Board of Mayor & Commissioners - Regular Meeting

uh all public comment will be before actually before approval of meeting minutes. Each person will be allowed one comment for three minutes. Um and then we will have likewise in the work session uh at the end of the work session there will be public comment on anything we talked about in the work session uh one one comment per person for three minutes. Any comments in the regular meeting can be about anything you want. It's just comments in the work session must be related to the work session items. Um and then there will there will be a bright a break between the regular meeting and the work session for interaction, informal questions, whatever. If you do have a question, we have cards over here at the table that you can fill out. Am I getting all this right, Mr. Manager?

Yes. Okay. And uh yeah, I I thought we had decided to do on the regular meeting at the end and on the work session at the beginning. Am I mistaken? Okay. Yeah. So, that gives you a chance to comment before the motion's made. So, Oh, that's right. Work sessions at the end, right? Okay. All right. Yep. That's right. I got it backwards. So, and some of those some of that is is at the bottom of each agenda and will be from here on out. Correct. Okay. In in summation.

Right. Okay. Are you going to repeat that sort of briefly at the beginning of the meeting so it's available to you know like Zoom people? Me and Relle. Are we recording? Oh. Oh, okay. Okay.

All right. We got 5:30. All right. This is the city of Aenddale State. This is the city of Aendell States Board of Mayor Commissioners regular meeting. It's March 25th, 2026 is 5:30. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Uh we have an agenda before us. Do I have a motion to adopt? Moved. That was Laida. Do I have a second? Second. That was Mike. All in favor say I. I.

Okay. Uh Commissioner comments. We'll start with Commissioner Stebon. Um, well, I just want to thank you all again for coming. Um, it's good to see so many faces. Um, and that's all I have for tonight. Very good. Commissioner Suaz, uh, I do not have anything but I thought of ahead of time. Okay, Commissioner Smith.

Uh, yeah, I just wanted to do a shameless plug. Um, so in a few weeks, uh, my wife's business, uh, who she co-owns with, uh, another, uh, resident, um, the Book Bird of Aenddale Estates, will be opening up soon. So, I invite everybody to check it out. It's going to be at the the new Dale development, um, in a few weeks, God willing, no more uh, construction delays. So, I invite everybody to uh, check it out. It's a bookstore, uh, coffee, wine bar, all that. So, so a lot more information to come forward soon. Um, but just follow them on on all the socials and you'll get all the info you need. So, thank you. Very good. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

Uh, not much from me. Just uh I'm sure the Mr. Mayor, Mr. Manager will say something about this, but look forward to seeing everybody at the state of the city next week. It sounds like it's going to be uh a good time and a good chance to celebrate uh Aenddale State. So, um make sure you put it on your calendar. Thank you. You just raised my anxiety. Thank you. Uh there's I appreciate that. Uh that's all I had actually. Mr. Manager, I wanted to prov take this time to provide you guys several updates. I'm actually going to mic myself our YouTube feed.

Um I got it. Yep. All right. So, uh, Shannon and I were able to meet with the, uh, team the responsible for grid in the grid integrity project at, uh, Georgia Power, uh, and wanted to provide you guys with some updates regarding that project. Um as we had previously discussed uh the Georgia Power has received funding uh from the federal government made available to them uh through the public service commission to um increase reliability on uh circuits within the grid that were were in the bottom quartortile of service reliability. Um, one of those circuits happens to feed the entire residential area of this city uh and several other uh residential areas uh inside uh Dicap County to strengthen the grid. Uh the the kind of the method to do so is to take the main service line uh feeding these residential properties or you know they don't necessarily have to be residential but feeding properties on this circuit and bury it. Um the reason for that is because the reliability has been heavily affected by uh tree limbs and sometimes whole trees knocking out the service line during uh weather events which we all know are quite frequent. And um in a si in a a 42-year consecutive tree city, uh we

have a lot of trees that can um cause uh potential outages to uh customers throughout the city. In order for them to bury that service line, uh they required um easements on private property to locate transformer boxes um to replace uh the canisters that you see on existing poles now uh which connect the main service line to individual property feeder lines. They have obtained all of the easements necessary to move forward with this project save one which is the city's easement um which we are we are coordinating a meeting with them next week to further discuss and I will provide y'all updates on that as it comes. However, there are some private properties that they have enough right of way not to require an easement to place a transformer upon. They have had these discussions with those property owners um and have mailed them correspondence talking about it with these property owners. However, uh they have identified to us the properties in which that type of issue I exists and we will be um communicating with those property owners uh ourselves just so that they know um that you know it might be in their interest to actually go back to Georgia Power and come up with an easement agreement to place a transformer in an area that may be more

desirable than the existing right ofway owned by Georgia Power, which um could be uh less sightly or or otherwise unsightly.

Yeah. So, uh that's that's where we stand right now. Um the work uh is expected to take about seven months. Um that work will primarily be contained uh to the um Nottingham Wiltshire corridor. Uh the work will will not require the city to um close any thoroughare to traffic. Uh but there will be times where boring occurs where a singular lane of traffic will need to be closed and uh Georgia Power uh will handle that and provide uh the requisite traffic control to do so uh during those times. Um right now that's all the information I have. uh as we get more I will I will let you know and uh we'll do our best to also keep the community informed of any activity uh that Georgia Power conducts uh with respect to this project. Uh we still anticipate uh that they will hold some sort of community information session. Uh we're encouraging them to do that in person. uh they would rather do that uh via video conference. Um so we're still working out those details. Uh secondly, uh I I was able to send you guys about an hour ago some analysis that I I did um on the current iteration of HB 1116. Um, if y'all recall, previously this piece of legislation was conceived as a removal of the cap on

the valuation uh of a homestead exemption um which would have required a constitutional amendment to accomplish. uh that did not have enough steam to pass uh with a supermajority in the Georgia legislature. So that bill was amended to remove the need for a constitutional amendment and uh the resulting action provided for in the legislation instead uh capped the increase of revenues collected uh we believe to be via adorum taxes but it's not necessarily clear um to 3% any on any given year. Meaning that uh right now uh conceptually this legislation would not allow the city to collect more than 3% in advorum revenue than it did the previous year. And if the city wanted to do that, it would have to go to a vote of the public. Uh I don't want to get into the complexity of that given the fact that our millillage calendar and our budget calendar are um not aligned. Uh however um for the purposes of our discussion, I sent around a memo and a spreadsheet showing what um the impact of that legislation would have been on the city of Aendel Estates if it were adopted five years ago. So, um, if that legislation did become law 5 years ago, during that fiveyear period of time, the city would have, uh, collected $2.1

million less than it did. Uh, and that $2.1 million essentially, uh, calculates to roughly 35 36% of our current budget. Uh, to to kind of give you a idea as to its impact. Um, of course that number increases each successive year as our tax digest grows. Um, needless to say, it would be harmful to continue to operate the same way we do. Uh, so if that legislation were to become law, uh, we would have to change um our outlook um for operating. It would also significantly uh hinder um or reduce our credit rating. Uh and uh so any um additional or future borrowing um could be uh you know significantly impacted by a reduction in the rating and subsequent increase in um interest rate. Uh we anticipate that the language contained with in the legislation will continue to be amended over the next week. Uh so I do not know what final form the legislation will take. Uh but needless to say we're on it and as updates happen I will also bring those to you. Um, however, I do think it might be wise um if if you were so inclined to to um potentially hold a special called meeting for the purpose of adopting a resolution in opposition to this legislation at some point next week. Um I know that uh city

of Decar and City of Shambbley have already done so. um and that they are trying to rally the remainder of the DECAB cities and participants in GMA to join them. Um in fact uh uh city of Decar is is spearheading um this effort. Uh so uh stay tuned there. But uh just wanted to to you know put at the top of your minds that this legislation um is very real and uh will be decided uh on by April the 6th. So it it it could happen quickly. Um we also have had uh the benefit of uh Decaterish's presence at the gold dome during this legislative session. Uh so uh thankfully um they have been providing us with um pretty much real time updates as changes has been have been made um in committee uh and we'll continue to do so until the bill is taken up on the floor of the Senate u between now and April 6th.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Yes. All right. Um, I have a question and a comment. Um, on these transformers, are they they're going to remove the old ones from the poles and then put in the green ones in place? That That's correct. The the canisters that exist on the poles that are connected to the main service line would be removed. And the um the transformers are not on every pole, but every or are they? They are not. Yeah. Yeah. They So they will be at intervals. Okay.

Along along the corridor. Um, and the other thing is about this House bill, you know, um, I think it's a very important that the the public understands what's going on with this and what we're thinking about doing. So, I would like for us to have a work session before we have a a a meeting to vote on it. Well, that would be up to you guys. Okay.

I've got a quick comment. The uh the resolution that Decada wrote is very comprehensive. It's it does a great job of explaining the issue and how it will affect a city. Um I assume it's pretty much the same effects, but maybe not. Um is it common to sort of use someone else's resolution as a guide? In fact, that's that's usually the practice so that everybody's sending their legislature the same thing. Yeah. And it's a strengthen numbers uh play, if you will. Yep. They did a great job.

Yeah. and and the impact on Decar is is going to be very similar to the impact on us because our our our ratio of advalorum collections is almost identical. Thank you. All good. Okay. Um public comment Julie.

I'm Julie Fleming. I live at 40 Clarendon. I came to talk about a redoing a citywide yard sale, which we haven't done in many years. Uh, my committee meets at 6:00 pm and we're looking at the date of April 18th from 9 to 2. So, pencil it in. Midwaywoods is having a citywide yard sale then. Well, they're not a city, but they're having a sale. And our beloved TMS used uniform sale is that day. Uh we may end up moving it back because that's kind of quick to make this happen, but we'd we like that date. Um we'll avoid using paper maps as in the past and that was a laborious step. We'd like to do a QR code instead to scan at each local. Uh that way our registrants can let us know what kinds of things they'll have in their sale along with their address. Um, the modest money we would collect from each participant would go for our banners right out here and at Sam's Crossing. Thank you, Ellen, for all that helpful information about how to do that. So, we'll look real quickly after our 6 pm meeting on getting in the e newswsletter and the social media and uh start collecting your sale items.

Thank you, Tony.

33 circling back to power. So, we went out and checked out the transformers that they want to put on the corner of Nod and as you're coming in from memorial it's that foot huge box and we're going to have it agre put it on the right, but it's going to be so aesthetically not very there it is. And it might even be bigger. We're not getting a lot of help from power getting different people and they want to start this next week. So that's something to consider if the other one is going to be on. So, our house is on that corner. So, on Noddingham, um, between our property and Rachel Kerszog's property, they're going to put a smaller one, but that one's going to be 3x3 still. We just spent fortune on landscape. So, just so you know, it's starting sooner rather than later. I was unaware it was going to take six to seven months. That's a long time. So anyway, that it would be really good to move up the Georgia Power meeting because we're not getting good answers from everybody.

Okay. Thank you. Can I ask a question? Um the 5x5, do you know why that one's bigger? That is the transformer. What is the 3x3? that is just gonna I guess that services it you know these are questions for the power but we understand the transformer is on Noddingham so they're going to move the transformer to the corner and it'll service all of that the smaller box I think it's just to draw those lines down from the transformer and that'll be that box now our house lines still stay up on the pole and all of the communication lines still be up there.

Uh, Bill,

Bill over 89 Brookkeley Road. Uh, I want to compliment the, uh, operations department for quickly removing his Allen tree uh, basically in front of our house and, uh, actually ground the stump today um, which was a contracted, but appreciate that happening very quickly. Uh, I guess I would hope that uh a replacement tree would be uh planted nearly as quickly. Uh, but I realize that probably won't happen. Uh, but anything that will help screen a very unsightly and oversized overflow structure within a particular detention pond across the way would be 12. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone alive? All right, seeing no other comments, I will bring it back up here. All right. Uh, first item, item number, well, sorry, vote on item number five. Uh, we have before us the March 11th, 2026 regular meeting minutes and the March 11th, 2026 work session minutes. Do I have a motion to engross? So move. That was Graham. Do I have a second? Second. That was Mike. All in favor say I. I. All right. One second.

Okay. Okay, we have before us the second amendment to the professional services agreement between City of Aenddale States Georgia and Safeuilt Georgia LLC. Um, well, there's no particular amount. It's that's a schedule of rates. Uh, do I have a motion to adopt? So moved. That was Lida. Do I have a second? Second.

Louie, uh, any questions, comments up here? So what we mentioned before last week is that these are the sort of rates that the third party charges. Um I think this all gets wrapped up in the building permit. So in other words, a person pays for a building permit and it include you know it sort of covers the costs of having professionals review and prepare the the permits and do enforcement and such. So this is reasonable and I guess what we heard last time is this this expands the services right anticipating things coming up in the next several years. Yeah.

Keeps our inspector engineer assistant person. So did you hear that? I did. And yes, what we're what we're proposing here is an amendment to provide for a consistent engineer uh to perform site inspection and storm water review services. Right now, those are not contained in our contract. So, we do those on an ad hoc basis. This just wraps it into our current contract. Okay. All right. All good. So, all in favor say I.

I. Any oppose? Nay. Okay. All right. Um, well, that concludes our regular meeting. Uh, do I have a motion to adjurnn? Some move. Second. Graham. Do I have a second? That's life, I believe. All in favor say I. I. I. So, as I said before, we'll have a 10-minute break. When we come back, we're going to be down at the table for our work session. There will be there will be public comment at the end of the work session pertaining to work session items. So, all right. 10 minutes. Thanks.

You do the It's on and we'll just um you tell me if we need to direct it. Okay. Okay. So work in progress but all right Jonathan this city of states board commissioners work session it is now 603 uh it's March 25th 2026 I'd like to call the meeting to order we have an agenda to the wheel second I

all right First item, Miss Manager Sh.

Yes. Uh at at our next regular meeting, we will be bringing a resolution for you to consider uh to AC to to approve by disclaiming by quit claim deed 183 square ft of real property within the private property known as 2820 Franklin Street in order to clear up title to that property and facilitate redevelopment of the central business district. Now, this is something that we have done before in the past. Um, I don't know, I can't recall the timing, so I think Jonathan, you might be the only remaining board member of that action. Um, but once upon a time on the uh property formerly owned by Finner Dunlop, uh there was a small piece of of land contained on that property that wasn't properly um uh identified in the deed to that property. So, in order for that title work to be cleared, we had to deny claim to it so that it could that it could join the deed of the private property. Well, um 2820 Franklin Street is currently owned by uh Olive and Pine and is used as a gravel parking lot. Currently, uh immediately to the north of that property, um on the tax map is shown uh what appears to be an alleyway that actually runs behind that property and several adjoining properties currently owned by Dave Leeday. Dave Leidday's deeds show that alleyway

as completely private. Um, and when uh the Avala Hedgewood group uh approached Olive and Pine to secure that property, there was a little triangular portion of the alleyway on that property uh that was not reflected in the title work. Um, so it's 183 square feet. It's tiny. Uh it is uh so we what we are recommending for you to do at the next regular meeting is to approve a resolution so that we can um produce a quick claim deed to that 183 square foot sliver so that um the the parties that are interested in the sale of that property to one another can get that title work cleared up and execute that sale.

Um, so is this where you're talking about the orange? No, no, no. This is 2820. So, okay. So, it's behind here. Yes. Okay. So, I'll show you lot of if you want to kind of just point it out to you easily here. Okay. So, it's that it's that property. Yeah. And you see how the alleyway runs the whole lake. But on this property, the the the qu the the the the gap in title is actually a little triangle that runs about halfway up to there. What about the rest of the alley? Is it's already private.

Yes, it is reflected as private on the deed. So the remainder of that of the alley on that property is private and the entirety of the alley on the leay property is private. Okay. And Dave Led is selling to Ablo. Corre and so is Olive and Pine. Both both parties. Correct. We've had we've had various things like this over the years where just zoning issues, property issues happen. Yeah.

They just happen when the title company says, "Hey, wait a minute. You got this thing, you know, it's

well the surveying didn't used to be nearly so precise. So when they describe things and then someone comes and looks at it 80 years later and they don't touch, that's how the gap in title gets created. Um, and so I've been in touch with Cowboy Title about this, who's issuing the title for the anticipated transaction. very reputable group and they have assured me in writing that there's nothing in the title to suggest that the city of Adam Estates ever owned this. Um, it's just that when they find a gap in title, they ask for the local government to disable them.

Very good. That's it. No more to add. Uh, the only thing to add is that we would be voting on this April. Correct. So good. Okay. Number four. All you again.

Yes. So, um, one second. Sorry. Um, so we also intend to bring forward for your consideration at the April 8th meeting a resolution to abandon a portion of Franklin Street aka Potter Avenue um for vehicular traffic. Uh so it contained in your packet is the is a highlighted portion of the Franklin Potter uh thoroughare that we are requesting to uh have you consider abandoning to vehicular traffic. The reason why the remainder of Potter Franklin until it becomes Elm is not being requested for you guys to consider is because that portion of the roadway is not public. it actually exists exclusively on private property uh and is and and therefore is not um property of ours to abandon. So uh what we are asking for today is for you to contemplate the issue that we bring forward to you at on April the 8th for just the portion that you see highlighted. And the reason being that we are recommending this abandonment consideration is because the connectivity uh per the per the street grid that the city has adopted will be achieved with the Washington street extension connection. So we are not losing vehicular connectivity.

Um Washington Street of course will be a standard street built to our code whereas uh Franklin Potter is currently what you would consider to be a substandard street not built to code. So actually the vehicular connectivity improves which of course was the entire goal of the street grid itself. Um so that is the only item for consideration. Uh now, uh Stephen, do you want me to get into the uh um issue with uh Oakhurst and and Leeday? Um so once we abandon that segment the properties immediately adjoining that have the right to acquire it

if we offer it. Yeah. If we offer it if we relinquish our control of the property they would have if you abandon this then Mr. le day. And uh this is not owned by Maple 278 Ventress. No, this is owned by Oakhurst. Okay. Yeah. So although this will all be owned by Maple 278. Yeah. Except for this parcel which will continue to be owned by Oakhurst. Anyway, Oakhurst uh has

actually they've already indicated to the Avala Hedgewood team via writing and in their property negotiations themselves uh that they will um relinquish their right to obtain that property. But that would be a future step.

That's a future step. But just kind Yeah. But anyway, so so this resolution for April the 8th is only considering abandoning the roadway as it currently exists to vehicular traffic. Now I want to make a clarifying statement on that and and Stephen if I miss anything here just that does not mean that as soon as you adopt that resolution the thorough affair would be closed to vehicular traffic. It just means that it can be. And so the um the Abala Hedgewood team uh has indicated to uh city staff that um it would continue to keep that thoroughfare open to vehicular traffic um until uh they needed to de demo the site for for future development. And that's a date uncertain at this time. We still got, you know, a ways to go before we get to that step.

The rest of the street, that's getting done, too, right? So, I can't speak to that. That's that we're not a party to that. Dave's mom.

Yeah. So, so as contemplated on currently, um if y'all recall, uh the Avala Hedgewood team was considering uh the placement of the Washington Street Extension that connects um um Washington Street to Maple to be built upon property to the north that is currently owned by Mr. Joe Garulo. Uh however um their engineering team uh believes that building the road upon that property to be cost prohibitive. Um not not because of the property acquisition itself but because of the grade of the property and so they have decided to make that connection which is required by our zoning code uh on their own property. So, what they're intending to do is shift that south uh and then make the connection to Washington at existing Elm, which so Elm would become Washington Street and connect to Maple.

So, this is U. So all these property owners are selling to No, no, no. The this okay are are a part of the proposed site for Avala Hedgewood. This property remains okay. That's an existing building that houses um several retail establishments, Little Cottage Brewery, and uh Yes, correct. I thought they were purchasing something. Nope.

So, um, so how is this going to impact the two properties that are not being sold? I mean, is there any, you know, uh, easement or legally speaking? It doesn't because they all have frontage on another public street. What about any um potential hardship impact uh like easements for their utilities and stuff like that that won't be impacted?

That's a good question. Um as far as I'm aware from the survey information that I've seen so far, there are no utilities existing in the rideway that we're talking about abandoning. Okay. Um if there are then those easements would not be extinguished by the abandonment. That property right would still be held by the easement holder and they would be able to keep their um utility infrastructure there until and unless there's some kind of agreement reached to do something else. But that wouldn't be a city function basically. Yeah. Between the property owner and the utility.

Yeah. But abandoning it won't change anything um in terms of if that right exists, which again I don't think it does. This would not impact impair that. We're sure of that. Yes, we're sure of the second part about the legal impact of abandonment. We believe that there are no utilities much less in East and we are sure about the access issue that you just received because this property has access from Olive and this property has access from Elden. Well, I was just walking back there looking around today try to make sure I understood what we were

and then this portion you see exists on private property already. So, I was looking at the this looks like there's What are they gonna is there something in this plan? What are they doing with this area? Are they I I can't speak to that because it looks a little different.

Yeah. Um so in terms of so I you know we we we don't want to speak on behalf of Avala Hedgewood with regard to any of their potential transactions with property owners or the final site plan that becomes I mean the final plan that becomes permitted because I think I I said in an email to you guys today that um uh as long as they are conforming to the zoning code and the variances that they were previously granted, then you know they can shift some stuff around to meet their needs. Um, so this is what the I mean this is kind of the concept as of late last month. Um, so and I believe it to be probably pretty accurate as to what the final product will reflect, but I I just can't guarantee that.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I just, you know, I want the city to ensure that everybody's um interests are considered, you know, and fairly equitably

and and where we have an interest in doing that, we will um but we have to be careful not to interfere with private transaction interests too. So in in simple term that Washington Street Extension will connect to Elm eventually. Well, it'll actually Elm will cease to exist. Yes. But the connection to Maple will be at the connection where Elm and Maple meet.

So Washington east towards town are slated to be part of the shared Yes. Franklin and Washington from town to Yeah. to that. Yeah. Exactly. Shared street. So project and that's a money we've got a grant for. Correct. And the what about the then the DDA is are they participating in that or the DDA the DDA has pledged um TAD funds in an amount to match that grant. Mhm.

So that takes us to Washington continues north of this property and current Washington street. Yes. Typology correct. Which includes well may or may not you got it. shared a road or Yep. It it will all of that depends on the available ride of way block to block. It's all meant to be walkable, drivable, bikable.

Correct. From one end to Yes. really from Laredo. Literally from Laredo to Maple. Yep. So we're swapping the east west portion of Franklin for future east west portion of Washington. Yes.

Yes. And I want to and I want to be clear for you guys. The reason we're calling it Franklin/Potter Avenue is because on the tax map it is known as Franklin. On Google maps it is known as Potter. Um, so we're we're calling it Franklin, also known as Potter or doing business as Potter, you know, um, just for your reference is to continue to correct different

and improve it details while construction. Well, I I do know that um the roadway infrastructure uh that we are pledging resources to uh will be built first. So,

correct. That's right. They want to they want to put the infrastructure in before they go vertical. and the DDA and them are working all of that those details out. Of course, that will all also have to be permitted and meet our standards for both plan and inspection before our resources are pledged back to the entity or distributed back to the entity. They're pledged. Yeah,

in the resolution it doesn't describe this by leaps and bounds like it did. So is it enough to just say well we did attach the image. Yeah. And it shows the terminus points. Um yes there's no well this is um I mean this isn't a transaction. This is just closing it or or not closing it even. It's just taking away the public's legal right to use it for trans.

Yeah. If if we later what's the term that I'll use dispose of this property and convey it to another entity that will have And Jonathan, uh, for public comment, will you ask people to go to the podium so the mic picks them up for our streamers? All right. Uh, this two will be voted on at the April 8th meeting, correct?

I mean, We are creating connectivity or maintaining or this is just pushed to make sure it happens didn't happen exactly as contemplated but nothing does so great. Um any other a substandard street. Now we're going to have

a standard streets every once in a while. Um, all good here. Okay. Public comment. If you have a comment, please go to the podium. So that you're live and everyone can hear. Thank you. Each person can hear me.

My name is Taylor Means. I leave live at 3116 Elm Street. Probably the property that will be most impacted by uh this abandonment. Um to be clear, I'm really excited for what Hedgewood and Aila are going to do. Um there are utilities in the property that's being contemplated to be abandoned. If any of you drive over there and look, you clearly can see blue lines where water lines are. There's a fire hydrant. There's gas lines. Those are the utilities that serve my property. It should be abundantly clear that they exist. Um, I am not against the abandonment, but there does need to be some clarification and easements before it's abandoned. I think it would be prudent. I am in active conversations with the developer. Uh I have attempted to uh contact Patrick and Shannon and city staff multiple times. We're yet to connect on that. Um but ultimately I I I understand uh Stephen that you know the the legal principle of if you have one access and give up another. But if you look into how it affects your business, there's actually not quite such a cut and dry perspective to that. Um, I don't agree that cutting off my vehicular access will just be an easy argument. That being said, I want to approach this very collaboratively and I want it to work, but there are details that need to be sorted out, including vehicular access, utility access, easements prior to y'all voting on the abandonment. Thank you. Kathy Kings Kathy Kingsbury 817 Stratford. I just want to make sure that we're following the correct process. And

it says um that the Georgia law specifies that it requires a form for formal process hearing ensuring it serves the public interest which I think Patrick just sort of tried to do involving public hearings, notices and if applicable transfer to local governments or adjacent property owners. will we have a public hearing for this a formal public hearing? And if so, how are we going to schedule that?

Thanks. comments. Um well it seems to me there's some um difference of information and I I you know I'd like us to make sure that we clarify that we are not and before we vote as far as the easements and access and things like that that um you know that we make sure of that. We just don't think I think we have duty to make sure.

Yeah. I think that um my statement about it appearing that the utilities do not exist was based on looking at a survey. So maybe I was looking at maybe the survey didn't know about the utilities. Maybe I was looking at a different sheet than the one that they're shown on. Um but again, the city's action to abandon the road absolutely will not disturb those utilities. I'm I'm I have a 100% confidence in that because we're not gonna dig them up.

Have we taken an action that would allow the the people who are getting the property to interfere? Well, that's not this step, right? So, all we're doing, right, the city will continue to own this if it's abandoned. So, we still have to convey it to the other property owners if the board chooses to do that through a future action that would involve public notice and a period of time and a lot of steps that are we're just closing it. Well, we're not even closing it. We're subs.

Okay. They It's confusing and the terms of art are confusing. Um, so one thing that can be done is to close a street. That means to physically block vehicles from using. That's not currently proposed. Another thing that can be done is to abandon a rightaway, which is a legal act that takes away the general public's right to use that right away for transportation. It doesn't necessarily mean that we would physically close the road, but it would certainly mean that we could. Now, separate from all of that is if and when a rideway is abandoned, that rideway is no longer a rideway, but it's still property. It's still owned by the city. And then potentially after going through a public process and taking a vote, the city could choose to dispose of that right away, which would mean um selling it or otherwise conveying it to a private property owner so that it's no longer owned by the city.

That we would have to go through public hearing that process. Uh yeah, I know there's some public notice requirements. I'm not sure if there's technically a public hearing requirement, but the city could certainly schedule one. Um, and that would be would ensure that um that all properties have um the necessary u rights to their utilities and access to their the easements and the things like that. That's the that's when that needs to be correct. Yes, I agree. And it looks like to me that that's going to be a step will take because of the the math of what it was doing,

right? I mean, yeah, we're not trying to pretend that that's not somewhere in the future, but it's just not here now. And um and and as mentioned, it involves running ads in the paper, sending um notice to the abuing property owners again um and basically saying, "Hey, you abut this abandoned rightway. As a city, we're considering disposing of this property. Are you interested?" And so that's a process that would probably take a couple months to do. And I think it would be totally appropriate by the city to well as part of a transaction like that, we would learn through a title search for sure whether the easements exist, right? If they do exist, then they will remain there and whoever were to obtain that property from the city would obtain it subject to the easement. meaning that they legally could not interfere with the utility and so we'll just have to see. I think that's you know future steps.

Okay. Is it fair to say or there might be other accommodation?

Right. So assume let's now assume that the utilities are present. Right? If there's not a recorded easement that means that those utilities were installed through a license essentially with the city. Um, and you know, without getting into a property law school lecture, that's a little less of a legal right, but still a legal right. And the city has franchises with a number of or all the utilities that exist in the city. It gives them the right to use the right away. So whereas if there's an easement the utility could not be forced to relocate it. they could you can make a deal I guess but you can't force it. If they have only relied upon a um their license then the city upon if a we learned that it's confirmed that it's there b that there is no ement c that the there's an intention to disturb them which I don't know to be advanced but it could be all those things were true then the city And whoever is obtaining the property from the city would need to come to an agreement with the utility to relocate and still provide the same utilities to all properties. about this. So it seems appropriate that at this stage at this opportunity do we feel like we're using this right is it working out

you know after public comment is just anticipate well we did not and we discussed things with the up but Well, you know, it being a work session, I would think that we would, you know, comment to the to the to our need, you know, um you know, if we have additional things to ask after something's already been said, I wouldn't cut them off.

This makes sense with the whole point of these things can't be, right? that you know there's a chance to speak there's either there's either engagement or not and I think we should follow as much as we can

but I mean it's like we talk they have a chance to react and we talk some more and they don't have a chance to react that's notable but it could happen but I mean That's kind of the point is a chance to say something after we've had our discussions. If it just keeps going on, it's like, well, that's not that's not the intent. I agree. So, I was talking about us not after public comment, but you know, after we But I usually say, "Are we good?" Okay.

Are we good? we move on. So any but I mean this is our first go around so there's some there's some shake out but u yeah I think it's I think this is more productive than sitting up there. Well I you know like I said before I have no idea when or why or how or anything we quit coming down here just sort of happened. I don't think there was any sort of formal vote or anything just due co I can't remember what would have been on Zoom I don't know when it happened but I really don't think that happened or why honestly it just sort of

for example I was able to Patrick what I was talking about or I could do the same with y'all we did a session and it facilitates correct so and I do prefer the ability to do Yes. Yes. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Why do second? Thank you all for being here. Appreciate it. Lucious.