City of Midway

Monthly Work Session

May 24, 2010
9:00 A.M.

The Honorable Dr. Clemontine F. Washington, Mayor -Presiding

Agenda

I. Call to Order

II. Moment of Silence

III. Pledge of Allegiance

IV. Approval of Agenda

V. Approval of Minutes of April 26, 2010

VI. Unfinished Business
A. Amendment to Midway Fire Ordinance - Councilwoman M. Hamilton
Chapter 2; Article A- Sec. 3-2-3
B. Tree Ordinance – Mrs. Gabriel Hartage, LCPC
C. Health Insurance – Ms. Gwendolyn Lowe, Finance Director
D. Utility Equipment – Mr. Terrell Chipp, Utility Manager
E. Arlen Oaks Streets – Mayor Washington
F. Water Rates – Mayor Washington

VII. Department Reports
A. City Clerk Mrs. Lynette G. Cook-Osborne
B. Finance Director Ms. Gwendolyn Lowe
C. Police Chief Mrs. Kelli Morningstar
D. Utility Manager / Fire Chief Mr. Terrell L. Chipp, Sr.

VIII. Mayor’s Report

IX. Announcements

X. Adjournment

05/19/2010 1:55 p.m.
Official Minutes of the Midway City Council
Monthly Work Session
May 24, 2010

The regular monthly work session for the month of May was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the Honorable Dr. Clemontine F. Washington.

Members present: Curtes H. Roberts, Sr., Mayor Pro-Tem; Levern Clancy, Jr., Councilman; Terrence J. Doyle, Councilman and Melice H. Hamilton.

Staff present: Lynette G. Cook-Osborne, City Clerk; Terrell L. Chipp, Utility Manager/Fire Chief; Gwendolyn Lowe, Finance Director; and Kelli Morningstar, Chief of Police.

Guest present: Gabriel Hartage, Assistant Zoning Administrator of the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission; Joseph Parker, Jr., citizen; and Mr. Luis Montoya, citizen.

Moment of Silence - Mayor Washington stated she would like for us to remember the military and their families in prayer during the “Moment of Silence”.

Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag was led by Mayor Washington.

Mayor Washington stated Mr. Chipp has an emergency. She requested item D under Department Report will me moved up to under Item D under Unfinished Business. Councilman Doyle made the motion to approve the changes on the agenda. Mayor Pro-Tem Roberts seconded the motion. This motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Agenda – Mayor Pro-Tem Roberts made the motion to approve the agenda with the above changes. Councilman Clancy seconded the motion. Councilman Doyle would like to add executive session to the end of the meeting to discuss possible litigation. Councilman Doyle amended the motion adding executive session after the Mayor’s report. Councilwoman Hamilton seconded the motion. The amended motion and the main motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Washington thanked all visitors for being with the Midway City Council this morning.

Approval of Minutes of April 26, 2010 – Mayor Pro-Tem made the motion. This motion died for lack of a “second”. Councilman Doyle made corrections to the minutes. Councilman Clancy made a motion to approve the minutes with the necessary corrections. Councilwoman Hamilton seconded the motion. This motion passed unanimously.

Unfinished Business –

Amendment to Midway Fire Ordinance Chapter 2; Article A-Sec. 3-2-3 was presented by Councilwoman Melice Hamilton. She stated she spoke with James Ashdown, Liberty County Fire Coordinator, and he explained that the cap on the charge for false alarm is $2,000.00. Councilwoman Hamilton suggested that it’s okay to leave the Ordinance as is with the $2,000.00 cap. Council members concurred with Councilwoman Hamilton. Councilman Doyle wanted to know the difference between each and minimum on the Notice of False Alarm Form? No Response was given. Councilwoman Hamilton requested the city clerk to email a copy of the notice to all of the officials after the meeting. The appeal process is on the back of the Notice of False Alarm form.

Tree Ordinance – Mrs. Gabriel Hartage, Assistant Zoning Administrator of Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission, (LCPC) – Mrs. Hartage presented an update with the summary of changes in the following: Sec. 6-6-4, Sec. 6-6-6 (3) Page 5, Sec. 6-6-6 (4) Page 6, Sec. 6-6-6 (5) Page 6, Sec. 6-6-7 Page 7, Sec. 6-6-7 Page 9, Sec. 6-6-7 Page 10, Sec. 6-6-7 Page 12, Sec. 6-6-7 Page 13, Sec 6-6-9 (11) Page 21, Sec. 6-6-8 Page 15, Sec. 6-6-9 Page 26, and Sec. 6-6-10 page 33. She also presented a Landscape and Tree Protection Ordinance. Mrs. Hartage explained the entire summary to the Mayor and Council. Mayor Washington suggests using a synonym for the word eyesore in that section. She would prefer a word more in touch with the language used in this ordinance. Mrs. Hartage also stated that the Tree bond has been reduced from 100% to 50%. She also stated 1,600 tree points per developable acreage rather than 1,600 three points per acre. A tree survey is required for all trees 16” and larger. There is a list of all trees that are protected by this ordinance. The minimum planting caliper for all large trees except coniferous trees was increased from 2 inches to 2.5 inches for commercial area and decrease from 4 inches to 2.5 inches for street trees. A new bonus, trees located in the right-of-way with substantial canopy over applicant’s property can be used as a percentage of the tree quality points. Mayor Washington thanked Mrs. Hartage for making this ordinance easier to comprehend. Mrs. Hartage stated that she had emailed a copy of the Landscape and Tree Protection Ordinance to
Attorney Richard Braun. Mayor Washington stated June 14, 2010 will be considered the first reading for this ordinance.

Health Insurance – Gwendolyn Lowe, Finance Director – Ms. Lowe presented Principal and Coventry Insurance. She stated that you would have to be an agent to read their plan. Councilman Doyle had several questions about this policy. Mayor Washington stated that closure need to put to the health insurance plan. Mayor and Council will lean toward Mrs. Lowe’s recommendation on the insurance plan. The Mayor and Council will vote on the health coverage plan on June 14, 2010.

Utility Equipment – Terrell L. Chipp, Utility Manager/ Fire Chief - Mr. Chipp stated that he had a break in at the Treatment Plant Facility. He is in dire need of a utility trailer and blower. The quotes on the backpack blowers are:
Quik-Kut Distributors, Inc. $ 399.99
Gnann’s Fix-it Shop Inc. $ 365.00
Andy’s Lawn Machinery $ 365.46
Quotes on the 7’ X 16” utility trailer are:
Liberty Trailerama , Inc. $ 1295.
Dykes Tractor & Trailer Sales $ 1825.
Andy’s Lawn Machinery $ 1950.
Mayor Washington stated to look at the budget Line # 52. She also stated the items stolen during the break in needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The generator is used during water leaks at night and the chain saw is also used during emergencies. Mayor Washington asked about the Georgia Rural Development Training that Mr. Chipp completed on May 18, 2010. Mr. Chipp stated that the State of Georgia will begin charging for all testing services in the near future.
Mr. Chipp stated that Liberty County Master Plan has the Midway Fire Department at the existing location to be considered centrally located. Mayor Washington stated that Midway has not had any formal discussion on the relocation of the Midway Fire Department.

Arlen Oaks Streets – Mayor Washington – Mayor asked Mr. Chipp to give the report. Mr. Chipp and Mr. Trent Long inspected the pothole in the center of Arbor Ridge Way in the Arlen Oaks Subdivision. Mr. Long suggests that the city purchase asphalt packets and repair the hole. The pothole is the results of residents waters their yards too frequently. Ms. Lowe stated that the water schedule will be placed on face book.

Water Rates – Mayor Washington and Council reviewed the water and wastewater rate study prepared by Bill Powell, Member Services for Georgia Rural Water Association. Mayor Washington requested a new rate analysis for two million eight hundred thousand for a well and pump house to included Phrase I & Phase II water expansion and upgrade the city of midway water system. Ms. Lowe stated she needed an engineering report and an environment report.

City Clerk – Lynette G. Cook-Osborne – Mrs. Osborne submitted a list of some of her responsibilities and tasks; she also stated she is working on four (4) projects. She plans to complete two of the projects by June 01, 2010.

Finance Director – Gwendolyn Lowe, - Mayor Washington stated that she needs to know the current expense for a month starting with May, 2010.
Councilman Doyle inquired about the electric bill at the fire station. Ms. Lowe explained it was during the cold months and it was Atlanta Gas Light Company and not the electric bill. She also explained that on page 4 the Retirement Contribution and Dues & Fees were under budgeted.

Police Chief – Chief Morningstar – The Chief stated that there are more crimes, to include the 90 citations issued, four wheelers were stolen and there was a robbery at Clyde’s Convenience Store. She informed the Mayor and Council that the rifles came in and the officers will be getting qualified within the next two weeks. She also stated one car is in the repair shop.

Mayor’s Report – Mayor Washington issued copies of her monthly calendar. She informed the Council that she completed the membership application with JOS Banks for all employees and they were welcome to purchase from the store and used their 20% discount.

Announcements – Mayor Washington invited everyone to Mayor Pro-Tem Roberts, Councilman Clancy and Officer Page birthday celebration on May 27, 2010 at the Midway Civic Center. She informed the Council if they had any questions about their new jump drive to please contact Ms. Lowe. Councilman Doyle announced that Liberty County charges $26.00 per hour for street maintenances to other municipalities in the county.

Executive Session – Councilwoman Hamilton made the motion to go into executive session at 11:35 a.m. to discuss possible litigation. Councilman Clancy seconded the motion. This motion passed unanimously. Councilman Clancy made the motion to adjourn executive session at 11:50 a.m. Councilwoman seconded the motion. This motion passed unanimously.

Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

Clemontine F. Washington, Mayor
Lynette G Cook-Osborne, City Clerk