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REGULAR
MEETING
DAHLONEGA CITY COUNCIL
JULY 7,
2008
CALL TO ORDER:
The Dahlonega City
Council met in regular session at City Hall on July 7, 2008. Council
members present were Michael Clemons, Terry Peters, Sam Norton, Guy
Laboa and Gerald Lord. Mayor Gary McCullough called the meeting to
order at 6:00 p.m. and opened with prayer. Guy Laboa requested everyone
to stand for the Pledge to the American Flag. Mayor McCullough
recommended that the agenda be amended to include the DDA Report and an
Executive Session to discuss a pending legal matter. A motion was made
by Terry Peters to approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded
by Sam Norton and approved by all members present.
PUBLIC HEARING:
City Attorney Doug Parks
advised that a Public Hearing was scheduled for Dahlonega Partners, LLC
concerning their application for PUD amendment for property located on
Pine Tree Road and Mechanicsville Road. Dahlonega Partners have
requested a postponement of the hearing pending receipt of a housing
study and completion of a traffic study. These studies are scheduled to
be completed in October and they requested to be placed on the City
Council Agenda for November, 2008. Mr. Parks asked for a
recommendation from John Bell. Mr. Bell advised that he is with the
Architectural Firm of Lord, Aeck and Sargent. Dahlonega Partners, LLC
filed an application to amend 56.17 acres of the approved PUD to permit
the construction of 152 multi-family housing units. Each unit will have
four bedrooms. This proposal exceeds 125 new residential units and a
DRI review by the GMRDC was required. The DRI advised that this project
was approved only if the applicants submitted additional documentation
including a formal traffic study and documentation that the applicants
submit a housing study documenting the need for this amount of new
student housing. The applicants were asked for these documents two
months ago. Mr. Bell stated that there is nothing to be gained by
granting a four month continuance as these documents should have already
been provided. Mr. Bell also advised that the applicants can reapply
to the Dahlonega Planning and Zoning Commission for PUD site plan
amendment once this documentation is available. Mr. Bell recommended
that the request for continuance be denied. A motion was made by Guy
Laboa to approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Sam
Norton and approved by all members present. Guy Laboa advised that if
they reapply it does not mean that the city is obligated to approve the
application. Al Cavalier spoke on behalf of adjoining property owners.
He expressed their concerns that if any improvements are made to the
drainage system and detention areas, the costs for improvements would be
paid by the developers. The Dahlonega Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended denial of the application for PUD Amendment filed by
Dahlonega Partners, LLC. A motion was made by Michael Clemons to
approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Guy Laboa and
approved by all members present.
MINUTE APPROVAL:
A motion was made by Guy
Laboa to approve the minutes of the regular Council Meeting held on June
5, 2008. This motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all
members present.
CITIZENS:
Johnny Ariemma requested
that the council allow the Dahlonega Square Villa to keep the vinyl
windows that have recently been installed. The Dahlonega Historical
Preservation Commission considered the request but deferred ruling on
whether the vinyl windows could be used in lieu of wooden windows.
Mr. Ariemma advised that a wooden screen would be placed over the vinyl
windows. Gerald Lord stated that he was concerned that granting this
request would show that the council is not following the historical
preservation guidelines. John Bell was requested to give a
recommendation. Mr. Bell advised that he had consulted with his staff
concerning this matter and they advised that permanent wooden screens
would resolve this issue. Developers are encouraged to use certain
materials but if the regulations do not state that they are required to
use certain materials it is very difficult to enforce. Mr. Bell
recommended that the wording be changed in the ordinance but recommended
that the request be granted contingent upon the installation of the
wooden screens. Dahlonega Historical Preservation Commission Chair
Susan Newell advised that the Commission did not receive sufficient
information initially concerning this request. Ms. Newell recommended
that the ordinances be updated and that the application be changed to
read that any and all exterior modifications must be approved by the
Historical Preservation Commission. Mr. Ariemma stated that initially
he planned to restore and preserve all the original materials possible
including the wooden windows but found them to be in very poor
condition. Fire Chief Ed Eggert examined the old windows and determined
them to be inoperable and recommended the new windows. A motion was
made by Michael Clemons to allow the wood screen to cover the vinyl
materials on the windows already installed. This motion was seconded by
Guy Laboa and approved by the following vote count: Voting for the
motion were Laboa, Clemons, Norton and Peters. Gerald Lord voted
against the motion.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Mayor Gary McCullough
advised that reports have been received from the Dahlonega Planning and
Code Enforcement Departments concerning activities of those departments
during the month of June, 2008. Dahlonega Historical Preservation
Commission Chair Susan Newell advised that the Commission approved a
sign application submitted by Thomas and Company per e-mail
communications. They also approved sign applications for Vintage Music,
Lifetime Bikes, Tilena’s Treasure Box, Johnny Ariemma and Mary Kienel.
Building alterations were approved for Magical Threads. Chamber of
Commerce Director Gary Powers presented a report from the Chamber for
activities during the month of July, 2008. Mr. Powers stated that July
was a very busy month. He reported that the July 4th
Celebration was a huge success and he thanked Mayor McCullough and Guy
Laboa for their participation in the celebration. The July 4th
Parade had over one hundred entries and the fireworks were spectacular.
He announced that staff members will be participating in training and
conferences during the month of August. The 20th Anniversary
Six Gap Bike Race will be held in Dahlonega on September 28.
Registrations for the bike race are up thirty percent over last year.
A Business Expo and Job Fair will be held August 19 at Lumpkin County
High School. Mohawk employees will be notified of the date for the job
fair. Plans are already being made for Old Fashioned Christmas.
Appalachian State Bank has agreed to sponsor Old Fashioned Christmas for
the next three years. Mr. Powers advised that hotel-motel tax receipts
have increased forty-eight percent over last year. Mr. Powers also
distributed information concerning ads that have been published
concerning Dahlonega during June and visitation rates for the Chamber.
DDA Chair Gayle Jones gave the Dahlonega Downtown Development
Authority/Better Hometown Program Activity Report. Some of the
highlights of the report were outlined including the fact that the DDA
scheduled and promoted meetings, completed preparation and began
implementation of the 10 year Downtown Master Plan. The plan has now
been completed and will be presented to county authorities. They also
produced the first DDA Downtown Business Reception and awards for
downtown businesses. A historic preservation training event was held
for downtown’s partner agencies. Members of the DDA are continuing to
work with the Merchant’s Association and Chamber of Commerce to promote
tourism. Mayor McCullough stated that he appreciates the
accomplishments of the DDA.
CITY MANAGER’S
COMMENTS:
City Manager Bill Lewis
advised that Project C was presented to the Council several months ago.
This project will divert waste water from the new water treatment plant,
Porter Village, The Summit, and future development away from downtown to
Morrison Moore Parkway and into the waste water trunk line connecting to
the waste water treatment plant. The project will extend the life of
existing sewer lines in the downtown by removing the flows from current
development and diverting the wastewater flows from the new water plant
away from downtown. The current cost estimate is $1,600,000 which
includes a 30 percent contingency. In order to complete this project
in-house labor will be used by hiring two temporary employees. Mr.
Lewis recommended that the project be done in house. The estimated cost
is $1,052,700 which includes a 20 percent contingency and the cost for
two temporary construction workers and engineering fees. The force main
portion of the project will be done in house and the gravity flow
portion of the line will be contracted. Mr. Lewis estimated that
$500,000 GEFA funds could be used and cash of $552,700. A motion was
made by Michael Clemons to approve this recommendation. The motion was
seconded by Guy Laboa and approved by all members present. Guy Laboa
recommended that the two temporary employees be made aware that their
position is only temporary.
The council was
informed of the requirement to call for a special election to fill the
unexpired term for Bill Scott. The council had agreed to hold this
election on the November 4th General Election date and
Lumpkin County officials have agreed to add this one item to their
ballots. The council was advised that a service contract with the county
is required. Also the Justice Department is requiring that a Resolution
be approved to change the method of voting to electronic. Action is
also required to set the qualifying fee since the salary has increased
since the last election. The qualifying fee at three percent would be
$144.00. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to call for the special
election to be held November 4, to approve the attached Resolution and
Service Contract, to set the qualifying fee at $144.00 and to approve
City Clerk Janet Jarrard as qualifying clerk for the election. This
motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by all members present.
Mr. Lewis advised that
bids were solicited on the Hancock Park Pavilion. The bids were
solicited on a design build basis. The design was the one created by
city staff and approved by City Council. The building will be rock and
wood construction with men’s and women’s restroom and storage room. The
style of the building will be on the order of the Madelyn Anthony Park
Structure. The lowest bid was Tommy Tritt Construction at $89,359.00.
Mr. Tritt was given notice to begin the project on July 7. Mr. Lewis
asked for action to ratify this bid. A motion was made by Sam Norton
to ratify this action. The motion was seconded by Michael Clemons and
approved by all members present. The structure should be completed
within sixty days.
Mr. Lewis advised that
JJ & G Engineering recommends that the Timken Force Main Contract be
awarded to Strack Contractors in the amount of $498,697.97. The
contract must be awarded by July 17 in order to meet the requirements of
the grant funding from EIP/CDBG and ARC Grant Funds. A motion was made
by Gerald Lord to approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded
by Terry Peters and approved by all members present. Mr. Lewis advised
that grant funds will be reduced due to the fact that the contract was
lower than originally estimated.
The council was
informed that Urban Collage has proposed to conduct a 30-day feasibility
study to evaluate and compare three prospective sites for a new city
hall building. A motion was made by Gerald Lord to approve the attached
proposal. The motion was seconded by Sam Norton and approved by all
members present. Guy Laboa recommended that a statement be added to
the proposal to advise that the agreement only applies to preliminary
evaluation of the potential city hall site and does not include a space
analysis for design and construction of a new city hall building.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor Gary McCullough
recommended that J. L. Collins be reappointed to the Dahlonega Planning
and Zoning Commission. A motion was made by Michael Clemons to
approve this recommendation. The motion was seconded by Gerald Lord and
approved by all members present.
COUNCIL’S COMMENTS:
Sam Norton commended
Gary McCullough and Guy Laboa for their work at the July 4th
Festival. Guy Laboa recommended that the square be closed from 10:00
a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for the next July 4th Festival.
Mayor McCullough
recommended that a letter be written in opposition to the proposed 180
ft. cell tower to be located at the top of Crown Mountain. A motion was
made by Michael Clemons to approve this recommendation. The motion was
seconded by Guy Laboa and approved by all members present.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A motion was made by
Michael Clemons to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss pending
litigation. This motion was seconded by Terry Peters and approved by
all members present. The Executive Session was adjourned at 7:45 and
the regular session was reconvened. A motion was made by Terry Peters
to authorize City Attorney Doug Parks to negotiate with the plaintiff’s
council in regard to a legal matter. This motion was seconded by Guy
Laboa and approved by all members present.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was
adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
APPROVED BY ME THIS ____
DAY OF_________,2008.
MAYOR
Attest: CITY
CLERK |
