No Bookmarks Exist.
Good evening and welcome to the March meeting of the Watkinsville City Council. Excited to have a good crowd here tonight of 00:00:15
friends and media. 00:00:19
We have a quorum tonight. We also have joining. 00:00:25
From Kuwait, Colonel Brett Thomas once again. 00:00:28
Colonel Thomas how. 00:00:32
I'm doing very well. Thank you all for having me. I yeah, the time the time changes is messing with all of the city is 1:30 in the 00:00:35
morning here though. 00:00:39
How's the weather in Kuwait? 00:00:45
It is. It's been warm here lately in the 70s and 80s. 00:00:50
Uh, mostly. So it's it's warming up over here. All right, well, you stay safe and thank you for your service and always appreciate 00:00:57
you joining us in the dead of night. 00:01:01
No, absolutely. It's it's my pleasure. 00:01:06
All. 00:01:09
With that, we will move along. We do have a quorum, so we'll move to the pledge. 00:01:11
I'm gonna pick at random. 00:01:16
Mr. Thaxton, will you lead us in the pledge please Sir? 00:01:19
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. 00:01:24
And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:29
Yeah. 00:01:38
Thank you, Chief. 00:01:42
He has not made it back, but I did want to take a moment to recognize Toby Cartilage. Toby is our Public Works Supervisor and code 00:01:45
Compliance Officer. 00:01:49
Toby recently completed his Level 2 certification for the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement. That takes a lot of work. 00:01:54
There's three levels of certification. He had completed Level one last spring. He completed 45 hours of course work and had to 00:02:00
pass a written exam for each course. 00:02:05
With a grade of 70 or better, I'm assuming Toby got straight A's. I hope but but that was probably three additional conferences, 00:02:11
45 hours of work. I hate that Toby can't be here, but he is one of the busiest men in Watkinsville. 00:02:18
The portal allows the public to view and listen to the meeting in progress and see those meeting materials as they go through the 00:03:03
meeting agendas. Posted one full week before and the packet is posted several days in time so we can get those questions. 00:03:09
With that, we'll move on to the items on the agenda tonight. Number one, approval of the minutes. Everyone's had those, so we had 00:03:16
time to review those. 00:03:20
I'll entertain a motion unless there's any edits or changes that need to be suggested. 00:03:25
Make a motion. 00:03:30
To approve the Minutes. 00:03:32
And I said, we have a motion, we have a second, any discussion of the Minutes. 00:03:33
Hearing none all in favor, say aye. 00:03:38
Thank you. 00:03:41
Minutes pass. 00:03:43
All right. Approval of the agenda. 00:03:45
We have nothing on the consent agenda, but we have received. 00:03:49
I would ask Council to consider moving an item. 00:03:54
New business, not new business. Excuse me from appearances Item 7. 00:03:59
To the consent agenda, and the reason I'm asking for that is that document has been adjusted significantly since it was initially 00:04:06
submitted. 00:04:11
To the point where our City Engineer and City Attorney are both comfortable with it. It will require a few more certifications 00:04:17
before I can sign it, but there's really no need for us to discuss that under appearances. We can handle that as a matter of. 00:04:23
Course on the consent agenda at this point I need to see some head nods from Joe and from Mark on that. 00:04:31
But if everyone's comfortable with that, we'll move that to the consent agenda. If I can get a motion to modify the agenda, 00:04:36
please, I make a motion to move. 00:04:40
That item to the consent agenda and out of appearances, OK, And do we have a second on them? 00:04:45
All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion. 00:04:51
All in favor? Say aye. All right, so we're moving item 7 from appearances. 00:04:56
60 S main subdivision of Platt to. 00:05:01
The consent agenda, which means we will have no discussion of that. We'll just approve the entire consent agenda at once when that 00:05:05
we get to that item on the agenda. 00:05:08
All right. Administration, I'll remind everybody what our public input process is. Generally here in Watkinsville, we try to keep 00:05:13
it informal. There are a few points where we're required to allow. 00:05:18
Umm. Umm. 00:05:23
Public input that's typically under appearances or under zoning matters or changes of code, things like that. If it is formally 00:05:24
required, then Mr. Reitman will. 00:05:28
Alert us to that. He and I will administer that. But generally, if you do have something you want to comment on, raise your hand 00:05:33
and indicate so, and it counsels discretion, we will allow you to comment. We may also ask you to stop. Again, that's a council's 00:05:38
discretion. If you do decide to comment, we'd ask you to address it to us. Not address it to the crowd or the camera, but to look 00:05:43
at council and direct your questions and comments to us. 00:05:48
Refrain from debate, argument. Personal attacks are irrelevant. 00:05:54
You'll only be addressing the route, the pending matter or if you're under citizen comments, it can be any matter that you choose. 00:05:58
So that's how we'll handle public comment tonight. But with that, we will go to financial reports and hear from manager Dickerson. 00:06:04
Thank you, Mayor. 00:06:10
Before I get started, I just wanted to touch on what obviously a lot of you guys are aware of. There were some bank failings. 00:06:11
Silicon Valley Bank and Signature were both both failed. I wanted to assure everybody that I talked to the bank and that our our 00:06:18
funds are insured and protected. In addition, obviously the FDIC is taking additional steps to short the banking system. 00:06:25
The Silicon Valley Bank and Signature were both specialized banks. They had significant industry concentrations among depositors 00:06:34
and very high average deposits, meaning a lot of their customers were uninsured. 00:06:38
All right. So you guys should have received your financial reports, the balance sheet, the revenues and expenditures. On the 00:07:17
revenue side, we are should be around 66%, we're at 70, almost 72% receipts and on our expense side, we again should be around 66% 00:07:23
and we're at 62%. So pretty good starting off. 00:07:29
Any questions on those in general? 00:07:35
On splashed one, this is our 2009 Splash One. The money's left in there are going are being allocated for the sewer sewer line A. 00:07:39
Project along with the 904,000 that you see on the water and sewer. 00:07:48
Facility line there on spots two, we do have a little bit of money left in public Safety and Rec and Parks, but most of that will 00:07:52
be probably be done this month. So next month you'll see that probably zeroed out. 00:07:59
On Spice Three, our projects right now we've spent some money in in the public safety line item for the jaws of life for the fire 00:08:06
and emergency services. There is a set aside we'll talk about later tonight in our capital budget request. There's a set aside 00:08:12
you've already approved for Police Department equipment. 00:08:18
On Parkside, we have spent some money on Hair Shoals Park and you guys at last last month's meeting approved an increase the green 00:08:25
space category on the splash. 00:08:30
Line item we've also spent money on. 00:08:36
And roads for the hard hill resurfacing project, I believe on that one. 00:08:40
I think it's on that one. Maybe it's boss too. I get confused sometimes. Excuse me. And then we've got some money set aside for L 00:08:46
Meg for the resurfacing projects, which we hope to bring that forward to you guys next month. 00:08:50
And of course some signage and you will be seeing some additional signage week today finalize the decision on the Hair Shoals park 00:08:56
sign that's in production. We were hoping to reuse the metal. Unfortunately, that's not going to work. It's so old, it's just not 00:09:01
going. The paint's not going to work really well, but we've got that under production. We'll have two new signs on either end of 00:09:06
the industrial park going up and then some wayfinding signs downtown going up as well. Hopefully, hopefully by the end of April 00:09:12
have all those signs up. 00:09:17
On the on the actual revenue report, I think it's important to note, obviously we had a really great in December. January wasn't 00:09:23
wasn't too bad either, but we're averaging 84,000 a month which is 16% higher than the year before. 00:09:31
And then on the American Rescue plan, we still have roughly $800,000 that's not been appropriated and we talked about different 00:09:40
uses for that. I know the intent was that that be used for some transformational projects in the city. Those are decisions are 00:09:45
still yet to be made, but I anticipate that money will be spent you know within the next year probably or dedicated for that for 00:09:51
those purposes. Any questions on any of those reports? 00:09:56
Just remind you guys at the physical fiscal year 2024 budget process, we did not have a work session tonight for the capital. I'm 00:10:03
going to be presenting that just as a regular agenda item tonight for you guys. There won't be a vote on it. It's just simply 00:10:09
giving you a heads up on what's going on with that. And then you will tonight receive reports from your independent agencies, 00:10:15
OCALAF and the Fire and Emergency Services. 00:10:20
All. 00:10:29
Economic development. 00:10:34
Our deadline is today. We've gotten Julie do you know how many like percentage wise where we're at with how many people we still 00:10:36
have outstanding that have not submitted their business licenses with all of the. 00:10:42
The licenses that have come in, in the last couple of days, we're probably. 00:10:49
A little less than half that have submitted. Some of those though are just waiting on the fire inspections and those are in 00:10:56
process. So I think we're we're on a good track. 00:11:00
And we also received some renewal on our alcohol license. 00:11:09
For. 00:11:14
On the excise tax collection report, we are now fully receiving funds from Airbnb, which is our biggest country. I think we have 00:11:17
one other small one. I can't think of the name of the other vendor, but we're we've got that all ironed out. So we're seeing that 00:11:22
money come in. 00:11:27
And alcohol, excise, taxes, all ironed out with the breweries and with the restaurant. 00:11:33
That. 00:11:38
On the building permit side, we have 11 permits for eight projects. You'll see quite a few at Electric Ave. or Wire Park. Golden 00:11:39
Pantry and the library are the two biggest ones on that list. 00:11:45
Any questions on any of? 00:11:53
All right. 00:11:57
And then I'm going to do a little tap dance here for Kate. We're going to talk a little Downtown Development Authority update. 00:11:59
Obviously you guys remember that back in September of last year you activated. 00:12:06
Downtown development author. 00:12:10
And a board. And those seven board members are listed. Our Councilwoman Christine Tucker is the chair. 00:12:12
We also estab. 00:12:19
DDA map, which just jump to that real quick to show you what the map looks like, picks up those areas that are now designated as 00:12:21
Downtown Development Authority. 00:12:26
Par. 00:12:31
We hired Kate Patterson in January. She's been going nonstop. We had last Thursday. She had a meet and greet at Oconee State 00:12:34
Bank's community room. 00:12:39
With probably about 15 or so people that showed up really good turn out. 00:12:44
And she right prior to that, about a week prior, she submitted. 00:12:48
A survey to gather information about downtown and what people would like to see. That survey was out less than 30 hours and 00:12:52
instead of getting what typically they see around 200 surveys we got. 00:12:58
700 and somet. 00:13:04
Surveys in a very short period of time. So we shut down the survey. I think we got plenty of data and a company we've hired 00:13:05
Georgia Downtown's will be helping us on May 23rd will help the DDA start creating a strategic plan for the next one to three 00:13:12
years that will provide some road map for the for the development authority as they start to pursue. 00:13:19
Redevelopment of downtown. 00:13:27
I'm sorry, do not what I say May 4th, sorry. 00:13:30
There are two initiatives that require applications will be coming before you guys next month to ask for those to be approved for 00:13:35
completion. 00:13:39
Georgia Main Street Program and the rural program. 00:13:43
George Main Street really just provides a lot of resources, some tools for us to use as we start diving into developing downtown. 00:13:47
The rural program, however, is a designation that is both These programs are under the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 00:13:53
The rural program is a designation that will allow for tax credits if you create two jobs, 2 full-time equivalent jobs. 00:14:00
Umm, that business will receive a tax credit, not a deduction, but a tax credit. There are also redevelopment tax credits. These 00:14:08
things are stackable. There's quite a bit of other resources and and opportunities. If we get this as a designation, it will be 00:14:14
good for five years. It is highly competitive. They only give out 10 every year. So we are hoping that we get it and it's a quite 00:14:20
lengthy application is I think that one's due in August. 00:14:26
And the Main Street program, I think both of these have opened, but the Main Street program is in July, I think is due in July. 00:14:32
Encourage you guys to follow the Downtown Development Authority on Facebook and Instagram there at downtown Watkinsville. 00:14:39
Yeah, like and share. 00:14:46
Any questions on? 00:14:50
That. 00:14:51
OK. 00:14:53
All right, Chief, let's hear from you. All right, I'm. 00:14:57
Good evening, Mayor and Council. Always a pleasure to be here before. 00:15:02
I submitted my report for all the activity and fun stuff that we do over the last month last week. 00:15:06
Is there any questions over any material? 00:15:13
Hearing, none of seeing. 00:15:19
That's good. We're Treasurer, right? 00:15:24
Oh. 00:15:26
I went too far. I'm sorry, I got excited. I didn't really did that. Sorry about that. I would like to remind everybody that on 00:15:29
April 1st we're not going to be having any fools because it is a fools day, but we will have a bunch of eggs and a bunch of kids 00:15:34
and a bunch of fun. 00:15:39
On April fools day 10:00 AM here at the other side of the building in here in a Shoals park where we're going to. 00:15:45
Post a bunch of children and eggs and beast, your Bunny will be here. So I'm gonna be taking the Easter Bunny and all that good 00:15:52
stuff. 00:15:55
Hope to see some of y'all. 00:15:59
I am very pleased to announce that you know about badges and benevolence. Walking to the Police Department, Law Enforcement 00:16:02
Foundation is alive and inactive. 00:16:06
And I've created some material here for us to give out to business owners and individuals, to direct them, guide them, guard them. 00:16:11
Where they need to be getting their stuff done to provide tax dollars to us rather than to the state, so. 00:16:21
I'm all about it. 00:16:28
The blue link there gives you a PDF document that was created by Georgia Tax Commissioner that gives you step by step processes of 00:16:29
how to go to tax the Georgia Tax Center website and create your application for pre submission. 00:16:37
And the yellow link is the actual website where everything resides in the Department of Revenues website for. 00:16:46
Qualified Law Enforcement Foundation. 00:16:56
Umm. 00:17:00
I'm very happy to announce this morning we received a notification from the Commissioner that our first approval was received. 00:17:00
From a local. 00:17:09
For a $10,000 donation. 00:17:11
So we're live and active and if any of y'all would want. 00:17:17
Some. 00:17:22
Invoke cards where I have all the information readily available for to hand out and I'll be happy to give it to. 00:17:23
Any. 00:17:29
That's great. Are we going to, how are we going to get those? 00:17:31
Businesses because these this can work for businesses or individuals, correct it allows. The program allows for individuals to 00:17:34
donate to up to $5000. 00:17:39
Joint filers can follow up to 10,000. 00:17:46
And corporations and organizations can do 10,000. 00:17:50
You know, we'll go around Hannah Mountain. And you know, I've already handed a few out this this afternoon already. I had a couple 00:17:58
business owners coming here. 00:18:02
And talking on kind of hijacked him and the cards. So, but yeah, and I think I think we could send them out on the e-mail list to 00:18:06
Julie has the businesses. So we can send that out that way. I can do that. And then let's be sure you know those of us who know 00:18:11
accountants or no business owners to remind them of this. A lot of people are probably more used to doing it for private school. I 00:18:17
think there's a similar program for private schools. 00:18:22
In the state where you get a tax credit for donating to. 00:18:28
A private school. This is an exciting opportunity to be able to do the same for law enforcement. But you do have to move. There's 00:18:33
only a certain amount of money the state makes available. Correct. Chief State State allocated 75,000,000 for the entire state. 00:18:40
There really are not that many law enforcement foundations that are alive and active. 00:18:47
So 75,000,000 can go a long way, but they've only they've they've, they've put a moratorium on what how much a foundation can get 00:18:53
a year and it's $3,000,000. 00:18:57
You know, if everything goes well and we can get the information out, we can have $3,000,000 in the foundation, you know, operate. 00:19:03
A lot of things going on, so. 00:19:09
We could, we could do some magic with our budget if. 00:19:11
And you can use that for any So the foundation money can go to help replenish equipment, update equipment. 00:19:15
Hardware. 00:19:26
Various things that are needed for law enforcement purposes training. 00:19:27
Educational expenses and can also provide twice a year bonuses to officers. 00:19:33
As well as support and manage the. 00:19:40
Programs that the Police Department runs like the Easter egg Hunt, the Cops and bobbers and all those things as well. 00:19:43
So is this. 00:19:50
If someone is interested in doing this, do they need to do it before they file their taxes for 2022? Is this for 2022 or 2023? 00:19:53
20. 00:20:02
So it's for tax returns that would be. 00:20:04
So yes. 00:20:09
Yeah, I started in January. So anything that's contributed in this year, you get credit for in the next year's taxes? 00:20:11
OK, so but they don't have to write a check to the Police Department, do they? I mean, it's it's a credit. The state pays the 00:20:19
money to the Police Department. It is. It is actually. 00:20:23
Umm. 00:20:28
To wait for the taxes on the next year is a dollar for dollar thing. But the big thing is, is, you know, because it is a 00:21:04
moratorium with a $75 million, they're keeping track of it. They're approving it. 00:21:09
You got to do the pre approval plan, you got to do the pre pre approval that that PDF there will literally walk you step by step 00:21:15
through the Georgia Tax Center. 00:21:19
How to? 00:21:24
Create the information and submit applications. 00:21:26
Great. Thank you, Chief. Thank. 00:22:08
All right, Consent agenda used to say none. But there is a consent agenda, so we will all entertain a motion to approve the 00:22:16
consent agenda. 00:22:19
Motion to approve the consent agenda All right, do we have a second? 00:22:23
We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion. 00:22:27
Hearing none, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All right. 00:22:30
Motion carries. Thank you, Colonel Thomas. 00:22:34
We got you there. Hang with us. All right? Our appearances we have. 00:22:39
Always as a part of our budgeting process, we'd like to hear from. 00:22:44
Independent agencies and two of them that we like to help out and the budget process for the Oconee County Fire Department and the 00:22:49
Oconee Cultural Affairs Foundation. 00:22:54
Ladies first, I'll invite Miss Wendy Cooper to step forward and off share what her budget request may be, and then after that 00:22:59
we'll have Chief Thaxton. 00:23:04
I was like Cultural Arts Foundation. 00:23:15
He says cultural affairs. Did I say affairs? Yeah, yeah. County Cultural Arts Foundation. There we go. That sounds better. 00:23:20
Yeah, no problem. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I have submitted a request for $5000. Last year we replaced six of the art 00:23:28
panels we'd like to replace. 6 markers are looking pretty. 00:23:35
Worse for wear. And so that would include the actual stipend to the artist, which I'm going to hand pick. There won't be any. 00:23:44
Controversial pieces and it will also cover some maintenance that needs to be done on some of them as far as sharing up the 00:23:53
foundations, because we have several that are leaning like this. 00:23:59
And so that will help me reimburse the city for that assistance if hopefully Toby has time. 00:24:05
And that was the same amount that was requested two years ago when we replaced the six. So I just went by that same budget. 00:24:12
And it worked out well. 00:24:19
Any quest? 00:24:22
Questions. 00:24:24
And I know we're getting an update on public art. 00:24:26
In the meeting, correct. 00:24:30
Good. When do you gonna hang around for that conversation? Can you? I think we'll. I don't think it'll take us too long to get 00:24:33
there, so alright. 00:24:35
All right. If there's no questions, we'll turn it over to Chief Saxon. 00:24:39
Good evening Mayor, City Council, appreciate the opportunity to be here again tonight. So thank you for letting us put in a 00:24:50
proposal budget tonight and. 00:24:55
It's the same amount as last year. I'm asking for 1500 for meal travel, 11,750 for equipment. 00:25:00
754 meals. 00:25:10
And this this money is designated for Station 1 here in Watkinsville. 00:25:12
All right. Any questions? 00:25:19
Thank you for what y'all do. Thank you. We appreciate it. 00:25:24
Yep. 00:25:27
I was just, I'm going to riff a little bit, but, Chairman Daniel at the State of the County meeting yesterday, shared. 00:25:30
Big numbers on everything that y'all all. 00:25:36
How many calls you get and all the responses you do and then I really enjoyed seeing on I don't know if it was on your social 00:25:40
media, but about the work y'all do on is it every Thursday or is it once a month? We all get every piece of equipment out and make 00:25:44
sure everything's. 00:25:49
Training is every Thursday night, right? 00:25:54
Yeah, make sure everything works. That's that's really awesome. And the average response time, John, do you remember off the top 00:26:00
of your head or one of y'all remember? 00:26:04
Say that again. 00:26:11
7 minutes. 00:26:13
7 minutes 17 seconds with a. 00:26:15
Fire department in our community really great response time. So thank you all John. Thanks for what y'all do to. 00:26:19
Keep everything running there and those great looking news stations and everything so. 00:26:26
All right. 00:26:30
Item 7 is off the agenda, so we don't have to worry about that. Item eight, we have the cost Creek water. 00:26:32
Reclamation Facility Site plans, Oconee County Board of Commissioners Engineer Campbell, if you want to give us a report on that. 00:26:39
Thank you, Mayor. Yes, so this is the, the wastewater reclamation facility that has an address there of Durham's Mill way, but 00:26:45
it's on the northern side of College Creek. It is within the Watkinsville city limits, although it's not within that beautiful 00:26:53
mile circle radius. It kind of jogs up there. It's on the on the edges much like Station one. It's not far from there, but so this 00:27:01
would be an upgrade to that facility. This is kind of the land disturbance site portion of that. So the upgrade is going from 1.5. 00:27:08
Million to three million. So there you see on the map where that reclamation facility is located. If you haven't happened to had a 00:27:16
reason to drive down there before, so there's some pictures from you can see there's a lot of already existing buildings. Phase 00:27:24
one of this upgrade was actually completed or plans were turned in and approved in around 2017. So it's it's been about six years 00:27:31
since that phase was begun and so this is the beginning of the subsequent phase. 00:27:38
Most of the. 00:27:46
So some of the improvements that this includes would be what's called an aerobic digester. 00:28:28
Again, we're not really reviewing the details from a engineering level of exactly that water treatment that happens at a much 00:28:37
higher level than the City of Watkinsville. We're really looking at the the land disturbance portion of this. But there will be a 00:28:45
new pump station which are those are some of the more significant things that will be happening within this phase. 00:28:52
I've talked to Adam Layfield with Oconee County Water Resources. 00:29:00
As the director there, and I've also talked to the engineers. 00:29:07
That they have corresponded with to create these plans. There was a little bit of a question about wetlands and how those wetlands 00:29:10
are called out. There's no wetlands disturbance this proposed, but there as is actually wetlands within the property because it 00:29:15
goes to the Creek and and so the area where the Creek is doesn't contain wetlands, but there's no wetlands proposed. They don't 00:29:21
have to get Army Corps permit. There'll be a clarification on the plans on that, but they do require state approval for erosion 00:29:26
control. 00:29:31
I'll be happy to answer any other questions to the best of my ability as well. I have some additional information provided me by 00:29:37
Adam Layfield and and can read through that, but hopefully that's helpful information. 00:29:42
All right. Chairman, you have anything you want to add? 00:29:51
OK. All right. 00:29:56
Council, Any questions on the project? 00:29:58
Mark, what are we looking for tonight? Just an approval of, is this a site plan? Is it a building permit? So it's not, yeah, it's 00:30:01
not a building permit, but I think it's site plan approval with conditions would be acceptable. The conditions could just be that 00:30:06
comments are addressed. 00:30:10
I think that would be sufficient. 00:30:16
So that would be one of the comments is that that we do the plans have been submitted for Georgia Solar Water Conservation 00:30:18
Commission. They've already got their NOI approved, but we haven't heard back from the tool mark Conservation Commission. So if 00:30:24
they have any conditions as part of their approval, we would need to make that a condition of our approval. 00:30:29
OK, So what are the when someone makes a motion? I wanted to be able to say so move, so will you state what you want and what the 00:30:34
condition? So again, I was trying to keep it simple. There's really only a couple conditions but I think with with, with. 00:30:39
Approval with conditions of the two staff comments would be sufficient. 00:30:45
We have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? 00:30:53
All right, All in favor. Say aye. 00:30:58
Motion carries unanimously. 00:31:02
Old business will move into a historic preservation update. 00:31:07
Councilman Campbell and Councilman Garrett have been. 00:31:13
Spearheading, spearheading this for us. I think this was kind of pulled some of this from last week's last month's meeting. I 00:31:15
think though that Councilman Garrett and Campbell have done some more homework and may have a little update for us and some 00:31:21
thoughts on what our process might be moving forward. 00:31:26
Yeah, we met with Chuck and I both. Oh, sorry. Yeah. 00:31:33
Chuck and I met with Doctor Scott Nesbitt with the University of Georgia. 00:31:38
He does work in historic preservation. He worked with the city of Winterville. 00:31:43
As one example, he did a class project to kind of document and define the historic areas of Winterville. 00:31:48
And so we discussed with him the possibility of another class project. 00:31:57
For the city of Watkinsville, and he's interested in doing that, that would be in the fall. He's going to get back to. 00:32:01
Once he knows for sure, he's also got. 00:32:11
He mentioned Jennifer Lewis as someone who's run charrettes, public charrettes in regards to historic preservation. 00:32:15
So he was going to reach out with her to find out if she's available to. 00:32:24
Facilitate one, and he also mentioned the Watson Brown Foundation. 00:32:29
Which would you could apply? 00:32:35
For a grant to help pay for, you know, putting this historic preservation ordinance together as it's a lot of work documenting all 00:32:39
that, all the houses and such. 00:32:44
So all that would be in the. 00:32:50
Timeline if we wanted to go that route. 00:32:52
Was there anything else? 00:32:58
So council, you know what we talked about before was potentially beginning the public input process in April and kind of moving 00:33:03
down the road. These were some dates that we had. 00:33:07
Arrived at it, sounds like we may be able to have. 00:33:12
Some expert assistance rather than us kind. 00:33:18
Moving quickly and. 00:33:21
You know, hearing from citizens but not having a lot of answers, so. 00:33:23
You know, I think that's an interesting option from the Councilman here. What do y'all think do you feel like? 00:33:27
This is, it's viable to wait until fall to move this forward. I know staff also has a lot on their plate for the next few months. 00:33:34
We have an expert in Mr. Nesbitt or Doctor Nesbitt I would say is Health Winterville. And I know that Winterville's approach, 00:33:41
which is not it's very practical, not super heavy-handed, but also recognizes that architecture. 00:33:47
So would love to hear from council as to whether we'd like to. 00:33:54
Maybe at least take a month and see what we can workout with Mr. Nesbitt before we commit to these dates and move on down the 00:33:57
road. This is a fast this would be a very fast process where we'd be getting input and we wouldn't have a lot for citizens to 00:34:02
react to on these days. 00:34:07
The longer I. 00:34:17
Sit here and see changes and see decisions being made. It makes sense to have experts come in beside us to help. 00:34:18
So I'm leaning towards as much as I wish this was done four years ago. 00:34:27
I think waiting just a little bit longer to really do it well and right makes sense to me. 00:34:33
Connie Brett. 00:34:41
Thought. 00:34:43
Nope, that's fine with me. 00:34:45
Brett, you have any thoughts, are you good if we you might be back by them too? 00:34:48
Yeah, yeah, I I'm, I'm absolutely OK with holding off a little bit. Let's let's figure it out. 00:34:56
Well then, Council Councilman, if Y'all can work with Mr. Nesbitt, it could put some meat, more meat on the bone in terms of 00:35:05
timing, potential budget resources, what exactly we would get from this partnership. 00:35:10
And you know, we may also want to hop on the phone with Doctor Ellen Winterville and talk it through from an elected official 00:35:17
perspective. Happy to do that too, if we want to. 00:35:21
What's her timing? When's best to do that? 00:35:56
Yeah, whatever the best process is, I think makes a lot of sense. So OK. 00:36:00
All right. So I don't think we need any action on historic preservation tonight. Thank you both for your work on that. 00:36:05
We appreciate it. 00:36:12
Moving on to new business item. 00:36:14
Capital budget requests for fiscal year 24 Manager Dickerson. Thank you, Mayor. So I just want to point out a couple things before 00:36:18
we start looking at these. 00:36:23
So last year we changed how we were budgeting for capital prior to that and for the few years that I was here prior to that time, 00:36:27
we would set aside a certain amount in each independent individual department's budget to cover capital that might be coming 00:36:34
forward that. 00:36:40
You know, didn't start making a lot of sense because we're just putting money in the bank when we weren't needing it. So then last 00:36:47
year we shifted gears and we're continuing that process this year. 00:36:51
Where we look at what our needs are, we look at how much money we have in the bank and we say OK. 00:36:55
We've got X amount of money in the bank. We want to keep a certain amount in the bank. We're going to add a little bit just to 00:37:00
keep it floating because we're going to have some. If you looked at your packet, you'll see. 00:37:04
You know, there's like next year, next fiscal year, we don't have any capital that's planned, but then the next year we have quite 00:37:09
a bit. So I think each year what we'll do is we'll evaluate sort of where things are. I think even if you looked at the and I 00:37:13
could put it up here because it would have been impossible for y'all to follow for anybody to be able to see, but on the 00:37:17
spreadsheet. 00:37:21
There are also some options and the chief is going to be looking into. I found out through the Georgia Georgia City County Manager 00:37:56
Association that. 00:37:59
The 2009 Crown Victoria. The 2011 Crown Victoria. I'm just reminding you guys about the 2011 Crown Victoria. Last fall, Chief came 00:38:36
forward with a request to buy a used 2018 for 15-8 that should have replaced this car. But you guys may recall that we asked you 00:38:44
to table that decision because we weren't sure where we were going to be with our staff or whatnot, so we're actually asking that. 00:38:52
Going ahead and replacing this one with a new one, which means we've basically upped it by 1 vehicle. So I think we'll have 10 00:39:01
vehicles. 00:39:05
And one. 00:39:09
So we'll have you guys may recall so that we have part time employees that need a vehicle and then we have a vehicle for each 00:39:11
officer. 00:39:14
And at any given time we could have a piece of equipment down for some reason. We certainly don't want to have to try to you know. 00:39:19
Shuffle cars around to try to get a car for an officer. So the intent is to is to replace this one. So basically what that means 00:39:27
is last year in November you added a vehicle for 15/8. 00:39:32
There is an 8 year life on that vehicle as well. 00:39:37
We are again asking that we move up the code truck with. We ran into some problems this year. 00:39:41
With and I don't sorry about those little I see there's like a question mark that's not supposed to be a question mark. I think 00:39:47
that was a signal that's something that did not. 00:39:50
Because the coach not always needed. So it's sort of like a spare. It can be, it can be flexed. Toby's not in it all the time, but 00:40:33
it gives us some flex with that, with that department and also with parks. 00:40:38
So we're asking these be surplus, we don't anticipate, I don't know where Chief went, but I don't think we anticipate more than 00:40:44
two or $3000 for this Crown VIX, but then again who knows right get a lot of money on those surplus. I think the truck we do 00:40:50
anticipate probably about 10 or 10 or 11,000 again. 00:40:56
We never know what we're going to get. They get into that auction situation, people get excited. 00:41:02
We are asking to delay several Massey Ferguson. We don't use it a lot. We've looked at the, you know the hours and time on it. We 00:41:07
think we can push that out quite a quite a distance. And then the zero turn mowers we actually got Toby got them onto a 00:41:13
maintenance schedule which we never had before. And so now that we're maintaining them properly, we feel like we can push those 00:41:18
out, keep it on those. Those are probably about $10,000 a piece. 00:41:24
So. 00:41:30
And then finally, we're asking that you add the purchase of a 2023 John Deere Gator for the parks. As we start, we're going to 00:41:32
start pulling Mark. 00:41:37
Novak away from public utility public works and moving him more towards the parks as the as both Rocket Field, Watkinsville Woods 00:41:43
and Harris Hills Park or parts that we're supposed to maintain. He hasn't had a lot of opportunity to to do what he needs to do in 00:41:48
those areas. As we're starting to move into phase one and hopefully the phase two on Hare Shoals Park, he'll need to be able to 00:41:53
get into some spots we can't get with a pickup truck. 00:41:58
A Gator would be a great way to do it. If he needs to get to walk into the woods, we'll trailer it up and get him up through 00:42:04
there. So we're asking for that as well. 00:42:07
And then this isn't really and tonight you're not going to be voting on anything anyway. This is all just a primer for the budget 00:42:10
when you see it come forward. 00:42:15
But we are it would be worthwhile for us to go ahead and talk about designating the money that is set aside in public safety for 00:42:21
the vehicles that we see coming forward mainly because you know typically. 00:42:27
Some of the strategy, some of it is you want to spend the money before you get to your next Bloss because you people don't go 00:42:34
where you got all this money in the bank you're not going to. This money is set aside for that purpose. It keeps it from coming 00:42:39
out of the general fund capital, it comes out of SPLOST and and so. 00:42:43
It'd be worthwhile to do that. So on your spreadsheet, you may have seen where I put in red, it's not for fiscal year 24, but for 00:42:48
26/27/28. I put those amounts in and it's a pretty complicated spreadsheet. But it like I said, the whole intent is to is to spend 00:42:55
the money out of the splash project, which is it does end. At some point you do have to use those funds to reduce the burden on 00:43:02
the general fund and then figure out what the difference is that we need to keep in that. 00:43:09
Operating operating budget contribution and that I put a TVD because I'm not quite sure what I'm going to recommend yet. I want to 00:43:17
play with that a little bit and see once we get the numbers in what we really need. I don't. 00:43:22
If you look, you know the intent is not ever end up in a in a deficit situation on your spreadsheet. So if you look at the 00:43:28
spreadsheet, you'll see as long as we contribute, we're actually good based on how it's currently all these projects are budgeted, 00:43:32
we're good and we don't fall into the. 00:43:37
Until FY 37. 00:43:42
And that's if we did everything that's on here now, which I'm telling you, some of the stuff may change. We may get grants. I 00:43:45
mean, there's just all sorts of variables that we can't predict. 00:43:49
So I think it's a good way to budget. So you know we're still kind of new at it. So I think it just requires a little flexibility 00:43:53
and and understanding and how we're maneuvering. 00:43:57
Based on our current needs. 00:44:03
I think every year it may change. You know, we may say we need this this year, next year, I may say we can push that out a year. 00:44:04
We need to move something up just like we're doing this year, so. 00:44:08
That's the general general idea. Any questions about what we're asking for? 00:44:12
Any. 00:44:17
How about? 00:44:21
The capital allocation, I know you said you're just trying to manage it to a number, but for things that are relatively new like 00:44:23
the playground equipment, that kind of stuff, we're still. 00:44:27
Planning ahead enough to have those funds set. 00:44:31
For years down the road when we have to begin making repairs and replacements there, right, Yeah, so the playground equip. So 00:44:34
that's the other thing too. So we're in, this is still brand new too since they we just got it open. So we have warranties, 00:44:38
there's limited warranties. 00:44:42
It has a full one year warranty and I think there's some other pieces to it and there's some things we're doing now to try to 00:45:19
address during the warranty period what we can do to make sure that that stays in place. 00:45:24
In the budget process, so but but I did set aside some because I figure there's going to be some cost involved. 00:46:01
Yeah, I think it's getting getting more use than anybody anticipated. Oh, yeah, it's been crazy. Yeah. 00:46:07
Watching those, watching those little legs run by. All right, Any questions on capital budgeting? 00:46:15
OK. Thank you, Sharon, for your diligence on that number 11 alcohol ordinance amendments. Sharon and Joe, this is your item. 00:46:22
You want to start? Yeah, sure. So. 00:46:32
This this sort of came up in staff meeting we. 00:46:35
As we were you know go about enjoying going to lunches and dinners and things, we noticed that some of the bars were doing some 00:46:39
things that technically were were not allowed by the ordinance, but I'm sorry restaurant sorry restaurants are doing things that 00:46:45
were not allowed in ordinance and so. 00:46:50
We were kind of among ourselves saying well you know, should even still be in there. And I'm sure this is just a leftover from 00:46:56
when everything switched over and and sort of everybody trying to take baby steps into allowing for having alcohol in the in the 00:47:01
in the city and the county. So the ones that are struck through are the ones we feel like probably could be removed. So the 00:47:05
recommendation is to remove those and allow that to happen. But it's just a staff recommendation. We're certainly looking for 00:47:10
input. 00:47:14
Mr. Reitman, you have anything else you want to offer before council discuss this? 00:47:23
Fairly standard boilerplate language that was adopted back in 2006 when you all went to beer and wine at restaurants and then 00:47:27
ultimately mixed drinks to support the local restaurants. So I think this is a discretionary you can keep the boilerplate 00:47:34
language. If you'd rather dispense with that, you have that option in your legislative discretion. 00:47:41
Council thoughts? 00:47:50
Whether or. 00:47:57
Someone chooses to drink or not to drink, I think. 00:47:58
Happy hours are great. I mean because they often have food specials that go with them as well and but. 00:48:02
Because this is saying basically you can't. 00:48:08
Anyway, I won't go into the details. 00:48:12
Anybody goes to a restaurant. 00:48:15
It's a little sticker shock looking at prices, so if this can help people save a little money during certain times of the day, I'm 00:48:18
all for making these changes. Especially if. 00:48:22
Some of it's. 00:48:27
A little bit, anyway. And if some places are trying to really follow the rules and then others aren't, and we don't want to become 00:48:30
a police state having to figure all that out, it just makes sense to adopt it with. 00:48:36
New language. 00:48:42
OK. Any other comments? 00:48:46
Are. 00:48:51
All. 00:48:54
I'll entertain a motion. 00:48:56
So I make a motion to amend our alcohol ordinance as outlined above. 00:48:57
We have a second. 00:49:05
We have a second second from Councilman Campbell. Any discussion. 00:49:06
All in favor, Say aye, Aye. 00:49:10
All opposed. 00:49:13
Motion carries father. 00:49:16
All right. John Kirkpatrick. 00:49:19
Welcome back to the Watkinsville City Council. I understand you're going to provide an update on one of our most exciting 00:49:21
projects, Watkinsville branch of the Oconee County Library. 00:49:25
Getting the mayor and council, thank you. 00:49:30
Inviting me before begin. It's really cool to see kids playing on the playground after dinner for the time change. 00:49:32
When I thought of what I was going to say tonight, and other than just the update, I went back and looked at text messages I. 00:49:40
Exchange between Councilmember Tucker and. 00:49:47
Mayor Bob. 00:49:51
And just to kind of jog my memory on what the timeline is on this project, it started in August of 2020 during the middle of the 00:49:53
pandemic. That was when this idea to move the library wire part first took place. 00:50:00
So if you think about over the last 2 1/2 years, we've made it through a pandemic, We've made it through serious inflationary 00:50:08
pressures. 00:50:12
We've gone back to our state legislature for more money to compensate for that. 00:50:17
And we've already broken ground on this library, so. 00:50:23
It seems like a long time, 2 1/2 years, but quite frankly, we've done a lot and. 00:50:27
We're now over those hurdles and now now we're building. 00:50:33
Before I get a brief update, I just want to thank you Mayor. Thank you council for being steadfast throughout all of this you've 00:50:38
you've supported this project from the get go. 00:50:44
Since Chairman Daniel's here tonight, I would like to thank him as well, because without him this would never have come to a vote 00:50:50
before the library board and you didn't have to do that. 00:50:56
I certainly appreciate that. 00:51:03
As for the update. 00:51:06
The construction is. 00:51:07
There will be a ceremonial groundbreaking on April 14th at 10:00 in the morning. It's obviously after the ground has been broken. 00:51:10
But this is so that the the legislators can come because they. 00:51:19
Representatives Weed, Our in Games and Senator Cousin have also played a big role. 00:51:24
And funding this for us. Without them, you know, we would probably be shipping old shelves and stuff over to the new library. 00:51:29
So with that said. 00:51:38
The plan is to complete construction by the end of this year, so we're hopeful that we'll stay on track and have a new library by 00:51:39
the end of this calendar year. 00:51:44
Additionally, I know there. 00:51:51
When Ponder and ponder came here and presented to. 00:51:53
A list of add-ons that were desired that we did not have funding for at that time. They have all been approved. 00:51:57
Council member Tucker, especially the bathroom in the children's area. 00:52:04
So all of the add-ons have been approved. 00:52:10
All the furniture and equipment and everything that's going to be going into the library is going to be here. So we're going to 00:52:15
have something really special. That's where we are. 00:52:18
Any questions that? 00:52:23
Thank you. 00:52:25
Questions, John, I do have, just want to call out. And I mentioned this to Missus Bell when I was emailing with her. 00:52:27
And that's I would just ask y'all to be very thoughtful about. 00:52:33
The Ivy room and the history space in the current library, which I think is really unique that this called the Ivy room. Isn't it 00:52:37
the? 00:52:40
Where the yeah, where there's all the local history and those. 00:52:44
And. 00:52:48
We've had so many people in recent weeks and months talk to us about the need to. 00:52:50
Better capture and highlight our history in Oconee County and that's really a precious resource and. 00:52:55
I'm not sure how Ponder and Ponder is thinking about that area and those resources and how to be maintained and taken care of and. 00:53:00
But, you know, I told Valerie, and I'd love it if we could talk a little bit more about what that's what that's going to look like 00:53:09
and how that information will be curated and shared and made available to the public. 00:53:14
You know, there's there's just a tremendous amount of interest that I'm seeing. It's something that I think we'll be talking more 00:53:21
about as a council in terms of. 00:53:23
What we can do to capture and highlight and share local history and those those books. 00:53:26
It's funny on Facebook how much interest these you know the historic of county pictures get but if you go to that if you go to Ivy 00:53:31
Room you just sit there for hours and and you you can just OD on local history which is really cool. But I don't think a lot of 00:53:37
people know or appreciate that. You know with I think it's a new opportunity for people to re engage at the libraries. They think 00:53:43
that's a great point Mayor and I'll certainly bring that up. We have our quarterly meeting next month and I'll bring that to. 00:53:49
OK. Awesome. Thank you. 00:53:57
All right. I think we're going to talk a little bit about the Public Arts Committee and Creative Place making updates, so I know 00:54:04
that. 00:54:08
Some people in the room had. 00:54:12
Had an intriguing trip to Thomasville and have taken some action since. 00:54:14
Mayor Pro Tem, I'll let you give us an update and if anybody else wants to chime in, that'd be great. OK, so we received a grant 00:54:18
and it was actually competitive. I found out more as we went down there. Only 12 communities were selected. 00:54:25
And all of us that went are in the room right now. It was Wendy Cooper representing Okaf and arts organization. I went 00:54:35
representing the DDA and then Jeff city government. 00:54:41
And. 00:54:48
It was. 00:54:50
Really an incredible experience, one just being in Thomasville and seeing all that they have accomplished. 00:54:51
With their arts organization and their just. 00:54:59
When you have arts organizations, economic develop. 00:55:04
Functioning and then government being very much supportive of all of that. It is amazing what can happen. And so we have all of 00:55:09
those pieces. I feel like we have a community that supports all of those things and so we learned from. 00:55:16
Umm. 00:55:25
People from all over the state, from big cities like Atlanta and Savannah to smaller communities like Swanee. 00:55:26
That are using public art to increase community and also economic development and I'll share one story that was really compelling 00:55:35
I think to all of us. 00:55:41
So in Newnan GA, there was. 00:55:47
A derelict kind of alleyway that. 00:55:52
Teens were going and just kind of hanging out there and weren't up to a lot of good and so the community got together and or a few 00:55:55
people did because it really only takes a couple people to get. These things sparked and going and they started by just taking. 00:56:03
Paint hands from Home Depot and spray painting them and putting them in the alley. And then they kind of observed what happened 00:56:11
with them and they looked at where people were. 00:56:15
Using them to sit, one was used to collect water that was kind of leaking and they ended up going in and putting. 00:56:20
More permanent furniture in those places, cleaning up the alley and all. They only spent $14,000, including in kind donations, and 00:56:28
it ended up. 00:56:33
Having an impact of over $1,000,000 in economic development because it ended up revitalizing that entire area with the businesses 00:56:39
and so. 00:56:44
You think about a few people you know sweat equity time ideas. 00:56:49
But not much financially invested and then what it did for the community as a whole, so we have incredible opportunities here. 00:56:56
I don't know if we have any derelict alleys. 00:57:04
But I'm I'm sure that we have spaces that could be become those third spaces that you hear about that not work, not home, but 00:57:08
those community spaces that people can gather. 00:57:14
And that's one of the core values of us as a city, is that? 00:57:22
That we want those. 00:57:28
We want to be a community that really connects. So at the end of this incredible workshop where we saw things in person and heard 00:57:30
incredible information. Also because it was small, it was very. 00:57:37
We had contact and could have just, you know, spontaneous conversations with all of the speakers, with all of the people in 00:57:46
Thomasville. And so there was great opportunity to ask questions and learn and they had a whole session where we were making 00:57:51
plans. 00:57:56
So coming out of this. 00:58:01
We are and. 00:58:04
DDA. 00:58:07
Committee. 00:58:09
We, the Downtown Development Authority, is has approved the start of a. 00:58:12
New committee called Creative Placemaking and because we have received an $8000 grant. 00:58:20
To use on this and so. 00:58:30
Up on the board are or the screen are the the members of this committee. It's a nice cross section of people in our community. We 00:58:33
have Best Carter, the art teacher at Oconee County High School, Ashley Johnson, Kaylin Ashford and Caitlin. 00:58:42
Message are all community members that have a lot of different things that they can bring to the table. Bobby Johnson is a local 00:58:52
artist. We have conversations with a few potential student artists to be involved. And then Wendy Cooper, our Oakaf Director, Jeff 00:59:00
Campbell Council member, myself as ADDA Board Chairperson and then Kate Patterson is our DDA director, so. 00:59:08
We hope to have our final project has to be done in order to get the grant, has to be done by the end of the year. 00:59:18
We are ambitious. 00:59:23
Not even having met this committee yet, hoping to have ours at the end of September, beginning of October, prior to Fall Festival. 00:59:25
So that is our ambitious goal and. 00:59:31
I'm very excited that we have had the opportunity to learn and again, just always impressed by our community. 00:59:38
The resource, the people, resources we have, we are so, so fortunate. 00:59:47
To live and be where we are. 00:59:51
That was a lot. I don't know if they want to add. 00:59:56
What 08000, I thought I said that but yes, we got an 8000, so we had gotten $500 grant to help with just the expenses of going 01:00:00
down there and then at the end they announced that we got an $8000 grant to put towards this project which has to just. 01:00:08
Community have some kind of art aspect which can be visual art, performance art and be a partnership with the city. 01:00:16
Art organization and then hopefully help spark some economic development with that as well. 01:00:26
That's great, Jeff. Anything? 01:00:34
She covered a lot of it. Do you, the previous couple slides there, were you going to talk about those? How to solve those? 01:00:37
I just put them up, but I was not prepared. She just pulled them. Yeah, go to the next. 01:00:46
Yeah, that was one. That's a bit yes. Savannah, GA they did a mural on. 01:00:51
The road it's going Di. 01:00:57
From the Senators across, from left to right left corner to the bottom right corner, that street is now the longest mural. No, no, 01:01:01
in the middle of the slide. That kind of goes diagonally from top left to bottom right. 01:01:08
That mural looks like a street that's been painted, yeah. 01:01:14
It's the the longest mural in Georgia on a street, I believe, she said. 574 feet. 01:01:18
And it was an area of town that was just rundown and neglected. And there's the old Waterworks building. You can see at the top 01:01:26
there that they're in the process of renovating. And one idea they had was that kind of hard to see, but there's. 01:01:33
Tall windows that are arched at the top on that brick building, towards the top you can see four of them and so they're going 01:01:41
around that building. 01:01:45
What they did, they found historic pictures of people who lived in that area 100 years ago roughly. And they put those pictures of 01:01:49
those people that represent this was our neighborhood. 01:01:55
And so that that was a very interesting project of revitalizing that area of Savannah. 01:02:02
Then the next one I think was 21 swings in Montreal, Canada. 01:02:09
So those swings. 01:02:13
21 of them. And as they swing there's a, it's a like a solid pad you sit on and there's like a light bar underneath it. So at 01:02:15
night it kind of lights up as you go back and forth, but the really cool thing is. 01:02:21
As you move, it's a harp is the instrument to use and it's in do re MI faculatida, so it's going back and forth so you try to 01:02:29
swing in unison, so so it's even louder. So it makes music so neat, so just if you Google 21 swings Montreal, you'll see it 01:02:37
anyway. It's just a neat thing and it gets children and adults playing together because everybody likes to swing. 01:02:45
Beltway. Oh, they did they. This one probably doesn't apply to us too much, but it's pretty cool. 01:02:55
Chairman Daniels, you can maybe. You know, 441 maybe, but. 01:03:01
Yeah, all the new, yeah, that's maybe that's our Main Street solution. When we put in the L that goes through, it was a rundown 01:03:08
area underneath an overpass that they converted to a park. So you know space you already had that just. 01:03:16
Now it's being used by everybody to bike and jog, so that was anyone. 01:03:24
Anyway, it got you thinking about and I I personally did not think of art as economic development. I just thought. 01:03:29
Nice. I like art but never thought about it attracting business. And you know, Christine, talking about that example that started 01:03:37
with, you know, buckets from Lowe's brought in you know, over $1,000,000 to the city of Newnan is very impressive. 01:03:43
You know, starting off with, you know, $5 and. 01:03:50
You know, led to it. 01:03:54
The bikes, OK, Thomasville. 01:03:56
Their first project was they want to do a temporary art exhibit. 01:03:59
And it was. 01:04:05
In a section of town that was kind of neglected, it was the poor side of town and. 01:04:07
There were no businesses in the buildings. One of the buildings had actually fallen in, so it created this alleyway in between 01:04:14
2:00. 01:04:17
Old buildings and in the back was a mud. 01:04:20
Well, the mud pit, they converted to an amphitheater. This now alleyway, they decided they got Darlene, which. 01:04:24
Our new favorite person. She's a person that just gets things done. She doesn't say we need to do this. She's the one with a saw, 01:04:33
you know, and doing things. Anyway, She decided her project was going to be to do a temporary art exhibit on the walls of this now 01:04:40
alleyway. And it'd be temporary. It'd be up for 30 days, and they do it about every other year. 01:04:47
And the first one was that she went to the junkyard herself and her pickup truck and rounded up every bicycle that was in the 01:04:55
junkyard. Brought them back, spray painted them all with caution. Paint yellow, just ugly. I mean, tires, wheels, it looks like 01:05:01
the whole paint. The bicycle was dipped in a, you know, a VAT of paint. 01:05:07
Then she decides to get sponsors and you so your business could buy a bicycle and be in front of your store for it's like 30 to 60 01:05:14
days. 01:05:19
Yeah. So it's $500 per bicycle. She got 48 businesses. 01:05:25
To spend $500 on a hideous yellow bicycle, you know, but it on there, said who sponsored that bicycle and that was the event was 01:05:30
called Flaunt. 01:05:35
And I think it must have said something about, you know. 01:05:41
Go here in whatever the date is when there are going to be, all these bikes will eventually be moved. So anyway, all the bikes, 01:05:45
you got 48 bikes around downtown. So it gets everyone talking, what in the world are these yellow bikes? What's going on? So you 01:05:52
know it builds momentum, it builds anticipation, builds interest and and then three days before. 01:05:59
The unveiling. They went around, picked up all the bikes in the town, disassembled every single bike, took the wheels off chains 01:06:06
off handlebars off whatever, and they bolted them onto the two sides of the buildings next door and just created this. 01:06:14
Art out of bicycles that you know cost. 01:06:22
And they left it up for 30 days and everyone just. 01:06:26
So, and this led to, OK, now we're going to do it, you know, next year. So they say it's about every two years to do. And it's 01:06:29
just everyone loves it. It's like, oh, why'd you take it down? It's like, well, you know, it's not permanent. It's 30 days. 01:06:36
Anyway, that was a great concept that's kind of been some inspiration for our initial thoughts on what we want to do. And it also 01:06:43
that project ended up revitalizing a whole section of their town. So it's the main thoroughfare from Tallahassee up through that 01:06:50
section of town and people would actually bypass it, go out of their way because it was so rundown and then revitalizing this one 01:06:57
non building building now. 01:07:04
Has completely sparked It's their Creative Arts district now. 01:07:12
And I don't even know how they didn't give numbers, but I'm sure it has sparked a lot of economic development. I mean, 30-40 01:07:15
million, Yeah, at least there's a brewery of restaurants and yarn shop. So I mean. 01:07:22
It's it's it's one of the coolest stretches of St. Down there. I've never been to Thomasville before. 01:07:31
And Christine and I were both falling in love with it, with the city. So yeah, it was a great trip, Wendy. Anything you want to 01:07:36
have? 01:07:40
Yeah, I was just reiterating how incredible that experience was and I was very grateful to be able to go. 01:07:45
Unbelievable educational about how and they call it activating the spaces when they go into you know space and county fairly and 01:07:52
we're going to activate the space. 01:07:57
Temporary exhibition People come, and then it ends up just in like, you're right, Thomasville, their whole arts district. 01:08:04
Is developed around this space. It was building. It was turned down between two older buildings of Justice. 01:08:10
Space with two brick walls and they have rotating and positions there now. It is amazing. 01:08:16
And I love the connection piece and how connected so many people in our. 01:08:22
One project, 50 bucks. 01:08:27
Uh. 01:08:29
So they did the bicycles then. Then this past year it was they did the Monopoly game. 01:08:31
So they had these life. Well, you know, these houses that were about 6 feet tall like cutouts of a house for the pieces, the mayor 01:08:36
dressed up as the monopoly guy with the monocle and the tucks and everything. So it was just really great to see the whole 01:08:42
community involved in in such a fun project. 01:08:49
Awesome. Well, thank you all for your leadership. They're really excited to see. 01:08:57
You know the art side of the community being reactivated, Wendy. Thank you for your leadership and stewardship at Oak F. 01:09:03
And Jeff and Christine thanks for all your. 01:09:09
And I'm excited to see what the committee comes up with. Let's. 01:09:13
Move quickly. That's great. All right, now is the time for public comments while we wait for anyone who wants to come forward. 01:09:17
Julie, did we receive any online? 01:09:22
All right. We had done online. Anybody have anything they wish to share? 01:09:28
All right. Hearing none, we'll move along to the mayor's. 01:09:33
A couple items I. 01:09:37
Highlight I'll be quick, February 25th. I know a lot of us were out there. The Community Field Festival at Wire Park was a big 01:09:39
success. 01:09:43
Great, great attendance, great music We had. You know, a good BBQ. Unfortunately, the wrong choice was made. 01:09:48
In the in in the for the winter, Jeff, here's yours was the best that I had. 01:09:57
And so anyway, but it was a but it was a really great night for Watkinsville. It's great to see that community spirit continuing 01:10:05
to happen at Wire Park. I think they're having something on Saint Patrick's Day if anyone wants to Don their green and head out 01:10:09
there. 01:10:14
I would anticipate a nice crowd and some good music. So so anyway another great event out there. Continue to make progress at 01:10:19
Rocket Field. Sometimes it's hard to tell when there's a lot of dirt work going, but they are working out there. 01:10:26
We have we're in good shape on our inspections. 01:10:33
Dugouts will be foundations will be poured next week. 01:10:37
Windows are going up in the in the building we have. 01:10:40
Have a lot happening, so anyway we continue to track. Lights are anticipated arriving there around April 15th. 01:10:48
We've got a few having some good discussions with our partner on some of the finished materials. 01:10:56
What some of the best choices are. So I'll update you guys as we get a little further down the road on that, but continue to make 01:11:03
great progress there. 01:11:05
Sewer line A we are under Hwy. 15 and I don't think we are under. We've got one more Jack and bore right underneath that dock at 01:11:12
the Bishop building. Have they started that yet Mark or they getting close, do you know? 01:11:18
They hadn't OK yeah, they hadn't. As of I think it rained and they didn't look like got much got done on Monday when I went. 01:11:25
But they are off Jerry Smith, which is great because that was a mess for a while, but overall I don't think it was quite as bad as 01:11:32
we had feared. I know they hit some rock mark, but it didn't seem like it brought him to a complete stop or anything. They were 01:11:36
able to keep moving. 01:11:40
So now they have one more board to do and hopefully that'll go smoothly. That's a little bit of it's a tricky bend in the line 01:11:44
where they're going under a existing building with a loading dock, so. 01:11:50
But that is on the agenda and happening moving quickly John and his team. Thank you John for leading the way on the comprehensive 01:11:56
plan update And Guy Herring's office, I do want to call out the comp plan does impact us. The county has been great about it, 01:12:01
keeping us engaged through that process. 01:12:06
There is an open house March 29th, three to seven. PMI will drop in there at some point. I would encourage any of you to also drop 01:12:12
in and share your thoughts. Chairman Daniel made a great point yesterday talking about the first comprehensive plan was done when 01:12:17
you're how old, John too, two years old. 01:12:23
And he said it hadn't changed much. And I think we all appreciate that. But the reason it doesn't change much and I give John and 01:12:29
his colleagues a lot of credit is they're very disciplined in terms of listening to that comp plan and making their decisions 01:12:34
based on what the citizens have said they want. 01:12:39
Well, you know how they know what the citizens want. You got to go and come to these things. So we've been pretty clear on that, 01:12:44
but take some time and I'd encourage our citizens to go and get engaged in that process. 01:12:49
We also have on the county level. This is also really important. 01:12:54
The Parks and Rec team has done a really nice master plan. 01:13:00
For recs it includes some also includes things that are near and dear to our heart including future plans for on their master plan 01:13:05
involving should it become available, the rail line a trail called the Hog Mountain trail blue ways on county rivers which is 01:13:12
something a lot of people have talked about some really cool ideas John credit to you and Lisa and your team. 01:13:20
Advancing this and T spots that gives our friends at the county. John, you just shake your head if I get this wrong because I'm 01:13:28
speaking for you. But this is, you know, as John said it yesterday. The T spot gives us the ability to go ahead and advance and 01:13:33
get some of these things moving that have been planned for a while. 01:13:37
So this is really exciting. So I'd encourage if any of y'all can make it and support that plan. This is a big priority for our 01:13:42
citizens, these kind of paths and connections. We're going to want to get connected into what the county's infrastructure is doing 01:13:47
and connect that to what we're doing. 01:13:52
So let's show up and support, support this if if we can. So that's next Tuesday night, right, John? 01:13:57
Yep. 01:14:03
The wooden playground is no more, I know. 01:14:07
A lot of us have watched our children play on that or might have played on that ourselves and we'll miss it, but obviously we know 01:14:11
the other playground nearby is getting a ton of use. 01:14:15
And credit to Christine and her committee, as you said last week, we just couldn't find. 01:14:19
Particularly practical use for that equipment, but I think we are going to try to reuse a little bit of that. 01:14:23
In our art project at Hair Shoals. 01:14:28
Which Wendy, thank you for issuing that RFP and excited to see where that comes in. 01:14:32
There's actually one thing I wanted to add at hair Shoals on phase one. We're working on the bathrooms right now and we had an 01:14:38
issue yesterday where they got into replacing the roof and we had Carpenter ants up in the roof and. 01:14:44
In the insulation, they got in the insulation. So it's going to require that we buy insulation. Well, I happen to know that 01:14:52
certainty will give it to you free if you ask them. So we asked them and we'll be picking it up tomorrow morning. So we'll be 01:14:56
taking pictures and we'll highlight that next month because they get back to the community that way. We're going to be getting 4 01:15:00
big. 01:15:04
You know, rolls, I think it's like 300 feet plus of insulation to put in the in the top of the of the park bathrooms. 01:15:08
Thank you, Certainte. 01:15:16
Yes, ma'am. 01:15:19
Good. 01:15:21
Would they brought it over to Captain Lawrence Duke? Thoughts. An artist to use it, and an artist picked it up. 01:15:23
As being repurposed for a children's educational. 01:15:29
Thing at Little Rose. Yeah, that's great. 01:15:33
And there's any left for potential art projects for the? 01:15:39
OK. 01:15:44
All right. We're all we're all for. 01:15:45
Yeah, we're all we're all for free cycling. That's great. 01:15:50
A couple months ago, Matthew Miller completed his Eagle Scout project in Watkinsville Woods. This lovely, lovely bridge that those 01:15:54
of you who travel the woods have probably used. 01:15:58
It is. It's really awesome. Rock solid. He had a couple scouts help. 01:16:05
And did a great job on that project. So thank you Matthew. I think he's officially going to be. 01:16:09
Get his pen this weekend. So excited for Matthew and his family. 01:16:15
And with that, I'm done. I'll turn it over at post One. Councilman Garrett, you got any updates? 01:16:20
All right. 01:16:26
Post to Miss Massey. 01:16:27
Post 3 Colonel Thomas. 01:16:30
None of this stuff. 01:16:33
Post for Miss Tucker. I already gave mine. 01:16:36
Post 5 Mr. Campbell. 01:16:39
Just one thing, the stop sign on Morrison St. you know, I initially got some negative feedback that was from business owners on 01:16:42
Morrison St. 01:16:46
But I've been driving the street, you know, to my warehouse regularly every day, and everyone stopping at the stop sign or at 01:16:51
least doing a. 01:16:55
You know, a slow around the bend at least, Yeah. And so anyway, it's it's, it's working well and it's making it a much safer. 01:17:00
Area on Morrison St. so that was. It's been nice to see because it is. Some people just cut that corner with a stop sign. They're 01:17:09
not cutting the corner. 01:17:13
I know the neighbors are pleased. 01:17:17
As I remind people who complain about the speed limits and other things, I said I I really start listening when the neighbors talk 01:17:19
to me, not the people who are just driving through. 01:17:23
So, so anyway and I know that they're they're pleased with that, so and that's important. 01:17:27
I did visit Speaking of things in that neighborhood I visited Trove the other day and they said that they have two or three either 01:17:33
lots under contract where people want to build their own homes or pick their own finishes for homes that are to come. So so anyway 01:17:39
and they're optimistic that they. 01:17:45
Some of the others may go under contract soon, so anyway, interesting visit over. 01:17:51
They had people coming in and out on a Sunday, cold and rainy Sunday, which was good. 01:17:56
All right. Unless there's anything else, we will. 01:18:01
Entertain a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel, real estate, and threatened and pending 01:18:04
litigation. 01:18:08
To go to executive session for those things, do we have a second? 01:18:13
All in favor? Say aye. All right, Councilman Thomas. Feel. Remain with us. 01:18:17
I make a motion to adjourn. 01:18:43
I'll. 01:18:45
We have a second second. 01:18:47
Motion is second All in favor of journey, Say aye. 01:18:49
Link
Start video at
Social
Embed

* you need to log in to manage your favorites

My Favorites List
You haven't added any favorites yet. Click the "Add Favorite" button on any media page, and they'll show up here.
* use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search in document
Loading...
Unable to preview the file.
Good evening and welcome to the March meeting of the Watkinsville City Council. Excited to have a good crowd here tonight of 00:00:15
friends and media. 00:00:19
We have a quorum tonight. We also have joining. 00:00:25
From Kuwait, Colonel Brett Thomas once again. 00:00:28
Colonel Thomas how. 00:00:32
I'm doing very well. Thank you all for having me. I yeah, the time the time changes is messing with all of the city is 1:30 in the 00:00:35
morning here though. 00:00:39
How's the weather in Kuwait? 00:00:45
It is. It's been warm here lately in the 70s and 80s. 00:00:50
Uh, mostly. So it's it's warming up over here. All right, well, you stay safe and thank you for your service and always appreciate 00:00:57
you joining us in the dead of night. 00:01:01
No, absolutely. It's it's my pleasure. 00:01:06
All. 00:01:09
With that, we will move along. We do have a quorum, so we'll move to the pledge. 00:01:11
I'm gonna pick at random. 00:01:16
Mr. Thaxton, will you lead us in the pledge please Sir? 00:01:19
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. 00:01:24
And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:29
Yeah. 00:01:38
Thank you, Chief. 00:01:42
He has not made it back, but I did want to take a moment to recognize Toby Cartilage. Toby is our Public Works Supervisor and code 00:01:45
Compliance Officer. 00:01:49
Toby recently completed his Level 2 certification for the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement. That takes a lot of work. 00:01:54
There's three levels of certification. He had completed Level one last spring. He completed 45 hours of course work and had to 00:02:00
pass a written exam for each course. 00:02:05
With a grade of 70 or better, I'm assuming Toby got straight A's. I hope but but that was probably three additional conferences, 00:02:11
45 hours of work. I hate that Toby can't be here, but he is one of the busiest men in Watkinsville. 00:02:18
The portal allows the public to view and listen to the meeting in progress and see those meeting materials as they go through the 00:03:03
meeting agendas. Posted one full week before and the packet is posted several days in time so we can get those questions. 00:03:09
With that, we'll move on to the items on the agenda tonight. Number one, approval of the minutes. Everyone's had those, so we had 00:03:16
time to review those. 00:03:20
I'll entertain a motion unless there's any edits or changes that need to be suggested. 00:03:25
Make a motion. 00:03:30
To approve the Minutes. 00:03:32
And I said, we have a motion, we have a second, any discussion of the Minutes. 00:03:33
Hearing none all in favor, say aye. 00:03:38
Thank you. 00:03:41
Minutes pass. 00:03:43
All right. Approval of the agenda. 00:03:45
We have nothing on the consent agenda, but we have received. 00:03:49
I would ask Council to consider moving an item. 00:03:54
New business, not new business. Excuse me from appearances Item 7. 00:03:59
To the consent agenda, and the reason I'm asking for that is that document has been adjusted significantly since it was initially 00:04:06
submitted. 00:04:11
To the point where our City Engineer and City Attorney are both comfortable with it. It will require a few more certifications 00:04:17
before I can sign it, but there's really no need for us to discuss that under appearances. We can handle that as a matter of. 00:04:23
Course on the consent agenda at this point I need to see some head nods from Joe and from Mark on that. 00:04:31
But if everyone's comfortable with that, we'll move that to the consent agenda. If I can get a motion to modify the agenda, 00:04:36
please, I make a motion to move. 00:04:40
That item to the consent agenda and out of appearances, OK, And do we have a second on them? 00:04:45
All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion. 00:04:51
All in favor? Say aye. All right, so we're moving item 7 from appearances. 00:04:56
60 S main subdivision of Platt to. 00:05:01
The consent agenda, which means we will have no discussion of that. We'll just approve the entire consent agenda at once when that 00:05:05
we get to that item on the agenda. 00:05:08
All right. Administration, I'll remind everybody what our public input process is. Generally here in Watkinsville, we try to keep 00:05:13
it informal. There are a few points where we're required to allow. 00:05:18
Umm. Umm. 00:05:23
Public input that's typically under appearances or under zoning matters or changes of code, things like that. If it is formally 00:05:24
required, then Mr. Reitman will. 00:05:28
Alert us to that. He and I will administer that. But generally, if you do have something you want to comment on, raise your hand 00:05:33
and indicate so, and it counsels discretion, we will allow you to comment. We may also ask you to stop. Again, that's a council's 00:05:38
discretion. If you do decide to comment, we'd ask you to address it to us. Not address it to the crowd or the camera, but to look 00:05:43
at council and direct your questions and comments to us. 00:05:48
Refrain from debate, argument. Personal attacks are irrelevant. 00:05:54
You'll only be addressing the route, the pending matter or if you're under citizen comments, it can be any matter that you choose. 00:05:58
So that's how we'll handle public comment tonight. But with that, we will go to financial reports and hear from manager Dickerson. 00:06:04
Thank you, Mayor. 00:06:10
Before I get started, I just wanted to touch on what obviously a lot of you guys are aware of. There were some bank failings. 00:06:11
Silicon Valley Bank and Signature were both both failed. I wanted to assure everybody that I talked to the bank and that our our 00:06:18
funds are insured and protected. In addition, obviously the FDIC is taking additional steps to short the banking system. 00:06:25
The Silicon Valley Bank and Signature were both specialized banks. They had significant industry concentrations among depositors 00:06:34
and very high average deposits, meaning a lot of their customers were uninsured. 00:06:38
All right. So you guys should have received your financial reports, the balance sheet, the revenues and expenditures. On the 00:07:17
revenue side, we are should be around 66%, we're at 70, almost 72% receipts and on our expense side, we again should be around 66% 00:07:23
and we're at 62%. So pretty good starting off. 00:07:29
Any questions on those in general? 00:07:35
On splashed one, this is our 2009 Splash One. The money's left in there are going are being allocated for the sewer sewer line A. 00:07:39
Project along with the 904,000 that you see on the water and sewer. 00:07:48
Facility line there on spots two, we do have a little bit of money left in public Safety and Rec and Parks, but most of that will 00:07:52
be probably be done this month. So next month you'll see that probably zeroed out. 00:07:59
On Spice Three, our projects right now we've spent some money in in the public safety line item for the jaws of life for the fire 00:08:06
and emergency services. There is a set aside we'll talk about later tonight in our capital budget request. There's a set aside 00:08:12
you've already approved for Police Department equipment. 00:08:18
On Parkside, we have spent some money on Hair Shoals Park and you guys at last last month's meeting approved an increase the green 00:08:25
space category on the splash. 00:08:30
Line item we've also spent money on. 00:08:36
And roads for the hard hill resurfacing project, I believe on that one. 00:08:40
I think it's on that one. Maybe it's boss too. I get confused sometimes. Excuse me. And then we've got some money set aside for L 00:08:46
Meg for the resurfacing projects, which we hope to bring that forward to you guys next month. 00:08:50
And of course some signage and you will be seeing some additional signage week today finalize the decision on the Hair Shoals park 00:08:56
sign that's in production. We were hoping to reuse the metal. Unfortunately, that's not going to work. It's so old, it's just not 00:09:01
going. The paint's not going to work really well, but we've got that under production. We'll have two new signs on either end of 00:09:06
the industrial park going up and then some wayfinding signs downtown going up as well. Hopefully, hopefully by the end of April 00:09:12
have all those signs up. 00:09:17
On the on the actual revenue report, I think it's important to note, obviously we had a really great in December. January wasn't 00:09:23
wasn't too bad either, but we're averaging 84,000 a month which is 16% higher than the year before. 00:09:31
And then on the American Rescue plan, we still have roughly $800,000 that's not been appropriated and we talked about different 00:09:40
uses for that. I know the intent was that that be used for some transformational projects in the city. Those are decisions are 00:09:45
still yet to be made, but I anticipate that money will be spent you know within the next year probably or dedicated for that for 00:09:51
those purposes. Any questions on any of those reports? 00:09:56
Just remind you guys at the physical fiscal year 2024 budget process, we did not have a work session tonight for the capital. I'm 00:10:03
going to be presenting that just as a regular agenda item tonight for you guys. There won't be a vote on it. It's just simply 00:10:09
giving you a heads up on what's going on with that. And then you will tonight receive reports from your independent agencies, 00:10:15
OCALAF and the Fire and Emergency Services. 00:10:20
All. 00:10:29
Economic development. 00:10:34
Our deadline is today. We've gotten Julie do you know how many like percentage wise where we're at with how many people we still 00:10:36
have outstanding that have not submitted their business licenses with all of the. 00:10:42
The licenses that have come in, in the last couple of days, we're probably. 00:10:49
A little less than half that have submitted. Some of those though are just waiting on the fire inspections and those are in 00:10:56
process. So I think we're we're on a good track. 00:11:00
And we also received some renewal on our alcohol license. 00:11:09
For. 00:11:14
On the excise tax collection report, we are now fully receiving funds from Airbnb, which is our biggest country. I think we have 00:11:17
one other small one. I can't think of the name of the other vendor, but we're we've got that all ironed out. So we're seeing that 00:11:22
money come in. 00:11:27
And alcohol, excise, taxes, all ironed out with the breweries and with the restaurant. 00:11:33
That. 00:11:38
On the building permit side, we have 11 permits for eight projects. You'll see quite a few at Electric Ave. or Wire Park. Golden 00:11:39
Pantry and the library are the two biggest ones on that list. 00:11:45
Any questions on any of? 00:11:53
All right. 00:11:57
And then I'm going to do a little tap dance here for Kate. We're going to talk a little Downtown Development Authority update. 00:11:59
Obviously you guys remember that back in September of last year you activated. 00:12:06
Downtown development author. 00:12:10
And a board. And those seven board members are listed. Our Councilwoman Christine Tucker is the chair. 00:12:12
We also estab. 00:12:19
DDA map, which just jump to that real quick to show you what the map looks like, picks up those areas that are now designated as 00:12:21
Downtown Development Authority. 00:12:26
Par. 00:12:31
We hired Kate Patterson in January. She's been going nonstop. We had last Thursday. She had a meet and greet at Oconee State 00:12:34
Bank's community room. 00:12:39
With probably about 15 or so people that showed up really good turn out. 00:12:44
And she right prior to that, about a week prior, she submitted. 00:12:48
A survey to gather information about downtown and what people would like to see. That survey was out less than 30 hours and 00:12:52
instead of getting what typically they see around 200 surveys we got. 00:12:58
700 and somet. 00:13:04
Surveys in a very short period of time. So we shut down the survey. I think we got plenty of data and a company we've hired 00:13:05
Georgia Downtown's will be helping us on May 23rd will help the DDA start creating a strategic plan for the next one to three 00:13:12
years that will provide some road map for the for the development authority as they start to pursue. 00:13:19
Redevelopment of downtown. 00:13:27
I'm sorry, do not what I say May 4th, sorry. 00:13:30
There are two initiatives that require applications will be coming before you guys next month to ask for those to be approved for 00:13:35
completion. 00:13:39
Georgia Main Street Program and the rural program. 00:13:43
George Main Street really just provides a lot of resources, some tools for us to use as we start diving into developing downtown. 00:13:47
The rural program, however, is a designation that is both These programs are under the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 00:13:53
The rural program is a designation that will allow for tax credits if you create two jobs, 2 full-time equivalent jobs. 00:14:00
Umm, that business will receive a tax credit, not a deduction, but a tax credit. There are also redevelopment tax credits. These 00:14:08
things are stackable. There's quite a bit of other resources and and opportunities. If we get this as a designation, it will be 00:14:14
good for five years. It is highly competitive. They only give out 10 every year. So we are hoping that we get it and it's a quite 00:14:20
lengthy application is I think that one's due in August. 00:14:26
And the Main Street program, I think both of these have opened, but the Main Street program is in July, I think is due in July. 00:14:32
Encourage you guys to follow the Downtown Development Authority on Facebook and Instagram there at downtown Watkinsville. 00:14:39
Yeah, like and share. 00:14:46
Any questions on? 00:14:50
That. 00:14:51
OK. 00:14:53
All right, Chief, let's hear from you. All right, I'm. 00:14:57
Good evening, Mayor and Council. Always a pleasure to be here before. 00:15:02
I submitted my report for all the activity and fun stuff that we do over the last month last week. 00:15:06
Is there any questions over any material? 00:15:13
Hearing, none of seeing. 00:15:19
That's good. We're Treasurer, right? 00:15:24
Oh. 00:15:26
I went too far. I'm sorry, I got excited. I didn't really did that. Sorry about that. I would like to remind everybody that on 00:15:29
April 1st we're not going to be having any fools because it is a fools day, but we will have a bunch of eggs and a bunch of kids 00:15:34
and a bunch of fun. 00:15:39
On April fools day 10:00 AM here at the other side of the building in here in a Shoals park where we're going to. 00:15:45
Post a bunch of children and eggs and beast, your Bunny will be here. So I'm gonna be taking the Easter Bunny and all that good 00:15:52
stuff. 00:15:55
Hope to see some of y'all. 00:15:59
I am very pleased to announce that you know about badges and benevolence. Walking to the Police Department, Law Enforcement 00:16:02
Foundation is alive and inactive. 00:16:06
And I've created some material here for us to give out to business owners and individuals, to direct them, guide them, guard them. 00:16:11
Where they need to be getting their stuff done to provide tax dollars to us rather than to the state, so. 00:16:21
I'm all about it. 00:16:28
The blue link there gives you a PDF document that was created by Georgia Tax Commissioner that gives you step by step processes of 00:16:29
how to go to tax the Georgia Tax Center website and create your application for pre submission. 00:16:37
And the yellow link is the actual website where everything resides in the Department of Revenues website for. 00:16:46
Qualified Law Enforcement Foundation. 00:16:56
Umm. 00:17:00
I'm very happy to announce this morning we received a notification from the Commissioner that our first approval was received. 00:17:00
From a local. 00:17:09
For a $10,000 donation. 00:17:11
So we're live and active and if any of y'all would want. 00:17:17
Some. 00:17:22
Invoke cards where I have all the information readily available for to hand out and I'll be happy to give it to. 00:17:23
Any. 00:17:29
That's great. Are we going to, how are we going to get those? 00:17:31
Businesses because these this can work for businesses or individuals, correct it allows. The program allows for individuals to 00:17:34
donate to up to $5000. 00:17:39
Joint filers can follow up to 10,000. 00:17:46
And corporations and organizations can do 10,000. 00:17:50
You know, we'll go around Hannah Mountain. And you know, I've already handed a few out this this afternoon already. I had a couple 00:17:58
business owners coming here. 00:18:02
And talking on kind of hijacked him and the cards. So, but yeah, and I think I think we could send them out on the e-mail list to 00:18:06
Julie has the businesses. So we can send that out that way. I can do that. And then let's be sure you know those of us who know 00:18:11
accountants or no business owners to remind them of this. A lot of people are probably more used to doing it for private school. I 00:18:17
think there's a similar program for private schools. 00:18:22
In the state where you get a tax credit for donating to. 00:18:28
A private school. This is an exciting opportunity to be able to do the same for law enforcement. But you do have to move. There's 00:18:33
only a certain amount of money the state makes available. Correct. Chief State State allocated 75,000,000 for the entire state. 00:18:40
There really are not that many law enforcement foundations that are alive and active. 00:18:47
So 75,000,000 can go a long way, but they've only they've they've, they've put a moratorium on what how much a foundation can get 00:18:53
a year and it's $3,000,000. 00:18:57
You know, if everything goes well and we can get the information out, we can have $3,000,000 in the foundation, you know, operate. 00:19:03
A lot of things going on, so. 00:19:09
We could, we could do some magic with our budget if. 00:19:11
And you can use that for any So the foundation money can go to help replenish equipment, update equipment. 00:19:15
Hardware. 00:19:26
Various things that are needed for law enforcement purposes training. 00:19:27
Educational expenses and can also provide twice a year bonuses to officers. 00:19:33
As well as support and manage the. 00:19:40
Programs that the Police Department runs like the Easter egg Hunt, the Cops and bobbers and all those things as well. 00:19:43
So is this. 00:19:50
If someone is interested in doing this, do they need to do it before they file their taxes for 2022? Is this for 2022 or 2023? 00:19:53
20. 00:20:02
So it's for tax returns that would be. 00:20:04
So yes. 00:20:09
Yeah, I started in January. So anything that's contributed in this year, you get credit for in the next year's taxes? 00:20:11
OK, so but they don't have to write a check to the Police Department, do they? I mean, it's it's a credit. The state pays the 00:20:19
money to the Police Department. It is. It is actually. 00:20:23
Umm. 00:20:28
To wait for the taxes on the next year is a dollar for dollar thing. But the big thing is, is, you know, because it is a 00:21:04
moratorium with a $75 million, they're keeping track of it. They're approving it. 00:21:09
You got to do the pre approval plan, you got to do the pre pre approval that that PDF there will literally walk you step by step 00:21:15
through the Georgia Tax Center. 00:21:19
How to? 00:21:24
Create the information and submit applications. 00:21:26
Great. Thank you, Chief. Thank. 00:22:08
All right, Consent agenda used to say none. But there is a consent agenda, so we will all entertain a motion to approve the 00:22:16
consent agenda. 00:22:19
Motion to approve the consent agenda All right, do we have a second? 00:22:23
We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion. 00:22:27
Hearing none, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All right. 00:22:30
Motion carries. Thank you, Colonel Thomas. 00:22:34
We got you there. Hang with us. All right? Our appearances we have. 00:22:39
Always as a part of our budgeting process, we'd like to hear from. 00:22:44
Independent agencies and two of them that we like to help out and the budget process for the Oconee County Fire Department and the 00:22:49
Oconee Cultural Affairs Foundation. 00:22:54
Ladies first, I'll invite Miss Wendy Cooper to step forward and off share what her budget request may be, and then after that 00:22:59
we'll have Chief Thaxton. 00:23:04
I was like Cultural Arts Foundation. 00:23:15
He says cultural affairs. Did I say affairs? Yeah, yeah. County Cultural Arts Foundation. There we go. That sounds better. 00:23:20
Yeah, no problem. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I have submitted a request for $5000. Last year we replaced six of the art 00:23:28
panels we'd like to replace. 6 markers are looking pretty. 00:23:35
Worse for wear. And so that would include the actual stipend to the artist, which I'm going to hand pick. There won't be any. 00:23:44
Controversial pieces and it will also cover some maintenance that needs to be done on some of them as far as sharing up the 00:23:53
foundations, because we have several that are leaning like this. 00:23:59
And so that will help me reimburse the city for that assistance if hopefully Toby has time. 00:24:05
And that was the same amount that was requested two years ago when we replaced the six. So I just went by that same budget. 00:24:12
And it worked out well. 00:24:19
Any quest? 00:24:22
Questions. 00:24:24
And I know we're getting an update on public art. 00:24:26
In the meeting, correct. 00:24:30
Good. When do you gonna hang around for that conversation? Can you? I think we'll. I don't think it'll take us too long to get 00:24:33
there, so alright. 00:24:35
All right. If there's no questions, we'll turn it over to Chief Saxon. 00:24:39
Good evening Mayor, City Council, appreciate the opportunity to be here again tonight. So thank you for letting us put in a 00:24:50
proposal budget tonight and. 00:24:55
It's the same amount as last year. I'm asking for 1500 for meal travel, 11,750 for equipment. 00:25:00
754 meals. 00:25:10
And this this money is designated for Station 1 here in Watkinsville. 00:25:12
All right. Any questions? 00:25:19
Thank you for what y'all do. Thank you. We appreciate it. 00:25:24
Yep. 00:25:27
I was just, I'm going to riff a little bit, but, Chairman Daniel at the State of the County meeting yesterday, shared. 00:25:30
Big numbers on everything that y'all all. 00:25:36
How many calls you get and all the responses you do and then I really enjoyed seeing on I don't know if it was on your social 00:25:40
media, but about the work y'all do on is it every Thursday or is it once a month? We all get every piece of equipment out and make 00:25:44
sure everything's. 00:25:49
Training is every Thursday night, right? 00:25:54
Yeah, make sure everything works. That's that's really awesome. And the average response time, John, do you remember off the top 00:26:00
of your head or one of y'all remember? 00:26:04
Say that again. 00:26:11
7 minutes. 00:26:13
7 minutes 17 seconds with a. 00:26:15
Fire department in our community really great response time. So thank you all John. Thanks for what y'all do to. 00:26:19
Keep everything running there and those great looking news stations and everything so. 00:26:26
All right. 00:26:30
Item 7 is off the agenda, so we don't have to worry about that. Item eight, we have the cost Creek water. 00:26:32
Reclamation Facility Site plans, Oconee County Board of Commissioners Engineer Campbell, if you want to give us a report on that. 00:26:39
Thank you, Mayor. Yes, so this is the, the wastewater reclamation facility that has an address there of Durham's Mill way, but 00:26:45
it's on the northern side of College Creek. It is within the Watkinsville city limits, although it's not within that beautiful 00:26:53
mile circle radius. It kind of jogs up there. It's on the on the edges much like Station one. It's not far from there, but so this 00:27:01
would be an upgrade to that facility. This is kind of the land disturbance site portion of that. So the upgrade is going from 1.5. 00:27:08
Million to three million. So there you see on the map where that reclamation facility is located. If you haven't happened to had a 00:27:16
reason to drive down there before, so there's some pictures from you can see there's a lot of already existing buildings. Phase 00:27:24
one of this upgrade was actually completed or plans were turned in and approved in around 2017. So it's it's been about six years 00:27:31
since that phase was begun and so this is the beginning of the subsequent phase. 00:27:38
Most of the. 00:27:46
So some of the improvements that this includes would be what's called an aerobic digester. 00:28:28
Again, we're not really reviewing the details from a engineering level of exactly that water treatment that happens at a much 00:28:37
higher level than the City of Watkinsville. We're really looking at the the land disturbance portion of this. But there will be a 00:28:45
new pump station which are those are some of the more significant things that will be happening within this phase. 00:28:52
I've talked to Adam Layfield with Oconee County Water Resources. 00:29:00
As the director there, and I've also talked to the engineers. 00:29:07
That they have corresponded with to create these plans. There was a little bit of a question about wetlands and how those wetlands 00:29:10
are called out. There's no wetlands disturbance this proposed, but there as is actually wetlands within the property because it 00:29:15
goes to the Creek and and so the area where the Creek is doesn't contain wetlands, but there's no wetlands proposed. They don't 00:29:21
have to get Army Corps permit. There'll be a clarification on the plans on that, but they do require state approval for erosion 00:29:26
control. 00:29:31
I'll be happy to answer any other questions to the best of my ability as well. I have some additional information provided me by 00:29:37
Adam Layfield and and can read through that, but hopefully that's helpful information. 00:29:42
All right. Chairman, you have anything you want to add? 00:29:51
OK. All right. 00:29:56
Council, Any questions on the project? 00:29:58
Mark, what are we looking for tonight? Just an approval of, is this a site plan? Is it a building permit? So it's not, yeah, it's 00:30:01
not a building permit, but I think it's site plan approval with conditions would be acceptable. The conditions could just be that 00:30:06
comments are addressed. 00:30:10
I think that would be sufficient. 00:30:16
So that would be one of the comments is that that we do the plans have been submitted for Georgia Solar Water Conservation 00:30:18
Commission. They've already got their NOI approved, but we haven't heard back from the tool mark Conservation Commission. So if 00:30:24
they have any conditions as part of their approval, we would need to make that a condition of our approval. 00:30:29
OK, So what are the when someone makes a motion? I wanted to be able to say so move, so will you state what you want and what the 00:30:34
condition? So again, I was trying to keep it simple. There's really only a couple conditions but I think with with, with. 00:30:39
Approval with conditions of the two staff comments would be sufficient. 00:30:45
We have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? 00:30:53
All right, All in favor. Say aye. 00:30:58
Motion carries unanimously. 00:31:02
Old business will move into a historic preservation update. 00:31:07
Councilman Campbell and Councilman Garrett have been. 00:31:13
Spearheading, spearheading this for us. I think this was kind of pulled some of this from last week's last month's meeting. I 00:31:15
think though that Councilman Garrett and Campbell have done some more homework and may have a little update for us and some 00:31:21
thoughts on what our process might be moving forward. 00:31:26
Yeah, we met with Chuck and I both. Oh, sorry. Yeah. 00:31:33
Chuck and I met with Doctor Scott Nesbitt with the University of Georgia. 00:31:38
He does work in historic preservation. He worked with the city of Winterville. 00:31:43
As one example, he did a class project to kind of document and define the historic areas of Winterville. 00:31:48
And so we discussed with him the possibility of another class project. 00:31:57
For the city of Watkinsville, and he's interested in doing that, that would be in the fall. He's going to get back to. 00:32:01
Once he knows for sure, he's also got. 00:32:11
He mentioned Jennifer Lewis as someone who's run charrettes, public charrettes in regards to historic preservation. 00:32:15
So he was going to reach out with her to find out if she's available to. 00:32:24
Facilitate one, and he also mentioned the Watson Brown Foundation. 00:32:29
Which would you could apply? 00:32:35
For a grant to help pay for, you know, putting this historic preservation ordinance together as it's a lot of work documenting all 00:32:39
that, all the houses and such. 00:32:44
So all that would be in the. 00:32:50
Timeline if we wanted to go that route. 00:32:52
Was there anything else? 00:32:58
So council, you know what we talked about before was potentially beginning the public input process in April and kind of moving 00:33:03
down the road. These were some dates that we had. 00:33:07
Arrived at it, sounds like we may be able to have. 00:33:12
Some expert assistance rather than us kind. 00:33:18
Moving quickly and. 00:33:21
You know, hearing from citizens but not having a lot of answers, so. 00:33:23
You know, I think that's an interesting option from the Councilman here. What do y'all think do you feel like? 00:33:27
This is, it's viable to wait until fall to move this forward. I know staff also has a lot on their plate for the next few months. 00:33:34
We have an expert in Mr. Nesbitt or Doctor Nesbitt I would say is Health Winterville. And I know that Winterville's approach, 00:33:41
which is not it's very practical, not super heavy-handed, but also recognizes that architecture. 00:33:47
So would love to hear from council as to whether we'd like to. 00:33:54
Maybe at least take a month and see what we can workout with Mr. Nesbitt before we commit to these dates and move on down the 00:33:57
road. This is a fast this would be a very fast process where we'd be getting input and we wouldn't have a lot for citizens to 00:34:02
react to on these days. 00:34:07
The longer I. 00:34:17
Sit here and see changes and see decisions being made. It makes sense to have experts come in beside us to help. 00:34:18
So I'm leaning towards as much as I wish this was done four years ago. 00:34:27
I think waiting just a little bit longer to really do it well and right makes sense to me. 00:34:33
Connie Brett. 00:34:41
Thought. 00:34:43
Nope, that's fine with me. 00:34:45
Brett, you have any thoughts, are you good if we you might be back by them too? 00:34:48
Yeah, yeah, I I'm, I'm absolutely OK with holding off a little bit. Let's let's figure it out. 00:34:56
Well then, Council Councilman, if Y'all can work with Mr. Nesbitt, it could put some meat, more meat on the bone in terms of 00:35:05
timing, potential budget resources, what exactly we would get from this partnership. 00:35:10
And you know, we may also want to hop on the phone with Doctor Ellen Winterville and talk it through from an elected official 00:35:17
perspective. Happy to do that too, if we want to. 00:35:21
What's her timing? When's best to do that? 00:35:56
Yeah, whatever the best process is, I think makes a lot of sense. So OK. 00:36:00
All right. So I don't think we need any action on historic preservation tonight. Thank you both for your work on that. 00:36:05
We appreciate it. 00:36:12
Moving on to new business item. 00:36:14
Capital budget requests for fiscal year 24 Manager Dickerson. Thank you, Mayor. So I just want to point out a couple things before 00:36:18
we start looking at these. 00:36:23
So last year we changed how we were budgeting for capital prior to that and for the few years that I was here prior to that time, 00:36:27
we would set aside a certain amount in each independent individual department's budget to cover capital that might be coming 00:36:34
forward that. 00:36:40
You know, didn't start making a lot of sense because we're just putting money in the bank when we weren't needing it. So then last 00:36:47
year we shifted gears and we're continuing that process this year. 00:36:51
Where we look at what our needs are, we look at how much money we have in the bank and we say OK. 00:36:55
We've got X amount of money in the bank. We want to keep a certain amount in the bank. We're going to add a little bit just to 00:37:00
keep it floating because we're going to have some. If you looked at your packet, you'll see. 00:37:04
You know, there's like next year, next fiscal year, we don't have any capital that's planned, but then the next year we have quite 00:37:09
a bit. So I think each year what we'll do is we'll evaluate sort of where things are. I think even if you looked at the and I 00:37:13
could put it up here because it would have been impossible for y'all to follow for anybody to be able to see, but on the 00:37:17
spreadsheet. 00:37:21
There are also some options and the chief is going to be looking into. I found out through the Georgia Georgia City County Manager 00:37:56
Association that. 00:37:59
The 2009 Crown Victoria. The 2011 Crown Victoria. I'm just reminding you guys about the 2011 Crown Victoria. Last fall, Chief came 00:38:36
forward with a request to buy a used 2018 for 15-8 that should have replaced this car. But you guys may recall that we asked you 00:38:44
to table that decision because we weren't sure where we were going to be with our staff or whatnot, so we're actually asking that. 00:38:52
Going ahead and replacing this one with a new one, which means we've basically upped it by 1 vehicle. So I think we'll have 10 00:39:01
vehicles. 00:39:05
And one. 00:39:09
So we'll have you guys may recall so that we have part time employees that need a vehicle and then we have a vehicle for each 00:39:11
officer. 00:39:14
And at any given time we could have a piece of equipment down for some reason. We certainly don't want to have to try to you know. 00:39:19
Shuffle cars around to try to get a car for an officer. So the intent is to is to replace this one. So basically what that means 00:39:27
is last year in November you added a vehicle for 15/8. 00:39:32
There is an 8 year life on that vehicle as well. 00:39:37
We are again asking that we move up the code truck with. We ran into some problems this year. 00:39:41
With and I don't sorry about those little I see there's like a question mark that's not supposed to be a question mark. I think 00:39:47
that was a signal that's something that did not. 00:39:50
Because the coach not always needed. So it's sort of like a spare. It can be, it can be flexed. Toby's not in it all the time, but 00:40:33
it gives us some flex with that, with that department and also with parks. 00:40:38
So we're asking these be surplus, we don't anticipate, I don't know where Chief went, but I don't think we anticipate more than 00:40:44
two or $3000 for this Crown VIX, but then again who knows right get a lot of money on those surplus. I think the truck we do 00:40:50
anticipate probably about 10 or 10 or 11,000 again. 00:40:56
We never know what we're going to get. They get into that auction situation, people get excited. 00:41:02
We are asking to delay several Massey Ferguson. We don't use it a lot. We've looked at the, you know the hours and time on it. We 00:41:07
think we can push that out quite a quite a distance. And then the zero turn mowers we actually got Toby got them onto a 00:41:13
maintenance schedule which we never had before. And so now that we're maintaining them properly, we feel like we can push those 00:41:18
out, keep it on those. Those are probably about $10,000 a piece. 00:41:24
So. 00:41:30
And then finally, we're asking that you add the purchase of a 2023 John Deere Gator for the parks. As we start, we're going to 00:41:32
start pulling Mark. 00:41:37
Novak away from public utility public works and moving him more towards the parks as the as both Rocket Field, Watkinsville Woods 00:41:43
and Harris Hills Park or parts that we're supposed to maintain. He hasn't had a lot of opportunity to to do what he needs to do in 00:41:48
those areas. As we're starting to move into phase one and hopefully the phase two on Hare Shoals Park, he'll need to be able to 00:41:53
get into some spots we can't get with a pickup truck. 00:41:58
A Gator would be a great way to do it. If he needs to get to walk into the woods, we'll trailer it up and get him up through 00:42:04
there. So we're asking for that as well. 00:42:07
And then this isn't really and tonight you're not going to be voting on anything anyway. This is all just a primer for the budget 00:42:10
when you see it come forward. 00:42:15
But we are it would be worthwhile for us to go ahead and talk about designating the money that is set aside in public safety for 00:42:21
the vehicles that we see coming forward mainly because you know typically. 00:42:27
Some of the strategy, some of it is you want to spend the money before you get to your next Bloss because you people don't go 00:42:34
where you got all this money in the bank you're not going to. This money is set aside for that purpose. It keeps it from coming 00:42:39
out of the general fund capital, it comes out of SPLOST and and so. 00:42:43
It'd be worthwhile to do that. So on your spreadsheet, you may have seen where I put in red, it's not for fiscal year 24, but for 00:42:48
26/27/28. I put those amounts in and it's a pretty complicated spreadsheet. But it like I said, the whole intent is to is to spend 00:42:55
the money out of the splash project, which is it does end. At some point you do have to use those funds to reduce the burden on 00:43:02
the general fund and then figure out what the difference is that we need to keep in that. 00:43:09
Operating operating budget contribution and that I put a TVD because I'm not quite sure what I'm going to recommend yet. I want to 00:43:17
play with that a little bit and see once we get the numbers in what we really need. I don't. 00:43:22
If you look, you know the intent is not ever end up in a in a deficit situation on your spreadsheet. So if you look at the 00:43:28
spreadsheet, you'll see as long as we contribute, we're actually good based on how it's currently all these projects are budgeted, 00:43:32
we're good and we don't fall into the. 00:43:37
Until FY 37. 00:43:42
And that's if we did everything that's on here now, which I'm telling you, some of the stuff may change. We may get grants. I 00:43:45
mean, there's just all sorts of variables that we can't predict. 00:43:49
So I think it's a good way to budget. So you know we're still kind of new at it. So I think it just requires a little flexibility 00:43:53
and and understanding and how we're maneuvering. 00:43:57
Based on our current needs. 00:44:03
I think every year it may change. You know, we may say we need this this year, next year, I may say we can push that out a year. 00:44:04
We need to move something up just like we're doing this year, so. 00:44:08
That's the general general idea. Any questions about what we're asking for? 00:44:12
Any. 00:44:17
How about? 00:44:21
The capital allocation, I know you said you're just trying to manage it to a number, but for things that are relatively new like 00:44:23
the playground equipment, that kind of stuff, we're still. 00:44:27
Planning ahead enough to have those funds set. 00:44:31
For years down the road when we have to begin making repairs and replacements there, right, Yeah, so the playground equip. So 00:44:34
that's the other thing too. So we're in, this is still brand new too since they we just got it open. So we have warranties, 00:44:38
there's limited warranties. 00:44:42
It has a full one year warranty and I think there's some other pieces to it and there's some things we're doing now to try to 00:45:19
address during the warranty period what we can do to make sure that that stays in place. 00:45:24
In the budget process, so but but I did set aside some because I figure there's going to be some cost involved. 00:46:01
Yeah, I think it's getting getting more use than anybody anticipated. Oh, yeah, it's been crazy. Yeah. 00:46:07
Watching those, watching those little legs run by. All right, Any questions on capital budgeting? 00:46:15
OK. Thank you, Sharon, for your diligence on that number 11 alcohol ordinance amendments. Sharon and Joe, this is your item. 00:46:22
You want to start? Yeah, sure. So. 00:46:32
This this sort of came up in staff meeting we. 00:46:35
As we were you know go about enjoying going to lunches and dinners and things, we noticed that some of the bars were doing some 00:46:39
things that technically were were not allowed by the ordinance, but I'm sorry restaurant sorry restaurants are doing things that 00:46:45
were not allowed in ordinance and so. 00:46:50
We were kind of among ourselves saying well you know, should even still be in there. And I'm sure this is just a leftover from 00:46:56
when everything switched over and and sort of everybody trying to take baby steps into allowing for having alcohol in the in the 00:47:01
in the city and the county. So the ones that are struck through are the ones we feel like probably could be removed. So the 00:47:05
recommendation is to remove those and allow that to happen. But it's just a staff recommendation. We're certainly looking for 00:47:10
input. 00:47:14
Mr. Reitman, you have anything else you want to offer before council discuss this? 00:47:23
Fairly standard boilerplate language that was adopted back in 2006 when you all went to beer and wine at restaurants and then 00:47:27
ultimately mixed drinks to support the local restaurants. So I think this is a discretionary you can keep the boilerplate 00:47:34
language. If you'd rather dispense with that, you have that option in your legislative discretion. 00:47:41
Council thoughts? 00:47:50
Whether or. 00:47:57
Someone chooses to drink or not to drink, I think. 00:47:58
Happy hours are great. I mean because they often have food specials that go with them as well and but. 00:48:02
Because this is saying basically you can't. 00:48:08
Anyway, I won't go into the details. 00:48:12
Anybody goes to a restaurant. 00:48:15
It's a little sticker shock looking at prices, so if this can help people save a little money during certain times of the day, I'm 00:48:18
all for making these changes. Especially if. 00:48:22
Some of it's. 00:48:27
A little bit, anyway. And if some places are trying to really follow the rules and then others aren't, and we don't want to become 00:48:30
a police state having to figure all that out, it just makes sense to adopt it with. 00:48:36
New language. 00:48:42
OK. Any other comments? 00:48:46
Are. 00:48:51
All. 00:48:54
I'll entertain a motion. 00:48:56
So I make a motion to amend our alcohol ordinance as outlined above. 00:48:57
We have a second. 00:49:05
We have a second second from Councilman Campbell. Any discussion. 00:49:06
All in favor, Say aye, Aye. 00:49:10
All opposed. 00:49:13
Motion carries father. 00:49:16
All right. John Kirkpatrick. 00:49:19
Welcome back to the Watkinsville City Council. I understand you're going to provide an update on one of our most exciting 00:49:21
projects, Watkinsville branch of the Oconee County Library. 00:49:25
Getting the mayor and council, thank you. 00:49:30
Inviting me before begin. It's really cool to see kids playing on the playground after dinner for the time change. 00:49:32
When I thought of what I was going to say tonight, and other than just the update, I went back and looked at text messages I. 00:49:40
Exchange between Councilmember Tucker and. 00:49:47
Mayor Bob. 00:49:51
And just to kind of jog my memory on what the timeline is on this project, it started in August of 2020 during the middle of the 00:49:53
pandemic. That was when this idea to move the library wire part first took place. 00:50:00
So if you think about over the last 2 1/2 years, we've made it through a pandemic, We've made it through serious inflationary 00:50:08
pressures. 00:50:12
We've gone back to our state legislature for more money to compensate for that. 00:50:17
And we've already broken ground on this library, so. 00:50:23
It seems like a long time, 2 1/2 years, but quite frankly, we've done a lot and. 00:50:27
We're now over those hurdles and now now we're building. 00:50:33
Before I get a brief update, I just want to thank you Mayor. Thank you council for being steadfast throughout all of this you've 00:50:38
you've supported this project from the get go. 00:50:44
Since Chairman Daniel's here tonight, I would like to thank him as well, because without him this would never have come to a vote 00:50:50
before the library board and you didn't have to do that. 00:50:56
I certainly appreciate that. 00:51:03
As for the update. 00:51:06
The construction is. 00:51:07
There will be a ceremonial groundbreaking on April 14th at 10:00 in the morning. It's obviously after the ground has been broken. 00:51:10
But this is so that the the legislators can come because they. 00:51:19
Representatives Weed, Our in Games and Senator Cousin have also played a big role. 00:51:24
And funding this for us. Without them, you know, we would probably be shipping old shelves and stuff over to the new library. 00:51:29
So with that said. 00:51:38
The plan is to complete construction by the end of this year, so we're hopeful that we'll stay on track and have a new library by 00:51:39
the end of this calendar year. 00:51:44
Additionally, I know there. 00:51:51
When Ponder and ponder came here and presented to. 00:51:53
A list of add-ons that were desired that we did not have funding for at that time. They have all been approved. 00:51:57
Council member Tucker, especially the bathroom in the children's area. 00:52:04
So all of the add-ons have been approved. 00:52:10
All the furniture and equipment and everything that's going to be going into the library is going to be here. So we're going to 00:52:15
have something really special. That's where we are. 00:52:18
Any questions that? 00:52:23
Thank you. 00:52:25
Questions, John, I do have, just want to call out. And I mentioned this to Missus Bell when I was emailing with her. 00:52:27
And that's I would just ask y'all to be very thoughtful about. 00:52:33
The Ivy room and the history space in the current library, which I think is really unique that this called the Ivy room. Isn't it 00:52:37
the? 00:52:40
Where the yeah, where there's all the local history and those. 00:52:44
And. 00:52:48
We've had so many people in recent weeks and months talk to us about the need to. 00:52:50
Better capture and highlight our history in Oconee County and that's really a precious resource and. 00:52:55
I'm not sure how Ponder and Ponder is thinking about that area and those resources and how to be maintained and taken care of and. 00:53:00
But, you know, I told Valerie, and I'd love it if we could talk a little bit more about what that's what that's going to look like 00:53:09
and how that information will be curated and shared and made available to the public. 00:53:14
You know, there's there's just a tremendous amount of interest that I'm seeing. It's something that I think we'll be talking more 00:53:21
about as a council in terms of. 00:53:23
What we can do to capture and highlight and share local history and those those books. 00:53:26
It's funny on Facebook how much interest these you know the historic of county pictures get but if you go to that if you go to Ivy 00:53:31
Room you just sit there for hours and and you you can just OD on local history which is really cool. But I don't think a lot of 00:53:37
people know or appreciate that. You know with I think it's a new opportunity for people to re engage at the libraries. They think 00:53:43
that's a great point Mayor and I'll certainly bring that up. We have our quarterly meeting next month and I'll bring that to. 00:53:49
OK. Awesome. Thank you. 00:53:57
All right. I think we're going to talk a little bit about the Public Arts Committee and Creative Place making updates, so I know 00:54:04
that. 00:54:08
Some people in the room had. 00:54:12
Had an intriguing trip to Thomasville and have taken some action since. 00:54:14
Mayor Pro Tem, I'll let you give us an update and if anybody else wants to chime in, that'd be great. OK, so we received a grant 00:54:18
and it was actually competitive. I found out more as we went down there. Only 12 communities were selected. 00:54:25
And all of us that went are in the room right now. It was Wendy Cooper representing Okaf and arts organization. I went 00:54:35
representing the DDA and then Jeff city government. 00:54:41
And. 00:54:48
It was. 00:54:50
Really an incredible experience, one just being in Thomasville and seeing all that they have accomplished. 00:54:51
With their arts organization and their just. 00:54:59
When you have arts organizations, economic develop. 00:55:04
Functioning and then government being very much supportive of all of that. It is amazing what can happen. And so we have all of 00:55:09
those pieces. I feel like we have a community that supports all of those things and so we learned from. 00:55:16
Umm. 00:55:25
People from all over the state, from big cities like Atlanta and Savannah to smaller communities like Swanee. 00:55:26
That are using public art to increase community and also economic development and I'll share one story that was really compelling 00:55:35
I think to all of us. 00:55:41
So in Newnan GA, there was. 00:55:47
A derelict kind of alleyway that. 00:55:52
Teens were going and just kind of hanging out there and weren't up to a lot of good and so the community got together and or a few 00:55:55
people did because it really only takes a couple people to get. These things sparked and going and they started by just taking. 00:56:03
Paint hands from Home Depot and spray painting them and putting them in the alley. And then they kind of observed what happened 00:56:11
with them and they looked at where people were. 00:56:15
Using them to sit, one was used to collect water that was kind of leaking and they ended up going in and putting. 00:56:20
More permanent furniture in those places, cleaning up the alley and all. They only spent $14,000, including in kind donations, and 00:56:28
it ended up. 00:56:33
Having an impact of over $1,000,000 in economic development because it ended up revitalizing that entire area with the businesses 00:56:39
and so. 00:56:44
You think about a few people you know sweat equity time ideas. 00:56:49
But not much financially invested and then what it did for the community as a whole, so we have incredible opportunities here. 00:56:56
I don't know if we have any derelict alleys. 00:57:04
But I'm I'm sure that we have spaces that could be become those third spaces that you hear about that not work, not home, but 00:57:08
those community spaces that people can gather. 00:57:14
And that's one of the core values of us as a city, is that? 00:57:22
That we want those. 00:57:28
We want to be a community that really connects. So at the end of this incredible workshop where we saw things in person and heard 00:57:30
incredible information. Also because it was small, it was very. 00:57:37
We had contact and could have just, you know, spontaneous conversations with all of the speakers, with all of the people in 00:57:46
Thomasville. And so there was great opportunity to ask questions and learn and they had a whole session where we were making 00:57:51
plans. 00:57:56
So coming out of this. 00:58:01
We are and. 00:58:04
DDA. 00:58:07
Committee. 00:58:09
We, the Downtown Development Authority, is has approved the start of a. 00:58:12
New committee called Creative Placemaking and because we have received an $8000 grant. 00:58:20
To use on this and so. 00:58:30
Up on the board are or the screen are the the members of this committee. It's a nice cross section of people in our community. We 00:58:33
have Best Carter, the art teacher at Oconee County High School, Ashley Johnson, Kaylin Ashford and Caitlin. 00:58:42
Message are all community members that have a lot of different things that they can bring to the table. Bobby Johnson is a local 00:58:52
artist. We have conversations with a few potential student artists to be involved. And then Wendy Cooper, our Oakaf Director, Jeff 00:59:00
Campbell Council member, myself as ADDA Board Chairperson and then Kate Patterson is our DDA director, so. 00:59:08
We hope to have our final project has to be done in order to get the grant, has to be done by the end of the year. 00:59:18
We are ambitious. 00:59:23
Not even having met this committee yet, hoping to have ours at the end of September, beginning of October, prior to Fall Festival. 00:59:25
So that is our ambitious goal and. 00:59:31
I'm very excited that we have had the opportunity to learn and again, just always impressed by our community. 00:59:38
The resource, the people, resources we have, we are so, so fortunate. 00:59:47
To live and be where we are. 00:59:51
That was a lot. I don't know if they want to add. 00:59:56
What 08000, I thought I said that but yes, we got an 8000, so we had gotten $500 grant to help with just the expenses of going 01:00:00
down there and then at the end they announced that we got an $8000 grant to put towards this project which has to just. 01:00:08
Community have some kind of art aspect which can be visual art, performance art and be a partnership with the city. 01:00:16
Art organization and then hopefully help spark some economic development with that as well. 01:00:26
That's great, Jeff. Anything? 01:00:34
She covered a lot of it. Do you, the previous couple slides there, were you going to talk about those? How to solve those? 01:00:37
I just put them up, but I was not prepared. She just pulled them. Yeah, go to the next. 01:00:46
Yeah, that was one. That's a bit yes. Savannah, GA they did a mural on. 01:00:51
The road it's going Di. 01:00:57
From the Senators across, from left to right left corner to the bottom right corner, that street is now the longest mural. No, no, 01:01:01
in the middle of the slide. That kind of goes diagonally from top left to bottom right. 01:01:08
That mural looks like a street that's been painted, yeah. 01:01:14
It's the the longest mural in Georgia on a street, I believe, she said. 574 feet. 01:01:18
And it was an area of town that was just rundown and neglected. And there's the old Waterworks building. You can see at the top 01:01:26
there that they're in the process of renovating. And one idea they had was that kind of hard to see, but there's. 01:01:33
Tall windows that are arched at the top on that brick building, towards the top you can see four of them and so they're going 01:01:41
around that building. 01:01:45
What they did, they found historic pictures of people who lived in that area 100 years ago roughly. And they put those pictures of 01:01:49
those people that represent this was our neighborhood. 01:01:55
And so that that was a very interesting project of revitalizing that area of Savannah. 01:02:02
Then the next one I think was 21 swings in Montreal, Canada. 01:02:09
So those swings. 01:02:13
21 of them. And as they swing there's a, it's a like a solid pad you sit on and there's like a light bar underneath it. So at 01:02:15
night it kind of lights up as you go back and forth, but the really cool thing is. 01:02:21
As you move, it's a harp is the instrument to use and it's in do re MI faculatida, so it's going back and forth so you try to 01:02:29
swing in unison, so so it's even louder. So it makes music so neat, so just if you Google 21 swings Montreal, you'll see it 01:02:37
anyway. It's just a neat thing and it gets children and adults playing together because everybody likes to swing. 01:02:45
Beltway. Oh, they did they. This one probably doesn't apply to us too much, but it's pretty cool. 01:02:55
Chairman Daniels, you can maybe. You know, 441 maybe, but. 01:03:01
Yeah, all the new, yeah, that's maybe that's our Main Street solution. When we put in the L that goes through, it was a rundown 01:03:08
area underneath an overpass that they converted to a park. So you know space you already had that just. 01:03:16
Now it's being used by everybody to bike and jog, so that was anyone. 01:03:24
Anyway, it got you thinking about and I I personally did not think of art as economic development. I just thought. 01:03:29
Nice. I like art but never thought about it attracting business. And you know, Christine, talking about that example that started 01:03:37
with, you know, buckets from Lowe's brought in you know, over $1,000,000 to the city of Newnan is very impressive. 01:03:43
You know, starting off with, you know, $5 and. 01:03:50
You know, led to it. 01:03:54
The bikes, OK, Thomasville. 01:03:56
Their first project was they want to do a temporary art exhibit. 01:03:59
And it was. 01:04:05
In a section of town that was kind of neglected, it was the poor side of town and. 01:04:07
There were no businesses in the buildings. One of the buildings had actually fallen in, so it created this alleyway in between 01:04:14
2:00. 01:04:17
Old buildings and in the back was a mud. 01:04:20
Well, the mud pit, they converted to an amphitheater. This now alleyway, they decided they got Darlene, which. 01:04:24
Our new favorite person. She's a person that just gets things done. She doesn't say we need to do this. She's the one with a saw, 01:04:33
you know, and doing things. Anyway, She decided her project was going to be to do a temporary art exhibit on the walls of this now 01:04:40
alleyway. And it'd be temporary. It'd be up for 30 days, and they do it about every other year. 01:04:47
And the first one was that she went to the junkyard herself and her pickup truck and rounded up every bicycle that was in the 01:04:55
junkyard. Brought them back, spray painted them all with caution. Paint yellow, just ugly. I mean, tires, wheels, it looks like 01:05:01
the whole paint. The bicycle was dipped in a, you know, a VAT of paint. 01:05:07
Then she decides to get sponsors and you so your business could buy a bicycle and be in front of your store for it's like 30 to 60 01:05:14
days. 01:05:19
Yeah. So it's $500 per bicycle. She got 48 businesses. 01:05:25
To spend $500 on a hideous yellow bicycle, you know, but it on there, said who sponsored that bicycle and that was the event was 01:05:30
called Flaunt. 01:05:35
And I think it must have said something about, you know. 01:05:41
Go here in whatever the date is when there are going to be, all these bikes will eventually be moved. So anyway, all the bikes, 01:05:45
you got 48 bikes around downtown. So it gets everyone talking, what in the world are these yellow bikes? What's going on? So you 01:05:52
know it builds momentum, it builds anticipation, builds interest and and then three days before. 01:05:59
The unveiling. They went around, picked up all the bikes in the town, disassembled every single bike, took the wheels off chains 01:06:06
off handlebars off whatever, and they bolted them onto the two sides of the buildings next door and just created this. 01:06:14
Art out of bicycles that you know cost. 01:06:22
And they left it up for 30 days and everyone just. 01:06:26
So, and this led to, OK, now we're going to do it, you know, next year. So they say it's about every two years to do. And it's 01:06:29
just everyone loves it. It's like, oh, why'd you take it down? It's like, well, you know, it's not permanent. It's 30 days. 01:06:36
Anyway, that was a great concept that's kind of been some inspiration for our initial thoughts on what we want to do. And it also 01:06:43
that project ended up revitalizing a whole section of their town. So it's the main thoroughfare from Tallahassee up through that 01:06:50
section of town and people would actually bypass it, go out of their way because it was so rundown and then revitalizing this one 01:06:57
non building building now. 01:07:04
Has completely sparked It's their Creative Arts district now. 01:07:12
And I don't even know how they didn't give numbers, but I'm sure it has sparked a lot of economic development. I mean, 30-40 01:07:15
million, Yeah, at least there's a brewery of restaurants and yarn shop. So I mean. 01:07:22
It's it's it's one of the coolest stretches of St. Down there. I've never been to Thomasville before. 01:07:31
And Christine and I were both falling in love with it, with the city. So yeah, it was a great trip, Wendy. Anything you want to 01:07:36
have? 01:07:40
Yeah, I was just reiterating how incredible that experience was and I was very grateful to be able to go. 01:07:45
Unbelievable educational about how and they call it activating the spaces when they go into you know space and county fairly and 01:07:52
we're going to activate the space. 01:07:57
Temporary exhibition People come, and then it ends up just in like, you're right, Thomasville, their whole arts district. 01:08:04
Is developed around this space. It was building. It was turned down between two older buildings of Justice. 01:08:10
Space with two brick walls and they have rotating and positions there now. It is amazing. 01:08:16
And I love the connection piece and how connected so many people in our. 01:08:22
One project, 50 bucks. 01:08:27
Uh. 01:08:29
So they did the bicycles then. Then this past year it was they did the Monopoly game.