City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, Stone Crest. Today is Monday, April the 27th. The time is now 6:14. We will now call the meeting to order. Madame City Clerk, can you be so kind and do the roll call? Yes, ma'am. Good evening everyone. Mayor Jasmine Kbble, Mayor Pro Tim, Tara Graves here. Council member Terry Fi, present. Council member Alicia Washington here. Council member George Turner here. Council member Carisha Smith, present.

We have a quorum. Thank you. Next on the agenda is invocation by Bishop Jonathan Alvarado with Grace Church International. Thank you for being here today. Good evening all. It is green. I've talked to the mic once or twice in my life. Well, I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I greet you on tonight with joy. It's a great privilege to stand before you, though it is an unfair privilege. I don't know that they told you that I'm a Pentecostal bishop, which means two to three minutes. It takes me 20 or 30 to clear my throat, but I'll do what I need to do on tonight. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve you by way of prayer and admonition. I want to just encourage this council and this illustrious mayor that uh from the establishment of this city which we were called into to have conversations about to talk to legislators and talk to city uh leaders and those that would contribute to the establishment and formation of this city about what impact it would have on the county in general. I was included in those dialogues and those conversations. I'll say to you tonight what I said to them then. Remember the poor. Remember those who are disenfranchised. Remember those who are on the periphery and on the margins. Remember those who need our help and services the most.

Remember the quartet of the vulnerable, widows, orphans, strangers, the poor. Remember those children who are coming from war torn regions, who need a place of security and peace. Remember those who do not have documents, but still are God's children and require our care. Remember that to whom much is given, much is required, and that he or she that ruleth over men and women must be just, ruling in the fear of God. I want to pray tonight, but I want to pray in the words of Henry Fosdic who wrote the hymn to the grace and glory of God. God of grace and God of glory on thy people pour thy power. Crown thine ancient church's story. Bring her bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom. Grant us courage for the facing of this hour. For the facing of this hour. Lo the hosts of evil around us. Scorn thy Christ and assail his ways. From the fears that long have bound us. Free our hearts to faith and pray. Grant us wisdom. Grant us courage for the living of these days. For the living of these days. Cure our thy children's waring madness. Bend our pride to thy control. Shame our wanting selfish gladness. For

we're rich in things but poor in soul. Grant us wisdom. Grant us courage. Lest we miss thy kingdom's goal. Lest we miss thy kingdom's goal. Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore. Let the search for thy salvation be our glory ever more. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage. Serving thee whom we adore. Serving thee whom we adore. In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen. Amen.

Thank you. Next on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance by Alicia Washington, District 3 Council Member. Can we all stand? I pledge allegiance 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. Thank you. Next on the agenda is the approval of the agenda itself. Before we move to that, can we have Bishop Jonathan to come back to the podium, please? Don't be scared. set. You were thinking the way it's packaged in here pretty close. Bishop, we first of all, I want to say thank you for coming to be with us tonight. Um, it's a Monday night. Many other things you probably could be doing. Uh, but thank you for being here with us. Many people probably did not know um that you had um feedback uh for those who were leading the city movement at the time um almost eight years ago

now. Can you believe that? It's been almost eight years. Um, and so to have you back with us, one to enlighten those who didn't know, uh, but also to remind those of us who were around of what the purpose is, what we were called here to do. Uh, it was refreshing to say the least. Uh, so thank you so much. And all the way from Rex, Georgia, back up here in the city of Stone Crest, greatest city on the planet. So, thanks for traveling up here. We have a small token of appreciation for you. Um, certainly can never give back to you what you've given to us. uh by being a part of our community. Rather, it's in this city, this county, or this state. Uh it it takes more than just a government to build a community. It is not without our faith-based organizations and our institutions uh that keep us lifted and keep those of us who we serve lifted. Um so, we could not give that back to you as much as you've given to us. But we do have a small token for you that they package like a piece of gold. Um hard for me to open, but nonetheless, it is just a small token of appreciation. On behalf of the mayor and the city council, we just want to tell you thank you for coming. Thank you for being a part and thank you for keeping us in your prayers.

Thank you. And because nothing happens without it being recorded, we are going to take a picture. Thanks again.

Thanks again. Next on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Council

hearing. None. I entertain a motion. Tim. Yes. Councilman Turner move for approval of the agenda as written. Second. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilwoman Smith. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three. District four, yay. District five, yay.

District one is yay. Motion carries, four with one absent. The agenda has been approved. Next on the agenda is the review and the approval of the minutes. Council, did you see any need for correction for the work session meeting minutes for March 9th, 2026? May pro Tim. Yes, Councilman Turner. Move for approval of the minutes from the work session of March 9th, 2026.

Do I have a second? Second. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilman Fi. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three, yay. District four, yay. District five, yay. District one is yay. The meeting minutes for the work session March 9th has been approved. Next is the approval of the meeting minutes for the council meeting for March 23rd. Is there any need for adjustments, Mayor Pro Tim? Yes, Councilman Smith.

I just would like for the meeting minutes to reflect um a couple things. One area it says that I was present. In other areas, it says absent. So, if we can update the meeting minutes to reflect council member Smith unable to participate due to city related technical issues, that would be greatly appreciated. That's to only change. I entertain a motion. May Tim. Yes. Councilman Turner. I move for approval of the minutes with a stated um adjustments. Second.

Motion has been properly moved and second by Councilwoman Washington. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two. Yay. District three. Yay. District four. Yay. District five. Yay. District 1 is yay. The meeting minutes for the council meeting on March 23rd, 2026 has been approved. Next on the agenda is public comments. At this time, madame city clerk, would you please read the rules for public comments?

Yes, ma'am. Citizens wishing to make a public comment may do so in person. Citizens may also submit public comments via email to city clerk@ stonestga.gov by 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting to be read by the city clerk. All members of the public wishing to address the city council shall submit their name and the topic of their comments to the city clerk prior to the start of any meeting held by the city council. There is a threeinut time limit for each speaker submitting or reading a public comment. Individuals will be held to those established time limits. Our first public comment is Richard Jordan. Thank you for allowing me to address you all today. My name is Richard Jordan. I am the managing director of Madura Entertainment. Uh we specialize in art. We specialize in culture, sports, and entertainment. We've been producing shows and events for almost 40 years, my team and I. And we are proud to say that for the past five years, we have participated here in Stone Press at New Black Wall Street. Some of you know that we started off the art avenue at New Black Wall Street. We had over a hundred artists there at one time. Those artists were averaging when they first started out over $200 worth of uh uh uh sales and stuff right here in Stonerrest. It's important for you to understand all that was happening there. In addition to that, we brought in probably 70% of the special events that have come to this area to New Black Wall Street. car shows, uh, sports shows, wrestling shows, uh, state and competitions, and an awful lot of other things that we

brought here to Stone Crest, and we are very proud of having done that. Nobody has had more fun in the city of Stonerrest than we have. No one has had more memorable moments in the city of Stonerest than we have and we planned on continuing bringing programming here. Though New Black Wall Street might have some issues right now, our programming is still available. I'm glad to say that our Pink Lemonade Day party for seniors will continue in Stonerrest. Mr. Irons has agreed to let us bring that over to Privy. So, it'll be starting uh on the 6 of next month from 12 till 2:30m. What I'm here to talk about is is working together with the city on that. One thing I know is it helps an awful lot when we could include the city in everything that we're doing, particularly in special events. if we could use your logo and and form a partnership or some kind of kinship. If in fact the seniors could get some kind of sponsorship or something from the city or if you could just tell us where some of the places we need to go. We've brought more uh corporations and companies here to support us. We brought in Humanana and AARP and Gen Care and and Centerwell and a lot of these uh organizations that are willing to support. But one thing they want to see is they want to see the support of the city and the things that we're doing. So please point me in the right direction. Put me with the right person and let's see if we can make these things happen. Uh we've had Jeep shows and Corvette shows and Junth celebration. Speaking of Junth, I am now on the team of Junth Atlanta. Uh that's happening in Pedmont Park from the 19th through the 21st. And I invite the city of Stonerest to be in the parade. It's happening at the same time as FIFA. I'm part of the team that's doing some stuff with FIFA. I know that Arabia Mountain is a part of that, but I'm not sure that the city is involved in it. So, please let's show up. Let's get a float or something. It's going to be televised all over the

world. Not so you can see me. My name is Richard Jordan. I am at JCOM MLLC. JCOM LLC.com. I really want Stone Crest to be involved. I see a lot of things from the outside because I've done this stuff uh uh producing events and stuff all over the country and here in the US and Canada. Mr. Jordan, that is time. And so I'm just proud to say and I will conclude this if you would please that we're proud to present our time, our talents, our gifts, our prayers, and our service to the city of Stone Crest. Thank you.

Our next public comment is coming from K FA Koffield. Good evening everyone. My name is FA Koffield and I'm a resident of the Chapperel subdivision. I uh had been kind of notified that someone on this council had stated and publicly that I had come before this body only to complain without offering solutions. Councilwoman Smith, you're excluded from this because you're new. This statement is not only inaccurate, it is demonstrabably false. As early as 2017, I presented a opportunities involving African developers interested in building upscale residential and retail projects here. In addition, in 2019, I identified an emerging entrepreneurial hub in Kegalli Rhonda Norskin Kegali House that has since under the direction of Pascal Masara grown into one of the largest hubs on the African continent, raising tens of millions of dollars for its uh entrepreneur people and increasing its size. Yet, you chose not to even contact him. Those were not abstract ideas. Those were actionable models and connections. I have also pointed out to this council successful developments much closer to home. Projects that transformed high crime areas into stable, thriving communities and

innovative housing developments. This included housing and retail along Bill Kennedy and Faith Avenue in Atlanta and in near by Stockbridge that could have been studied and replicated. So, let me be clear. I do not come here to complain. I come here with solutions and research and with opportunities. If those contributions are not being are being dismissed or ignored, that is not a reflection of a lack of solution on my part. It is a failure to ignore to acknowledge them. Before any further statements are made about my role or my effort, I expect the record to be accurately reflected. That's all. Anita Dawkins.

Hi, my name is Anita Dawkins. I live in the Sherwick community off of Polola Road. And I just wanted to state that we can we get sidewalks on Polola Road. It's just so many accidents over there. People walking. It's a daycare over there. It's just not safe to walk anymore. And especially with a lot of the new um clubs over there, a lot of the new restaurants, and we just need sidewalks to walk up and down Polanola Road. And I remember when Fry knocked on my door, and that was one of the questions I had for you. We just wanted sidewalks on Polola Road. And that's just my concern. Thank you. Jacqueline Eckles. Good evening. My name is Jacqueline Eckles and I'm board president of South River Watershed Alliance, uh small nonprofit uh that is dedicated and committed to improving the South River. Um, in around 2018, um, the organization donated $35,000 to the restoration of, uh, Polola Scholes. Um, you know, we can see how that turned out. Uh, it was a waste. Uh, and now, um, some years later, in 2021, I think it was, we donated $190,000 to the construction of a kayak launch, um, at uh, Ever Park. And, um, I am here this evening to say uh, that

I've watched that river a long time. I'm very aware of storm flows. Um and uh I would ask that and I have asked twice that the city of Stone Crest return our $190,000. If the plan is to build a floating dock on the South River just downstream in Rockdale, that same model was uh implemented and it washed down uh river. You know, again, a waste of money. Uh we don't have money to waste. We have been a good steward. We've been a good supporter of the river. Um but at this point, we cannot afford to lose any more money pursuing uh pursuing projects on the South River just that will just are not going uh to work. And I just wanted to go on public record making uh making that request. Um, thank you CA Nation. Hello, my name is CA Nation. I'm 68 years old. I'm a retired US Marine. I live on Chuck Road in every area code 3058. It would seem like this city council don't recognize 58, only the other zip code. This right here is a picture of discharge rounds that I picked up in my neighborhood on Tub Road. People ride through there, shoot the guns at night,

daytime. We get no help from the police. Anytime. Moving on now. Anytime a commercial enterprise want to come into a residential area, they petition the city and the city first advises this individual and then advocates for this individual to move in our neighborhoods. And the city council don't talk to the community. The commercial enterprise may work with y'all a year before we even know that they want to come into our communities. We don't find out until y'all put a sign in one of the resident's yard. I'm suggesting that when they apply, you notify the community so we can get together because y'all don't seem to understand that y'all don't do anything for the residents. Y'all all focused on business but not resident. Our resident, there's res. There's communities been here longer than eight years that y'all don't even recognize. I'm asking y'all to start recognizing these neighborhoods and give us the assistance that we need. We get no support from the county because we were part of unincorporated Lonia. Now we are part of unincorporated Stone Creek. We get no support from the city. We get no support from the county. My understanding is way equal protection under law should work. You should protect the individual rights first, the community next, the city, and then the business. They are fourth on the list. I need y'all to at least come talk to us. Y'all don't even come to our city, our our community meetings. We've asked you to come. We

got problems in our community. I got bullet holes in my home. My neighbor got bullet holes in her home. 3058. Keep that in mind and put 58 in your prayers. Thank you,

Miss Cody. Hi, my name is Anthia Cody. I live on 6864 Arabian Terrace. One concern is the new development right behind my house. I'm reaching out to you. Excuse me, but we can barely hear. Can we Can you hear me now? That's better.

My name is Onia Cody. I live at 6864 Arabian Terrace. The new development is right at my home, right in the back. I'm reaching out to you guys to fight and help us get a tall fence or something. I emailed the council and the mayor. No one replied to me. I hand deliver a petition for the neighborhood. Nobody respond. I want to know why. Someone called me to from Stone Crest the 1 of May, the 1st of I think it was the 1st of March saying the meeting that the guy was supposed to have March the 17th, it was cancelled. And I said, why? Because the application is denied. I want to know why like that guy just said please we the taxpayer we put you guys in these position Washington you are my district counselor please help me please because you're not that's all I have to say and I'm not done because the development is right behind my house. I reach out to the um to the people that own the development. They ignoring me. Is no one but investors. They can afford a fence or wall. Please help us. Please. Thank you. That was our final public comment.

That was the last comment. Public comments are now closed. Next on the agenda is public hearing. And it look like we do not have any public hearing. Taking a break. Next on the agenda is moving Stone Crest forward by Mayor Pro Tim. Stone Crest. It is a community filled with resilience, culture, pride, and untapped potential. But moving forward require more than hope. It requires action, unity, and vision. This council is committed to moving in a positive direction. We are focused on transparency and working together as a team. Working together doesn't mean we always agree. It means we collaborate to find the best solution for our city. At the end of the day, the majority move us forward. Again, the majority move us forward. We may not get everything right, but we will not stop fighting because we all share the same goal. Moving the city forward in a way that serve our constituents. We must also be intentional about our

growth. That means supporting local businesses, attracting new economic opportunity, and creating jobs that always or allow our residents just not to live here, but to thrive here. It means investing in our infrastructure, improving our public space, and ensuring that every neighborhood feels seen, heard, and valued. So, we hear your comments here today. As I mentioned when I took the seat as mayor pro Tim, I shared how projects will be led and each council member is taking ownership in key areas. Councilman Fi has been working diligently with Sumpter Consultant as we move forward in selecting a city manager and we expect to announce the top candidate within this week. Councilman Fi as the chair of our finance committee has also been working closely with our finance director to ensure open communication. The finance director has also open weekly office hours every Wednesday for council members to attend. Councilman Turner is working with our legal team to reinstate our CI committee and he is also partnering with Councilwoman Smith to develop solutions to address to address the feral hog issue. Councilwoman Washington, District 3, is working with GMA to secure a representative for our charter review committee to help guide us towards a clear, more effective charter with fewer gray areas. She is also launching a Stone Crest Youth Council. This program is designed to give our high school students here in the city of Stone Crest a real seat at the table. Washington is also working with staff regarding our unhoused population here

in the city of Stonerest. Councilwoman Smith, with the support of Councilman Turner, is leading efforts to address the ongoing feral hog issue in our community. She has had several calls and meetings with experts regarding this issue and has confirmed a date for a ferro hog workshop for DECAB right here in the city of Stonerrest. She is also working to ensure proper safety measures are in place such as lighting and netting for families and youth team using the Southeast Athletic Complex. and she will continue to keep Councilman Fi updated on any additional support needed. Smith has also worked alongside me to strengthen our partnership with Commissioner Johnson's office and Major Baron at Dicap East precinct as part of a broader initiative to improve public safety across the district and enhance security at our city at our city facilities. These efforts complement the many community focus initiative we will continue to lead on behalf of the Stone Crest residents. In response to a long-standing speed concern along Klondike Road, she collaborated with staff and was successful in having speed detectors reactivated that have been inactive for years, bringing important traffic calming tools back online for our community. As of myself, I am working alongside each council member to support these initiative, ensuring open ensuring open communication, especially with the finance director as we discuss the audit status frequently with each council member and driving their respective

projects. I remain fully engaged, stepping in whenever support is needed, as well as Mayor Cabbell. Our economic developer development director is currently working on several major projects. While I cannot share many of the details at this time, we are committed to delivering results, not empty promises. However, I can share that the Crystal Building at the corner of Evans Mill property has been sold and we are hopeful and excited about what's to come. Additionally, our facility manager is leading some beautifification efforts and we're looking forward to seeing the positive impact on those initiatives. We cannot move forward divided. We cannot move forward with the staff here at city hall. Progress happen when we come together. Residents, leaders, business owners, and community partners working handinand with transparency and accountability. This is just a brief update on where we are today. We are moving forward with intentions, transparency, and a shared commitment to progress. Let's commit today on being a part of the solution. Let's commit to showing up, speaking up, and building up Stoner Crest as we can continue, as the mayor would say, staying stone proud. And I am Stone Crest proud because we have one of our very own here joining us at the council meeting. I would like to introduce my special guests who is well known in our community. He is the founder of Privy at Stone Crest Mall which include Hann and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, an event space and a future dining and entertainment hall. He has partnered with myself and

Councilwoman Washington on special or several events and I heard him deliver a powerful message at one of the events. So I invited him today so he can share the message with the entire city. Thank you Mr. Von for accepting my invitation. Thank you for being here and I look forward to hearing your message.

Thank you very much. Um, well, good evening, mayor, uh, council members, staff, and neighbors. Um, my name is Von Irons. I'm a proud resident of the city of Stone Crest. I've been a resident of the Stone Crest inside of the Stonerrest boundaries since before Stonerest was created. I built my home here in 2005. I've been actively involved in this community in several different ways, including uh being uh president of our homeowners association twice. Uh I'm president of the Stone Crest Business Alliance currently. Uh actively investing in mall at Stonerest other real estate properties, but all around I just try to stimulate helping us move together as a community and moving forward. I wanted to share an analogy with you today that I think is appropriate for us to consider as we look at the future of Stonerrest. And so, as someone who lives here, works here, I raised my children here, my daughter, uh, is a graduate of Martin Luther King High School, uh, 2007, right here in this in this community. Um, you know, investing in PTA, soccer, all these. How many of you in this room are parents? Raise your hand if you're a parent, right? I know all of you are proud parents. If you're not a parent in this room or the sound of my voice, maybe you're an auntie or a uncle, um maybe you you've adopted a community or taken a liking to a child. Uh one of the things that I want to impress upon all of you is when I think of Stone Crest, I am Stone Crest proud. But I'm Stone Crest proud in the way a parent is proud of a child. And in reality, Stone Crest is a child. Stone Crest, I think of it

in the same way I think of my daughter at 8 years old. Um, she wasn't perfect. Uh, when she was a baby, she frustrated us a lot. She could be contankerous. As she grew older, uh, there were all types of, uh, different episodes. You think of your own children, but you don't think of your children in their worst moments. You think of your children at their full potential because not only do you see them as a little person, but you see yourself in your child. And I think of Stonerest that way because as I move through Stone Crest, I see myself in this city. And I hope all of you continue to see yourselves in this city. I see myself in the city to the point that I take real offense when neighbors and outsiders talk bad about my city. I take offense to it at the same way I would take offense if they were talking about my child. And so as a parent and all of you who are parents in this room, think about how you would respond if someone was telling you that your child was a bad child. Telling you that your child is unredeemable, telling you that uh there's nothing positive that can come from your child regardless of any intervention. None of us would stand for it. In fact, we would rally together and fight for our child. we would do everything we could do to protect our child. Unfortunately, sometimes what happens in this community, we spend more time talking about what's wrong with the community. And there's nothing wrong with highlighting things that need to be fixed, but we should put just as much energy and talking about everything that's fantastic about Stone Crest, the people, the places, what we're trying to

build here together. We are building something here together. And it's not fair to compare Stonerrest to all of these other communities that are 100 years old. Let's take Tucker. Tucker is 124 years old. Tucker should have an advantage on Stone Crest. Tucker has trees that somebody else planted like Stonerrest has trees someone else planted. But the reality is everything that we plant here today as a collective group growing this child, this eight-year-old child will bear fruit that most of us will never see come to fruition and most of us will never eat from. So we're investing in this child because we see the potential. And I want to implore all of you as leaders of our local government. All of you as community leaders and other investor stakeholders, all of us as business owners to continue to realize that we have to rally around this child to see it become its full potential. Unfortunately, there are some who feel the government has to do it all alone. I'm not one of those people. Uh this is actually in fact the very first time I have come to a city of Stone Crest council meeting. You guys have never seen me here. I've never come here and asked you for anything. Uh all of our developments, my wife and I have funded or borrowed on our own. We have not put one dime of government money in our projects. Why did we do that? Because it's too much stress on our child, the city of Stonerrest, to ask them to fund our dream. And so we wanted to figure out how to fund our dream on our own, but collaborate within the confines of what the city can do. Government, neighborhoods, and businesses have to do all of this

together. If anyone does it alone, you won't have the strong community we should have. If you look at any successful community across the United States, those communities have a great collaboration between business, government, and the community and the neighborhoods and the people. And so if a business owner came to you and said, "You need to ignore the neighborhoods," we would think they were crazy. If the government came to a business and said, "We aren't going to think of the voters," we would think they were crazy. What I'm saying is everybody is a equal stakeholder in the importance of growing this city to its full potential. Whether it be through paying taxes, through voting, through contributions, through volunteering because our youth child, our child, our collective child, our niece, our nephew Stone Crest is that important and we have to see it grow to its full potential. A couple of quick stats that I'll share with you. The city of Stone Crest residents, and some of you have heard me say this before, we spend $880 million a year on food, beverage, and retail outside of the cab county. I want to say that again. The residents of the city of Stonerest spend $880 million a year on food, beverage, and retail outside of Dicap County. So we're running to Rockdale County, Henry County, Gwynet County, Fulton County, supporting their tax base. There are communities nearby that are living off of the wealth that comes out of this community and businesses move there because we will go there. We have to support the businesses, the institutions, the parks, the people that are in this community and invest in this

child every opportunity we can. How many of you are parents would buy a gift for another child before you brought a gift for your own child? How many of you would give something to another household that your child needs today? We often are making that choice as residents of this city to spend money and pay taxes for someone else to grow their community. And we need all of that to happen right here in Stonerrest so that we can grow our child. The difference between a movement and a moment is sacrifice. And what I'm here to tell you and the message I want to clearly deliver is investing in our child stone crest is a movement. And in order to do it, we all must sacrifice. Thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to share that with you today. And let's all go stone forward and be stonerest proud. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next on the agenda is citizen academy graduation from the mayor and the city manager office. Hand up. Am I up? Good evening. We are excited uh to be at this portion of our agenda um to graduate. I guess that's the right word, right? Graduate uh our uh cohort of Citizens Academy participants uh 2026. Um, for those who don't know what Citizens Academy is, um, it's a program, uh, that we started a few years ago, um, that, uh, teaches our community about the relationship between government operations and the effect it has on the everyday quality of life of our businesses, to Mr. Iron's point, um, and

our residents. So we feel like um our community uh can be all can realize all of the potential it has um by starting with having an educated constituency. Um education doesn't stop in the traditional classroom or even the collegiate experience. Uh but being able to learn uh something you just didn't know. Uh and especially that information uh being able to have an effect on your everyday life. uh we find valuable to how we grow um what is the value of our community. It's not just the businesses, it's not just the property digest uh but it's uh the quantity of educated residents that makes one community stand above the other. And so we use the citizens academy as a way to uh to do that but also to build um to Mr. Iron's point he must have known today was citizens academy graduation um to Mr. Iron's point uh a a homegrown base of champions for the city, advocates for the best parts of our community and also helping to give positive feedback to how we can make improvements. But you do that by understanding how all the pieces work together. So, we're excited to have uh this is our third this is our third year of um Citizens Academy and so we just continue to grow and grow and grow uh to have this abundance of constituents who understand uh and have given time uh to Stone Crest and our operations. Uh so, Nicholas Ivy is our community is our community engagement coordinator uh who has been leading the program this year out of the city manager's office. So, I'm going to step aside and let him give a few words, but um we are first of all thankful uh for you giving your time to learn about Stone Crest. Um we're also

thankful that we know you'll take what you've learned today and share it uh with your neighbors, your friends, your family so that the next cohort can be triple the size of this co cohort. And as we do this over and over and over, uh we expect to have 60,000 or more uh citizens academy graduates who are champions of Stone Crest. So, Nicholas,

thank you so much, Madame Mayor. Uh, good evening, Mayor, Mayor Promp, council members, and Stunkest community. It's been a true honor and privilege to work with this year's cohort. Uh, I want to personally thank them for their time, dedication, and commitment to this program. It's truly been a pleasure. Uh, week after week, they showed up, showed out, were eager, and asked so many questions. Uh so we definitely enjoyed it and it's things like this that make our community stronger. So at this time uh we're going to call each person's name. Um and after you get your name call, can you please stay up here? Uh because we'll take a group picture. And also shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Falls. They were part of our 2025 cohort. So good good to see them here. First up, we have Miss Vicky Conwell. You know, I'm a Beon State man, so he has that god awful hat on, but Mr. Cordial Bailey.

Right. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Miss Melody Curry, Miss Tanya Green, Latasha Hughes, Janiah Landers, Miss Arena Thornton. Miss Katherine Turner

one in the house. Even though we called at the same time Miss Dorothy Bailey. We got another husband and wife duo this year. Right. Right. Wind Beavers, Mr. Lisha Brown Ramsey, this is right here.

And certainly last but not least, Miss Tardikica Braden. 2026 go. Can we give them all a big round of applause, please? must have my shirt.

All right, tell us a How you want you want to stack? Wait, let's see. Thank you. Thank you all so Thank you.

What else? Citizens Academy. Before you leave, don't leave yet. Don't leave yet. Council members, we want to get a picture with the Citizens Academy participants per district. So, if if you're in district one, Mayor Pro10, please come on up here. District one, come on. You got the heels on today. You knew you was taking a picture. Come on. Get up here. Got your little long earrings. I know you ain't dressed like that just to give your speech off the das. Come on. Come on. District one. Come on. All right. No. Therefore. All right. Well, they cuz you wasting time. Come on. Four. Come on. District four. Come on. If you a citizens academy district 4, come on. Smalls. Get up here. Come on. Come on. You didn't let him come up here. You you let him put his shirt on. You know he got

All right. Who's the next council member? Do we got anybody from district three? Any district three? What you mean? The first academy. Yeah. I think

Oh, shoot. Look. Come on. No. I We also have another graduate from the first Citizens Academy cohort. Came back to support the third. Next time, bring five more with you. Bring five more with you. Okay. District three. We got any um citizens academy from district three. Three. We're here. Okay. Um district two. We got district two. Come on, Terry. District two. We did four. We got five and one. Oh, that's Thank y'all. District one. Come on. District one. District one. Okay. Uh, five. District five. Come on. D5 and now mayor prom. You don't have nobody from district one in citizens academy. Oh, you'all be shamed. You'all be shamed up there giving a speech. You ain't got nobody in citizens academy. Who up there up there giving speeches? You ain't got nobody in citizens academy. Nobody. Golly. Is that all five? Okay. Thank you all again so much. We appreciate it. Thank you. While the council is uh getting back on the das, I do want to I do want to say thank you to the staff. Um our citizens academy is not put on without the staff that also give up their evenings to put that program on. So, thank you to our staff. Nicholas, thank you so much for leading this charge in the absence of the city manager. Thank you so much for continuing this program out of the city

manager's office. Thank you to all of our department directors who took the time each of their evenings to come uh to give our uh citizens academy presentations. Um so I know everyone's not here tonight, but I do want to say uh thank you so much to our facilities folks who keep the doors open, to our law enforcement who keep them safe, to every single staff member who played a role, uh even those who make sure that we had food uh for our sentences academy uh participants. everyone who did something whether whether we saw you physically or not. Let me say on behalf of this entire city, thank you so much for the dedication to this program. It means so much to have an educated constituency and it's not without of course the participants sacrificing their time wanting to understand the government, but also it's not without our staff being willing to conduct the program. So, thank y'all so much.

Thank you. Before we move to the next agenda item, we had one public comment online that we need to read into record. Madam city clerk,

ma'am, attached you will find a letter dating back to October 30th, 2023, which has most recently come to my attention. I'm requesting that the contents be read during the public forum meeting on tonight, April 27th, as I have never heard it presenting to the public before. I believe that the writer, Mr. Wood's petition was bolstered by 300 plus signatures of members in the Stone Crest community. Thank you for your attention to this matter. And the letter reads, I am writing to ask you to introduce a request from the citizens of Stonerest for the city of Stonerest to purchase the 9.5 plus acres of land situated at the corners of Polola and Thompson Mill Road for development into a park and preservation of the green space. It will be for the enjoyment of all residents in the surrounding and at large communities. A park place of recreation will be meaningful to and utilized by not only the greater number of persons in the communities of Stone Crest, but also to nearby communities. Attached, please find a petition with signatures representing a small sampling of residents of district 2 and three who are in agreement. Such an addition would be beneficial in creating a space for community and city residents to gather safely, delight in each other's company, and enjoy nature. Kids can engage in play under the supervision of their parents or caregivers, and members of the community can improve their health with installed equipment, all within an attractive and relaxing environment. It is desirable that amenities and features such as nature walks, waiting pools, volleyball courts, and play areas for everyone be included in the design. A community park will be an excellent initiative for health, economic, and environmental reasons. Outdoor planned activities are crucial to good health for all and any attention to the development and preservation of natural spaces will contribute to keeping the city of Stonerest environment clean. When the benefits are so impactful to the communities of Stone Crest and there

is no harm to existing businesses, procuring the acreage at Polola and Thompson Mill Roads for the development of a park would be a win for the city of Stonerrest. Thank you so much for your support and representation and presenting the citizens request to the council of the city of Stonerest. Sincerely, Herbert Woods. Thank you, madam city clerk. Next on the agenda for decision resolution for the 2026 street resurfacing contract. Mr. Harry, our city engineer. Good evening, mayor and council. U this agenda item was uh approved by the council on the April 3rd uh meeting and uh at that time we didn't have the resolution. Uh so we have the resolution already and then city Clark has a resolution. A resolution by the mayor and city council of the city of Stone Crest, Georgia, authorizing the execution of the 2026 street resurfacing project contract with DCBC LLC for an amount not to exceed 3,40,5800.98 and for other purposes.

And I can answer any question if you have on this contract. Council, do you have any questions for our city engineer, Mr. Harry?

May. Yes, Councilman Turner. Same question before. When can we get started? Uh, very soon, sir. uh we have the we have the contract already signed by the mayor and then u it has been ready since April 3rd and then um we'll send the notice to proceed and then we'll um very soon we'll start very soon means within 30 days. Oh we're not going to wait for 30 days. So most likely 10 days within 30 days that could be one day. Okay, good. Yeah, 10 days. And uh the city website has been updated. Uh we have the street names and everything in our city website uh under the city engineers page. Thank you very much,

council. I entertain a motion. Pro Tim. Yes, Councilman Turner. Move for approval of resolution for the 2026 street resurfacing contract. Second. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilwoman Smith. Are you ready for the question, Mayor Tim? I'm sorry. I have um a technical question about the motion. That's all the contract. The council already approved the contract. This I guess you're just really approving the resolution. Yes.

Right. So I just want to make sure that the motion was clear. Um because I think Mayor Pmeritus said approval of the contract and the contract has already been approved. So I just don't want make the minutes seem like you are voting on something again that you've already voted on. You're making a motion to approve the resolution. Not to be controversial, mayor promp, I did read it off of the agenda. Approval of the resolution for the 2026 street reservicing contract. I apologize. I didn't hear you say resolution. Sorry. Just wanted to make sure the minutes were reflected correctly. You don't want a duplicate of Yeah. a contract. That's why I read it off of the um agenda.

My apologies. I yield. Thank you, Mayor Kbble. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please response with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three, yay. District four, yay. District five, yay. District one is yay. The motion has the decision to approve the resolution for the 2026 street resurfacing contract has been approved. Five to zero. Next on the agenda is for decision. the resolution for the sidewalk design given by Mr. Harry, our city engineer.

Again, uh good evening, mayor and council. Uh this is also an agenda item approved by the uh the council on April 3rd and at that time we didn't have the resolution and then this um agenda is for approving the resolution only. Uh there are four sidewalk uh in sidewalks in this resolution. uh Philips Road, Salem Road, Irish Drive and Fington Road sidewalk phase two. And two of them are very critical because Salem Road uh sidewalk is funded by uh 2026 uh CDBG grant. So we need to get this going and u construct this before end of the year. and also Irish Drive uh we have um approved for uh sorry applied for 2017 CDBG uh funding that has not been awarded yet uh but we want to get that also going and then we have the resolution ready a resolution by the mayor and city council of the city of Stone Crest Georgia authorizing the execution of a contract with Kleinfelder Inc. for sidewalk design services within the city limits for an amount not to exceed $14,9000 and for other purposes.

Council, do you have any questions for our city engineer? Mayor Pro Tim. Yes, Councilwoman Smith. I'm going to ask the question that um Councilman Turner asked before he got to it before me. When is this going to start? This is going to start this week. Okay. Um I already talked to uh the engineering firm as soon as the council approved it and uh they are going they are um preparing their survey team and they are going to hit Salem first and Iris second and the other two in that order. So we are ready to go. I can tell you that it is going to start start this week.

That's good news. Thank you. Any further questions? Council hearing? None. I'll entertain a motion. May prom. Yes. Councilman Turner. Move for approval as a resolution for the sidewalk design services contract. Second. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilwoman Smith. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three, yay. District four, yay. District five, yay.

District 1 is yay. The resolution for the sidewalk design service contract has been approved. Five to zero. Thank you, Mr. Harry. Okay, we have exhausted our agenda. Is there any need for executive session?

Councilman Turner, I move that we go into executive session for personnel, litigation, real estate, and cyber security. One of uh let me say um you hold your second Do you have unreadiness? Yes, unreiness that's the word. Um do we not need to go through a couple of comments from other individuals on the dis including the city attorney and the um council before we go into executive session? I mean, we can just go into it, but I I don't know if I'm being uh obnoxious with that um with that observation.

You're not, but I was going to do the comments after the executive session. I was hoping executive session will be very very limited on time. So, do I have a second? I would I withdraw my own readiness. A second. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilwoman Washington. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two. Yay. District three. Yay. District four. Yay. District five. Yay. District 1 is yay. We are now adjourned into executive session.

Thank you.

I will obtain a motion to come out of executive session and return to our regular schedule meeting. So moved. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilman Turner. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three, yay. District four, yay. District five, yay. District one is yay. We are now back in our regular council meeting. Tim. Yes. Councilman five. I move to approve the minutes coming out of the executive session. Second.

The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilman Turner. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three, yay. District four, yay. District five, yay.

District one is yay. The motion carries five to zero. The minutes from executive session has been approved. Next on the agenda is city attorney comments. Do you have any comments for us? Madam pro madam mayor prom just uh go hawks beat the nicks city manager office. Do you have an update for the city manager office? Thank you. Mayor Kbble, do you have any updates or any comments you would like to share? Nope. I do have something to say. My apologies. Um, wanted to extend a big thank you to our um, city staff for uh, putting on um, cities week um, which kicked off with the Stone Crest Proud campaign. We had a great time uh, celebrating being Stone Crest Proud that led up to our cities week. So, wanted to give a huge shout out to our staff for putting that together for us. And thank you to the community who showed up uh not just that Saturday, but also throughout the week um helping to champion uh the greatest city on the planet. So, I just want to say thank you again to our staff who continues to work on behalf of this great city.

Thank you, Mayor Kabell. Council District 2, do you have any comments?

Yes, Mayor Pro Tim. Um first off I just wanted to say thank you to bo to Hville co Hailville Commons um for a wonderful me and meet together on LA on last Saturday. Um in addition to that and I wanted to thank Wellington Chase for invi for helping for allowing me to participate in your cleanup day on Saturday. Um it was great talking to some residents and cleaning up the community and actively picking up some picking up trash in the area. Again, when we work together to keep this area clean, we work together to f to build it up, it inspires others to take care of what we have. Again, we cannot blame Joe Schmo from down the street. We can't blame Harry from um Brook Haven or anybody else for destroying what we already have if we aren't going to take care of it ourselves. So, I thank all the members of Wellington Chase for setting a great example for our community in District 2 and for leading that effort. I also wanted to give a shout out to Lake Cove Lake for their wonderful garage sale on that Saturday as well. You all generated plenty of funds to be able to support your HOA and it was great being out there. Um I didn't I was happy to see so many nice antiques. I think I saw my first record player um out there. So I appreciate y'all so much for inviting me as well to that event. And then finally, just as a reminder to all Georgians, today is the first day of early voting for the primary. So please make sure that you are making your voice heard. You can go to MVP, that's my voter page.sos.ga.gov to be able to support your candidates of choice. You know, make you have three weeks of early voting. I believe the Dicab County also has um early voting sites on their web page, so you can go go to there to be able to find your early voting locations and make your choices. It's some important races on there. With that, Mayor Pro Tim, I withdraw.

Thank you, Councilman Fi. District three, Councilman Turner. I'm sorry, District 4, Councilman Turner.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. Uh, just to echo what you had already mentioned, and that is that there's a concerted effort to remove the feral pigs from Stone Crest, which means also working with the Cap County and the other surrounding areas. So there is an effort to put together a coalition to actually trap these animals and remove them. Uh well, let's say eliminate them by whatever means necessary. And um it um it's a chuckle for some, but it's a serious um serious situation. These pigs are causing some serious problem with people's yards and their gardens. So, um, I've been asked to assist with Councilwoman Smith to put together a, um, an effort to do that. So, with that comes a meeting on the 1 of next month, no, the 1 of June at this location to talk about the strategy for removing the feral pigs. So, stay tuned. That's it. Oh, and in my comments, I am uh pleased to announced that Mabel's barbecue provided us with the meals for the graduates of the citizen academy as well as uh compliments to the um council as well. So, Mabel's Barbecue, uh, smoked meats at 3316 Snapfinger Road. It has Latonia, Georgia. Wingle. Let's get them straight. That's Stone Crest, Georgia. Get them fixed flyers. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Turner. Um, comments from district three. Councilman Councilwoman Washington. Uh again, I want to say uh congratulations to all of the graduates for the citizen academy and I also want to reach out to those who are in district three that they should also consider the next goround with our citizen academy to be a part of learning the city and the things that go on here. So um think about it district three. Um, I also want to think uh talk about with our citizen academy that I'm excited about in October with uh Nicholas that we're doing the youth academy. So, uh uh we will have the upcoming dates and be excited to have our uh junior high and high school students to be a part of that. Thank you, Councilwoman Washington. District five, Councilwoman Smith, do you have any comments?

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. Hello. Good afternoon, Stone Crest. I would like to echo the comments from the mayor as it relates to city's week. Um, I went to a few events, had a great time. It was great to see our neighbors out and about, as well as thank you to the staff for putting on a great event. Um, I am going to piggyback, no pun intended, on the information about the feral hogs, um, that Councilman Turner spoke on. We are partnering to make sure that we're doing whatever it is we can to bring awareness, education, and um, to get rid of these feral hogs in our area. So, we're partnering with Georgia Association of Conservation District. We are going to be having a informative session workshop on June 2nd. Details will be posted once we receive once we have the link in order for those to sign up that would like to be a part of that workshop. Um we have limited seating so it will be a first come first serve type situation but we will definitely keep you posted as soon as we have the information um on registration. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Smith. District 1. Mayor Prom.

Yes, Councilwoman Washington.

Um, I would like to um be a little bit more specific uh about our uh youth our student youth council. um like to read a little bit more about what what it's going to be about and oh um I also want to highlight an exciting exciting initiative that speaks directly to the future of our city. The launch of the student the stoneest I'm sorry Stonerest youth council. The program is designed to give our high school students a real seat at the table. It's about more than just exposure. It is about engagement. We're creating a structured opportunity for students in grades 9 through 12 to learn how their city operates and connect with leadership and begin developing the skills needed to lead. Through uh monthly sessions, participants will gain hands-on experience, strengthen their communication and teamwork, and there would be outstanding uh opportunities of civic responsibility. Our goal is to build a pipeline of future leaders right here in Stone Crest. young people who are informative, engaged, and ready to contribute to the growth of this city. Recruitment will take place at the beginning of the school year, and we are looking forward to officially launch the program uh in October. This is an instrument in this is an investment in our youth and the

long-term strength of Stone Crest. Thank you, Mayor Patton. Thank you, Councilwoman Washington. District 1 currently have no comments. I will entertain a motion for a German. So moved. Second. The motion has been properly moved and second by Councilwoman Smith. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor of the motion, please respond with yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting with district two, yay. District three. Yay. District four, yay. District five, yay. District 1 is yay.