City Council - Regular Meeting

Well, good evening. It's now 6 pm and we'll call the um February meeting of the mayor and council to order. If you'll all stand, we'll have our pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. If you I'm sorry. We'll remain standing. We'll have our invocation. You're going to do my invocation, please. [laughter] Thank you.

Bow your heads if you will. Gracious and wonderful Almighty God, we come right now just to say thank you. Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Lord, we thank you for the peace in this city considering what's happening in other parts of the nation. Dear God, we ask that you would bless our mayor and all of these city council men and women. Give them a heart of compassion. In this month of February, when we celebrate Valentine's month, let us remember to love our neighbors. Dear God, we pray for your guidance in all that we do. And we pray this prayer in the precious name of your darling son, Jesus the Christ. Let every heart say, "Amen."

Amen. Thank you, pastor. Do we have any citizens comments? No ma'am. Okay. No citizens comments. Okay. You have the minutes of our January 26 meetings. Do I have a motion to adopt these minutes? Sorry. Okay. I have a motion. Is there any Is there a second? Second. [snorts] I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Next item on our agenda is our mayor and council announcements. We'll start with council member Gibbs this time. Well, I won't I'm just glad to see

I won't take up too much time. I'm just glad to see everybody here and I want to give a shout out to all of our city uh workers during the past few days. They were all out in this cold and I I greatly appreciate that and I I appreciate everyone being here tonight. Thank you. Good evening. I hope whoever ordered the cold weather's going to order some warmer weather coming on. I' I've been colder the last week or so than I have in any time I can remember. So, um we, you know, a lot of stuff going on in Carolton again this month and um I think that we just need to enjoy the time spending with our families and that kind of thing. So, thank you for being here tonight,

Councilman Oakland. Good evening.

Well, I will echo my predecessor's thoughts. I'm thankful we did not get ice. I'm kind of sorry we didn't get a little snow. I'm really excited that the Kowanas pancake breakfast is just around the corner and and I won't plug that anymore. Um, and last I would like to plug our police department and the mayor and council for taking up this issue of uh cratom that is being sold in our city and taking it very serious. And thank you, Chief Joel, for speaking out and uh bringing it to people's attention and the school system and all around our town. Thank you. Okay, Councilman North.

Uh, good evening everyone. Uh, it is it is with great pleasure that uh this is my second meeting and uh getting my foot and tracking down to earth. Uh, but I do like to u sh give a shout out to the committee for the Martin Luther King parade. One of the biggest ones that I saw. It was um it was very uh had so many people there and uh I want to also shout out to the mayor pro Tim for coming up and uh watching me get through a Martin Luther King 10-minute speech. That's kind of hard to do. Uh it is a great job.

Appreciate that. Appreciate that. Uh this month we um we celebrate uh the Black History Month. It's the history that's so uh enwined in our soil uh as America. And so if you get to any chances, go out and and uh attend some of these African-American history. Uh it is such a uh such a a fascinating history that uh and that is one of my topics that I love to get into history. So I know a lot of people say, "Oh god, I got to sleep on history." But it is fascinating. That's about all I have. [cough]

Thank you, [clears throat] Councilman North. Thank you all. Well, I just want to say again, um I want to thank our employees and all of our department heads. Um for the last two weekends, they've been fired up, ready to go, chainsaws, trucks gassed up, chainsaws gassed up, and and everything that they would need in case uh there was a lot of damage from the ice or snow. and and they do a great job doing this. And also, I think we have some of our youth council here tonight. Would y'all like to stand up, please? Thank you. Yay. [applause] Thank you. Our youth council is made up of um different students from um the high school here and what they do is they come and visit each of our departments and then they do projects and so we're very very proud of them and they come and actually observe the council meetings too. So with all that said again I just want to thank everybody um for being here. We have several things to get on with. So, I'm just going to say thank you again to our employees and to our citizens, too, for trying to stay off the roads and helping as much as possible. At this time, I'm going to ask our city manager if he'd like to make some announcements.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Just a couple things. One, I had the opportunity last week to get out with uh Councilman North and go take him to visit some departments, and I've been able to do that. I did it with Councilwoman Gibbs when she was elected and it gives me the opportunity to get out of office and really see what all our folks are doing and u and it also g me an opportunity to get to know Councilman North and it was a good time and he's going to do a great job for us and I'm excited about working working with you as we move forward. Um as pastor said earlier we are blessed. We live in a city where we don't have a lot of controversy. We may have some disagreements. we might not always see the um you know be on [clears throat] the same page, but at the end of the day, most everybody lives in the city of Carolton wants what's best for the city of Carolton and acts accordingly. So, um there's a lot of communities that are not that fortunate and I'm just I'm I'm blessed that and thankful that I got to raise my kids and and my family here in Carolton, Georgia. So, appreciate all you guys being here tonight.

Okay. Thank you. All right. The next item on the agenda is approval of agenda items for consideration. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda items? So move. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and a second. Is there any additions or corrections? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Madam Mayor, I just got a message that there is a Nissan Sentra outside where somebody has left their lights on. So if you drive a Nissan Sentra, the lights are on outside.

Okay. All right, our first item of business is resoning and special use permit request. And before you start, I need to read some guidelines. Some of you may have been here before when we had uh resoning requests, but um these are the guidelines and these things we strictly follow. So um we want to make sure everybody that needs to be heard is heard. So, uh, at this time we're going to hear resoning requests. Since many of you may not have previously attended a public hearing on azoning request, I want to quickly review our procedure. No person in attendance shall speak unless formally recognized. Upon rising to speak, each person recognized shall state their name and home address. Speakers must not employ tactics of intimidation, profanity, or threats of violence in their comments. All comments shall be directed to the mayor and counsel, not to the petitioner or those in opposition. In accordance with Georgia law, each side, not each individual, is allowed 10 minutes of public input. This means those speaking in favor of the request have a total of 10 minutes and those speaking in opposition to the request have a total of 10 minutes. Time devoted to questions and answers that the elected officials may ask should not be counted against the time limitations. Since we do have limited time, please try to avoid restating what another may have already stated. The applicant shall be allowed to speak first in order to present the application. Others may then speak indicating the support for or opposition to the application. The applicant will then be allowed time for rebuttal. Rebuttal must be limited to the points or issue raised by

[clears throat and cough] opponents to the application at the hearing. All right. So at this time, Miss Connorly, we will let you proceed.

Yes, ma'am. Uh the first zoning item on your agenda this evening is actually a zoning item that was continued from your January meeting. uh at the time it was tabled uh so that they could continue you guys could continue to work with applicants. Uh the the proposed zoning is a reszoning from M1 to C2. Uh and then also a special use permit to allow for a gas station at the intersection of Brumbo and Alabama Street. The 84 acre tract is currently undeveloped and it's on the southwest intersection of the round the new roundabout that's at uh Alabama Street and Brolo. Uh the ma the planning commission did review this request at their December meeting. Uh they did vote to deny the request 6 to0 6 to zero. Um since that time uh we have uh worked with the petitioner somewhat and I wanted to at least introduce some proposed conditions. Um if you guys are interested in seeing them. Uh Ed, could you put the conditions back on the uh there's six conditions. You also have these at your table, but I wanted Ed to put them up for the public's benefit as well. Um those conditions are the track shall revert back to M1 zoning designation if a land disturbance permit is not pulled within 12 months of approval or the construction of the gas station and retail tenant space is not substantially complete within 2 years. Number two, the sale of any drugs not approved by the FDA excluding alcohol and tobacco products shall be prohibited. That would include the cratom that um council member Uglam was talking about earlier. Number three, coin operated amusement machines shall be prohibited. And these next three were original staff conditions that the planning commission heard. Number four, a special use permit shall be granted for the convenience store with gasoline. Number five, flock cameras shall be installed at the developer's expense at each curb cut with the owner or manager providing camera access to the city of Carolton Police Department. And number six, any curb cuts along Alabama Street shall be reviewed and permitted by the

Georgia Department of Transportation because that is a state highway. I do believe the applicant is here. Okay. All right, Mr. Fetail.

Good evening, uh, mayors and city councils members. Uh, my name is Arupit Eddie Patel. Thank you for giving us this time to speak with you today regarding request for zoning change. Uh I'm here introduce my sons and my partners Patel. I'm sorry. Could you state your address please? Oh 119 National Way, Carolton, Georgia. Thank you.

Good evening everyone. My name is Kush Patel. I live at 119 National Way. As my father mentioned, my name is Kush Patel and I've have I've had the privilege of serving on the Carolton Youth City Council for the past four years. I'm a 2025 gra or 2025 graduate from Carolton High School while my brother attends Carolton High School right now. I'm currently studying finance at the university or at the Georgia State University. Alongside my education, I've also been working closely with my father in our family-owned business. Throughout this experience, I have gained hands-on knowledge in retail operations, customer service, and what it takes to successfully operate and sustain business within our community. We're not new to this industry. My father has over 20 years of experience successfully managing retail and service businesses. We're local, we're experienced, and most importantly, we are invested in the long-term success for Carolton. Our vision is a high-end community hub. What we are proposing is much more than a standard gas station. This site will offer traditional and non-ethanol gasoline and diesel fuel, ensuring that we meet the needs for commuters, local residents, and commercial drivers. Our vision is to create a high-end convenience center and retail space that elevates the standard of this corridor and serves both residents and commuters. From a modern infrastructure standpoint, we plan to install MercedesBenz universal EV charging stations, supporting the growing number of electrical vehicles, helping Carolton prepare for the future. Food and dining are a major focus point in our project. Inside the convenience store, we're planning to include a deli, primarily focusing on breakfast and lunch. We wanted to solve a real pro a real world problem for morning commuters. Currently, residents traveling this area often have to drive a considerable distance to find a hot breakfast. Our goal is to provide a convenient local option where people can grab a can grab hot biscuits and gravy, fresh coffee, and that is quick and quality meals right in their neighborhood. In addition, we include to add a national food franchise on the exterior of the property, which will add value to the site and expand dining

options in this area. We're prioritizing a clean, friendly family-friendly environment. This includes water fountains, contactless restrooms equipped with state-of-the-art hygiene features to ensure safety and cleanliness for everyone who visits. I wanted to direct directly address some concerns regarding safety and criminal activities. We've taken these concerns very seriously and developed a proactive safety plan. We're committed to purchasing and installing flock safety cameras on the property entirely at our own expense. We'll also be providing Carolton Police Department full access to these cameras. Since there's no flock camera systems in this area, this will serve as a valuable tool for law enforcement while helping keeping our community safe. We understand that most lording criminal most lording and criminal activities occur late at night. For the safety of our staff and neighbors, we're not going to be a 24-hour operations. Our hours are going to be 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. which which we believe significantly reduces the risk of crime and noise. We take age verification extremely seriously. As many of you know, we've owned West Georgia liquor for the past eight years. During this time, we've gone we've undergone numerous state and city compliance checks and have never received a single violation. To maintain this perfect record, we're going to be implementing advanced ID scanning technology that detects fake IDs, ensuring full legal compliance. Finally, I want to address traffic concerns. We've owned this land since 2020, but initially waited to develop it until the time was right. We want to thank the city and the department of transportation for installing the new roundabout. Since its completion completion, traffic flow has improved significantly, giving us confidence that this location can support a development of this caliber or caliber. So, um, my goal is to build a highquality modern facility that serves Carolton communities. However, in this current economic climate, the exclusion

of coin operated amusement machines, also referred as co-ams, places my business at a severe comp competitive disadvantage before we even break ground. I'm requesting that the zoning approval includes the right to operate these machines based on the following factors that I'll present. Cams are not gambling devices. Under the Georgia law, they're legally defined as game of skill and amusement. They're strictly regulated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the GLC. The state of Georgia has firmly established that these machines are a legal form of commerce. By licensing these machines, the state intends for them to be available in retail environments to fund the HOPE scholarship and preK programs. To zone them out is to disconnect a local business from a state sanctioned revenue stream that benefits Georgia high school students. In a modern in modern convenience store industry, co-ams are a standard amenity functioning similarly to a arcade in a family entertainment system. They provide amusement to customers waiting for services such as food preparations or charging time. My business module my business model focuses on a full-time convenience experience. Machines are just an accessory to my retail operations, not the primary focus. Unlike older gaming machines, we'll rely on cashless handling and my facility will be utilized the latest GLC approved technology featuring digital and gift cardbased redemption systems. The modern machines are design are designed to strictly enforce Georgia's no cash payout law. Winnings will be redeemed solely for instore merchandise, fuel, or gift cards, eliminating the exchange of cash over the counter. Because the redemption process is all digitalized, it sign it significantly reduces the risk of robber of robbery and eliminates the gambling hall atmosphere. This technology ensures a transparent, safe and professional environment that aligns with the safety

goals of the city. These machines are currently operated or operated in a wide variety of businesses throughout Carolton and the state of Georgia. this this presence the machines will not limit are not limited to small businesses. Major corporation corporate retailers have already legitimized this amenity within our own community. For example, Kroger grocery store in Carolton which is a large family focused national chain has already operated these amusement machines. It's a major focused corporate entity like Kroger can operate these machines in a family-friendly grocery store environment. It stands to reason that a locally that a locally owned business should be afforded the same right. Prohibiting these machines at my location while they operate in a major chain and other locations creates a uneven playing field that arbitrarily penalizes small business owners. They're not limited just to convenience stores. They're also found in hotels and motel, laundrymats, corporate and franchise fuel stations such as BP, Chevron, Shell, etc. Prohibiting these machines at my specific location will create a uneven playing field, allowing my competitors to offer a service that I am arbitrarily denied. I understand the city's potential concerns regarding lording and natur and nature of clientele. I'm fully prepared to enforce strict operations standing standards that exceed the city's requirement including strict adherence to 50% rule. I'm fully aware that the Georgia law requires me to have more than 50% of my gross revenue come from retail and fuel sales, not machines. Again, the primary business is the convenience store, not the coin, not the coin machines. The machines will be placed in a visible, well-lit area in the store, monitored by staff to ensure no ordering or illegal payouts occur. We'll be investing in high quality lighting and security cameras to ensure the property remains

safe and welcome welcoming to all families in Carolton. We're small, locallyowned and operated family business. I'm not a big giant franchise chain in this economy. The corporate big chains the corporate bigs have a massive advantage to this that I don't. To survive against them, a local owner must rely on every penny on every penny even even service available to all customers. This includes ATMs, money orders, Georgia lottery, checking cashes, checking cash, ice machines, and co-am machines. These are standard to tools that are given by the state to stay in business. If the council denies this specific income, which is approved by the state, it handicaps a local family-owned business while the big chains continue to dominate. I'm just asking for a fair chance.

Thank you, Chris. Now, I'd like to pass it on to Mr. Zach Bell. Okay, you got one minute.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council Members. Zach Bell, Bell and Associates Architects, 439 Adamson Avenue, Carolton. Uh Mr. Patel approached me in December of 2024 about this project. Um we we discussed it in length, decided it wasn't quite the right time for him to proceed, wanted his son to graduate high school, etc. Then we moved to the summer of 2025. He expressed his interest in moving forward. Turns out the city's changed the ordinance. Now we have to get a special use permit to proceed with the project. So that's why we're here today requesting um the special use for the ingground gas tanks and we're asking for the resoning for the sole purpose to allow a restaurant on the property. As it sits today, we could currently construct a convenience store without gas, but that's not what that's not what Mr. Patel wants to do. As you can see, he's he wants to invest in the city pro develop this corner into a really nice lot. It's going to require underground detention which is not feasible for many other types of projects. He's willing to put in these underground detention tanks and I mean that's a very large investment. I mean talking half a million dollars plus just for detention. So it's not feasible for all types of project but Mr. Patel is interested in investing in the city and hope you'll allow this if you have any questions please.

All right. Thank you. All right. Um at this time is there anyone else that wants to speak? Okay. This cannot be speaking in favor of. This has to be speaking in opposition of and the re reason being is because each side has 10 minutes and they they took their 10 minutes.

Okay. So there's no one here. Okay. All right. Hello, my name is Virginia Wheeler. I live at 915 11 Road, apartment 11-1ven. I'm opposing this because of the gas station because we already have seven gas stations within a half a mile radius. Plenty of convenience stores. Also, where the roundabout is, there's so [snorts] much traffic as is. So, you put another gas station, there's another that's more traffic. Also, um hold on. I'm sorry. With the chargers, the charging station. We live in Carolton. Who has a char Who has Teslas and charging cars? That's on Alabama Street.

Lots of people. I I have never seen one here. Okay. All right. But that's all. Well, okay. Let's keep your comments to yourselves. Okay. So, is there anyone else here to speak in opposition of this service station or convenience store? Yes, ma'am.

My name is Lorraine Miller. Excuse me. I'm sick. My name is Lorraine Miller. I live at 200 Somerset Place in Carolton. [snorts] Um there is absolutely too many gas stations in that area. And um there is so many children and everybody knows that's a uh low I don't know how to say it. Um income community over there. And [clears throat] uh we need something else over there. Our children are our future and we need something to help our children. We're failing our children over there. And the gas station is not it. There's too many over there.

Ma'am, you mind me asking where Somerset Place is in relation to this gas station that's being proposed? Uh I'm speaking for my family that lives across the street from the gas station across in the trailer park over there. Oh, okay. Okay. I have family that lives across the street from the gas station on one side and on the other side in the trailer park. Okay.

And um there's way too many gas stations for the children. There's um a lot of criminal activity, prostitution that goes on over there. Um a lot of drug use that goes on over there. Ma'am, are you talking about the existing convenience store that's there or No, in the parking lot of the uh Okay. I thought we were talking about gas stations and then you went into talking about and that kind of thing uh liquor store um that's going on over there. Ma'am, I'm going to remind you of what I read about derogatory remarks. Um, I'm speaking of true facts of the

Well, um, unless you have something to prove that, I would ask you just to keep your comments in general, please. Correct.

Yes, ma'am. We have a copy of all the uh calls calls of service to all the locations over there over the past four years. So, we're aware of what criminal activity has gone on in the places. So, we we'll just leave it at that you're concerned about the criminal activity, okay, in the area. All right. And um let me read where else I'm at. I just since I can't read everything on there since that um we need to promote uh family values and help our children that live over there and I just don't think that the gas station is going to help that uh with the children over there. And um I'm just going to leave it at that since I'm not

Thank you for your comments. All right. Is there anyone else here to speak against this service uh convenience store? I'm sorry. Okay. I'll ask you to come to the mic, please.

My name is Raj K and I reside on 609 Burson Avenue in Carolton. Um, I understand that. So, one, there was a disappointment last time. You know, we're all gathering together and, you know, last time everybody expressed how happy they were with the turnaround that's going on and a lot of us actually left really upset when it was tabled, you know, and it was just discouraging. But everybody's [snorts] here again today. And even though we're not all here, there's actually a post that was posted from the city menus. They actually just recently, I believe this was just not even a week ago, they posted a video of this. They also have comments of people that are not even here today that are also expressing, and I'm going to read some of them to you. Why another gas station? There are 19 gas stations in Carolton. Everybody talking about restaurants and gas stations. If you look at it, every city in the every city in their town is built like this. And Carolton is just now starting to look like that. This is people's homes. It's not just a concrete jungle. I come from a concrete jungle. But you know what? These people that are here go up and down that road all the time. The last 3 years there's there's been so much going on on that part of the town. And obviously it's starting to concern many residents as well. And um I mean there's more. They're like they need to bring some shopping centers, um, some shoe stores, something that's not a gas station. And in terms of the cratom, we just had an article that was released. Um, what do you expect a gas station to sell? Obviously, if they're behind a counter, that's what their main money is. Vapes andratom. And anything that you see behind a gas station is usually what makes a money for the gas station to be honest with you. So if you know the city's already having an issue

withratom, it just says local public safety DA testifies aboutratom. If this is all already going on, why are we already why are we encouraging more gas stations? There is a reason why in November 25th there was an ordinance passed to limit the gas stations. There is an ongoing issue. My child's 8 years old. We live in this town. This is home. This has been home for the last decade, you know, and this is going to continue to be our home. But we need more. We need to encourage business owners to work with the city, you know, tell us what you need. Tell us what you want to build. We have the capital. Obviously, you see it. People are investing $500,000 in undertanks. What if we invest that money in something else? You know, I I think that we just this needs to be just kind of like the stepping ground into working with other business owners and other people just, you know, to do more than just gas stations because that's really all they know. And it's not their fault, but that's really all they know. And now they also have young generation. They have young kids. They have educated kids that are college kids. I'm sure with them being on board, we can kind of bridge that gap. There's a lot that we can do on the west side. We don't need Mercedes-Benz Chargers. We barely have people whose cars are working down the road sometimes. And I know this because they'll pull into my parking lot and try to get a can of gas just to put $5 in there. So, it's not like we have it's a poverty-filled area. We have two trailer parks over there. We have low-income homes. So, I think we need to definitely consider that when it comes to what type of stuff that we need to develop because once it's developed, it's permanent, you know, and that's what we really need to stand up for. And today, this voice that you have, they're all here because they were educated, they were informed, and they're concerned because this is their home. Some of them have lived here for the last 67 years. And the last two meetings were their first meetings

they've ever stepped foot in city council. And they were so proud of themselves when they actually stood there. I'm sorry, the planning commission meeting. They were so proud of themselves when they stood there and actually spoke and I would really encourage that they have an option to speak today as well. Thank you so much. Thank you. Is there anyone else to speak in opposition? Yes, sir. Mayor and council of my name Jim Walk 324 Avalon Drive Caron Georgia west side mayor and council member we'll need now another service station on the west side up and down west side Alabama street you don't see number of service station and filler station I know a service station come in it more business and stuff like that but you don't need no more like that over there on the west side you got a liquor store right there where you going to put that he won't put the uh service station there's enough traffic over there now that's all

thank you sir All right. Is there anyone else? Okay.

How y'all doing today? We're good for having me out here. I live on 1855 Love and Row. Okay. Can you state your name for me? George Reynolds. I'm sorry. George Reynolds. Okay.

I've been working this area for 30 years. I've been [clears throat] living there for 30 years. I've been up and down Alabama Street all my life in which I don't like to go in that area, but I I work right there at Lawrence probably. Been Lawrence probably 21 years. We own two service stations right there that Spanish people have. We got Dollar General here. We got um this liquor store. We got Kitties there. Then we got Sitgo. Why we need another station sitting on the corner right here? Cause of more traffic. Takes me 30 minutes to get to the job from my house. I don't live 5 minutes away and when ain't no service there and you put this roundabout here. So it makes it even worse cuz nobody know how to drive in a roundabout no more. They can do a red light but they don't know how to do a roundabout. Everybody thinks it's coming this way. They got the rideway. It's not like that. You got yellow signs all the way around. So why we need more traffic coming this way coming out of another service [clears throat] station and the land looks good to me. I like it empty and a lot of people walk across there. A lot of people park there and then a liquor store on it Saturday night gets pretty full. But like I said, we don't need another service. If you want something to eat, you can go right there next door. You can go right up above it, right there, and get fresh meal all you want with the hot biscuits and the gambling. More gambling around here than you want. Why we need another gambling station? Cause them more people come in to gamble. We don't need that. Y'all have a good day. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? All right. hearing none. Um would you like to make a rebuttal to any of those concerns that were No, no, no, sir. It's the the petitioner. The petition. The thing the things that were brought up the the the things that were brought up were the number of gas stations that are already there, the traffic situation, and then the crime. Those are the three things that uh that were pervasive and brought up. So those three things I'd ask you to address.

The traffic concern, there's that roundabout is right there for the traffic. So it's it's helped so much more than those traffic lights have. So the roundabout is the solution. So there should be no more traffic concern there. Um a lot of gas stations. Yeah. I Okay. Yeah, there are a lot of gas stations over there. But one thing is they're all like rundown gas stations. What we're building is we're not building a rundown gas station. We're going to have top-of-the-line equipment, top-of-the-line everything. We have pictures here, too, if if y'all would like me to pass them on to y'all. Uh, we've seen them before. Thank you. Perfect. So, it's not going to be a rundown store. It's we're we're going all out on this. So, it's it's not going to be like small store. All right. Thank you,

Chris. I I've got a question for you. Um, you know, one of the other things that was brought up was the machines. And, um, you know, I know y'all feel like that you're not getting a fair playing field by not being able to have any machines in the store. Um, and this would be, you know, something the council would have to vote on. I u Mr. North down here at the end. This is his ward. He and I had a few minutes to talk prior to the meeting tonight. and um you know he is concerned about lording in in the store you know so so many of the ones that I've been in they have these little segmented rooms that have eight or 10 machines in them and um you know he doesn't he doesn't want that I don't want that I don't think anybody here wants to you know come into a brand new store and see a little room just full of these machines and people sitting around, you know, half the evening uh playing on them. And I did go and take a look at some of the newer machines that have been placed in uh stores. They do look a whole lot nicer and they do only work with gift cards and, you know, there's no cash payouts and that kind of thing. You know, one of the uh things that seems to um encourage people to sit around, you know, there for long periods of time is having these real comfortable chairs in front of the machines. And so he and I talked about it and we were wondering if if you were to get approved tonight if y'all would consider only having about three or four of these machines having out in the open area so people aren't sitting in a little room

somewhere and not having seating for the people that come in here. this would be something that people could just stop by and um you know without so those would be my conditions that I would ask you if we'd limit it to no more than four and that we not have seating and it not be in a room, you know, by itself. Yes, sir. We totally agree. Okay. Not not so fast.

Not so fast. Uh I've I when I came on board, I was uh I was presented with this uh with this uh [sighs] conditions and everything. Um and and some of those are my concern. Um and I'm all about making the making the uh ward a lot better, but I want to look you in your eye, Mr. Patel, the older Mr. Patel. If I vote for this, I want to see what you're going to do in this war. Are you gonna sponsor any little league teams? Are you going to sponsor the part of the MLK? Are you going to do some type of comm community activities that the young Mr. Patel just mentioned? And then remember, we we got this recorded. So, I'm gonna look you in your eye and uh and we're going to call upon you. We're going to have you sit. If this thing is approved, I want you to to attend one of our meetings in March where I have to stand up in front of that committee committee and uh inform them as to why my vote went that way. It's easy to say no. U and at the beginning I did say no, but there were some stipulations here that we can get around and I appreciate that Mr. uh Mr. that better. But I definitely want to make sure that uh you are involved in this community.

Yes, I will. All right. All right. I'mma hold you to it. Thank you. Does anybody else have a question?

I've got a comment. Thank you for the education. It was uh enlightening about the profitability of whatever you call these machines. And I'm not sure what you call them, but I don't want to speak out of place about them, but Don and I are probably going to open a gas station with machines here pretty soon. [laughter] But for 50% of your income to come from video machines are up to 50%. Uh, I find that shocking and I I really don't know how some of the stores h how do stores there are successful stores that make a living without these machines at part of this uh agreement. Nobody said anything about uh all the uhratom etc. You're not going to have that right as you walk in the front door. No cratom will be sold.

No cratom. No. And how about all the rest of that stuff? 70 and ESC and old product. Yeah, we don't sell that. You don't sell that? We won't. Well, good. Thank you. Sir, we don't want to touch on that. Good. Thank you. Yes, sir. And that is a recommended condition by the staff should y'all decide to approve it that none of the uh non FDA approved synthetic type drugs be sold. Okay. and and and one more one more comment. Um okay.

Uh those those in opposition um and those for it, it's always a difficult line to to make everyone happy. But you got to look at the future. That older store might not be here [snorts] in maybe four to five years. I'm not I don't know. But this is the age of the of the future. We do need a few EV. Uh, a lot of students coming in driving up and down uh, Bramllo Road, they do have EV vehicles. They're not gone away yet. [snorts] So, um, we have to look at the future, but uh, once again, I I'm looking forward to seeing both of you or Mr. Mr. Patel at one of one or a couple of our meetings coming up to see how you guys could could uh could put yourselves into the positions in our community. We're not asking for millions of dollars, [snorts] you know. We do want some type of financial to come in there and work with some type of u some of these uh committees. We have something with the Masons. We have something with the uh impact impact organization and that would help us a lot.

All right. Thank you. All right. At this time, I will entertain. Did you have something else? No, I'll make a motion. Okay. All right. I'll entertain a motion. And Mr. Led Better. Councilman Leb better. I'll be happy to make the motion, but and with and I'll I'll leave it up to Don if he wants to approve. Y'all can sit down. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Approve it the way I've got it or not. Okay. I'm sorry, ma'am. The public hearing's [clears throat] been closed. Thank you. Yeah. Okay.

All right. So, I'd like to make a motion to approve the application that's been made for the new convenience store with the gas. And I'd like for all of the conditions that have been proposed by um by the city staff uh to be included in this with the exception of number three that there'll be no more than four machines uh coin operate not coin operated the new machines that have been just recently approved by the state and they'll be in an open area with no seating. Otherwise, the other five conditions would be in place. I'd like to make a motion that uh the the the proposed zoning be approved.

Okay, I have a motion. Do I have a second? I have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? same sign hearing. None. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Okay. All right. Let's We have other items on the agenda, so let's maintain our order, please.

Okay. The next item on the agenda is the reasonzoning and special use permit request for 202 Bradley Street. Yeah, you guys that are racing, please exit quietly while we continue to carry on business. Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. [snorts]

All right. The next item on your agenda is a reasonzoning request. Uh, it's actually a a reasonzoning request for a mixeduse plan development to a revised mixeduse plan development with a special use permit to develop the site with a gin distillery along with supportive uses including a tasting room, a bar, a kitchen, a uh brewery, event space, and then one additional residential unit. Uh, most of you guys recognize this particular development as Hudson Mill. Um it was developed as Hudson Mill which is a mixeduse plan development in 2014 and it has thrived in our downtown square. Uh at this time um the applica or the the owner and the applicants would like to uh address the what we commonly refer to as as Mule Barn. Um that is the white vinyl building that's adjacent to 202 Bradley Street. I mean 202 uh Bangkok. uh this particular building has been vacant at the time that the mixeduse plan development was put in place. Um there was a condition that said at that once this this building was developed, the mayor and council had to had to approve uh what particular use it would be and that's why we're here today. Uh the planning commission did review this request uh at their January meeting. Uh the planning commission voted to approve uh with a condition um as it relates to hours of operation. Um and what this does is it basically keeps it from being a late night establishment like some of our other downtown locations. Uh we uh the hope is that it would stifle off any um additional need for uh law enforcement presence, things like that in late night. Uh we did actually uh we would like to revise those conditions at this time to reflect the state law as it relates to the brunch on Sunday. Uh Ed, could you throw up the conditions? The initial hours of operation were

limited to 10:00 a.m. uh to 11:00 p.m. daily. Um so if you look at the proposed conditions, uh the special use permit shall be granted for the distillery. That's a requirement in the unified development ordinance. Number two, alcohol sales shall be limited to 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and then 12:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. Uh that Sunday alcohol sales is what is required by the state at this time. Um and then number three, the distillery use is subject to the limitations set forth by the state of Georgia in OCGA3-4-24.2. Uh those are the regulations that the state of Georgia establishes for distillery licenses. uh as uh we have discussed distillery licenses, our distillery license is essentially a direct uh reflection of what the state allows. Um and I do believe the applicant is here if you'd like to speak on behalf if you'd like to hear him speak.

Okay.

Good evening.

Uh I'm Richard Dement. I am the current owner of this property. Uh my address is 18276 Highway 27 in Rootville, uh 30170. Uh I'll be very brief. Uh I am the current owner. I of course uh developed and still own uh Hudson Mill, which has been mentioned has been very successful and been a big plus for the downtown. I've also been involved in a number of other developments in the downtown as as I'm sure some of you know. And my my goal has always been to do something that's very positive for the downtown and for the city of Carolton. And I'm as excited about this project as any that I've ever done, including Hudson Mill itself. Um, we're taking a a a defunct uh ugly building and transforming it into the beautiful historic building that it can be. And uh I think it'll be a thriving uh business and something that should attract a lot of um attention and and tourism in fact for the the city of Carolton. So I'm going to turn it over to Carter Williamson uh who is um will be speaking right now. Thank you.

Hello everybody. Hello.

I'm Carter Williamson. I live at uh Trey Hollow Farm 12525 Jones Fairy Road in Chattahuchi Hills. Uh you can hear me all right there. Um here to speak to you about the workh horsen distillery. Um we're um my wife is here as well, my son. Uh we raised four sons at Cherry Hella Farm. Uh and uh we we spoke with the planning commission a little bit about what kind of things we brought to that kind of project. Laura and I are both retired environmental protection agency, federal employees, 35 years each, recently retired. I did emergency response for the agency and Laura did all kinds of IT and production stuff, presentational things. Um, we own a place called Cherry Hollow Farm. It's a a venue in Chattahuchi Hills near Sarby that's built basically entirely out of repurposed materials from old textile mills. Uh you might be familiar with the Areno, Sergeant, Griffin, Opaikica Mills and such as that. Took us about seven years to build it. Uh we've we've hosted about 280 weddings at our facility. We've done movies, Walking Dead, Tulsa Kings, season 3, you name it, we've done it there. Um what we'd like to do is something very similar and we invite everybody, anybody wants to come out that wants to come out and see our place to see how our mindset is about how we approach things. Um, but I want to talk to you about the 1906 1895 building. For those who haven't been in there, it's like a 6,000 foot building that Richard referenced. This wrapped in white vinyl siding. Inside that building is a brick building. It's probably a blacksmith shop at one time. And then the rest of the barn was built on to house horses. One of the main reasons we want to call it the workh horses because it was a stable. uh was a place where they brought a lot of the the horses when they brought cotton to market. And also on the side of the building, uh someone painted workh horses. We don't there's a name in front of it. We don't know what

that is yet, but it was painted in 1937. So instead of creating a space that says, "Hey, we're just a distillery," which we're not. We're a kind of a nice communal space to go. We'll have a green space and all kinds of different eventing uh locations inside the venue. Little mini amphitheater. Um we'll have VIP room, scar lounge. Um a lot of space to spread out and folks to get together and things like that. Um materials like so what we did at Cherry Hollow Farm, we'll be bringing a lot of materials we've collected over the last six years and some of the stuff that was left over after building Cherry Hollow to build this uh to build this facility. Um, let's see. We've even got materials from the uh opening to the West Georgia College and the Denise sign company took down the the old sign, put it in the new one. We've got the uh the old one that we'll try to incorporate into the architecture. So, what we've done so far, we've secured the building, we've got our trademark, we've got our master distiller, we've got our gin recipes, uh we're working on our construction team as we speak. Uh we're looking at financing options and such. uh the materials, what we're going to bring to the game. We are looking at uh a series of different architects, bringing them together kind of as a chet that can really help us create a a structure that's appealing to the city of Carolton and to everybody and that's architecturally stimulating as well. Um we've got a really good team. Um, as a distillery, we'll be while we can produce a lot of different products which will produce vodka, gin, some beer, bourbon, and whiskey. Um, we cannot sell any other person's product or any other company's product. So, we're we're relegated just to what we produce or finish on site. Um, food, we'll have a good amount of food.

uh we don't want to compete with like Brown Dog or any of the restaurants close to us and we don't want to compete with the existing breweries. Uh we we're going to have a couple of beers, but we don't want to impact the folks that have already been here like local ties and Dream City and such and printers alle of product that people can consume while they're in our facility. Um, like I said, the the stables now it's about a 6,000 square foot building. By the time we're done, we'll probably looking at 10,000 11,000 square feet of which we say we got a beer garden. We've got a three-part tour. It's very educational in nature. Uh, we're very experienceoriented. Instead of producing a an alcohol and then trying to build an experience around it, we're kind of reverse that. So when people come there, they'll enjoy being there. And of course, that'll create help create our B brand. We'll have a open air porches, like I said, a mini amp, a kitchen, a VIP rooms, a barrel room, tasting rooms, bathrooms, all kinds of stuff uh there as well as our apartment potentially on the top so we can stay on site. Said it's a really interesting concept. Um it's like the Brave Stadium and uh over there at the battery where you've got, you know, folks can get together and do a a variety of things at our facility. It's not just a gender story. That's just a kind of a small component. Um we will probably have on-site security. We'll have advanced ID scanning and we and we're fine with limiting the hours of operation. That's fine with us. We might even decrease that as we go forward. We're not a late night operation. and we're we're a kind of a destination and you know most of the time we'll be in the day. So appreciate your your time.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Williams. All right. Is there anyone else here to speak in favor of this? Okay. Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this resoning request? Okay. Okay. All right,

evening, mayor and council. Uh, my name is Alex Griffin. I'm the owner of Local Ties. Uh, my address, 1233 Whoopen Creek Road in the county. Um, I'm not against the project, but I'm not 100% for it, too. Um, I stood here in front of y'all five years ago to get the ordinances changed to allow brewing or whatever downtown and would have never thought that in the five years since then 80 plus% of the businesses that have opened up downtown are vast asly similar to us with the other breweries and wine bars and daiquiri bars being approved and a metery right down the street. It just seems uh I've always been a rising tides lift all ships person, but eventually a rising tide will get so high that it causes a flood. Um it's hard for me not to drive past some of the places that are already open and see them sitting empty, much like ours is on weekdays and Sundays. It's not Friday and Saturday which everybody comes in on concert nights and October Fest and it's like people that go to church on Christmas and Easter and say, "Man, this place is really booming." Well, yeah, it is on the good days. But in the other days, as we saw in our research through the University of West Georgia when we were getting ready to open, Carol County is in one of the bottom 10% counties in the state of Georgia for alcohol spending. There's only so much. There's only so many bodies. There's only so many mouths. Tourism is great. I love the new project up here on the corner. It's going to bring in some good tourism hopefully. It's got a conference center and all that. So, yes, we do need stuff and places for people to go. Um, so like I said, I'm not like 100% against it. It does feel like uh sort of redundant for what we already

have downtown. Um, and probably my biggest issue is I like things I like hearing stuff from people's mouths and seeing their actions follow it. And I hear a lot of talk, but I also know the actions that have already happened like my bartenders being approached to be poached already. and are maybe the possibility of just taking over local ties and adding it to the fold or going in other bars and restaurants and working on maybe trying to get their bartenders or their staff. Um, and this is all just from people that I've talked to that also have establishments up here and just, you know, take word of mouth as you will, but that's basically my position on it. Neither here nor there, just someone standing by. Thank you. Thank you, Alex. Is there anyone else to speak in opposition of this? Okay. What is the pleasure of the council?

I would like to make a motion to approve the res to approve the resoning for 202 Bradley Street with the three conditions as stated by staff. I'll second that motion. Okay. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Same sign.

Hearing none. Motion carries. Okay. Our next item on the agenda is a resoning request for 430 Cliff Street. Yes. Uh the third item uh reasonzoning item on your agenda this evening is a reasonzoning request from R10 which is single family residential to C2. Uh the particular track is a.14 acre tract that uh is really kind of the southwest or the backyard of 430 North Cliff Street. Uh the property itself actually front Spring Street. Uh the purpose of this request is to take that 0.14 acre tract and combine it with the commercially zoned tract that's located on Highway 27 North. I mean how yes, Highway 27 North. Uh the planning commission did review this request at their January meeting. Uh and the recommendation for approval was contingent upon the following conditions. Any commercial drive located on Spring Street shall be entrance only so as to mitigate an increase in commercial traffic along Spring Street. Number two, operating hours for any commercial use should be limited to 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. And that's just to prevent the 24-hour uh type commercial uses.

And I do believe the applicant's here. Okay, Mr. Sammon.

Good evening. [clears throat]

John Sammon, 106 West Lakeshore Drive in Carlton. Uh I purchased this uh track of land. It's actually right uh to the left of the impact center across the street from the uh family dollar that is closed or about to close. I think it's already closed. But uh uh I do need this middle track that was a separate deed once upon a time. Uh formerly known, I guess, as a kudzu patch. I've since cleared the kudzu. So you can actually see the you can see the lot lines now. It is totally speculative. I do not have um any contract pending on tonight's decision. Uh I've discussed sales to uh a double drive-thru hamburger place or two places. Uh we've discussed u a coffee drive-thru for a coffee shop. U donut shop. Uh, so we're in the real estate business and we're looking to put something uh that would obviously be an improvement to what has been there before. [clears throat] The last thing was Schaefer's Auto Sales. [snorts] Uh, we did get a little deep in the weeds, I think, with the a little cart before the horse with the the uh the planning and zoning. Uh, even though it was 10 to in favor of doing it, it was with these conditions. Unfortunately, I I really can't live with either one. on either either one of these conditions is a deal breaker for me. Uh simply because if it's a coffee shop, it needs to be open uh you know way early in the morning. And if it's if it's competing with the late night uh new Del Taco or the Taco Bell or whatever, they probably want to have a late night drive-thru as well. Since I don't know what it is, um

I'm I think your plan's going to show where there is an entrance that was designed by uh John Bass that professional engineer that would that in his his mind would improve the entrance that is there. But if if we don't have to go down that road tonight, it's fine with me. I don't have to have the zoning approval based on a new entrance. I think Tommy is here if uh you have questions for him on what on what was designed but I'm willing to u have the developer who is going to develop this have to retaining walls uh you know I'm I'm willing to have them come do whatever u design is necessary for for ingress egress any setbacks or variance what [clears throat] what George West has designed does not need a setback or a variance. It it would the building would fit u based on that and would give if you have that drawing it it gives a in and out. So if you come in off of North Park, you go out on on Spring Street. If you come in on Spring, you go out on North. So it's it it's very in my opinion very good for flow. But once again, this is speculative. It just it if uh uh with that extra 0.14 acre, it would allow for a building to set back deeper on the property where you're you're drawing shows an entrance. It could actually be the building actually be uh the footprint of the building. So uh you have any questions? I'll be glad to glad to answer.

Okay. Does anyone have any questions? [clears throat and snorts] Um, good evening. I have a question. Yeah. Um, I I live just a block away from there, so I walk on that street literally every day, and I am extremely concerned. I think in the two years I've been on the council, this is the first time that a request was submitted with no plan. I mean, uh, no plan whatsoever. I think the word franchise was used in in some of the paperwork, which obviously a franchise could be anything from a coffee shop to a crystal. So, I know that location very well and and I'm not comfortable with the fact that we don't have any, you know, plan in place. We don't know what's going to take place. Um, I went back through and reread everything and like I said, I don't know anything more than I did. And then obviously the two conditions that were placed for approval by your own admission are are not really applicable to what even though you're not sure what you're going to do there, what you might do there. Is that correct?

I could I could say it won't be a 24-hour thing, but I'm saying if it's a coffee shop, it needs to be open at 5. If it's going to be a hamburger place, it needs to be open till 11 or midnight. Uh so that would the the times were just a little restrictive for uh for a for a uh you know a speculative thing. Uh the obviously the the main part of this uh property is is already a commercial and I'm trying to do something other than a and other than you know a used car lot. That's what it's been and that's what it will be. If y'all don't feel comfortable in changing it, it'll just and I'm not threatening. I'm just saying what else can you do? If you look at this map, it's a very it's a flag pole. Very dog leg. You see this? It takes this little extra square here to put a building on it or to make an entrance. [clears throat] Um I'm sorry, but that's the way commercial developers are. that they're not going to buy my piece of property and then, you know, wait a year to come back through another uh zoning uh to say, "Hey, can I put my coffee shop here?" I can tell you, I called the Cudoo lot. Uh I've been doing this over 30 years in the city. Been I haven't done a bad project yet. I said all been profitable, but they haven't hurt the city. Do you normally submit a a plan that's a little more detailed than this one?

Well, this this one that you have is pretty pretty detailed for the burger shop, uh, including the the uh the [clears throat] entrance that would be needed. Um, John, do you have an idea how much uh road frontage you've got on Spring Street with these two properties? Whoever's got a better set of glasses. Yeah, I it is good. I need to wear these all the time.

I mean, you'd have to Okay, here we go. L L3 is only Okay, so L1 is about 47 feet. L2 is 42 feet. So you got about 120 about maybe well it's going to be a little less than that I well 220 I think L4 is 116 L4 is the house that's on the corner. You are correct.

Spring street that includes what we're cutting off. So you are you are correct. So, so there's about really there's probably less than 110 feet on Spring Street. And if we were looking at doing a an entrance onto a intersection like that on a major highway today, we would be requiring 150 ft from that intersection to give an exit onto that um site on that that other street. And so there's no way to accomplish that. You know, we realize and you do have a an entrance that's there now, curb cut that's there now, but

you know, it's it's just [clears throat] difficult to, you know, there's I mean, I went by there tonight on my way to the council meeting and there were cars sitting trying to get out on 27 from Spring Street for four or five minutes. they didn't move because of all the traffic coming from one direction or the other. And so I'm just worried about there being a bottleneck there. That's that's the whole reason I made this drawing to move the you know it's still within the Georgia DOT if you care about that. I realize the city's got their own deal

but uh if if I think my professional engineer and your professional here have spoken. I don't know if you think something can be worked out or not. You have to speak to Tommy on that. But, uh, I didn't want this to be, uh, contingent upon the entrance. If it turns out that we don't move the entrance, uh, that would require me to have more of the coffee shop idea that would that would sit on the footprint of this track 1A of this right here.

U, I just I can't imagine it. uh you know where one of the one of the hamburger places have already I still can't name them but they've already uh rejected the site because they they wanted something a little more college student oriented whatever they didn't like the neighborhood. Sure. Uh I just uh I think it's going to be good. You've got your big investment going up on the corner of Alabama Street. Yeah. You've had a lot of investment go in with a new Chick-fil-A. one of these burger shops want to be close to a Chick-fil-A. This is within their area. Uh I don't think it we already have the majority of this land that is commercial. We can we can build a commercial building on it now,

right? This is just trying to make it better. Yeah, I understand. I just when I went by there tonight, it was the time of the day that people would be trying to get in and out of a you know place. The beauty of that is already a signalized corner. There is a corner for where you're talking about is a caution light or I'm sorry the stop light and that corner has a signal for that traffic for a caution. So as you know how DT works and that you got to have the traffic first. You don't go in there and say I want a traffic signal here and build it and they will come. Right. So yes, you do need to have

u traffic on that corner. Um, this this council was positive in in and supporting of of the county building their very large building and it's going to sell, you know, it's going to sell uh I don't know how many thousands of of uh uh you know, car tags and paying people paying property taxes in the new county building that is directly straight. It goes from Spring to Brown, right? And you're right there at it. So, uh, there's going to be a lot more traffic on that road and it's simply because you, you know, this county serves what 2030 130 140,000 people. Yeah.

That's been the one place to buy your tag and pay your property taxes. So, uh, with or without that, I don't I don't see that that traffic is going to get busier just because of a a brand new building. I I don't think that you're going to increase the traffic so much. It's just there were already cars in Spring Street backed up five or six deep that sat there for, you know, four or five minutes that I sat in the parking lot and watched, right? There's no doubt there's there's traffic and that's one reason that these these people are identifying this corridor

to to put their business. So, I think there's three there's probably three options. One is go with what you have there and work with Tommy and and them to to to move an entrance out of the way. Two would be to approve it without an entrance and we'll build the building up against the retaining wall on this 0.14. Three is going to be leaving it like it is. Yeah. And uh as a citizen, I hope I hope that's not your answer. But if it is, we'll you know,

well, I mean, I'm just saying with 110 ft on Spring Street, if you get five cars backed up there, you're probably taking up that whole 110 ft of there's a 20 there's a 22 foot entrance right now that was DT designed and approved and deal put it in. Right. So, there's an entrance there. It fits too wide. I've already I've tried it with the two largest vehicles we have. Yeah. Uh and so that's what kind of mindbgggles me. Why why would you why would you not take the opportunity to get it away from the intersection because it's it's there now. Yeah. It's already commercial. So u Yeah.

You know it neither one's probably perfect, but as we know it can't stay a a kudzu lot forever. Yeah. And I'm I'm sure you're familiar with our 2023 Carol with our comprehensive plan and that shows that future land use as residential and I mean it's it's clearly residential now because like I said it's somebody's backyard carving off of a backyard. So I mean I'm sure you're aware of that that the future land use for that is residential not commercial

this land not knowing that I could add this on and I'm fine with it either way. Honestly I am. You're not hurting my feelings anyway. If you think you'd rather have what's there, use, you know, I do hope you don't come back a year later and say, "Boy, I wish I wish there was a an entrance a little farther off the intersection because this is your time to do it." But uh um I bought it without without even knowing. I owner of the property is here tonight and I I approached him well after me owning the property to do this idea. But if you don't think it's in the best interest of I can't speak for your neighborhood. I'm sure if you if you in your neighborhood had a choice to say, "Hey, do do we keep it a cudoo lot or do we have a a a hamburger spot or a place to buy coffee in the morning?" I'm sure you'd rather you'd rather have your kudzu, but

well, right now all we know is we had a cudoo lot. We don't have any idea of what we will have. That that would be my concern. and that and the developer would have to come to you and say, "Hey, I'd like to do an an entrance." That would be up to that that person. So, you I'm fine with you not approving anything having to do with a an entrance right now. Let somebody else say, "Hey, I'm going to do a flower shop. I'm going to do this or that." And and you you decide if they deserve an entrance or not. I I've got no problem waiting for that. But I have to have I have to be able to tell somebody I know that we have a 118 ft here, 212 ft there, and I got to know what I'm selling. And and right now I'm selling something that is only commercial and it will not uh absent of doing a uh uh probably a variance to pull it close to the road. I know Miss Connley has offered that option to do a variance to get closer to the road, but uh it really since that entrance is so close, it does it really doesn't flow too well. And like I say, I'm I'm I'd like to I like to approach people that are going to be uh helping this city and I'd heard it.

All right. Does anybody else have a question or comment? Okay. I I don't think Madame Mayor, I don't think you asked for if there was anyone speaking in opposition. No, I Okay. So, we have time for

Okay. Is there anybody else here to speak in favor of this development? Okay. Hearing none, is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this development? Margaret Campbell, one zero5 Rome Street. Um, to echo what Stacy and Brett said, um, I'm not opposed to changing that right there. Absolutely. For something else, but we're we need a red light. There are no red lights with turn signals except for Alabama Street and you get to King's Bridge, it only turns one way. So, you have to wait forever to either cross four lanes to turn and there's going to be more accidents there. So, I don't know if this is a opportunity to at least do a traffic assessment of what we need because we need another red light somewhere between Alabama Street and Kingsbridge. There's just there's too much traffic right there.

Yeah, that'll [snorts] be up to DOT. Yeah, but just knowing that this might be opportunity at least to request the DOT through y'all to start looking at that. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Miss Thank you. All right. Anyone else to speak in opposition? All right. Hearing none, I'll entertain [snorts] a motion. I'd like to I'd like to make a motion to deny resoning for to make a motion to deny the resoning of 430 North Cliff Street. All right. I have a motion to deny the resoning request. Do I have a second?

I have a second. [clears throat] All right. Is there any further discuss discussion or questions? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Same sign. Hearing [snorts] known. Hearing none. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. The next item on our agenda is for uh the collective on Rome Street infrastructure bid award. Oh, I think we've got one more zoning. Oh, I'm sorry. One more. One more special use permit request and that's at 905 Bankhead Highway.

Uh yes. Uh the final zoning item on your uh agenda this evening is a special use permit request to allow for uh recreational vehicle sales, auto sales, go-karts, motorcycles, things like that. um in the Lake Carroll Village Overlay District. Uh if you recall, uh when we established the Lake Carroll Village Overlay District, we did also establish a special use permit provision for any sort of vehicle sales in the Lake Carroll Village Overlay District. Uh the planning commission did review this request um at their January meeting um and they did deny this request uh 10 to zero. And I'm actually not sure if the applicant's here or not. Okay,

Mr. Johnson. Mr. Travis Johnson. Okay. It appears he's not here. Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this project? Okay. Hearing none. Do I have a motion?

Madame Mayor, I'd like to have make a motion to deny this request. There's a a list of concerns that I have. [snorts] Um, you know, the property owner hasn't exactly uh followed the guidelines that were put out. This doesn't meet the intent of the Lake Carol Village overlay. There's just numerous things about this that I don't really care for. So, I'd like to make a motion to deny. Okay, I have a motion to deny. Do I have a second? Second.

Have a motion and a second to deny this application. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Okay. Now, the collective on Rome Street infrastructure bid award. Mr. Holland. Yes, ma'am. Tonight bring to you the RFP that was presented for the collective off-ro town home development infrastructure work. This is actually, as you'll recall, part of a grant that Miss Haley Beavers worked on. I wish she was here tonight. I guess it might be a fitting for her to present part of this. She worked hard and her and Erica both in preparing um for the one one Georgia rural workforce housing grant which we were able to attain a $2.3 million grant um to pay down basically pay down infrastructure for a developer and infra off-site infrastructure as well to make the developer I guess I think he has to lock in the pricing of his houses at 200 190,000 to encourage um workforce housing. Um so all that being said, this is part of the infrastructure for that project. Um the project consists of demolition, removal of some existing public sewer and storm drainage and the proposed improvements will include storm water, sanitary sewer, water manes, and storm infrastructure. Um, an RFP was issued and proposals and bids were received and opened January 29th. The proposals received where Pedmont Paving um, Incorporated 1 point one 1,95,254.78 Lewis Contracting Services1,941,875.31

Grizzard Associates 3 million $51,8602. Helix Grading and Utility Incorporated was $4,136,745. Given that we did get four four bids for the project, but it was wasn't awarded just basically on price alone. We actually had a grading criteria where we looked at the contractor as well. And with all that considered, um, City staff asked the mayor and council to award the collective offer Rome's town home development infrastructure work project to Pedmont Paving Incorporated in the amount of 1,95,254.78.

Okay, Tommy. So the money that this proposal is for some work in the development also some work that's on West White Street. Is that correct? worked out good for the city and the developer I guess in obtaining the grant or West White Street is in need of repair and so a lot of the money is being used for that as far as improvement accessing onto the development and this will include the the sewer infrastructure some of the sewer infrastructure having [snorts] to be relocated that's existing on the side it was in bad shape and the developers relocating it as well as putting in his infrastructure. And I guess the Governor Kemp initiative to provide workforce housing. That was one option that he came up with was basically offering a grant. It has to come through the city. So, it's kind of odd with us putting money into a development, but the intent is is to hold down the housing cost and make it more affordable for the workforce.

Okay. Thank you. Well, I just want to commend Erica and Haley and you all for your work that y'all done on this project and I think it's going to be a great asset to our community. Um, and thankfully for the um grant because that saved the city a million plus dollars. So, we're we're very excited about that. So at this time, do you have a re Have you dealt with any of these uh people? Actually have actually Pedmont Paving Incorporated there. They did one project at the University of West Georgia probably about three or four years ago.

Okay. Very good contractor. Everything um went well. Had no issues with them at that time and all the references seem to check out as good now. Also, okay. All right. So, is Piedmont paving your recommendation in addition to the scores and and the thankfully with the lower ones as well [laughter] with the definitely a a lot lower than three and four million. Okay. So, what's the pleasure of the council? I'd like to make a motion to approve. Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose? same sign hearing. None. Motion carries. Contract will be awarded to Piedmont Paving. Thank you. Okay. The next item on our agenda is our water meter upgrade project award.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. As we discussed in our work session, um we uh we are wanting to uh it's time to do some some meter replacements, some uh dial replacements as they get old um and and don't function as uh adequately as they do when they're new, obviously. Um so it's time to start that process. We'll end up within the next three years, I believe, having a complete meter replacement. But we want to start with the dials on the meter and go to full AMI or where we have uh cellular technology where we're reading meters 247. We we detect leaks faster. Um customers would be able to see some data from their side as well. It's a technology that many people are going to um and as well as we want to convert from cubic feet. We're one of two municipalities in the state of Georgia that measure water into cubic feet. We want to convert from cubic feet to gallons and so we've got some bids on that and I would ask that Delta Municipal who we've used many times in the past and that's who we use for our meters now. They were the lowest bid at 3,768,39.75. And I would ask that you guys to approve for me and and the staff uh to move forward in the meter upgrade program at that price. 3.73 3,768,39.75. That's we actually talked about it in two different work sessions.

Yeah. Okay. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the bid to Delta U Municipal and also to give Mr. Brooks and staff the authority to uh work with this company in the actual installing of these meters. So moved. Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Any oppose? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Okay. Uh the next item on the agenda is the elected officials compensation. Mr. Brooks.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I brought to you guys attention back last year, I think November work session of last year um for many different reasons and a lot through my networking and um talking with other city managers around the state and the compensation of elected officials that that work and serve in municipalities similar to ours that offer the amenities and the services um that we do. um the compensation I felt like needed to be adjusted. It won't take effect if you decide to vote this in. It won't take effect until January 1, 2028. So, we're two years away. So, it's not like you're voting yourself a raise for tomorrow. I'm asking for this one for you guys that that run again, but also for future elected officials in this city as we continue to have more [snorts] services, have more amenities, we continue to grow with the number of employees, we grow with the number of citizens. Um I think it's it's welld deserved. You guys do a great job and really take what's in the best interest of the city at heart and every decision you make and I appreciate that and enjoy working for folks that that are um that that do that even when it's difficult to do. Um so I appreciate that. So I'm we've done our advertisement. We've advertised in the paper. I've had nothing but positive feedback. Um I don't I've not heard of anybody else that's gotten any negative feedback from it. And I would um recommend and ask that you guys today vote to approve the increase of the elected officials compensation starting January 1, 2028 to $2,500 a month for the mayor and at $1,500 a month for the council members.

And if I could make a motion, I would, but I can't. [laughter] Do I have a motion to um pass the compensation proposal that's been presented that will be effective January 2028? Madame Mayor, I uh so move that we accept the u compensation, the new compensation based on uh what the uh Mr. Brooks presented to us. All right, I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Thank you. All right. Our last uh item on the agenda is a board appointment to the arts commission. Mr. Brooks.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I guess the last thing we have uh Aisha Sie has resigned effective immediately from the Carolton Arts Commission. Her term ends June the 30th, 2026, and the art commission recommends that Dr. Don Rice be considered to serve out the remainder of the term. Dr. Rice was a psychology professor and department chair at the University of West Georgia for 27 years. He's also a novice musician playing piano and keyboard for several local bands. If appointed by the mayor and council tonight, Dr. Rice's term will be effective from now and through June the 30th, 2026. Upon the completion of that term, Dr. Rice would be eligible to serve a second three-year term um if so desired. The nominee has experienced their willingness to serve if appointed. And so, uh, on behalf of April Sanders, the director of our, uh, downtown marketing and events, uh, department and cultural arts department, I would ask that you would approve that recommendation tonight.

Okay. Do I have a motion to approve Mr. Don Rice, uh, appointment to the arts commission? So, move. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Okay. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. I have a motion and a second to adjurnn. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Thank you.