City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, it's 6 pm and I will call the October meeting of the mayor and council to order. If you'll all stand and we'll have our pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, Dr. Landram, would you be gracious enough to do our invocation?

Bow your heads if you will. Gracious, wonderful almighty God, we come right now just to say thank you. Thank you, dear God, for your goodness and your mercy. We thank you for every soul represented here today on this council. Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit will guide them in everything that they do. We send up a special prayer for Chief Riches because we know there's healing in the name of Jesus and we claim that right now. be with all the leaders in this city and even in this nation. May everything that they do somehow bring glory to your name. We pray this prayer in the precious name of your darling son Jesus the Christ. Let every heart say amen.

Amen. And amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor Lender. Okay. Do we have any citizens comments? No citizens comments. Okay, we have the minutes from the September meetings. Do I have a motion to adopt? So move. Okay. Is there any additions or corrections? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Did you get a second? I thought you second it. I did. Okay. I second it. Okay. All right. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Any oppose? same sign hearing. None. Motion carries. Okay. Mayor and council announcements. Councilman Bridges, we'll start with you. Good evening, everyone. Good to see the youth council here on tonight. Also, I just want to thank Tommy and Mike Green staff for always doing the things I need done in the community and I'm just grateful and I appreciate that and just good to be here tonight. I'd extend a big welcome to all our youth council members being here tonight. Thank you for coming. Uh, and thank you for our city for the incredible effort they put forth with Taste of Carolton, which I don't know how many thousands of people went to it, but it was a bunch. And what a great event. And we've got the a big art walk coming up this weekend that I don't know if it attracts quite that many, but it'll be big, too. And I hope to see everybody there. Council Libert.

Yeah. Welcome everyone tonight. I told them sitting outside I said y'all are best looking group we've had here in a while. So [laughter] um but we're we are glad to have y'all here tonight. Uh yeah the art center uh will be open this weekend and um you know big weekend. So get out and enjoy it and enjoy this beautiful weather. Thank you, Councilman Gibbs. I also want to thank welcome the youth council and just say happy fall to everyone. Thank you.

Okay. Well, we are excited to be have our youth council here with some two new members to join us this for this upcoming uh year and we're really excited about that. I want you to I want to ask you to remember um our employees family Jeremy Mashurn passed away last week. Uh he's was a great city employee and he'll be missed by all of us because he was always happy and just did anything you needed him to do. And um so we ask that you remember that family in your prayers. And we have just had so many good things since our last meeting. We had um of course we had the taste of Carolton. Then we had our half marathon and we have um a council member that got um first place second place in her age division. Yay. [applause] Uh we had several city employees that ran. So that's really good. We appreciate that. And to have this kind of event in our city is really really a blessing. And we have um quite a few people that come. How many different states were there this year?

17.

17 different states people came here to run. So it is a big event and we do appreciate all the staff and the hard work because this that's a lot of work. It has to be. I mean, they were here at what 4:30 in the morning to give four to give out numbers and things. So, um it it's a lot of work, but they do a great job and it brings a lot into our city. And, uh, of course, we mentioned Taste of Carolton. Um, that was a success and we had one of our council members who always volunteers to be a judge. [laughter] I think he likes the food. No, I'm just kidding. might ought to cut it out next year. [laughter]

But Bob Bob graciously um always is available to be in that capacity. So um but other than that, I just appreciate everybody being here. I appreciate what y'all do for our city and uh it's great to be a part of this city. Okay, the next item is Mr. Brooks, our city manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh just a couple of things. One thing I want to point out is uh I think y'all you all you guys got your Georgia trend magazine. Our mayor was featured in one of the roundt question and answer interviews at GMA this summer. So she is uh her uh some of her comments and answers are in there and she always is very humble but is very well known around the state and is always called to to ask to be on panels to give interviews to give um mentorship and leadership to other mayors. And so we're proud that we're proud that you're our mayor.

Thank you. Um, also, uh, Haley Beaver last week, uh, did a, uh, presentation on our blighted structure program for DCA. Did an outstanding job. And, um, as usual, and and you know, u, when I got here four years ago, I started this tradition of of giving those folks that make our city look good and going above and beyond the call of duty a city challenge coin. So, I want to present one to Haley tonight for the job she did present it. [applause] Okay, thank you. [clears throat]

Okay, the next item on the agenda is approval of the agenda items for consideration. Do I have a motion to approve? So move. Have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and second to approve the agenda items. So, our first agenda item is the oath of offices for uh mayor. Oh, I'm sorry. All those in favor say I. I don't know what I do without our attorney over here to keep me in line. [cough]

Thank you. [laughter] Uh so motion carries. Items will be presented. Uh the first item is our youth council oath of office. So, if I can have an Ashlin and some I'm not even going to try. Tell me.

Sia. Okay. All right. Good deal. Raise your right hand for me. Is it on? Yeah.

Okay. All right. So, I and then state your name

to hereby promise that I desire to be a member of the city of Carolton Youth Council. that I will honestly and faithfully perform the duties assigned to me, that I will abide by the rules which govern the youth council members, and that I will be a good role model for all the youth in the city of Carolton community. Sworn and subscribed before me this sixth day of October, Mayor Betty Basease. Okay, so I'll sign it and I'll get you to sign it right here. Okay. very much. I put the other one

right here.

Okay. All right. Next, we have Ashlin Hill. So, Ashlin, if you will raise your right hand for me. I do hereby promise that I desire to be a member of the city of Carolton youth council, that I will honestly and faithfully perform the duties assigned to me, that I will abide by the rules which govern the youth council members, and that I will be a good role model for all the youth in the city of Carolton community, sworn and subscribed before me the 6th day of October, 2025. Yes, you will. Okay. All right. And if I can get you

congratulations. So excited to have you here. Congratulations to you too. All right. Okay.

Thank you. Congratulations. [applause] [applause] And for those who did not see it before our meeting tonight, which is broadcast live, their meeting was broadcast So, we're real excited about that. So, they they bring a lot to our community. Okay. The next item on our agenda is Howell Road. Uh a resoning [clears throat] request. Uh yes, the only reasonzoning item you have on your agenda tonight is a resoning request at Howell Road. Uh this resoning request also uh carries with it a waiver request. Uh the tract itself is8 uh 28 acres and the reszoning request is to reszone from R20 which is single family residential uh with a 20,000 ft lot size to R8 which is an 8,000t lot size in order to subdivide the property um with a waiver to reduce that lot size for tract 1 to 6242 ft and 6,258 ft respectively for track 2. Uh the applicant intends to construct one

single family home on each of the newly uh developed lots. Uh currently the property is vacant. Uh the planning commission uh which normally meets in September could not get a quorum in September. So this does come to you without a planning commission recommendation. However, staff does have two conditions uh re two uh recommended conditions uh should you choose to uh consider them. The first one the minimum square footage of the proposed home shall be 1,400 square ft. And then number two, each home shall be constructed with a garage or carport. Uh the applicant uh was not able to make it tonight. He did send a representative Clint Kelly uh to answer any questions you may have.

Okay. Before we uh ask Mr. Kelly to come up, I'd like to read something to you. At this time, we will hear zoning requests. Since many of you may not have previously attended a public hearing on a zoning 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 comment shall be directed to the mayor and council, not to the petitioner or those in opposition. In accordance with the Georgia law, each side, not each individual, is allowed 10 total minutes of public input. This means that all of those speaking in favor of the request have a total of 10 minutes, and all those speaking in opposition of the request have a total of 10 minutes. Time devoted to questions and answers that the elected official must may ask should not be counted against the time limitations. Since we 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 they may then speak, indicating first their support for or opposition of the application. The applicant will then be allowed time for rebuttal. rebuttal must be limited to the points or issues raised by opponents to the application at the hearing. Okay. And Mr. Price Oh, Kelly, I'm sorry. You want to address the

Madame Mayor and City Council. Um there's not a whole lot additional to add to what Erica added. Um, my client James Fulford, he intends to build two single family residents and adhere to the two staff recommendations, which is the addition of a garage or a carport to those and to have a minimum of 1,400 heated square feet in those homes. He did submit to potential um building plans in the packets as well for you all to review. He's not 100% set on those, but those are a good idea of things that he's seen. He's looking to um continue to contribute to the revitalization of that Maple Street area, adding um property value of at least $350 to $425,000 to each one of those lots, which is about $100,000 over 13 of the 15 other lots on the property and that road, I mean. And so he's looking to develop that and and hopefully continue to encourage some of the neighbors to improve their property as well. That street is currently owner occupied at only 31%. So it's a vast majority of rental units and he's looking to sell is my understanding at this time. So continue to grow that area and look to revitalize that street.

Okay. Questions? Okay. Does anybody have any questions? No, not at this time. Thank you, Mr. Kelly. Okay. Is there anyone here to speak in opposition of this resoning request? Okay. Hearing none. Do I have a motion to approve the resoning request? I'd make a motion to approve it. Okay. 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. The next item on our agenda is the Hobbs Farm inclusive playground project. And I'm gonna let Mr. Brooks talk about that.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd first like to start out by thanking Jonathan Hardesty with Superior. He has worked diligently to get us a plan and renderings and uh I mean he's definitely an expert in the field, not just in Carolton, Georgia, but in the US and abroad. I mean, every time I talk to him, it seems like he's in a different country, a different state for sure, sometimes a different country. So, really appreciate your efforts. Thank you for what you've done. As we talked in our work session, um, in a minute I'm I'm I'm going to ask you guys to vote to approve the to move forward on the $2.4 million project of Hobbs Farm that we would pay for with Splice money. Um, but before we do that, I want to just let everybody um watch the video, kind of bring back to the forefront of what all it's going to include. This is the full uh the full playground that Mr. Hardesy brought to us a couple of years ago. Um, we have raised some money. Uh uh we do have some money and we hope to raise more and we hope of this $2.4 million that we um also are able to take some of that cost off by doing our on-site work or or getting some help with that. And just to for everybody in attendance, if the inclusive playground, it's all ages, all abilities. It is a playground that um for uh special needs children, handicapped children, uh those who don't have special needs or handicapped, they can all play together. If a parent is handicapped, a lot of these come into uh play when uh uh with from military families when the parents would come back and be in a wheelchair or not be able to really go out on a playground where their children are playing. Well, now they can. and they can even go up the ramps to get to the slides and and everything's spaced and um it's just really a neat concept and it will be a premier spot for not just Carolton and Carol County but for uh the surrounding counties as well. It's a really really great idea. It's a um and I'm looking forward to hopefully making this come to come to life. So if we'll just that's about a fivem minute video here kind of

bring it back to the forefront of what we're talking about.

[clears throat] [clears throat]

All right. As you can see that that encompasses a two a two to 5 year old playground, a 5 to 12 year old playground with the restroom current restrooms in the center. We would construct pavilions. the city, we would do that with the pavilions on either side where the picnic areas um has a has stem and sensory walls and um again it's there's something there for everybody and I apologize there was some nice music that uh that went with the video that uh that was on us not Mr. Hardste but a lot of design a lot of effort has gone into this a lot of planning and we're really excited about uh about the possibilities of of being able to construct that over at Hobs Farm. Is there anything, Mr. Horse, you would like to add to um [snorts]

Well, while Johnson's on his way up here, I'd just like to say I'm very excited about this project. [clears throat] I think that there everyone in this room probably knows someone that'll benefit from this once it's built. Absolutely.

And first off, Mr. Brooks, thank you. Jonathan Hardesty, Superior Recreational Products, also live in town at 230 West Avenue. Um, all I wanted to say is Mr. Brooks did a very good job actually explaining this and if it the city council didn't know, I mean, while we're not donating it, we are trying to do it very close to cost. So, um, that was just one of the things. And while I might not be able to attract people from 17 states, like I mentioned to you and Mr. Brooks, when Miss McNeel brought this opportunity to us, I can almost promise you because I have had the opportunity to do this all around the US and Canada, it will most likely bring people from all over West Georgia, probably 17 to 22 counties is what we're presuming because this will be a destination park. Um, and it is fully inclusive uh and accessible. So, if [clears throat] you have any questions, when the music wasn't there, I almost wanted to volunteer to come up and comment, but [laughter] um if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them for you.

Thank you, Jonathan. We really do appreciate your help on this. And if anybody has any doubt about the playground and the playground equipment, uh just go over to Lakeshore

questions. that place is wrapped up all the time and the kids just have a great time there and it's and the good thing is as Mr. Brooke said is this is has so many different intricral parts of it that it has something for everyone. Whether you're the person with the disability or your child's the person with some type of either physical disability or or even um some mental disabilities, they still have somewhere to go. And that was our whole purpose behind this was giving opportunity to everybody, not just the healthy children or parents, but this would encompass the whole area with u people be, you know, being able to get out and and enjoy life with their children and and with their family members. And the the thing about this is it is all of it is wheelchair accessible. So, anybody in a wheelchair can maneuver anywhere on this playground that they would like and um they have lots of amenities that will cater to whatever the need is uh for adults and for children. So, I'm really excited about it. And I think Mr. Uglam, you had a question.

Well, a comment and a question. I I was watching your very nice video production and and I would guess that's a done by AI or something like that above my technological level. Sure. No, you can do it from here.

I have a very creative I really don't if you happen to have the opportunity to go back and listen to those links that talks about the swings and all the different components. Depending on your music genre, you can learn a lot just [laughter] by listening to the music if you had time to go back.

Well, as somebody who was brought up on broken crayons, I was I was impressed. It was very well done. A and uh how much of that uh facility would be manufactured right here in Carolton? Everything you see us. Oh, that's great.

Wow. Great. Well, thank you. That's awesome. Great partnerships. Okay. So, do I have a motion to So, all right. I'd like to make a motion that we build all-incclusive playground and give the contract to Superior. Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a second. Is there any discussion or questions? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Next item on our agenda is adjourn. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. Do I have a second? So moved.

Second. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Thank you all for