Council - Regular Meeting

[clears throat] Well, that's the reason I'm so we All right, ladies and gentlemen, at this time I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of Monday, January 12, 20126. If you will, and you're able, please stand for the invocation followed by our pledge of allegiance. Bow with us, please listen. Thank you for the responsibility and honor we have as mayor and council to serve them. And we pray that you just give us wisdom, knowledge, and discernment as we go through the agenda tonight and the decisions that are made. We pray for those in our community that are sick that you give them healing. We pray for those that agree that you give them comfort. And we pray for protection upon our law enforcement, our military, and all of our emergency responders as they perform their duties.

Amen. [clears throat] I pledge algiance 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. You may be seated. [clears throat] At this time, we'd like to recognize our invited guest, the introduction of our school resource officer, uh, Officer Jeremy Davis. Chief Lee, good even number two. All right. [applause]

All right. Very good. Welcome to the family. Welcome aboard.

Yes, sir. All right. Thank you very much. 15 years. Get a new picture. [clears throat] [snorts] Next on our agenda is the administration of oaths of office. And we are very pleased and proud to have present tonight our chief magistrate judge here in Carol County, uh, Judge Kirsten Phillips. and we will begin that process. Stay clear.

Okay. So, if you would just raise your right hand and just repeat after me. I, Michael Johnson, I, Michael Johnson, duties of mayor of this city, and that I will support and defend and that I will support and defend the charter thereof the charter thereof as America. Congratulations. Thank you. [applause]

want to post. Okay. You just give those to Kristen. Y [applause] [applause] just raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Howard Walden,

I, Howard Walden, do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully perform that I will faithfully perform the duties of council member the duties of council member of this city of this city and that I will support and defend and I will support and defend the charter thereof the charter thereof as well as the constitution as well as the constitution and the laws of the state of Georgia and the laws of the state of Georgia and the United States of America and the United States of America. Congratulations. Thank you. [applause]

Thank you very much. Okay, if you would just raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Casey Russell I, Casey Russell, do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I will f that I will faithfully perform that I will faith faithfully perform the duties of council member the duties of council member of this city of this city and that I will support and defend [applause]

down Thank you. We'd like to thank Judge Phillips for taking time out of her evening to come and to uh participate in our event here. And uh we appreciate that very much. She said, "Thank you."

Yeah. You're welcome. Thank you. And we congratulate the the city of Temple's residents. Uh although there was no vote, but nobody chose to run to require a vote. So, we appreciate that. And uh it's an honor, a privilege uh to serve in the community of which I've been a member since 1984. when I had the good sense uh to marry a citizen of this city and uh changed my residency uh from Paling County in the in the the hot and big community of Yorkville

uh and moved down here to the city of Temple uh to be husband to this woman over here. And we've been together for 41 and a half years. Uh it's been a a blessed time for her and uh [laughter] oh I'm sorry and me and me and me. But uh it's my honor to continue in this position and it gives me great joy uh to represent our city at the variety of meetings that we attend um and the boards that we serve on. uh the the positives and the multitude of positives that this community is responsible for and uh and I don't I don't mind I don't have any problem at all with that that task and I'm just honored to have the opportunity. Mr. Russell,

I appreciate the uh opportunity to serve another term. Um I've been here I was dragged here from Mapleton but haven't regretted it one bit. said, "I love being in the small town. Wouldn't have it any other way. And I committed to keeping Temple as small as possible." Mr. Walden, I too am honored to uh be able to serve another term, have the opportunity. Uh sometimes it gets kind of challenging, but the rewards, you know, outweigh the challenges.

All right. Thank you, gentlemen. [applause] All right. Next up as far as these uh first meeting of the year uh task and then is to the election of Mayor Pro Tim for 2026. Is there a nomination? I'll nominate Richard Bratnel. Any other nominations? Can I get a motion to close nominations? Offer a motion to close nominations.

Is there a second? Second. Second. All right. Miss BS, is that you first? Yes, sir. Okay. All right. So we have a nomination of Councilman Richard Brnel. There are no other nominations. So all in favor of Mr. wouldn't be if it's by acclamation. So congratulations Mr. Brargnel Mayor Pro Tim which [applause] we yield to you for your comments.

I think my comments I'm echoing the same thing that uh you guys have said. It is truly an honor to to be allowed to serve the people of the city of Temple and to serve as the mayor proam. It is something that I certainly I do not take [clears throat] lightly. Uh and I am very proud. Thank each one of you. Yes sir. Congratulations.

Yes sir. Uh, I'd like to also add that u the way the city business works is uh things have to be signed just about all just about everything has to be signed and that's part of my duties as the mayor available for whatever reasons and and the mayor pro Tim is the sec next guy on the list to go to uh really the only other person besides me. Uh we have one signature from an elected official. we have a one uh signature from a staff member and we have two staff members are eligible to do that. So I appreciate Mr. Brightnel for working it out with me in these occasions that that I'm not available to do the signing and he he comes in and does that for us and we appreciate that very much. All right. Next item is mayoral appointments to city council committees. And I believe you received a sheet. And um for 2026, we have not s uh made any changes. Personnel committee chairperson to be mayor pro Tim Richard Brightnel. Uh vice chair Howard Walden. Finance and administration chairperson Holly Miller. Vice Chair Howard Walden. Uh, Parks and Recreation and Senior Center chairperson Alexis BS and chairperson Casey Russam. Public safety chairperson Howard Walden and the vice chair Alexis BS. Public works and wastewater chairperson Casey Russam and the vice chair is Richard Bratnel. And then community development, the chairperson is Richard Bratnel and the vice chair is Miller. And we appreciate their service in those capacities. and we look forward to them continuing to serve our city in a very very honorable way as they always have. All right, next up is the nomination and followed by a vote to appoint three

members and these are by us as the newly sworn in mayor and the two council members. So, uh I'm first on the list. So, I will present to you and Ter Teran Bibbons to continue serving on the planning commission. Do you want are we approving them one by one? Is that Well, we can do them all together. Okay. Michael do some switching. The last time around to you're you're the past the ward one for 25 was Gary Thomas. Gary Thomas one. Okay. Okay. So you I thought it was Darren. [laughter]

Yeah, I understand. Well, you can probably uh give if you wish to reappoint Mr. Thomas. I imagine he would be. But anyway, mayor, if I may. Yes, sir. Did we approve the published agenda? No, we Okay. I think we may have skipped that. Yeah. Okay. Yes, sir. Thank you. Okay. So, backtrack. Time to think about that.

Yeah. Let's let's stop where we are and go back. I apologize. I look right straight over it. The approval of the amended agenda. And the amendments are uh item two under consent agenda will be stricken. Information is still needed for that item. And then to add number four under new business which will be to discuss changing the time of the monthly regular council meeting to 6 pm instead of 6:30. So uh what is your pleasure on the approving the amended agenda? I make that motion.

Second. Second was okay. Miss Miller. Motion by Mr. Brightel. Seconded by Miss Miller. Any discussion? All in favor of approving the amended agenda. Let it be known by saying I. I. Any oppose the same sign? Motion carries. 50. Thank you, Andy. Appreciate that. All right. Now back to the nomination of uh Taran Bivvens for the atlarge position on the planning commission. What's your pleasure? Uh how do we do that? You need a motion. Yes, sir. I make a motion that we accept the mayor's uh Texas.

All right. First by motion by Mr. Brightel, seconded by Miss BS, moving Taran Bivvens. Next, Mr. Trust him. Nominated Gary Thomas for Ward One. I make a motion we accept his nomination. Second.

All right. Motion by Mr. Brighten, seconded by Mr. Walden to appoint Mr. Gary Thomas who's been on the commission for eight years and hopefully we'll continue that. All in favor saying I. I. I. Any oppose the same sign? Motion carries 50. And then Mr. Walden. Yes, sir. Uh I was informed just a few days ago that my appointment uh Greg Dawster is not going to continue due to some health reasons. So I'm in the market for Okay. So you still member to appoint? Yes.

Gotcha. Gotcha. I understand. All right. Then that completes that item on the agenda. [snorts] Next on our agenda is public comments. If you are here tonight and wish to offer public comments, then uh you will have up to three minutes to uh to offer those comments. We instruct you to uh avoid profanity in all your remarks to address uh the mayor in those remarks and uh please not we have a timekeeper up here that you can see as your time is ticking down. So is there anyone present who would like to offer public comments in our meeting tonight? [clears throat] All right. Seeing no indication of that desire, then we move forward to the next item, which is approval of the minutes from December 1st, 2025 city council meeting.

Motion to approve the December the 1st uh 2025 minutes. Second. All right. Motion by Mr. Walden, seconded by Mr. Brightnel. All in favor saying I. I. I any oppose the same sign? Motion carries 50. Next is announcements. Miss Jacobson.

Nor do I. That will bring us to the consent agenda. At this time, we'll offer present the opportunity to council to remove any of the items that are listed under consent to be removed and to be considered as part of new business. Is there any desire to do so? All right. Item one, authorize the mayor to sign the Georgia Recreation and Park Association memorandum of understanding for receipt of the boost grant in the amount of $10,000 for the Temple Recreation Department. Item two has been stricken as you approved in the authorization for the minutes. So, we moved to item three. authorized the mayor to sign the quote to purchase Axon car cameras from Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the police department for $184,500 now in 2026 and the remainder of $48,540 in 2027 with funding from the adopted fisc year 26 capital budget. This totals $233,040 representing a savings an $18,000 savings compared to the original price. Item four, authorized the police department to purchase two tag readers from I3 verticals in the amount of $28,000 with funding from the adopted fisc year 26 capital budget. Item five, authorize the purchase of a utility car for the police department in the amount of $13,492.70 with funding from the adopted fisc year 26 capital budget. Item six, authorize the police department to purchase a metal detector from Garrett not to exceed $4,200

with funding from the adopted fisc year 26 capital budget. Item seven, authorize the mayor to sign change order number one with Hurst Construction for a 60 by40 pole barn at the new public works building in the amount of $53,000 with funding from the adopted fisc year 25 capital budget for the public works facility. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Make a motion we approve the consent agenda. Second. All in favor let it be known by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Same sign when it's not consent if we have an opposition [snorts] to. All right. So that's approved. That will bring us to new business. Item one, the city of Temple has been granted the number 19 safest city in Georgia in 2025. Congratulations to the Temple Police Department for their dedication to keeping our citizens safe. [applause] Item two, council action on the resoning and annexation request by Billy Jack Bale with ISG, Inc. on parcel number 01170039B, 48.03 03 acres on US 20 uh US Highway 78 in Harlson County. This property is currently zoned county unincorporated district 1 and the request is to reszone it to lot industrial and annex it into the city of temple as presented to the planning commission on December 16, 2025 with the planning commission's recommendations recommendation to approve both requests by a vote three in favor and one against. Dedri have anything to add? All right, council, it's your opportunity to Mr. Bale is here if you have questions to present to him or comments or anything you would like to share or if you'd like to make a motion.

I'd like to make a motion for approval of the uh reasonzoning and annexation requested by Billy Jack Bell with ISG and Inc. on parcel 0117039B of the 48 acres on US Highway 78, Harelson County. I will not read the rest of it, but we're light industrial. Okay, I second it. All right. Motion by Mr. Russell, seconded by Mayor Pro Tim Brightnel. Any discussion?

I got a question. Mayor, uh, on the other reszoning, it [clears throat] carried a development agreement with it. And I I see I see nothing on here about a development agreement. Okay. That to amend my recommend or my motion to or add to my motion. It will follow the same zoning requirements for the previous parcel approved. Developmental agreement. Developmental agreement. Yes.

All right. So motion by Mr. Russam to approve the reszoning and annexation and adhere to the developmental agreement that was uh agreed to on the earlier parcel next to this one. And my second stands and second stands. Okay. Any other discussion? All in favor saying I. I. Any oppose the same sign?

All right. Motion carries. 50 approved. All right. Item three, authorize the mayor to sign the amended adoption agreement and addendum for the city of Temple's GMA 401A defined contribution plan. Miss Jacobson 457B. Sorry, I forgot. And 457B. Okay. I make that motion. Second. Motion by Mr. Brightel, seconded by Mr. Walden. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I.

Any oppose the same sign? Motion carries. 50. Item four, discuss changing the time of the monthly regular council meeting to 6 pm. I guess that one's on me then. Yeah, that's my proposal. And uh we have our other special called meetings. I don't see why we can't, but we can entertain any um thoughts y'all want to have on that. Even if we run over with the committee meeting, we can just stop and have a meeting like we do sometimes anyways. Is that a motion? That's my motion. I second it.

All right. Motion by Miss Miller to officially change our regular monthly council meeting time to 6 pm. Seconded by Mr. Braracknel. Any other discussion? All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. Any oppose the same sign? Motion carries. 50. All right. Opportunity now for closing comments. We'll start on the other end. Mr. Russell. No comments. Mr. Walden? No. I'm good. Mr. Bragg? No, sir. Miss BS? No. Miss Miller? No. Thank you. All right. No executive session.

So a move to adjourn would be in order. Make a motion we adjourn. Second. All in favor be known by saying I. I. I. Any oppose the same sign. We are adjourned.

Less than half a while. Thank you.