City Council - Regular Meeting

like to call to order the august 20th 2026 city council meeting meeting of mayor and council i'd like to call on pastor hubert miguel from new life ministries to lead us in prayer please remain standing for the pledge

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I sure did. We're gonna start out with three public hearing items tonight. Item A, consideration of an ordinance to rezone a total of 19.82 acres from residential agriculture

I have one question. How far is this from that school over there? I went over there and I was looking at that area, and I think I have the right area in mind, but I just never hear us mention about the school.

Any other questions for Matt? Matt, thank you. Yes, sir. Again, this is a public hearing item. We'll dedicate 15 minutes for and against for each side. With that being said, is there anybody who would like to step forward in favor of this request? Seeing none, their 15 minutes are over. I'll now dedicate 15 minutes for anybody that would like to step forward in opposition to this request. Matt? You had a thought?

All right, a fresh 15 minutes for anybody in opposition to this request. Good evening.

Council, any questions for Mr. Brantley? There is one minute, no questions, I'm sorry. There is one minute remaining in the 15 if anybody else wants to step forward and speak quickly in opposition.

James, thank you. That closes out that portion of the public hearing, items of council. One at a time, item 2A, consideration of an ordinance to rezone a total of 19.82 acres is before you. It's yours for action. You got a question for Matt? Absolutely, Matt, please.

Council? Any other questions for Matt? Andy?

You can walk from J.L. Lomax at that corner. That was my question. And we do, with the bus. It's within walking distance, I can tell you, because I have done and looked at it.

One last quick question. How would they have, their access would be off Howell Road? They couldn't get any access any other way other than off Howell Road?

And that's why we're looking at the traffic, because traffic coming south off a perimeter, in a perimeter, would have to make a right, and then make a left to go to that, if they had any business, right?

It will be kind of tight with a lot of traffic.

All right any other questions for Matt? um council still has questions and knowing that the applicants here um council without objection i'm going to reopen the public comment portion and give five minutes for each side for and against um it'll offer a semi rebuttal if they if they hear something in that other five so with that being said um if there's somebody wants to speak in favor or answer questions on this property at the applicant now that we're aware that he's here if you don't mind coming forward i believe councilman gibbs will lead and then maybe some others have a question or two ho

Council, any questions for the applicant?

Council, any other questions? No. All right. Appreciate your time. Thank you.

I don't imagine there's anybody else that wants to come forward and speak in favor of this request. Kelly. So we'll close out that portion. We'll open up five minutes for anybody else in opposition, especially on what they heard. Kelly Saxon.

Still time, anybody else in opposition to this request?

George, thank you. Is there anybody else that would like to come forward and speak in opposition to this request?

Thank you. Anybody else in the, no, I'll close it out. 17 seconds, there will not be time. thank you Susan all right that wraps up the public hearing portion for a second time council I'll turn it over to you for action sorry I'll turn over the consideration of an ordinance to rezone first to a for you for action mayor

All right, I have a motion and a second. Any comments? I'll direct that to staff.

Mr. Mayor. Hold on. Now we'll move on to item B, consideration of an ordinance to annex the same 21.97 acres. Council, it's yours for action.

All in favor, show of hands. Opposition, same sign. Motion carries. now move on to item c 2026 millage rate public hearing darquita williams this is second reading we have the first at 11 o'clock this morning the actual vote will be the following thursday at 6 p.m for any citizens that want to attend darquita is our finance director darquita good evening thank you good afternoon mayor and council

i have no question but i do have a comment yes ma'am i want to say we've had a lot of conversation a lot of work has gone into this i appreciate it and i just want everybody to know what we have to do here with these things with the taxes and all and everything look at the whole picture our financial department uh other staff have put a lot of time in it and a lot of scenarios on how to best of work with our city and get our city going and keeping it growing and maintaining and manageable. So I just want you to know, thank you for the way you have explained it, all of the different scenarios y

Ms. Dooley, well said. I'll add that we took a beating last year. The growth in the Digest was only .6 last year. It's 5.83 and very healthy this year, and we're gonna mop up a little bit of the beating we took last year.

Wanna hang around? Soak up some more compliments? Darquita, thank you very much. There is no action to be taken on this. It's our second reading. Again, the third reading and the actual vote will be Thursday night at 6 o'clock in a special called meeting as well.

All right, move on to item three, ordinances and resolutions. Item A, consideration of a resolution to submit an application for Georgia Transportation's Infrastructure Bank, Ben O'Dowd, our city engineer, to present.

Hey Ben, sit down. It did fall within the public hearing. It's not a for and against, it's any citizens that wish to comment. on our second reading for setting our millage rate may come forward. I'm sorry, I almost excluded you.

Is there anybody else that wishes to come forward at this time? i'll close out the public comment period and again move on ben if you'd like to come forward we're on item 3a consideration of a resolution to submit an application for georgia's transportation infrastructure bank event good evening mayor and council thank you

Council, any questions for Ben? All right, Ben, hang tight. Council, this one's yours for action.

motion and a second all in favor show of hands council thank you then item b consideration of a resolution supporting zero traffic related deaths i don't know who's going to oppose this one

Council any questions for Ben? All right, Ben, thank you. Council, that one's yours for action.

Second. Motion to second. All in favor, show of hands. Council, thank you. Ben, thank you. Move on to item four, bids, contracts, agreements, and expenditures. A is consideration of payment for emergency sewer repairs at Jerry Jones Drive. Ben O'Dowd, still to present.

I have one question. Yes, ma'am. I was just trying to understand. You said that Scruggs was on this, and we brought in RPI emergently. Emergently, RPI had to come in again. I mean, it was an emergency situation.

opposition same sign thank you miss Dooley motion carries move on to item 4b consideration of a request to purchase a mobile column lift system for the public works motor pool division I don't have anybody written down but I know that had to be John Burton how'd you know hi John

He needs a new lift. Thomas? Okay. John, thank you. Thank you. Council, yours for action.

Motion and lots of seconds. All in favor, show of hands.

We'll now move on to the citizens to be heard portion of the evening. We ask that you come forward, state your name and address so that we may have it for the record. Our policy requires that you stay under three minutes so that all have time to be heard. Please direct all comments to Council as a whole and do not attempt to engage individual members in debate. It is our policy to follow through with you on your concern. Additionally, we ask that any groups that want to address Council designate a spokesperson for that same reason. With that being said, are there any citizens wishing to be hea

Are there any other citizens wishing to be heard at this time? Now you got time.

Susan, thank you. Is there any other citizens wishing to be heard at this time? Seeing none, we'll close out this portion of the evening and turn it over to our city manager for the city manager's report.

jennifer thank you now move on to council comments i'll start them with thomas uh... said yes got to comment that one first of all uh... i've had a lot of citizens asking about when we have citizens to be heard and we tell them that we will talk to them after the council meeting and uh... from citizens of ask what do we say to know what is the results of it and it was one of the things that away we could um... rehash it or come back and review or tell what happened from that conversation that we had with citizens to be heard. I told them I would ask the council and we would see. I even told th

Tim, Nate, Ms. Cody? All right, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Second. We stand adjourned. Thank you, everybody. i'm leaving with a lot more than i came with look at this