these things to. 00:16:48
Keep building relationship with the community. 00:16:54
And then? 00:16:57
I got to be involved with Sheriff Hill in the fire department on selecting the drawing that's going to be on the 5K T-shirts 00:16:58
coming up for the. 00:17:01
Fun run safety runs so. 00:17:04
That's going to be fun. That's on the 26th at the Veterans Park. 00:17:07
We we had one, one arrest to hit and run. 00:17:13
And then our stats up there. 00:17:17
OK, we had. 00:17:20
A lot of changes the past 30-40 days and. 00:17:22
I feel like that's, that's pretty good considering because we have to take a lot of time out to do training and, and get Officer 00:17:25
Higgins and. 00:17:28
Detectives house went up to up to date so. 00:17:33
We had. 00:17:36
253 calls. 00:17:38
684. 00:17:39
Security check 16 reports. 00:17:40
45 citations, 86 warnings. 00:17:43
And the warnings? 00:17:46
Contribute to newer officers right so they. 00:17:47
They're kind of getting their feet wet, if you will. 00:17:50
10 accidents, one arrest, 0 use of force, which is always great. 00:17:53
And and then over there on the dispatch calls, it's it's. 00:17:57
Basically our leading things we deal with. 00:18:01
Through dispatch. 00:18:04
So our arrest, domestic suspicious calls. 00:18:05
Alarms and then fired medical calls. 00:18:09
We did have the VMS signs put out on Mccree Street. I'm moving them to use for the Fall festival. 00:18:13
I printed the stats off, they should be in front of you or your packets if you have any questions on that. 00:18:20
Please let me know, didn't see anything. 00:18:25
Too concerning. 00:18:28
And that's pretty much it for our place that so any questions? 00:18:32
I just want to thank you all. It's a really busy time of year. I mean, we know this is sort of peak season in Watkinsville where 00:18:37
we have the festival, we have all these special events we've got. 00:18:41
Halloween, the Christmas parade. I know it's a busy time for you and your guys and we're grateful. 00:18:46
I did see Sergeant Wade at Thomas Farm Preserve on Sunday afternoon. 00:18:50
Helping. He'd gotten out the. 00:18:55
The 4x4 vehicle and was helping some citizens make it back up from the pond. I think somebody gotten tired down there, but it was 00:18:58
a great example of. 00:19:01
It felt like a family reunion. He was down there laughing and joking with him while he was given this elderly gentleman a ride 00:19:04
back up from the pond. And it was just a great example to your point of. 00:19:09
How to make that police interaction really positive versus just going down and picking them up? It seemed to be a really great 00:19:14
moment down there. So a lot of responses I get about Sergeant Wade, the word joyful is always used. Yeah. So he can put smile on 00:19:19
people's faces for sure, actually. 00:19:25
Thomas Farm had some lost. 00:19:30
Females Friday night. 00:19:34
That he assisted with. 00:19:36
So. 00:19:38
It got dark in the woods and they couldn't find their way out, Oconee County responded, but then we followed up on it over the 00:19:39
weekend. 00:19:42
So. 00:19:46
It gets dark really quick in the wood. That may be something that we have to. 00:19:46
To mention it may be. 00:19:50
Lighter out in the field, but if you go down to the trails it's a whole different. 00:19:52
Different sceneries. 00:19:56
Yep, sure is. 00:19:58
Thank you. Thank you, Chief. 00:20:00
Thank you. 00:20:07
All right, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I did want to note one of the items on there does is related to reappointment of 00:20:10
two members of the Downtown Development Authority. You've got a letter at your seat. 00:20:15
With that recommendation. 00:20:20
But again, since its own consent, unless anybody wants to, we won't discuss that. So I'll entertain a motion to approve the 00:20:21
consent agenda. 00:20:25
Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. 00:20:31
Do I have a second? 00:20:35
I second. 00:20:36
Any discussion? 00:20:37
All right, all in favor, say aye, aye. 00:20:39
I will note that if anybody is interested in a large. 00:20:41
Christmas Tree Stand There will be 1 available from our form when we used to have a live Christmas tree so. 00:20:44
We'll move on to public hearings. We do have an interesting one tonight and. 00:20:51
Actually look forward to hearing more about it. 00:20:56
But public hearings do have a legal process with that. So as we go through this, we'll recognize that we'll have 10 minutes per 00:20:58
side for that, for that public hearing. 00:21:03
The comments at this point, the meeting should just be about the item that's before us. So in this case it's going to be about 00:21:08
either the. 00:21:12
Hotel conditional use and text amendment or related to the vending machine conditional use amendment. 00:21:16
Same rules as before. No debate, argument. Personal attacks are irrelevant discussion. 00:21:23
4 minutes per person. 00:21:28
With that, I'll open up a public hearing. 00:21:30
Related to will not want to open it up, we'll have a staff briefing on the public hearing related to the text amendment. 00:21:32
For Article 13 of the zoning ordinance to allow conditional use for a hotel, boutique and commercial corridor district. 00:21:38
This is going to seem weird y'all, but what we're doing basically is. 00:21:44
Creating the framework to allow. 00:21:48
The use for a hotel. 00:21:52
A hotel. 00:21:53
To be. 00:21:55
Updated or potentially rebuilt? 00:21:57
But we have to allow the use, then we have to actually vote on the specific proposal from the user. So it's going to seem like 00:22:00
we're talking about the same thing over and over again, but that's the way we have to do it. 00:22:04
With that, I'll probably quit talking and let staff or Joe. 00:22:08
Provide an overview at this point on what we're doing for this public hearing. 00:22:11
Then we'll vote on the text amendment related to that. Then we'll actually hear the request for 173 S Main and then we'll vote on 00:22:15
that request. So we're going to look at the. 00:22:20
Text amendment, then we're going to look at the specific request. Joe, I'll hand it to you. 00:22:24
Certainly, and the specific request does pertain to a pre-existing grandfathered use. 00:22:28
And I would call this basically housekeeping to ensure that this is a permitted use so they can do the proposed upgrades and 00:22:34
renos, OK. 00:22:38
So at this point, I'll open up the public hearing. This is a text amendment that will allow article to Article 13 of the zoning 00:22:44
ordinance to be sure that we allow. 00:22:48
Boutique hotels in the commercial corridor. 00:22:54
Zone. This also means if someone else wanted to build one in that zone because it's a conditional use, they'd have to bring it 00:22:56
before council. Would anyone want to speak in favor of or opposed to? 00:23:01
The text amendment. 00:23:07
All right, nobody's standing up. 00:23:11
At this point, I'll close the public hearing. 00:23:13
And we will vote on the text amendment. 00:23:15
Is there any other reporting we need to do before we vote on that? I don't think so. 00:23:18
OK. 00:23:21
With that, Council, do you have any questions or discussions about the text amendment to the code to allow the boutique hotel and 00:23:23
commercial quarter? 00:23:26
As a conditional use. 00:23:29
All right, no discussion. I'll entertain a motion to approve or deny. 00:23:31
The motion I make a motion to approve. 00:23:36
OK. We have a motion to approve the amendment. Do we have a second? Second. 00:23:39
All right, we have a second. Any discussion hearing none, all in favor say aye. Motion carries. 00:23:43
Now we will move on to this is what's called a conditional use because we have to have a public hearing anytime some if someone 00:23:50
wanted to build another hotel. 00:23:54
In a commercial corridor zone, they would have to come before council to do that. They couldn't do that by right without hearing 00:23:58
from the council. So at this point, now we will have a public hearing to actually talk about the request. 00:24:03
For this specific property at 173 S main. 00:24:09
By Matt Tingle And that's with the consent of the existing owners. 00:24:13
Of the. 00:24:16
Of the luxury Inn. 00:24:18
Who are also here with us tonight. So at this point, Mr. Campbell, city Engineer, do you have a report to make on this request? I 00:24:20
do Thank you, Mayor. 00:24:23
Again, so this is for the conditional use request for the boutique hotel at 173 S Main St. which is zoned. 00:24:27
Corridor Commercial. We know it as the Luxury Inn. 00:24:35
So to show where that is on the map, I. 00:24:39
Again, it is located at the city limits. We can talk about that a little bit more too. But that is South Main Street, so it would 00:24:42
be east of 441 and just slightly West of the intersection there of of South Main Street and Old Bishop Rd. 00:24:49
So this is existing picture of existing facilities. You can see the luxury inside there on your right, that's S Main St. on your 00:24:57
right, the facility there on your left. So the picture is essentially facing north. 00:25:02
There's another picture from the other end of the property, from the northern Dr. facing back, generally in the opposite 00:25:08
direction. 00:25:11
The next picture may be 1 you haven't seen. This is at the rear. 00:25:14
Of the of the existing structure. If you're only used to seeing it from the front, this gives an idea of the area that is behind 00:25:17
the existing structure. 00:25:22
And then? 00:25:26
The again you just approved. 00:25:27
The the the text amendment that kind of codifies a beach week hotel in corridor commercial. 00:25:30
With the conditional use, this is the conditional use. 00:25:36
From not so long ago historical perspective you remain. Remember that at the February 2023 meeting. 00:25:39
The half. 00:25:46
Of this hotel that was located outside the city limits was annexed into the city limits so that there would be some opportunities 00:25:48
to do some things. 00:25:51
That didn't cross. 00:25:55
All of those jurisdictional lines that is now this parcel that's approximately 2 acres is located wholly within the city of 00:25:56
Watkinsville. So we've received the application the specific 4 conditional use, all those appropriate ABCD items, a through H 00:26:03
additional conditional use permit items were included in the application with the the detailed information is needed. 00:26:10
And I'm. 00:26:17
Happy to answer any questions. 00:26:18
All right, I'm going to at this point. 00:26:22
Council, do you have any questions for Mr. Campbell? 00:26:24
All right. At this point, I think what we'll do is open up the public hearing, same rules as before. 4 minutes. 00:26:26
4 minutes for anyone who wants to speak. I think the applicant technically could have as much as 10 minutes. 00:26:31
But the general public 4 minutes. 00:26:36
If in favor or opposed, I think it will make sense first for the applicant to come forward and give us a. 00:26:39
An overview of their vision for the project. So the public's aware of what you have planned. So Mr. Tingle, Mr. Healy, some 00:26:45
combination, either one of you, come forward, state your address and give us an overview of what you have planned here. 00:26:50
Good evening, I'm. 00:27:04
Matt Tingle My address is 1130 Hunting Creek Lane. 00:27:05
In Watkinsville. 00:27:08
I feel like we have. 00:27:12
Talked through pretty much what what we want to do, but we are. 00:27:13
Our vision is just to bring this property up to date to continue to operate it. 00:27:18
As a as a hotel motel, but maybe with some upgraded. 00:27:23
Upgraded features so. 00:27:28
You know, wiring and maybe bring it up to code a little bit. It's been a. 00:27:30
It's been used well. 00:27:34
And. 00:27:37
That's our vision for it. Except we. 00:27:37
We haven't gotten. 00:27:40
Far too far in a design process yet. 00:27:41
But we would like to use it as it is being. 00:27:44
Used currently as a as a hotel. 00:27:47
OK, I'm happy to answer. 00:27:49
Further questions if you guys have any? 00:27:52
We're going to keep the hearing open, so we'll let you take your seat and see if anyone else wants to come forward and then we may 00:27:54
have you come back up with any questions. 00:27:57
I know we have the property owners here, is there anything y'all want to? 00:28:01
Comment on or say. 00:28:04
No, OK. 00:28:06
All right. Any other members of the public wish to comment? 00:28:08
During the public hearing. 00:28:11
OK, I'm not seeing anybody pop up. 00:28:14
All right. With that, I'll close the public hearing. 00:28:16
At this point, we'll move on to. 00:28:18
We'll move on to the vote. 00:28:20
Let's see. 00:28:25
We'll move on to the vote around. 00:28:27
The conditional use request. 00:28:29
For 173 S Main SO Council, this is our time to ask questions to the applicant or questions to staff about the project. 00:28:32
We are not a talkative bunch tonight. I think everybody's probably ready to get home and that's OK. So. 00:28:41
At this point, if there's no questions for the applicant, then I'll entertain a motion to approve the request. 00:28:47
And make a motion to approve. 00:28:54
All right. Do we have a second? Second. 00:28:56
All right, any further comment? 00:28:59
All in favor say aye. 00:29:01
OK. All right. 00:29:03
The conditional use request is approved, I do have to say. 00:29:04
Y'all know I can't resist it. 00:29:07
This is a this. 00:29:08
This hotel actually has a really cool history in a county Chuck you may remember. 00:29:10
There are ads in the newspaper where there was a restaurant here. I think you could get a good steak dinner for $1.50 at some 00:29:15
point back in the 1960s or 70s when the. 00:29:19
I believe it's called the Butler. The Butler back then, you know, and still was when I was in high school. 00:29:23
So I'm honestly really excited. I'm thankful to y'all for stewarding this property and I'm excited to see it have. 00:29:31
You know, a new generation of ownership and you know, there's these historic hotels all over America that have been. 00:29:37
Well taken care of and and some new life injected into them. So I think it's really. 00:29:43
Could be really nice for Watkinsville. 00:29:48
Depending on y'all's vision and what you bring forward to see. 00:29:51
See the luxury in GET. 00:29:54
Get some new life and also want to thank you all for taking good care of it and taking good care of a lot of our. 00:29:56
Citizens for a long time, so thank y'all. 00:30:00
So. 00:30:03
All right, well, we have to go through the exact same process. You offer something that is. 00:30:05
Doesn't seem. 00:30:10
Like a big deal, but we've got to follow the rules and this is real simple. This is. 00:30:12
We're going to go through all this so we can potentially put a vending machine at rocket field. 00:30:16
Because kids get thirsty and the concession stand didn't always open so. 00:30:20
For those of you who came just to deal with the hotel, you're not going to hurt our feelings if you want to walk out of here. But 00:30:24
you're also welcome to stay because it's going to be a brief meeting and I've got an exciting mayor's update with some with with 00:30:28
some new things that are happening. So you're welcome to stay, but you won't hurt our feelings if you want to get home to your 00:30:32
family. 00:30:36
All right, so we're going to open up for a public hearing. 00:30:40
For conditional use to our vending machines and the Parks, Recreation and Conservation District, same process as before. 00:30:43
So at this point I'm going to open up a public hearing and if anyone has any questions or concerns about vending machines. 00:30:50
In the Parks and Recreation district, please. 00:30:55
Come forward. 00:30:59
All right, no one is doing that. I'll close the public hearing now. We'll vote to allow a text amendment. 00:31:01
To allow a vending machine in Parks and Recreation zoning. 00:31:07
Council, I'll entertain a motion. 00:31:10
To approve or reject that text amendment. 00:31:12
What American? 00:31:19
All right, somebody make a motion to make a motion to. 00:31:23
Approve the amendment to the zoning zoning ordinance. We've got thirsty children at Rocket Field, so we have a motion to approve. 00:31:26
Do we have a second? We have a second from Councilman Garrett. 00:31:31
Any further discussion? 00:31:36
All in favor say aye, motion carries. You're abstaining because you're involved with the DDA. Is that right? You're the applicant 00:31:38
technically. OK, so. 00:31:42
That's a good little nuanced thing. So Councilwoman, Mayor, Pro Tem. 00:31:46
Tucker is abstaining because the Downtown Development Authority is applying for this permit. 00:31:50
All right, so now we'll have a public hearing about the vending machine request and I think we have a report from our city 00:31:55
engineer. 00:31:58
Is that yes, Mayor? Thank you. 00:32:02
So so tonight is a lot about the dots on charts with some conditional use, so hopefully. 00:32:03
You know where Rocket Field is, You may not have known that it was zoned Parks Recreation Conservation, but that certainly makes 00:32:10
sense as well. If you don't know where Rocket field is, I encourage you to be there Saturday morning at 8:30 for Falls Festival. 00:32:15
So. 00:32:19
The next slide shows where it is on the map. 00:32:23
Again. 00:32:26
Generally we're talking about the right portion of the of the corner there where the concession stand is that that particular. 00:32:28
Corner of the the newly remodeled and beautiful Rocket field. 00:32:36
To this specific area if you're familiar with the new concession stand. 00:32:40
Familiar with the steps that go up to what I'll call the press box on the higher level. There's some concrete that's around in 00:32:44
that area. This is the area where the vending machine is being proposed generally. 00:32:50
Own that existing concrete would not require the vending machine to sit on grass, would not require additional concrete. So that 00:32:56
is the location as you've seen in just the past two pictures. So again, you've just approved the text amendment. 00:33:01
With the dot on the charts. 00:33:08
It is on existing concrete area. 00:33:10
The form was filled out by the applicant with all the necessary information for a conditional use. 00:33:12
And I'm happy to answer any questions. 00:33:18
All right, well, now hear from the applicant. 00:33:20
We got thirsty kids at rocket field and also. 00:33:25
It does not cost the city to do any. 00:33:30
Of this and it is actually. 00:33:32
Of way that we can have a little bit of funding into the DDA as well. So win, win. 00:33:35
Will it be tucked under the steps? It won't be like sitting out on the concrete, will. 00:33:40
To the left of the door. OK, perfect. 00:33:45
Great. All right. 00:33:47
We're now in a public hearing. Would anyone want to talk about vending machines at Rocket Field? 00:33:49
All right, I don't see anybody stepping forward to address vending machines. I'll close the public hearing. 00:33:54
Council, at this point we can ask questions of the applicant or the engineer. 00:33:59
Or we can have a vote on vending machine at Rocket Field. 00:34:03
I'll entertain questions are fine, or we can entertain a motion. 00:34:07
Oh, so do you have to make a motion to vote or I need one of y'all to make a motion? Yep, Yep. 00:34:17
Make a motion to approve the conditional use request. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:34:23
All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? 00:34:30
All in favor say aye aye. 00:34:34
Abstain Motion carries 30 with one abstention. 00:34:35
OK. 00:34:40
All right, we will move on. There's no appearances. There's no old business. 00:34:41
There is some new business. 00:34:45
We have an ordinance update and that is around urban camping and vagrancy. 00:34:48
I'll just give a brief preamble. We have more. 00:34:53
Green spaces than we used to have. We don't have any problems with this. I'm thankful for that. But there has been some changes in 00:34:56
state and federal law around urban camping and vagrancy, and we want to make sure our codes are up to date. 00:35:01
With the current state and federal law, and we also want to make sure the Watkinsville Police Department has. 00:35:07
All the tools in the toolbox that needs to deal with these situations should they arise. So no current issue that's driving this, 00:35:12
we just want to be prepared in case something does. 00:35:15
Does come up. And we also want to be sure our codes are aligned with federal and state regulations. Is there anything else you'd 00:35:20
want to add, Mr. Reitman? 00:35:23
I simply mentioned that we did a little bit of Internet research into other communities who have passed similar ordinances to 00:35:27
address these issues of urban camping and vagrancy. And again, to your point, Mayor, the 100 acres, Thomas Farms preserve and so 00:35:32
forth, there's now that. 00:35:37
Opportunity that people may. 00:35:43
Push the envelope and try to camp out there. So this does address that and prohibit overnight camping. 00:35:45
And part and parcel that is addressing vagrancy, should that arise to, as you said, give the. 00:35:50
Police Department, what they need in order to enforce this is complementary with state law. So this covers the urban camping and 00:35:57
vagrancy. State law covers squatters of foreclosure or post foreclosure property. So the Police Department will now have the tools 00:36:03
they need. 00:36:09
To take enforcement actions should the need arise. 00:36:15
All right, Council, y'all have reviewed the ordinance. It's been. 00:36:19
In the public, if we had any public comments. 00:36:22
Related to the ordinance. 00:36:24
All right. Any questions, comments. 00:36:26
All right, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the updated ordinance. 00:36:29
Make a motion to approve the updated ordinance. 00:36:36
Do I have a second? 00:36:39
We have a motion, we have a second. Any discussion? 00:36:40
Hearing none, all in favor say aye aye. 00:36:44
Motion carries unanimously. 00:36:47
We'll move on to right away maintenance all the exciting stuff tonight. Manager Dickerson, give us an update on this. Sure, thank 00:36:49
you, mayor so. 00:36:53
We uh. 00:36:57
Have guidelines that we follow, but they haven't been actually put in writing and we've had a lot of questions over the years 00:36:58
since I've been here. 00:37:01
What constitutes right away whether it's our responsibility of the citizens. So we've decided to actually put it into a policy so 00:37:05
that we have a document that you get, you can refer to, we can refer to, we can provide to our citizens. 00:37:11
Basically just trying to provide that clear guideline for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the right away. 00:37:16
It defines right with this policy will define the right away, outline the responsibilities and set force and enforcement 00:37:22
procedures. 00:37:25
So first of all, municipal right away is the area on below or around a public roadway held by the city for public use typically 00:37:29
includes the road curbs, sidewalks, grass buffers that. 00:37:35
Type of thing and typically includes. 00:37:40
Where the underground utilities are so like all our power company. 00:37:43
The gas company, The the. 00:37:46
County, who maintains the sewer and water. They're in the they're in that right of way area. 00:37:48
And then we've also defined a grass strip because we have been adding a lot of sidewalks and so the, the area between the curb and 00:37:53
the street, I'm sorry, the curb and the street or and a public sidewalk. So that grass strip, that area we do maintain. So Lake 00:37:59
down Harden Hill Rd. the area between the sidewalk and the street, the city does maintain. 00:38:06
And and then like down Simonton Bridge, even though that's a County Road, we maintain so. 00:38:13
So just an example of the illustration, it's going to be in the policy. 00:38:19
Fictional ABC Rd. 00:38:25
With 55. 00:38:27
Wide right of way measure from property line to property line. That includes the paved Rd. stormwater system. That's the other 00:38:28
thing we talked about, moving the water, conveying the water. 00:38:33
Down to to the rivers of the creeks. 00:38:38
The grassies, the grassy or landscape strips between the curb and the sidewalk. 00:38:41
So in our policy, property owners are responsible for maintaining that right of way of the portions between the right of way and 00:38:46
their property. 00:38:50
Including areas outside of fences or beyond wooded buffers. 00:38:55
So mowing, removing litter, pruning trees, shrubs, etc. 00:38:59
Ensuring you know that street signs aren't. 00:39:03
Aren't can be seen, are visible. 00:39:06
And. 00:39:09
Not putting anything in that right away. 00:39:10
Maybe putting a planting a tree or anything in that area. 00:39:12
And then the cities responsibilities are to maintain that. 00:39:16
For the most part, we maintain, you know the. 00:39:20
Physical structure. So the sidewalk, the street, the curbs. 00:39:22
As I said, the conveyor, the conveyance system, the municipal separate storm sewer system that we call. 00:39:26
Basically our culverts and whatnot. 00:39:31
For the most part, making sure they're clear of any woody vegetation, not necessarily mowing them, that is. Technically the 00:39:33
property owner would be doing that. In some situations we do. 00:39:38
Do some of that, but for the most part that is the responsibility of the property owner. 00:39:43
Maintenance of the grass strips, maintenance of the grass along specific corridors. This is this is one of the other reasons we 00:39:47
put this in here. 00:39:51
G dot the Georgia Department of Transportation does have the responsibility to maintain their right of ways. However, we all know 00:39:55
that they don't maintain them as frequently as we would like. 00:40:00
So we have put that in our policy specifically these high. 00:40:05
Use highly used. 00:40:09
Corridors. 00:40:11
That we will be responsible for those in addition to what the state does, and they probably come through twice a year to do 00:40:12
maintenance. So we're keeping it. 00:40:15
We're keeping it trimmed and looking nice. 00:40:19
And then enforcing those compliance, that's our responsibility. 00:40:22
And then that. So there might be some questions. I'm happy to take them. 00:40:28
Do you have anything you want to add? 00:40:31
Any questions from the Council? 00:40:33
Are there a particular things that are happening right now in general? 00:40:39
Or often that are. 00:40:44
Going against this new policy, like are there things that we're seeing that? 00:40:47
That's making this come forward. We have, well, we have. We've had a few citizens probably in the last few months ask about, you 00:40:52
know, why don't we mow in this section of. 00:40:56
Road it's, it's technically the right away, but we don't have any infrastructure like sidewalk and so it might be a culvert that's 00:41:00
conveying water. 00:41:04
But it's not obstructed, it's not got wood waste sitting in it is keeping water from flowing. And so we've had a few citizens that 00:41:09
will y'all should be mowing at Well, no, not technically, we're not we're not supposed to be mowing it. And that nothing any you 00:41:14
know, an understanding. Again, part of the reason we're we're doing this is because there have been a few extra in the last few 00:41:19
months and we wanted to address it and make it official and so that there's a a formal policy. So there's no question who's 00:41:24
responsible for what. 00:41:29
So I've been very congenial. 00:41:35
And we have citizens asked from time to time, well, why are you guys spending taxpayer dollars to mow these state roads? But the 00:41:37
reality is, if we waited on the state to mow those roads, then the grass would be up to our shoulders before they ever got there. 00:41:41
So. 00:41:44
We kind of have to do it or it would just look terrible. So basically all of our entry. 00:41:48
Three of our. 00:41:53
Four of our entry quarters or state roads and if we relied on the state to take care of those roads that would just would. 00:41:54
Not be an attractive way to come into Watkinsville so. 00:42:00
And and also point out shout out to Drayton, Chris, well our public. 00:42:02
Works manager so he was getting approached by citizens and he sat down with me and said, you know I really think we need to make 00:42:06
this formal because he's trying to understand how he's supposed to respond and so we sat down together and built this policy so 00:42:12
kudos to him too for you know saying hey look at some point we need to do something more formal so. 00:42:18
That that's what propelled it forward to. 00:42:24
Any other questions? 00:42:28
All right, we'll entertain a motion to approve the new policy. 00:42:30
And make a motion to approve the new policy. 00:42:33
We have a second. 00:42:35
Any further discussion? 00:42:37
Hearing none, all in favor say aye aye. 00:42:39
All right, motion carries unanimously. 00:42:42
All right, we'll move on to public comments. 00:42:44
I've said it before, I'll say it again, come up to the podium, you've got 4 minutes, you can talk about whatever you want. 00:42:47
All right. 00:42:54
Hearing none. 00:42:56
Kathleen Mcquiston is not here this month, y'all. 00:42:57
OK. All right. 00:43:00
OK, do you want to say anything? 00:43:02
I think we said it wasn't directly about this. It's just the time. Yes, ma'am, come on up and come on up to the podium. 00:43:04
All right, Am I supposed to just tell us your address and you've got 4 minutes to talk about whatever you want to name and 00:43:15
address, please? 00:43:18
Name and address Mary Jo Bentley. I live at 1512. 00:43:22
Wisteria Ridge #205 OK. 00:43:25
New in the area for about four months. 00:43:28
Love it here. 00:43:31
OK, very much. I greatly appreciate your parks. I take my grandchildren. 00:43:32
I loved how accessible they are to a child with any limitations. 00:43:37
I love that, Love the green space. 00:43:42
I walked Thomas Farms. 00:43:44
Several times a week. 00:43:46
And my question is kind of related to that. 00:43:48
I also love history. 00:43:52
And I was. 00:43:54
And a couple of my walks I've ventured over to the cemeteries. 00:43:56
And. 00:44:00
Was looking at the different monuments party. There's section A and section B. 00:44:01
And was fortunate the one day I. 00:44:06
Introduce myself to a gentleman who was. 00:44:10
Weed whacking and cutting Mark Novak, who was incredibly professional. 00:44:12
He was courteous, he didn't **** ** off like some old lady, just dared to bother him so that I appreciated. 00:44:17
My question to him was. 00:44:23
Who made? I didn't realize that it was called section B at the time, but who? 00:44:25
My question is. 00:44:29
Who owns that? Who maintains it? 00:44:30
Is it a city owned property? 00:44:33
If you need volunteers, I'm willing to help. 00:44:35
I understand that there was a lot of research done by a doctor on. 00:44:38
What was it? Dana McCoy Anderson. 00:44:42
I think that's her name and then the DA are also assisted in that and there's many. 00:44:44
That have no names. 00:44:50
And I just think it's a shame. 00:44:53
That whoever these people are at the end of their life. 00:44:55
This is what they get. 00:44:58
Weeds up to your knees. 00:45:00
Leaves are leaves. 00:45:02
No problem, but there's such a stark contrast between section A and section B. 00:45:03
And especially with the new walkway I understand is supposed to be. 00:45:08
Desirous board to connect to. 00:45:12
Rocket field and so there'll be more people walking by there, hopefully taking advantage of the. 00:45:15
Walkability. 00:45:21
You know, which I greatly appreciate. 00:45:22
What can we do is there are is that already budgeted to help maintain it? It was just really sad it struck me that day. 00:45:26
There are fences that have been, you know, had been there. 00:45:32
Probably for years that are falling down. 00:45:35
I can lift a bag, concrete, I'll do whatever is needed. I don't know what the process is. 00:45:38
And no idea. So that's my question. 00:45:43
Thank you. 00:45:46
I'll just stay up here for a second case. You want to respond, but I'll let Manager Dickerson maybe talk first. Is section B the 00:45:46
section in the woods more than to the woods? Yeah, if you want. You want to address that. Yeah, so, so 1st and. 00:45:52
The first answer to your first question was who maintains it so. 00:45:58
The city The city maintains the area, but generally the plots are privately owned. 00:46:02
The city's ordinance is sort of walking a fine line between being responsible and and making the private plot owners be 00:46:07
responsible. We recognize there's a lot that are no longer around to maintain those. So it gives the council some flexibility to 00:46:15
use government funds to maintain it. So we do have a monthly maintenance of of the area. And honestly, it's really to cut grass. 00:46:22
There's not grass in that section B that you're talking about and the mayor and actually had a conversation this afternoon about. 00:46:29
Now that we're expanding the Simonton Bridge, pedestrian improvements and we're going to have a nice. 00:46:37
Pedestrian bridge grab a lot of people milling around that area and with Thomas Farm, we've got a lot more focus on that. And 00:46:43
we've been talking about this since we got since we purchased the farm and since we got this project for Simonton Bridge that it's 00:46:49
going to draw a huge focus on the cemetery. So some of the things we are doing, we're using some of the Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:46:55
pedestrian the grant alone. We're using some funds to add a a fence which hopefully will come in next week along. 00:47:00
The Somerton Bridge roadside, there'll be a. 00:47:07
Not a cast iron, but a fits a steel fence, a decorative. 00:47:09
Fence that will go in there. We talked, as I said, the mayor and I talked this afternoon about maybe in February when things are a 00:47:12
little bit, you know, when things are died down to get in there and work with Bethel, Bethel Baptist Church. They have some, I 00:47:18
believe some members, they have some stuff that you know, some people that are buried back in there, some historical graves to 00:47:23
work with them on trying to clean up that area and do whatever we can. 00:47:29
Again. 00:47:34
They're, they're really, there are people who have graves there, but there's not family members that come take care of them. And 00:47:35
so it's sort of a fine line. We have to be careful not to go take care of somebody's private property without asking them. In some 00:47:39
cases we don't know how to get in touch with them so. 00:47:43
It's it's kind of a. 00:47:48
Do it and hope you know just to maintain it and try to take care of it. But but we are aware that. 00:47:49
That is an area that needs some attention and certainly on our radar to be taken care of so. 00:47:55
Like I said, I'm willing to help if you have a volunteer group. 00:48:00
Anything I can assist? 00:48:04
I'll be happy to. I noticed at least one grave. 00:48:05
I believe it was a female. 00:48:09
And she lived. 00:48:10
Through the Civil War. 00:48:12
My. 00:48:14
Who knows, maybe they're still descendants here, maybe there's not. I'm thinking probably not. But. 00:48:15
You never know, and that one was actually in a. 00:48:20
Designated Area. 00:48:23
I'm not sure if it was one of the ones with knockdown fence or not, but. 00:48:25
Whatever we could do to. 00:48:30
Beautify that like you said, the. 00:48:32
There will be a lot more attention on that. 00:48:34
And be one of the first things they see if they come in from that side, so. 00:48:36
Well, it's been. It's one of the things that's hard to. 00:48:40
You know Sharon was describing. 00:48:43
How we're trying to balance that. But I've always said a city that doesn't take pride in its cemeteries, you know, this reflective 00:48:45
of. 00:48:47
You know the city that doesn't have its priorities in order, right? So. 00:48:51
Over the past year, we've done a lot of cleanup over there already. 00:48:54
There's still more that needs to be done, but. 00:48:57
Probably if you how long ago did you say you moved here? 00:48:59
Four months, four months. So yeah, if you'd have been here 18 months ago, it looked very different. Even now it's cleaner than it 00:49:02
was, but. 00:49:06
I really feel like we need to improve that historic asset. 00:49:09
And that area, I think the last time that area was really worked on was an Eagle Scout project probably 10 years ago by a scout 00:49:13
who. 00:49:16
Really got the community together and cleaned up back there and improved and marked several of those graves. But but I think in 00:49:19
February we're going to try to get together that work day with Bethel and that'll be a good first step. 00:49:24
To roll up our sleeves and work as a community to get back there. Do that right? And that's the Church between Wisteria. 00:49:29
Wisteria Ridge and. 00:49:36
And the. That's right. That's right. So yeah. 00:49:38
Yeah, if you ever need a church service that puts a smile on your face, let me recommend a Sunday at Bethel. So, but anyway, so, 00:49:42
but I think we're going to, they have several. I talked to a member recently when I was out there who was cleaning up a plot there 00:49:47
and he mentioned that they may want to help us on that. So we're going to reach out to them and frankly, anybody else in the 00:49:51
community who wants to come help us out there. 00:49:55
So if you before you go, just if you could get your e-mail and contact information to Manager Dickerson, we'll be sure to let you 00:50:00
know. Thank you and welcome to Watkinsville. 00:50:04
All right. Anybody else? 00:50:10
All right. 00:50:14
Hearing none, none were emailed in. Kathleen did not e-mail in anything. 00:50:16
OK man, I was hoping she'd get perfect attendance. 00:50:20
OK. 00:50:23
We are done with that. So we'll move on to the mayor's report. I'll be I'll move through these pretty quickly. 00:50:26
I had a great time at First Christian Church is homecoming. 00:50:33
That's Larry Weatherford there. Several of us know Larry. He's one of our. 00:50:36
Oldest Watkinsville natives and he's always got a story to tell. 00:50:41
But it was great to see Larry and a lot of other people gather at First Christian Church as they celebrated their community 00:50:45
partners and community heroes. 00:50:48
I was not one of the latter for sure, but we're proud to be a partner with First Christian Church and. 00:50:52
Often say y'all and it's true. 00:50:57
A community with strong churches is a strong community and we've got a lot of them in Watkinsville and we're grateful for that and 00:50:59
we really work hard to support them, as the chief outlined earlier. 00:51:03
We've got another new business at Wire Park. That's Trinity Accounting Group. That's one of the largest CPA firms in the region. 00:51:08
They're moving October 20th. 00:51:12
I think they have 22 employees coming to Wire Park. 00:51:16
It's easy when you think about Wire Park, just to think about all the fun stuff up front. But what's? 00:51:19
What's always I always appreciate is and Matt and might have a better estimate than I can give, but I think there's probably at 00:51:23
least. 00:51:27
150. 00:51:30
Professional jobs in the back part of Wire Park and these are folks who are. 00:51:31
Spending money in Watkinsville, creating jobs, creating opportunities. 00:51:36
Using restaurants and shops, not just at Wire Park, but all over town. So, but I did want to call out Trinity. We're excited to 00:51:40
have them at Wire Park as well. 00:51:44
Bishops Vineyard was paved this week, Sharon. That's done. I haven't driven through, but it's all done. 00:51:49
OK. 00:51:54
Bishop's venue. 00:52:25
Not been paved since it was built in the 1980s so so anyway so we're. 00:52:26
And again, that's I mentioned earlier how the T spots funds help us with things like that. So again, when you all go the next time 00:52:32
you have to vote for one of those. 00:52:35
We would not have been able to do that without. 00:52:39
T spouse funds without a significant tax increase that was. 00:52:41
A couple $100,000. 00:52:44
$200,000 to repave that neighborhood. 00:52:46
We've got our hand rails in on the Simonton Bridge. 00:52:49
Connector. This is for phase one. We'll have to do some more at the other side of the bridge. 00:52:53
These have to be done per ADA so but they are in and we're thankful that they're there. 00:52:59
They still have to be painted we're. 00:53:06
Hopefully they'll keep people safe. 00:53:07
Our new resident mentioned the the new project through the woods there. 00:53:10
These are the footers for the covered bridge, the 105 foot covered bridge that's going to go through and connect the park to 00:53:15
rocket field. 00:53:19
They've made pretty substantial progress since these pictures. They're building bio ponds on both ends. 00:53:22
That's what the excavators for and you can see the rebar that's going in. I won't get all the terms right, but I think those are 00:53:28
called footers for the bridge. There's going to be 3 footers. 00:53:31
All with concrete in them it. 00:53:36
It's going to be the most well engineered covered bridge in the state of Georgia. I'll say that. It's going to be built to stand 00:53:39
the test of time, that's for sure. But we're excited to see that come to fruition. 00:53:44
Late this year and early next year. 00:53:49
These are the new chairs at Thomas Farm Preserve. I should have told you sure not to include those photos. Y'all don't tell my 00:53:52
wife that she was pictured but they are super comfortable. 00:53:58
Don Phillips from IMI and his wife Arlene went to Europe and they found these. They saw these chairs and Arlene loved them and 00:54:04
said we need some of those at Thomas Farm Preserve. So Don told her that he could build them. 00:54:09
And he built them and he donated them to Watkinsville. So we have two of those. 00:54:14
Chairs that Don and his wife. 00:54:18
Discovered in a park, I think in Paris or Belgium or somewhere. 00:54:20
And they came back and built those and donated them to Thomas Farm Preserve. 00:54:24
So if you want to enjoy the sunset. 00:54:28
Go test out those lovely. 00:54:30
Lovely chairs. 00:54:32
We completed the pavilion repairs. I want to give a shout. What's the name of our partner on that? 00:54:33
Charlie Massey, Is that the company Massey Construction? 00:54:38
They did a great job on this. Y'all the 1st. 00:54:41
There was some confusion between their engineer and the construction plans and so we had some sag in the roof and they came back 00:54:43
out and fixed this without any complaining. 00:54:48
Metar engineer Standards. 00:54:52
Project probably did not go the way they would want it to. A lot of construction companies would have complained about that, but 00:54:54
Massey Construction came back and really finished up and did a great job on that project, so we're grateful. 00:54:59
To them for that and we have a lot of interest in people using the pavilion. 00:55:04
For special events and people who just want a shady spot to sit after the exercise at the park so that's open again. 00:55:08
Now, umm. 00:55:13
Just a reminder about Thomas Farm Preserve. We love our furry friends, but our furry friends need to be on a leash when they're in 00:55:14
the park. We've got a lot of reports of people. 00:55:18
Maybe just letting their dog off to run around a little bit in the back, but not everybody loves a dog, even if they're friendly. 00:55:22
So please keep your dogs on a leash when you're in the park. 00:55:28
We are going to do our fall for Watkinsville decorating contest and we'll be promoting that, so please. 00:55:32
Think about decorating your home and then submit your pictures to Robin Tardy, who's our vice president of first impressions in 00:55:39
Watkinsville when you come in City Hall. 00:55:43
So please share what your home looks like and how well it's decorated. 00:55:49
We have some pretty consistent people who do that every year, but we'd love to see some broader. 00:55:54
Some broader participation in that, so go ahead and. 00:55:58
Decorate that front porch, decorate your home and send it your pictures. 00:56:02
We are going to do a citywide litter pickup on November 15th. We're going to pick up at Rocket Field. 00:56:06
Thankful we don't have huge issues with that, but we do have some hot spots where we could use some focused attention and a lot of 00:56:12
people would help so. 00:56:15
Would love to have everyone attend that. It also helps with our stormwater so we don't have a bunch of litter running in our. 00:56:19
Stormwater system and then getting in our creeks and other things like that. 00:56:25
And also, it's also helpful even after little events like Halloween and. 00:56:28
Fall festival where we get a little bit more debris on the ground than we're used to downtown to help clean that up. 00:56:32
And again, the Christmas parade is December 7th. 00:56:38
It's a wonderful event. The famous hometown holidays and the the dead. Deadline for registrations November 14th. 00:56:42
With that, we'll go to. Oh, I did want to mention one other thing I know. 00:56:53
Christine mentioned the fall festival, I think. 00:56:57
You know the Fall Festival this year if you saw the picture of the Gentleman's. 00:57:00
In the Fall Festival renderings, I do want to give a little bit of color because David Williams was. The Fall Festival this year 00:57:04
is being dedicated to David. He was. 00:57:08
Just the Prince of a man who. 00:57:12
He'd be embarrassed if he knew I was recognized him and David, if you're looking down, I'm sorry buddy, but we we do need to. 00:57:14
Honor you. David passed away earlier this year. 00:57:20
And he was a big part of the heart and soul of the fall festival and a big part of a lot of important things in Oconee County. 00:57:23
And I just think it's important to recognize David's contribution to the fall festival and, and very quietly, to a lot of 00:57:28
important things in Oconee County. 00:57:32
He was a Prince of a man. He grew up in Watkinsville. 00:57:37
Off of N Main St. 00:57:40
And this town had a special place in his heart. 00:57:41
No matter whether he was in Vietnam or South Oconee, he loved his hometown of Watkinsville and he loved the fall festival. 00:57:44
And so, you know, I don't think they could have picked a better person to honor. 00:57:50
Than David this year with the festival. 00:57:54
So with that, I'll move on and ask the council for their reports. Councilman Garrett, do you have anything you want to share? 00:57:55
Are you pleased with our paving work in Bishops Vineyard? OK. 00:58:02
All right, OK. 00:58:06
Councilwoman Massey. 00:58:08
Nothing to report, all right. 00:58:10
Councilman Thomason with US Mayor Pro Tem Tucker. 00:58:12
I said all the things, all right. 00:58:15
And Councilman Campbell. 00:58:17
OK, nothing to report. I don't think we have a need for executive session. 00:58:19
And if there is not, then I'll make entertain a motion to adjourn. 00:58:24
Second. Second. All in favor? Aye, we're adjourned. 00:58:29
Everybody have a good night. 00:58:33
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Transcript

Event transcript
All right. Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the October Watkinsville City Council meeting. We have a quorum. We'll miss 00:00:20
Councilman Thomas at this meeting. He had to. 00:00:24
He was called out of town for work at the last minute. 00:00:29
But I'm sure he'll be back next month. 00:00:32
But with that, we'll start with the pledge. Let's all stand, please. 00:00:35
I pledge allegiance to the flag. 00:00:39
Of the United States of America. 00:00:41
And to the Republic for which it stands. 00:00:43
One Nation. 00:00:46
Under God. 00:00:47
Indivisible. 00:00:48
With liberty and justice for all. 00:00:50
All right, Council. 00:01:03
And Public will remind everyone that we do have a hearing loop system installed for anyone who needs assistance with that. The 00:01:05
signals can be picked up by most hearing aids. The city also has some loop receivers for anyone who needs assistance with that. 00:01:11
You would need to talk to our ADA coordinator, which is Manager Dickerson, if you need assistance with hearing. 00:01:18
Already those issues are meetings are typically closed captioned. 00:01:24
Online you can click the CC to see that and then when the meetings recorded and posted. 00:01:27
The captions automatically appear. 00:01:33
Current month's agenda is posted a week before the meeting to allow time to provide comments and writing to the clerk should you 00:01:35
not be able to attend the meeting. 00:01:38
Our first item up is approval of the previous meetings Minutes Council. You've had those and they're available to review. Do you 00:01:45
have any comments? 00:01:48
Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes. 00:01:52
And make a motion to approve the minutes. Second, second. 00:01:55
All in favor say aye. Any opposed? 00:01:58
Motion carries. Next, we'll move to the approval of the agenda. I have no changes to the agenda. 00:02:01
Do any of you have any changes to the agenda or anything you want to remove from the consent agenda? 00:02:05
Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda as presented. 00:02:13
I make a motion to approve the agenda. Do we have a second? Second. 00:02:16
All in favor say aye aye. 00:02:20
Motion carries unanimously. 00:02:23
We'll move on to administration. I will remind everybody that we do have a less formal public comment process here that's. 00:02:24
At the discretion of the mayor and council, of course. We're happy to, if it gets aggressive, revert to the normal. 00:02:31
Processes, but we do like to keep it kind of informal here. So if you have a question about an item as the manager presents it, 00:02:37
just raise your hand. 00:02:40
And we'll ask you to come forward and ask that question again. That is at Council's discretion. If you do come forward, please 00:02:44
speak from the podium. We'll make sure that the microphones off offer your address. 00:02:48
And please don't debate or argue with us or do any personal attacks. I don't anticipate that tonight. 00:02:53
But it has happened occasionally in the past and we wouldn't want any irrelevant discussion. 00:02:59
We will have a moment for formal public comment later in the meeting and then we'll also have public comments at any moments that 00:03:03
are called for on the agenda. 00:03:07
With that, we'll move forward to the administrative part of the report. We'll start with financial reports and that's Manager 00:03:11
Dickerson. Thank you, Mayor. So you should have the balance sheet for the general fund as well as our revenues and expenditure 00:03:16
reports for each department. If you have any questions, just let me know that everything's. 00:03:21
Moving smoothly along, we're only a couple months into the fiscal year. 00:03:27
On the splice side, so we have two special purpose local option sales tax. The first one is our SPLOST 3 which began in 21 in 00:03:31
October 21 and sunsets and set on September 30th, 27 I believe this next year we'll start talking about. 00:03:38
A potential. 00:03:45
SPLOST 4. 00:03:46
So be on the lookout for that. We are averaging about 85,000 per month. 00:03:47
We budgeted about 64, so that's always good. The number you see, just wanted to point out the number down the lower right corner 00:03:51
says 660,000 projected. 00:03:56
Anticipated. 00:04:00
What you need to know about that number is that actually is positive because those are our G Tib reimbursements for our grant. 00:04:01
That money's coming back to us temporarily until we roll everything into a loan. So it's going to look a little off for a little 00:04:05
while just. 00:04:09
Point that out to y'all. 00:04:13
On the actual monthly. 00:04:16
You'll see that. Well, so this one, we our deposit was actually deposited on 10/1. So I don't have anything to report, but I can 00:04:18
tell you that it's up about 3%. I think we were at like 95,000. 00:04:23
Because it did. 00:04:28
Post it just posted after the end of the fiscal month of the of the month. Sorry so I didn't include it on this. You'll see it 00:04:29
next month so it'll look kind of crazy seeing the. 00:04:33
September and. 00:04:37
The August and September together will be. 00:04:39
Shown in September the way it came in so not quite sure why that happened but. 00:04:41
Have a little bit more than $1,000,000 in the bank. 00:04:45
And just as usual, just pointing out some of the projects we have, public safety projects. 00:04:47
We have rec and parks a lot at Thomas Farm right now. We had some at right at Harris Shoals recently. 00:04:52
And our roads are resurfacing projects some of the. 00:04:57
Actually the project we just did, the mayor I'll talk about later in the meeting was actually out of tea slaw. So we'll talk about 00:05:00
that as well. And of course all of our Simonton Bridge Rd. project will come out of SPLOST 3 and some out of T SPLOST. 00:05:06
On our transportation slots that started in April of 23, that will sunset in March of 28. 00:05:12
We get 7.77% of the. 00:05:18
All the sales tax in the county, so that's. 00:05:21
Really good. And that's I shared today with the mayor some numbers on that there. I think averaging about a million a month and 00:05:23
we're getting the percentage of that. So that's good. 00:05:27
There we are. We projected. 00:05:31
We protected 78,000 a month. We are getting about 81,000 a month, so more than what we projected. 00:05:33
But we are a little behind 8 ball because we're starting out in this this project a little bit younger than the other one, so. 00:05:40
On cheese, Boston again deposited, wasn't made until. 00:05:45
October 1, so that will be reported next month, but we have a little bit more than a million in the bank on that one as well. 00:05:48
And then just some projects mentioned, Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:05:55
We don't have any traffic efficiency improvements. That's something we'll talk about probably during the retreat in February. 00:05:58
And then our resurfacing the. 00:06:03
Project Recent project at Bishop. 00:06:05
Bishops Vineyard was. 00:06:08
Resurfaced as a result of some of these funds along with our local maintenance improvement grant from the state. 00:06:09
In manager Dickerson, I'm going to beat this drum a little bit. 00:06:14
Over the next couple months because we will have to vote again on T spots and. 00:06:17
SPLOST in the next year, probably. 00:06:21
I do think it's important for the members of the public to understand that's a way that we keep the property taxes lower. 00:06:24
The majority of those sales taxes are at least 50% of those sales taxes are typically paid by people from outside the county in 00:06:29
Oconee County. So they're going to Costco, they're going to Publix. 00:06:33
They're going to Epps Bridge. 00:06:38
Then we get a percentage of the county's total revenue for SPLOST and T SPLOST, which means. 00:06:39
Our property taxes as Watkinsville residents aren't as high to have to fund the road improvements and the other things that we 00:06:45
need to do so. 00:06:48
That's why the T SPLOST and the SPLOST are so important is that drives sales tax dollars back into Watkinsville and that's a mix 00:06:52
of people from across the region who are supporting those projects. 00:06:57
And you know what, people from across the region are driving on our roads, so it's not really like we need people in Watkinsville 00:07:02
just to have to pay for those when we've got people from Athens and people from other areas. 00:07:07
Using those facilities that we're paying for. 00:07:12
So go ahead. 00:07:14
So we'll move into economic development. 00:07:16
We have a little bit more than $600 in business, business licenses that were were accepted. We didn't have any alcohol this month. 00:07:18
Or last month. 00:07:26
And then for September, again remind everybody that we don't get the money for September until. 00:07:27
Until the end of. 00:07:33
Gosh, now I gotta think about this a minute. 00:07:36
They we don't get the money for August until the end of September and because it's the month behind. So anyway, that's why you see 00:07:38
the numbers a little bit less. We did get some money obviously in but for this is for alcohol and for our short term vacation 00:07:43
rentals and the motel that we'll be talking about tonight. 00:07:47
On building permits, we had 10 permits for 9 projects. A lot of these were Fire Protection. I think that's driven a little bit by 00:07:53
the current construction and then also some existing business licenses that were waiting in line to get. 00:07:59
To get reviewed for their fire. 00:08:06
Safety, yeah. 00:08:08
Any questions on those? 00:08:09
OK. 00:08:12
All right, so another month a lot. 00:08:15
Happened again in our downtown. 00:08:19
The strategic planning process is. 00:08:22
Almost coming to an end. We had a great meeting yesterday about it and we are anticipating in the November meeting to have that 00:08:25
presentation report. 00:08:29
We had a tax incentive lunch and learn. 00:08:33
At chops and hops. 00:08:37
And it was talking about the rural zone, which is a great. 00:08:39
Tax incentive for development and job creation in downtown Watkinsville. 00:08:44
And then they also spoke about some federal tax credits that are. 00:08:50
Open. 00:08:54
To people here. 00:08:55
We have 3 new businesses open in this last month, so Jay Mac. 00:08:56
Which has I guess now has its own. 00:09:02
Like official store all the time. He's been making beautiful clothes for a long time, but it's even more accessible to people now. 00:09:04
And also has some women's retail. 00:09:12
We have next to each other the Meadow Monastery Play Studio, so this is a place that you can come. 00:09:15
And bring your children, you stay with them. It's. 00:09:22
Just a fun activity that you can do with your kiddos. 00:09:25
And that is on School St. And then also we. 00:09:29
Anticipate Classic City Golf Lounge. 00:09:33
Opening uh. 00:09:35
Mid-december, maybe grand opening in January and this is a. 00:09:37
Going to be a. 00:09:43
Kind of state-of-the-art practice facility for people with stimulators. Obviously if it's off of school, St. 00:09:44
And it sounds like it might almost be a 24/7 kind of thing like you get a membership, you can go in. So that's really another 00:09:52
exciting opportunity we have in our. 00:09:57
Little town. 00:10:03
Fields of Faith happened at Rocket Field October six. We had a great turn out despite the rain. 00:10:05
And we have some upcoming events. This Saturday is the Fall Festival. 00:10:12
It brings in tons of people to our community. It is a. 00:10:17
Just great to run into people in the community. Support local craftspeople. 00:10:23
Here's a map. 00:10:29
Of it, obviously some roads are. 00:10:30
Kind of closed off they'll. 00:10:34
Like I said, be a lot of people, so come and join in. 00:10:36
And then we also have on. 00:10:40
Thursday, October 23rd we have the Northeast Georgia Heart Walk. 00:10:44
Which is supporting the National. 00:10:49
Wait, yes. 00:10:52
And it is open to the public. And there's another great 'cause that it's happening at Rocket Field. 00:10:55
And last, well, maybe not lastly. 00:11:00
We have trick or treat downtown. Halloween this year is on a Friday so it is 4 to 6. 00:11:04
Jan, our DDA director, has created this really cute map. We're getting even more businesses. 00:11:11
Participating but. 00:11:17
This is. 00:11:19
Really fun. 00:11:19
Event for the community. 00:11:21
If you have your kids, bring them downtown. 00:11:23
Get all their candy. 00:11:26
And if you don't have kids, don't drive down Main Street between 4:00 and 6:00 on Halloween. 00:11:28
And then 01 more thing. So we are doing something a little new this year. We have a downtown business holiday decorating contest. 00:11:36
We are theming it around the parade theme. 00:11:45
And the judging will be on Sunday, December 5th, the day of the parade. So we are hoping that we have that holiday spirit. 00:11:48
Umm, throughout our downtown. 00:11:56
So that's it. 00:11:59
Alright, chief. 00:12:02
As always, thank you guys for having me Mayor Council, I really appreciate. 00:12:08
Being here more than I can express always. 00:12:13
Thankful for. 00:12:16
Are completed and scheduled training Officer Higgins is up to date and. 00:12:17
Just a quick understanding is he left law enforcement 2017? 00:12:21
So whatever hours he did not get in 17, we had to make those up. 00:12:26
And then? 00:12:29
Get them up to date on 2025 which are. 00:12:30
A lot more stringent, a lot more courses to take, but he is, he's good to go. He's ready. 00:12:33
All satisfied. Georgia post. So he is actually an FTL program with Sergeant Wade. 00:12:39
Learning, relearning the streets and. 00:12:45
Going out, making, making friends and. 00:12:47
Doing please. Thanks. 00:12:51
Sergeant England, we already got him in a supervision, Class A. 00:12:53
He successfully passed. It is 16 hour course. 00:12:57
Down at Gypstick. 00:13:01
And we hosted public works and Parks Department on a on a Traffic Safety. 00:13:02
Program just to make sure they're safe out there when they need to stop traffic or. 00:13:07
Like the other day they they got a lot more stuck in the ditch over on making highways. So we assisted with that. But we want to 00:13:12
make sure they're safe and they understand what they need to do because. 00:13:16
There's a lot of distracted drivers these days. 00:13:21
Sergeant. 00:13:24
Brian Anglin got promoted. 00:13:26
We're very happy with that. I think he's going to be. 00:13:28
A great Sergeant and and a great future forum within our organization. He's one that wants to stay here for a long time and 00:13:31
hopefully. 00:13:34
He'll make a career out of here, Watkinsville, and we would love to keep them here. 00:13:38
The emergency call box is live. 00:13:42
Actually, I made a video or attempted to make a video with. 00:13:44
Miss Lauren, right? She sent me her video which is much better. 00:13:49
Today, so I'll be posting that on Facebook. So we'll have two videos, one from her she works at. 00:13:54
Goes to class at UGA through the. 00:13:59
Grady News School, I believe it is. 00:14:01
Let's see. Oh, I learned something from. 00:14:04
Thomas, he's not here, but he sent me a text. He's in a class and asked if we had. 00:14:08
Of the 911 text alert to dispatch. 00:14:13
I was unaware of that, so I went to dispatch and there is such a thing. 00:14:16
You can text 911 and go straight to dispatch. 00:14:19
And they already have a preset of questions and it's really quick. 00:14:22
Seeing how it operates, they will send it back, text it back to you. 00:14:25
What's emergency? What do you need? So forth. 00:14:28
Really neat, so it's good to get out there. 00:14:31
For everybody to know that we have that. 00:14:33
Connect and create had a. 00:14:37
Really good interaction with. 00:14:38
A lady from Athens, she was stopped by Sergeant Wade and I called her because she wanted, wanted to talk. 00:14:40
And her first sentence was, look, I want to know, I don't like the police. 00:14:46
So I thought it was going to be a complaint. 00:14:50
And she said Sergeant White pulled me over for speeding and I was in a hurry to get to the pharmacy, had some medicine to pick up. 00:14:52
And as she said, it was absolutely the most joyful experience I ever had with police officer. 00:14:59
So it went from oh to That's great. 00:15:04
A really good call. We talked about 15 minutes on the phone. I'm proud that the guys that have worked with. 00:15:08
That they can convince somebody that all police are not. 00:15:14
Bad people, right? So. 00:15:17
Great job, Sergeant. Wait on that. 00:15:19
Police vehicles. 00:15:21
OK, it showed location on a map with the call box so. 00:15:24
Police vehicles, our new Explorer came in. It is actually being a sober chance graphics with the decals being put on it. He 00:15:28
finished up this afternoon. 00:15:32
We'll be taking it. 00:15:36
Later this week, tomorrow, Friday, to get it equipped and. 00:15:38
We will have it on the road. 00:15:41
We're doing a clean up. 00:15:43
Try to get manager Dixon a list of many things we have in closets and. 00:15:45
Storage and. 00:15:50
Stuff from Crown Vics to Explorers to everything else. If we can get rid of some of that, make some room. 00:15:51
A Community events obviously preparing this weekend for the Fall Festival. 00:15:58
I've already covered it with the guys one time on assignments in our. 00:16:03
Our safety plan, going to do it again one more time. 00:16:06
Saturday morning before we go out. 00:16:09
And take our post, we have Halloween. 00:16:11
Again in Christmas. Already working on a Christmas plan. 00:16:14
A parade. 00:16:17
We went to D Facts, had a safety appreciation lunch for all. Public safety was really nice. 00:16:19
Had some good time to talk with the sheriff and some of the Oconee staff. Always want to. 00:16:26
People good relationship with them. 00:16:30
And then? 00:16:32
Sergeant Wade and and Officer Higgins, so every. 00:16:34
3rd I believe it is third Monday. 00:16:38
First Christian Church has the. 00:16:42
Kind of a meet and greet and have has coffee and stuff. I've been over a few times with with Jan and I try to get the officers or 00:16:44
somebody to show up every time that we can go to these things to. 00:16:48
Keep building relationship with the community. 00:16:54
And then? 00:16:57
I got to be involved with Sheriff Hill in the fire department on selecting the drawing that's going to be on the 5K T-shirts 00:16:58
coming up for the. 00:17:01
Fun run safety runs so. 00:17:04
That's going to be fun. That's on the 26th at the Veterans Park. 00:17:07
We we had one, one arrest to hit and run. 00:17:13
And then our stats up there. 00:17:17
OK, we had. 00:17:20
A lot of changes the past 30-40 days and. 00:17:22
I feel like that's, that's pretty good considering because we have to take a lot of time out to do training and, and get Officer 00:17:25
Higgins and. 00:17:28
Detectives house went up to up to date so. 00:17:33
We had. 00:17:36
253 calls. 00:17:38
684. 00:17:39
Security check 16 reports. 00:17:40
45 citations, 86 warnings. 00:17:43
And the warnings? 00:17:46
Contribute to newer officers right so they. 00:17:47
They're kind of getting their feet wet, if you will. 00:17:50
10 accidents, one arrest, 0 use of force, which is always great. 00:17:53
And and then over there on the dispatch calls, it's it's. 00:17:57
Basically our leading things we deal with. 00:18:01
Through dispatch. 00:18:04
So our arrest, domestic suspicious calls. 00:18:05
Alarms and then fired medical calls. 00:18:09
We did have the VMS signs put out on Mccree Street. I'm moving them to use for the Fall festival. 00:18:13
I printed the stats off, they should be in front of you or your packets if you have any questions on that. 00:18:20
Please let me know, didn't see anything. 00:18:25
Too concerning. 00:18:28
And that's pretty much it for our place that so any questions? 00:18:32
I just want to thank you all. It's a really busy time of year. I mean, we know this is sort of peak season in Watkinsville where 00:18:37
we have the festival, we have all these special events we've got. 00:18:41
Halloween, the Christmas parade. I know it's a busy time for you and your guys and we're grateful. 00:18:46
I did see Sergeant Wade at Thomas Farm Preserve on Sunday afternoon. 00:18:50
Helping. He'd gotten out the. 00:18:55
The 4x4 vehicle and was helping some citizens make it back up from the pond. I think somebody gotten tired down there, but it was 00:18:58
a great example of. 00:19:01
It felt like a family reunion. He was down there laughing and joking with him while he was given this elderly gentleman a ride 00:19:04
back up from the pond. And it was just a great example to your point of. 00:19:09
How to make that police interaction really positive versus just going down and picking them up? It seemed to be a really great 00:19:14
moment down there. So a lot of responses I get about Sergeant Wade, the word joyful is always used. Yeah. So he can put smile on 00:19:19
people's faces for sure, actually. 00:19:25
Thomas Farm had some lost. 00:19:30
Females Friday night. 00:19:34
That he assisted with. 00:19:36
So. 00:19:38
It got dark in the woods and they couldn't find their way out, Oconee County responded, but then we followed up on it over the 00:19:39
weekend. 00:19:42
So. 00:19:46
It gets dark really quick in the wood. That may be something that we have to. 00:19:46
To mention it may be. 00:19:50
Lighter out in the field, but if you go down to the trails it's a whole different. 00:19:52
Different sceneries. 00:19:56
Yep, sure is. 00:19:58
Thank you. Thank you, Chief. 00:20:00
Thank you. 00:20:07
All right, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I did want to note one of the items on there does is related to reappointment of 00:20:10
two members of the Downtown Development Authority. You've got a letter at your seat. 00:20:15
With that recommendation. 00:20:20
But again, since its own consent, unless anybody wants to, we won't discuss that. So I'll entertain a motion to approve the 00:20:21
consent agenda. 00:20:25
Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. 00:20:31
Do I have a second? 00:20:35
I second. 00:20:36
Any discussion? 00:20:37
All right, all in favor, say aye, aye. 00:20:39
I will note that if anybody is interested in a large. 00:20:41
Christmas Tree Stand There will be 1 available from our form when we used to have a live Christmas tree so. 00:20:44
We'll move on to public hearings. We do have an interesting one tonight and. 00:20:51
Actually look forward to hearing more about it. 00:20:56
But public hearings do have a legal process with that. So as we go through this, we'll recognize that we'll have 10 minutes per 00:20:58
side for that, for that public hearing. 00:21:03
The comments at this point, the meeting should just be about the item that's before us. So in this case it's going to be about 00:21:08
either the. 00:21:12
Hotel conditional use and text amendment or related to the vending machine conditional use amendment. 00:21:16
Same rules as before. No debate, argument. Personal attacks are irrelevant discussion. 00:21:23
4 minutes per person. 00:21:28
With that, I'll open up a public hearing. 00:21:30
Related to will not want to open it up, we'll have a staff briefing on the public hearing related to the text amendment. 00:21:32
For Article 13 of the zoning ordinance to allow conditional use for a hotel, boutique and commercial corridor district. 00:21:38
This is going to seem weird y'all, but what we're doing basically is. 00:21:44
Creating the framework to allow. 00:21:48
The use for a hotel. 00:21:52
A hotel. 00:21:53
To be. 00:21:55
Updated or potentially rebuilt? 00:21:57
But we have to allow the use, then we have to actually vote on the specific proposal from the user. So it's going to seem like 00:22:00
we're talking about the same thing over and over again, but that's the way we have to do it. 00:22:04
With that, I'll probably quit talking and let staff or Joe. 00:22:08
Provide an overview at this point on what we're doing for this public hearing. 00:22:11
Then we'll vote on the text amendment related to that. Then we'll actually hear the request for 173 S Main and then we'll vote on 00:22:15
that request. So we're going to look at the. 00:22:20
Text amendment, then we're going to look at the specific request. Joe, I'll hand it to you. 00:22:24
Certainly, and the specific request does pertain to a pre-existing grandfathered use. 00:22:28
And I would call this basically housekeeping to ensure that this is a permitted use so they can do the proposed upgrades and 00:22:34
renos, OK. 00:22:38
So at this point, I'll open up the public hearing. This is a text amendment that will allow article to Article 13 of the zoning 00:22:44
ordinance to be sure that we allow. 00:22:48
Boutique hotels in the commercial corridor. 00:22:54
Zone. This also means if someone else wanted to build one in that zone because it's a conditional use, they'd have to bring it 00:22:56
before council. Would anyone want to speak in favor of or opposed to? 00:23:01
The text amendment. 00:23:07
All right, nobody's standing up. 00:23:11
At this point, I'll close the public hearing. 00:23:13
And we will vote on the text amendment. 00:23:15
Is there any other reporting we need to do before we vote on that? I don't think so. 00:23:18
OK. 00:23:21
With that, Council, do you have any questions or discussions about the text amendment to the code to allow the boutique hotel and 00:23:23
commercial quarter? 00:23:26
As a conditional use. 00:23:29
All right, no discussion. I'll entertain a motion to approve or deny. 00:23:31
The motion I make a motion to approve. 00:23:36
OK. We have a motion to approve the amendment. Do we have a second? Second. 00:23:39
All right, we have a second. Any discussion hearing none, all in favor say aye. Motion carries. 00:23:43
Now we will move on to this is what's called a conditional use because we have to have a public hearing anytime some if someone 00:23:50
wanted to build another hotel. 00:23:54
In a commercial corridor zone, they would have to come before council to do that. They couldn't do that by right without hearing 00:23:58
from the council. So at this point, now we will have a public hearing to actually talk about the request. 00:24:03
For this specific property at 173 S main. 00:24:09
By Matt Tingle And that's with the consent of the existing owners. 00:24:13
Of the. 00:24:16
Of the luxury Inn. 00:24:18
Who are also here with us tonight. So at this point, Mr. Campbell, city Engineer, do you have a report to make on this request? I 00:24:20
do Thank you, Mayor. 00:24:23
Again, so this is for the conditional use request for the boutique hotel at 173 S Main St. which is zoned. 00:24:27
Corridor Commercial. We know it as the Luxury Inn. 00:24:35
So to show where that is on the map, I. 00:24:39
Again, it is located at the city limits. We can talk about that a little bit more too. But that is South Main Street, so it would 00:24:42
be east of 441 and just slightly West of the intersection there of of South Main Street and Old Bishop Rd. 00:24:49
So this is existing picture of existing facilities. You can see the luxury inside there on your right, that's S Main St. on your 00:24:57
right, the facility there on your left. So the picture is essentially facing north. 00:25:02
There's another picture from the other end of the property, from the northern Dr. facing back, generally in the opposite 00:25:08
direction. 00:25:11
The next picture may be 1 you haven't seen. This is at the rear. 00:25:14
Of the of the existing structure. If you're only used to seeing it from the front, this gives an idea of the area that is behind 00:25:17
the existing structure. 00:25:22
And then? 00:25:26
The again you just approved. 00:25:27
The the the text amendment that kind of codifies a beach week hotel in corridor commercial. 00:25:30
With the conditional use, this is the conditional use. 00:25:36
From not so long ago historical perspective you remain. Remember that at the February 2023 meeting. 00:25:39
The half. 00:25:46
Of this hotel that was located outside the city limits was annexed into the city limits so that there would be some opportunities 00:25:48
to do some things. 00:25:51
That didn't cross. 00:25:55
All of those jurisdictional lines that is now this parcel that's approximately 2 acres is located wholly within the city of 00:25:56
Watkinsville. So we've received the application the specific 4 conditional use, all those appropriate ABCD items, a through H 00:26:03
additional conditional use permit items were included in the application with the the detailed information is needed. 00:26:10
And I'm. 00:26:17
Happy to answer any questions. 00:26:18
All right, I'm going to at this point. 00:26:22
Council, do you have any questions for Mr. Campbell? 00:26:24
All right. At this point, I think what we'll do is open up the public hearing, same rules as before. 4 minutes. 00:26:26
4 minutes for anyone who wants to speak. I think the applicant technically could have as much as 10 minutes. 00:26:31
But the general public 4 minutes. 00:26:36
If in favor or opposed, I think it will make sense first for the applicant to come forward and give us a. 00:26:39
An overview of their vision for the project. So the public's aware of what you have planned. So Mr. Tingle, Mr. Healy, some 00:26:45
combination, either one of you, come forward, state your address and give us an overview of what you have planned here. 00:26:50
Good evening, I'm. 00:27:04
Matt Tingle My address is 1130 Hunting Creek Lane. 00:27:05
In Watkinsville. 00:27:08
I feel like we have. 00:27:12
Talked through pretty much what what we want to do, but we are. 00:27:13
Our vision is just to bring this property up to date to continue to operate it. 00:27:18
As a as a hotel motel, but maybe with some upgraded. 00:27:23
Upgraded features so. 00:27:28
You know, wiring and maybe bring it up to code a little bit. It's been a. 00:27:30
It's been used well. 00:27:34
And. 00:27:37
That's our vision for it. Except we. 00:27:37
We haven't gotten. 00:27:40
Far too far in a design process yet. 00:27:41
But we would like to use it as it is being. 00:27:44
Used currently as a as a hotel. 00:27:47
OK, I'm happy to answer. 00:27:49
Further questions if you guys have any? 00:27:52
We're going to keep the hearing open, so we'll let you take your seat and see if anyone else wants to come forward and then we may 00:27:54
have you come back up with any questions. 00:27:57
I know we have the property owners here, is there anything y'all want to? 00:28:01
Comment on or say. 00:28:04
No, OK. 00:28:06
All right. Any other members of the public wish to comment? 00:28:08
During the public hearing. 00:28:11
OK, I'm not seeing anybody pop up. 00:28:14
All right. With that, I'll close the public hearing. 00:28:16
At this point, we'll move on to. 00:28:18
We'll move on to the vote. 00:28:20
Let's see. 00:28:25
We'll move on to the vote around. 00:28:27
The conditional use request. 00:28:29
For 173 S Main SO Council, this is our time to ask questions to the applicant or questions to staff about the project. 00:28:32
We are not a talkative bunch tonight. I think everybody's probably ready to get home and that's OK. So. 00:28:41
At this point, if there's no questions for the applicant, then I'll entertain a motion to approve the request. 00:28:47
And make a motion to approve. 00:28:54
All right. Do we have a second? Second. 00:28:56
All right, any further comment? 00:28:59
All in favor say aye. 00:29:01
OK. All right. 00:29:03
The conditional use request is approved, I do have to say. 00:29:04
Y'all know I can't resist it. 00:29:07
This is a this. 00:29:08
This hotel actually has a really cool history in a county Chuck you may remember. 00:29:10
There are ads in the newspaper where there was a restaurant here. I think you could get a good steak dinner for $1.50 at some 00:29:15
point back in the 1960s or 70s when the. 00:29:19
I believe it's called the Butler. The Butler back then, you know, and still was when I was in high school. 00:29:23
So I'm honestly really excited. I'm thankful to y'all for stewarding this property and I'm excited to see it have. 00:29:31
You know, a new generation of ownership and you know, there's these historic hotels all over America that have been. 00:29:37
Well taken care of and and some new life injected into them. So I think it's really. 00:29:43
Could be really nice for Watkinsville. 00:29:48
Depending on y'all's vision and what you bring forward to see. 00:29:51
See the luxury in GET. 00:29:54
Get some new life and also want to thank you all for taking good care of it and taking good care of a lot of our. 00:29:56
Citizens for a long time, so thank y'all. 00:30:00
So. 00:30:03
All right, well, we have to go through the exact same process. You offer something that is. 00:30:05
Doesn't seem. 00:30:10
Like a big deal, but we've got to follow the rules and this is real simple. This is. 00:30:12
We're going to go through all this so we can potentially put a vending machine at rocket field. 00:30:16
Because kids get thirsty and the concession stand didn't always open so. 00:30:20
For those of you who came just to deal with the hotel, you're not going to hurt our feelings if you want to walk out of here. But 00:30:24
you're also welcome to stay because it's going to be a brief meeting and I've got an exciting mayor's update with some with with 00:30:28
some new things that are happening. So you're welcome to stay, but you won't hurt our feelings if you want to get home to your 00:30:32
family. 00:30:36
All right, so we're going to open up for a public hearing. 00:30:40
For conditional use to our vending machines and the Parks, Recreation and Conservation District, same process as before. 00:30:43
So at this point I'm going to open up a public hearing and if anyone has any questions or concerns about vending machines. 00:30:50
In the Parks and Recreation district, please. 00:30:55
Come forward. 00:30:59
All right, no one is doing that. I'll close the public hearing now. We'll vote to allow a text amendment. 00:31:01
To allow a vending machine in Parks and Recreation zoning. 00:31:07
Council, I'll entertain a motion. 00:31:10
To approve or reject that text amendment. 00:31:12
What American? 00:31:19
All right, somebody make a motion to make a motion to. 00:31:23
Approve the amendment to the zoning zoning ordinance. We've got thirsty children at Rocket Field, so we have a motion to approve. 00:31:26
Do we have a second? We have a second from Councilman Garrett. 00:31:31
Any further discussion? 00:31:36
All in favor say aye, motion carries. You're abstaining because you're involved with the DDA. Is that right? You're the applicant 00:31:38
technically. OK, so. 00:31:42
That's a good little nuanced thing. So Councilwoman, Mayor, Pro Tem. 00:31:46
Tucker is abstaining because the Downtown Development Authority is applying for this permit. 00:31:50
All right, so now we'll have a public hearing about the vending machine request and I think we have a report from our city 00:31:55
engineer. 00:31:58
Is that yes, Mayor? Thank you. 00:32:02
So so tonight is a lot about the dots on charts with some conditional use, so hopefully. 00:32:03
You know where Rocket Field is, You may not have known that it was zoned Parks Recreation Conservation, but that certainly makes 00:32:10
sense as well. If you don't know where Rocket field is, I encourage you to be there Saturday morning at 8:30 for Falls Festival. 00:32:15
So. 00:32:19
The next slide shows where it is on the map. 00:32:23
Again. 00:32:26
Generally we're talking about the right portion of the of the corner there where the concession stand is that that particular. 00:32:28
Corner of the the newly remodeled and beautiful Rocket field. 00:32:36
To this specific area if you're familiar with the new concession stand. 00:32:40
Familiar with the steps that go up to what I'll call the press box on the higher level. There's some concrete that's around in 00:32:44
that area. This is the area where the vending machine is being proposed generally. 00:32:50
Own that existing concrete would not require the vending machine to sit on grass, would not require additional concrete. So that 00:32:56
is the location as you've seen in just the past two pictures. So again, you've just approved the text amendment. 00:33:01
With the dot on the charts. 00:33:08
It is on existing concrete area. 00:33:10
The form was filled out by the applicant with all the necessary information for a conditional use. 00:33:12
And I'm happy to answer any questions. 00:33:18
All right, well, now hear from the applicant. 00:33:20
We got thirsty kids at rocket field and also. 00:33:25
It does not cost the city to do any. 00:33:30
Of this and it is actually. 00:33:32
Of way that we can have a little bit of funding into the DDA as well. So win, win. 00:33:35
Will it be tucked under the steps? It won't be like sitting out on the concrete, will. 00:33:40
To the left of the door. OK, perfect. 00:33:45
Great. All right. 00:33:47
We're now in a public hearing. Would anyone want to talk about vending machines at Rocket Field? 00:33:49
All right, I don't see anybody stepping forward to address vending machines. I'll close the public hearing. 00:33:54
Council, at this point we can ask questions of the applicant or the engineer. 00:33:59
Or we can have a vote on vending machine at Rocket Field. 00:34:03
I'll entertain questions are fine, or we can entertain a motion. 00:34:07
Oh, so do you have to make a motion to vote or I need one of y'all to make a motion? Yep, Yep. 00:34:17
Make a motion to approve the conditional use request. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? 00:34:23
All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? 00:34:30
All in favor say aye aye. 00:34:34
Abstain Motion carries 30 with one abstention. 00:34:35
OK. 00:34:40
All right, we will move on. There's no appearances. There's no old business. 00:34:41
There is some new business. 00:34:45
We have an ordinance update and that is around urban camping and vagrancy. 00:34:48
I'll just give a brief preamble. We have more. 00:34:53
Green spaces than we used to have. We don't have any problems with this. I'm thankful for that. But there has been some changes in 00:34:56
state and federal law around urban camping and vagrancy, and we want to make sure our codes are up to date. 00:35:01
With the current state and federal law, and we also want to make sure the Watkinsville Police Department has. 00:35:07
All the tools in the toolbox that needs to deal with these situations should they arise. So no current issue that's driving this, 00:35:12
we just want to be prepared in case something does. 00:35:15
Does come up. And we also want to be sure our codes are aligned with federal and state regulations. Is there anything else you'd 00:35:20
want to add, Mr. Reitman? 00:35:23
I simply mentioned that we did a little bit of Internet research into other communities who have passed similar ordinances to 00:35:27
address these issues of urban camping and vagrancy. And again, to your point, Mayor, the 100 acres, Thomas Farms preserve and so 00:35:32
forth, there's now that. 00:35:37
Opportunity that people may. 00:35:43
Push the envelope and try to camp out there. So this does address that and prohibit overnight camping. 00:35:45
And part and parcel that is addressing vagrancy, should that arise to, as you said, give the. 00:35:50
Police Department, what they need in order to enforce this is complementary with state law. So this covers the urban camping and 00:35:57
vagrancy. State law covers squatters of foreclosure or post foreclosure property. So the Police Department will now have the tools 00:36:03
they need. 00:36:09
To take enforcement actions should the need arise. 00:36:15
All right, Council, y'all have reviewed the ordinance. It's been. 00:36:19
In the public, if we had any public comments. 00:36:22
Related to the ordinance. 00:36:24
All right. Any questions, comments. 00:36:26
All right, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the updated ordinance. 00:36:29
Make a motion to approve the updated ordinance. 00:36:36
Do I have a second? 00:36:39
We have a motion, we have a second. Any discussion? 00:36:40
Hearing none, all in favor say aye aye. 00:36:44
Motion carries unanimously. 00:36:47
We'll move on to right away maintenance all the exciting stuff tonight. Manager Dickerson, give us an update on this. Sure, thank 00:36:49
you, mayor so. 00:36:53
We uh. 00:36:57
Have guidelines that we follow, but they haven't been actually put in writing and we've had a lot of questions over the years 00:36:58
since I've been here. 00:37:01
What constitutes right away whether it's our responsibility of the citizens. So we've decided to actually put it into a policy so 00:37:05
that we have a document that you get, you can refer to, we can refer to, we can provide to our citizens. 00:37:11
Basically just trying to provide that clear guideline for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the right away. 00:37:16
It defines right with this policy will define the right away, outline the responsibilities and set force and enforcement 00:37:22
procedures. 00:37:25
So first of all, municipal right away is the area on below or around a public roadway held by the city for public use typically 00:37:29
includes the road curbs, sidewalks, grass buffers that. 00:37:35
Type of thing and typically includes. 00:37:40
Where the underground utilities are so like all our power company. 00:37:43
The gas company, The the. 00:37:46
County, who maintains the sewer and water. They're in the they're in that right of way area. 00:37:48
And then we've also defined a grass strip because we have been adding a lot of sidewalks and so the, the area between the curb and 00:37:53
the street, I'm sorry, the curb and the street or and a public sidewalk. So that grass strip, that area we do maintain. So Lake 00:37:59
down Harden Hill Rd. the area between the sidewalk and the street, the city does maintain. 00:38:06
And and then like down Simonton Bridge, even though that's a County Road, we maintain so. 00:38:13
So just an example of the illustration, it's going to be in the policy. 00:38:19
Fictional ABC Rd. 00:38:25
With 55. 00:38:27
Wide right of way measure from property line to property line. That includes the paved Rd. stormwater system. That's the other 00:38:28
thing we talked about, moving the water, conveying the water. 00:38:33
Down to to the rivers of the creeks. 00:38:38
The grassies, the grassy or landscape strips between the curb and the sidewalk. 00:38:41
So in our policy, property owners are responsible for maintaining that right of way of the portions between the right of way and 00:38:46
their property. 00:38:50
Including areas outside of fences or beyond wooded buffers. 00:38:55
So mowing, removing litter, pruning trees, shrubs, etc. 00:38:59
Ensuring you know that street signs aren't. 00:39:03
Aren't can be seen, are visible. 00:39:06
And. 00:39:09
Not putting anything in that right away. 00:39:10
Maybe putting a planting a tree or anything in that area. 00:39:12
And then the cities responsibilities are to maintain that. 00:39:16
For the most part, we maintain, you know the. 00:39:20
Physical structure. So the sidewalk, the street, the curbs. 00:39:22
As I said, the conveyor, the conveyance system, the municipal separate storm sewer system that we call. 00:39:26
Basically our culverts and whatnot. 00:39:31
For the most part, making sure they're clear of any woody vegetation, not necessarily mowing them, that is. Technically the 00:39:33
property owner would be doing that. In some situations we do. 00:39:38
Do some of that, but for the most part that is the responsibility of the property owner. 00:39:43
Maintenance of the grass strips, maintenance of the grass along specific corridors. This is this is one of the other reasons we 00:39:47
put this in here. 00:39:51
G dot the Georgia Department of Transportation does have the responsibility to maintain their right of ways. However, we all know 00:39:55
that they don't maintain them as frequently as we would like. 00:40:00
So we have put that in our policy specifically these high. 00:40:05
Use highly used. 00:40:09
Corridors. 00:40:11
That we will be responsible for those in addition to what the state does, and they probably come through twice a year to do 00:40:12
maintenance. So we're keeping it. 00:40:15
We're keeping it trimmed and looking nice. 00:40:19
And then enforcing those compliance, that's our responsibility. 00:40:22
And then that. So there might be some questions. I'm happy to take them. 00:40:28
Do you have anything you want to add? 00:40:31
Any questions from the Council? 00:40:33
Are there a particular things that are happening right now in general? 00:40:39
Or often that are. 00:40:44
Going against this new policy, like are there things that we're seeing that? 00:40:47
That's making this come forward. We have, well, we have. We've had a few citizens probably in the last few months ask about, you 00:40:52
know, why don't we mow in this section of. 00:40:56
Road it's, it's technically the right away, but we don't have any infrastructure like sidewalk and so it might be a culvert that's 00:41:00
conveying water. 00:41:04
But it's not obstructed, it's not got wood waste sitting in it is keeping water from flowing. And so we've had a few citizens that 00:41:09
will y'all should be mowing at Well, no, not technically, we're not we're not supposed to be mowing it. And that nothing any you 00:41:14
know, an understanding. Again, part of the reason we're we're doing this is because there have been a few extra in the last few 00:41:19
months and we wanted to address it and make it official and so that there's a a formal policy. So there's no question who's 00:41:24
responsible for what. 00:41:29
So I've been very congenial. 00:41:35
And we have citizens asked from time to time, well, why are you guys spending taxpayer dollars to mow these state roads? But the 00:41:37
reality is, if we waited on the state to mow those roads, then the grass would be up to our shoulders before they ever got there. 00:41:41
So. 00:41:44
We kind of have to do it or it would just look terrible. So basically all of our entry. 00:41:48
Three of our. 00:41:53
Four of our entry quarters or state roads and if we relied on the state to take care of those roads that would just would. 00:41:54
Not be an attractive way to come into Watkinsville so. 00:42:00
And and also point out shout out to Drayton, Chris, well our public. 00:42:02
Works manager so he was getting approached by citizens and he sat down with me and said, you know I really think we need to make 00:42:06
this formal because he's trying to understand how he's supposed to respond and so we sat down together and built this policy so 00:42:12
kudos to him too for you know saying hey look at some point we need to do something more formal so. 00:42:18
That that's what propelled it forward to. 00:42:24
Any other questions? 00:42:28
All right, we'll entertain a motion to approve the new policy. 00:42:30
And make a motion to approve the new policy. 00:42:33
We have a second. 00:42:35
Any further discussion? 00:42:37
Hearing none, all in favor say aye aye. 00:42:39
All right, motion carries unanimously. 00:42:42
All right, we'll move on to public comments. 00:42:44
I've said it before, I'll say it again, come up to the podium, you've got 4 minutes, you can talk about whatever you want. 00:42:47
All right. 00:42:54
Hearing none. 00:42:56
Kathleen Mcquiston is not here this month, y'all. 00:42:57
OK. All right. 00:43:00
OK, do you want to say anything? 00:43:02
I think we said it wasn't directly about this. It's just the time. Yes, ma'am, come on up and come on up to the podium. 00:43:04
All right, Am I supposed to just tell us your address and you've got 4 minutes to talk about whatever you want to name and 00:43:15
address, please? 00:43:18
Name and address Mary Jo Bentley. I live at 1512. 00:43:22
Wisteria Ridge #205 OK. 00:43:25
New in the area for about four months. 00:43:28
Love it here. 00:43:31
OK, very much. I greatly appreciate your parks. I take my grandchildren. 00:43:32
I loved how accessible they are to a child with any limitations. 00:43:37
I love that, Love the green space. 00:43:42
I walked Thomas Farms. 00:43:44
Several times a week. 00:43:46
And my question is kind of related to that. 00:43:48
I also love history. 00:43:52
And I was. 00:43:54
And a couple of my walks I've ventured over to the cemeteries. 00:43:56
And. 00:44:00
Was looking at the different monuments party. There's section A and section B. 00:44:01
And was fortunate the one day I. 00:44:06
Introduce myself to a gentleman who was. 00:44:10
Weed whacking and cutting Mark Novak, who was incredibly professional. 00:44:12
He was courteous, he didn't **** ** off like some old lady, just dared to bother him so that I appreciated. 00:44:17
My question to him was. 00:44:23
Who made? I didn't realize that it was called section B at the time, but who? 00:44:25
My question is. 00:44:29
Who owns that? Who maintains it? 00:44:30
Is it a city owned property? 00:44:33
If you need volunteers, I'm willing to help. 00:44:35
I understand that there was a lot of research done by a doctor on. 00:44:38
What was it? Dana McCoy Anderson. 00:44:42
I think that's her name and then the DA are also assisted in that and there's many. 00:44:44
That have no names. 00:44:50
And I just think it's a shame. 00:44:53
That whoever these people are at the end of their life. 00:44:55
This is what they get. 00:44:58
Weeds up to your knees. 00:45:00
Leaves are leaves. 00:45:02
No problem, but there's such a stark contrast between section A and section B. 00:45:03
And especially with the new walkway I understand is supposed to be. 00:45:08
Desirous board to connect to. 00:45:12
Rocket field and so there'll be more people walking by there, hopefully taking advantage of the. 00:45:15
Walkability. 00:45:21
You know, which I greatly appreciate. 00:45:22
What can we do is there are is that already budgeted to help maintain it? It was just really sad it struck me that day. 00:45:26
There are fences that have been, you know, had been there. 00:45:32
Probably for years that are falling down. 00:45:35
I can lift a bag, concrete, I'll do whatever is needed. I don't know what the process is. 00:45:38
And no idea. So that's my question. 00:45:43
Thank you. 00:45:46
I'll just stay up here for a second case. You want to respond, but I'll let Manager Dickerson maybe talk first. Is section B the 00:45:46
section in the woods more than to the woods? Yeah, if you want. You want to address that. Yeah, so, so 1st and. 00:45:52
The first answer to your first question was who maintains it so. 00:45:58
The city The city maintains the area, but generally the plots are privately owned. 00:46:02
The city's ordinance is sort of walking a fine line between being responsible and and making the private plot owners be 00:46:07
responsible. We recognize there's a lot that are no longer around to maintain those. So it gives the council some flexibility to 00:46:15
use government funds to maintain it. So we do have a monthly maintenance of of the area. And honestly, it's really to cut grass. 00:46:22
There's not grass in that section B that you're talking about and the mayor and actually had a conversation this afternoon about. 00:46:29
Now that we're expanding the Simonton Bridge, pedestrian improvements and we're going to have a nice. 00:46:37
Pedestrian bridge grab a lot of people milling around that area and with Thomas Farm, we've got a lot more focus on that. And 00:46:43
we've been talking about this since we got since we purchased the farm and since we got this project for Simonton Bridge that it's 00:46:49
going to draw a huge focus on the cemetery. So some of the things we are doing, we're using some of the Simonton Bridge Rd. 00:46:55
pedestrian the grant alone. We're using some funds to add a a fence which hopefully will come in next week along. 00:47:00
The Somerton Bridge roadside, there'll be a. 00:47:07
Not a cast iron, but a fits a steel fence, a decorative. 00:47:09
Fence that will go in there. We talked, as I said, the mayor and I talked this afternoon about maybe in February when things are a 00:47:12
little bit, you know, when things are died down to get in there and work with Bethel, Bethel Baptist Church. They have some, I 00:47:18
believe some members, they have some stuff that you know, some people that are buried back in there, some historical graves to 00:47:23
work with them on trying to clean up that area and do whatever we can. 00:47:29
Again. 00:47:34
They're, they're really, there are people who have graves there, but there's not family members that come take care of them. And 00:47:35
so it's sort of a fine line. We have to be careful not to go take care of somebody's private property without asking them. In some 00:47:39
cases we don't know how to get in touch with them so. 00:47:43
It's it's kind of a. 00:47:48
Do it and hope you know just to maintain it and try to take care of it. But but we are aware that. 00:47:49
That is an area that needs some attention and certainly on our radar to be taken care of so. 00:47:55
Like I said, I'm willing to help if you have a volunteer group. 00:48:00
Anything I can assist? 00:48:04
I'll be happy to. I noticed at least one grave. 00:48:05
I believe it was a female. 00:48:09
And she lived. 00:48:10
Through the Civil War. 00:48:12
My. 00:48:14
Who knows, maybe they're still descendants here, maybe there's not. I'm thinking probably not. But. 00:48:15
You never know, and that one was actually in a. 00:48:20
Designated Area. 00:48:23
I'm not sure if it was one of the ones with knockdown fence or not, but. 00:48:25
Whatever we could do to. 00:48:30
Beautify that like you said, the. 00:48:32
There will be a lot more attention on that. 00:48:34
And be one of the first things they see if they come in from that side, so. 00:48:36
Well, it's been. It's one of the things that's hard to. 00:48:40
You know Sharon was describing. 00:48:43
How we're trying to balance that. But I've always said a city that doesn't take pride in its cemeteries, you know, this reflective 00:48:45
of. 00:48:47
You know the city that doesn't have its priorities in order, right? So. 00:48:51
Over the past year, we've done a lot of cleanup over there already. 00:48:54
There's still more that needs to be done, but. 00:48:57
Probably if you how long ago did you say you moved here? 00:48:59
Four months, four months. So yeah, if you'd have been here 18 months ago, it looked very different. Even now it's cleaner than it 00:49:02
was, but. 00:49:06
I really feel like we need to improve that historic asset. 00:49:09
And that area, I think the last time that area was really worked on was an Eagle Scout project probably 10 years ago by a scout 00:49:13
who. 00:49:16
Really got the community together and cleaned up back there and improved and marked several of those graves. But but I think in 00:49:19
February we're going to try to get together that work day with Bethel and that'll be a good first step. 00:49:24
To roll up our sleeves and work as a community to get back there. Do that right? And that's the Church between Wisteria. 00:49:29
Wisteria Ridge and. 00:49:36
And the. That's right. That's right. So yeah. 00:49:38
Yeah, if you ever need a church service that puts a smile on your face, let me recommend a Sunday at Bethel. So, but anyway, so, 00:49:42
but I think we're going to, they have several. I talked to a member recently when I was out there who was cleaning up a plot there 00:49:47
and he mentioned that they may want to help us on that. So we're going to reach out to them and frankly, anybody else in the 00:49:51
community who wants to come help us out there. 00:49:55
So if you before you go, just if you could get your e-mail and contact information to Manager Dickerson, we'll be sure to let you 00:50:00
know. Thank you and welcome to Watkinsville. 00:50:04
All right. Anybody else? 00:50:10
All right. 00:50:14
Hearing none, none were emailed in. Kathleen did not e-mail in anything. 00:50:16
OK man, I was hoping she'd get perfect attendance. 00:50:20
OK. 00:50:23
We are done with that. So we'll move on to the mayor's report. I'll be I'll move through these pretty quickly. 00:50:26
I had a great time at First Christian Church is homecoming. 00:50:33
That's Larry Weatherford there. Several of us know Larry. He's one of our. 00:50:36
Oldest Watkinsville natives and he's always got a story to tell. 00:50:41
But it was great to see Larry and a lot of other people gather at First Christian Church as they celebrated their community 00:50:45
partners and community heroes. 00:50:48
I was not one of the latter for sure, but we're proud to be a partner with First Christian Church and. 00:50:52
Often say y'all and it's true. 00:50:57
A community with strong churches is a strong community and we've got a lot of them in Watkinsville and we're grateful for that and 00:50:59
we really work hard to support them, as the chief outlined earlier. 00:51:03
We've got another new business at Wire Park. That's Trinity Accounting Group. That's one of the largest CPA firms in the region. 00:51:08
They're moving October 20th. 00:51:12
I think they have 22 employees coming to Wire Park. 00:51:16
It's easy when you think about Wire Park, just to think about all the fun stuff up front. But what's? 00:51:19
What's always I always appreciate is and Matt and might have a better estimate than I can give, but I think there's probably at 00:51:23
least. 00:51:27
150. 00:51:30
Professional jobs in the back part of Wire Park and these are folks who are. 00:51:31
Spending money in Watkinsville, creating jobs, creating opportunities. 00:51:36
Using restaurants and shops, not just at Wire Park, but all over town. So, but I did want to call out Trinity. We're excited to 00:51:40
have them at Wire Park as well. 00:51:44
Bishops Vineyard was paved this week, Sharon. That's done. I haven't driven through, but it's all done. 00:51:49
OK. 00:51:54
Bishop's venue. 00:52:25
Not been paved since it was built in the 1980s so so anyway so we're. 00:52:26
And again, that's I mentioned earlier how the T spots funds help us with things like that. So again, when you all go the next time 00:52:32
you have to vote for one of those. 00:52:35
We would not have been able to do that without. 00:52:39
T spouse funds without a significant tax increase that was. 00:52:41
A couple $100,000. 00:52:44
$200,000 to repave that neighborhood. 00:52:46
We've got our hand rails in on the Simonton Bridge. 00:52:49
Connector. This is for phase one. We'll have to do some more at the other side of the bridge. 00:52:53
These have to be done per ADA so but they are in and we're thankful that they're there. 00:52:59
They still have to be painted we're. 00:53:06
Hopefully they'll keep people safe. 00:53:07
Our new resident mentioned the the new project through the woods there. 00:53:10
These are the footers for the covered bridge, the 105 foot covered bridge that's going to go through and connect the park to 00:53:15
rocket field. 00:53:19
They've made pretty substantial progress since these pictures. They're building bio ponds on both ends. 00:53:22
That's what the excavators for and you can see the rebar that's going in. I won't get all the terms right, but I think those are 00:53:28
called footers for the bridge. There's going to be 3 footers. 00:53:31
All with concrete in them it. 00:53:36
It's going to be the most well engineered covered bridge in the state of Georgia. I'll say that. It's going to be built to stand 00:53:39
the test of time, that's for sure. But we're excited to see that come to fruition. 00:53:44
Late this year and early next year. 00:53:49
These are the new chairs at Thomas Farm Preserve. I should have told you sure not to include those photos. Y'all don't tell my 00:53:52
wife that she was pictured but they are super comfortable. 00:53:58
Don Phillips from IMI and his wife Arlene went to Europe and they found these. They saw these chairs and Arlene loved them and 00:54:04
said we need some of those at Thomas Farm Preserve. So Don told her that he could build them. 00:54:09
And he built them and he donated them to Watkinsville. So we have two of those. 00:54:14
Chairs that Don and his wife. 00:54:18
Discovered in a park, I think in Paris or Belgium or somewhere. 00:54:20
And they came back and built those and donated them to Thomas Farm Preserve. 00:54:24
So if you want to enjoy the sunset. 00:54:28
Go test out those lovely. 00:54:30
Lovely chairs. 00:54:32
We completed the pavilion repairs. I want to give a shout. What's the name of our partner on that? 00:54:33
Charlie Massey, Is that the company Massey Construction? 00:54:38
They did a great job on this. Y'all the 1st. 00:54:41
There was some confusion between their engineer and the construction plans and so we had some sag in the roof and they came back 00:54:43
out and fixed this without any complaining. 00:54:48
Metar engineer Standards. 00:54:52
Project probably did not go the way they would want it to. A lot of construction companies would have complained about that, but 00:54:54
Massey Construction came back and really finished up and did a great job on that project, so we're grateful. 00:54:59
To them for that and we have a lot of interest in people using the pavilion. 00:55:04
For special events and people who just want a shady spot to sit after the exercise at the park so that's open again. 00:55:08
Now, umm. 00:55:13
Just a reminder about Thomas Farm Preserve. We love our furry friends, but our furry friends need to be on a leash when they're in 00:55:14
the park. We've got a lot of reports of people. 00:55:18
Maybe just letting their dog off to run around a little bit in the back, but not everybody loves a dog, even if they're friendly. 00:55:22
So please keep your dogs on a leash when you're in the park. 00:55:28
We are going to do our fall for Watkinsville decorating contest and we'll be promoting that, so please. 00:55:32
Think about decorating your home and then submit your pictures to Robin Tardy, who's our vice president of first impressions in 00:55:39
Watkinsville when you come in City Hall. 00:55:43
So please share what your home looks like and how well it's decorated. 00:55:49
We have some pretty consistent people who do that every year, but we'd love to see some broader. 00:55:54
Some broader participation in that, so go ahead and. 00:55:58
Decorate that front porch, decorate your home and send it your pictures. 00:56:02
We are going to do a citywide litter pickup on November 15th. We're going to pick up at Rocket Field. 00:56:06
Thankful we don't have huge issues with that, but we do have some hot spots where we could use some focused attention and a lot of 00:56:12
people would help so. 00:56:15
Would love to have everyone attend that. It also helps with our stormwater so we don't have a bunch of litter running in our. 00:56:19
Stormwater system and then getting in our creeks and other things like that. 00:56:25
And also, it's also helpful even after little events like Halloween and. 00:56:28
Fall festival where we get a little bit more debris on the ground than we're used to downtown to help clean that up. 00:56:32
And again, the Christmas parade is December 7th. 00:56:38
It's a wonderful event. The famous hometown holidays and the the dead. Deadline for registrations November 14th. 00:56:42
With that, we'll go to. Oh, I did want to mention one other thing I know. 00:56:53
Christine mentioned the fall festival, I think. 00:56:57
You know the Fall Festival this year if you saw the picture of the Gentleman's. 00:57:00
In the Fall Festival renderings, I do want to give a little bit of color because David Williams was. The Fall Festival this year 00:57:04
is being dedicated to David. He was. 00:57:08
Just the Prince of a man who. 00:57:12
He'd be embarrassed if he knew I was recognized him and David, if you're looking down, I'm sorry buddy, but we we do need to. 00:57:14
Honor you. David passed away earlier this year. 00:57:20
And he was a big part of the heart and soul of the fall festival and a big part of a lot of important things in Oconee County. 00:57:23
And I just think it's important to recognize David's contribution to the fall festival and, and very quietly, to a lot of 00:57:28
important things in Oconee County. 00:57:32
He was a Prince of a man. He grew up in Watkinsville. 00:57:37
Off of N Main St. 00:57:40
And this town had a special place in his heart. 00:57:41
No matter whether he was in Vietnam or South Oconee, he loved his hometown of Watkinsville and he loved the fall festival. 00:57:44
And so, you know, I don't think they could have picked a better person to honor. 00:57:50
Than David this year with the festival. 00:57:54
So with that, I'll move on and ask the council for their reports. Councilman Garrett, do you have anything you want to share? 00:57:55
Are you pleased with our paving work in Bishops Vineyard? OK. 00:58:02
All right, OK. 00:58:06
Councilwoman Massey. 00:58:08
Nothing to report, all right. 00:58:10
Councilman Thomason with US Mayor Pro Tem Tucker. 00:58:12
I said all the things, all right. 00:58:15
And Councilman Campbell. 00:58:17
OK, nothing to report. I don't think we have a need for executive session. 00:58:19
And if there is not, then I'll make entertain a motion to adjourn. 00:58:24
Second. Second. All in favor? Aye, we're adjourned. 00:58:29
Everybody have a good night. 00:58:33