TOWN OF TALLULAH FALLS
STATE OF GEORGIA
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JANUARY 7, 2016
PHIL SUTTON (HABERSHAM CO. MANAGER) ANDREA HARPER AND LYNN SMITH EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEM
BUILDING PERMIT (GARAGE) – JOHNNY IRVIN
ATTORNEY REPORT
FIRE REPORT
POLICE REPORT WATER REPORT FINANCIAL REPORT
STREET REPORT
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER REPORT
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
OPEN FLOOR
ADJOURN
*EXECUTIVE SESSION IF NEEDED
TOWN OF TALLULAH FALLS
STATE OF GEORGIA
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 4, 2016 MINUTES
The regular monthly meeting for February 4, 2016 of the City Council of Tallulah Falls, Georgia was called to order at 5:02 0’clock p.m. by Mayor Hayes.
PRESENT WERE:
- Mayor Dan A. Hayes
- Councilperson Deb Goatcher
- Councilperson Teri Dobbs
- Councilperson Bill Coldren
- Councilperson Larry Hamilton
- Town Administrator/Clerk Marcia McKean
OTHERS PRESENT: Kimberly Brown, the Northeast Georgia; see attached list (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
A Motion was made by Councilperson Dobbs to accept the minutes of the January 4, 2016 meeting. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Coldren and passed unanimously.
Phil Sutton, Andrea Harper and Lynn Smith withdrew request to appear on the Agenda.
A building permit for Johnny Irvin to build a three car garage was presented. A copy of same is attached hereto and part a part hereof. Following a brief discussion, Councilperson Hamilton made the Motion to approve said building permit; seconded by Councilperson Dobbs. The Motion passed unanimously.
Attorney Report: Allyn Stockton stated he has a meeting next week with reference to the Habersham County radio maintenance fees.
Fire Report: Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Captain Mike Early announced that Chief Matt Smith and wife have a new baby girl.
Captain Early also reported the fire department is in the process of converting its reporting software to a free software provided by the State; and, it is more ‘user friendly’.
Also, Captain Early explained the fire department’s by-laws have been updated to make the eligibility and qualifications available for more members to run for office (a copy of same is attached hereto). Further, an election will be held next Monday.
Councilperson Dobbs made the Motion authorizing the amended by-laws for the fire department as presented; seconded by Councilperson Goatcher. The Motion passed unanimously.
Police Report: Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Water Report: Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
Water Superintendent Goatcher stated he had received four bids to have water tanks cleaned and Southern Tank, Inc. had the best price of $2,800.00. Further, a Georgia Rural Water representative reported the company is reputable with no complaints and does good work. Also, Southern Tank will complete a certified inspection which can be used for the Environmental Protection Division required inspection.
The residents on Hickory Nut Mountain will be without water on the day the small tank is cleaned and we will give ample notice of same.
Councilperson Dobbs made the Motion authorizing Goatcher to proceed with the cleaning of water tanks using Southern Tank, Inc.; seconded by Councilperson Hamilton. The Motion passed unanimously.
Goatcher reported he had received several bids for replacing the carpet and windows in Town Hall (to be paid with funds from Habersham SPLOST VI). Anderson Carpet had the best price for carpet in the amount of $1,890.00 and Window World had the best price on windows for approximately $4,500.00.
Councilperson Dobbs made the Motion authorizing Goatcher to proceed with Window World for replacing the windows (10) in Town Hall; seconded by Councilperson Hamilton. The Motion passed unanimously.
Councilperson Goatcher made the Motion authorizing Anderson Carpet to proceed with replacing the carpet in Town Hall; seconded by Councilperson Coldren. The Motion passed unanimously.
Financial Report: Attached hereto and made a part hereof. (for attachments, contact Town Clerk)
McKean explained that she had made errors in the 2014-2015 budget figures which would require an amendment to said budget to move funds to ‘tweak’ line items to correct same. One error, in particular, affected the 1 percent raise for employees. As a result employees were underpaid to date by approximately $615.00.
Councilperson Coldren made the Motion authorizing an amendment to the 2014-2015 budget to correct the errors made in the original budget; seconded by Councilperson Dobbs. The Motion passed unanimously.
Police Chief Goatcher announced there will be an active shooter drill at Tallulah Falls School in late February. The exact date has not been confirmed. The drill will be conducted with Habersham County SWAT team with participants from Rabun County and Emergency Management Association of Georgia.
Street Report: Goatcher stated that during the recent snow with road scraping the scrape blade broke, However, it has been repaired and is back in service.
Public safety Report: NONE
Mayor’s Comments: Mayor Hayes reported that the recent “meet and greet” went well and there were approximately 33/34 in attendance. A copy of the notes taken by Councilperson Dobbs is attached indicating some of the concerns of citizens.
Mayor Hayes stated he had taken representatives from Dollar General around town, and they are looking at several potential sites including the Terrora building.
Mayor Hayes recognized Habersham County Commissioner Sonny James, Habersham Archway
Partnership Professional Rick Story and Habersham County Community Planning and Development Director Mike Beecham. Each individual stated they would help the Town in whatever capacity they could.
Mayor Hayes said he has received several complaints about the appearance of Main Street. Mr. Beecham stated that Habersham County could help with code enforcement, with an intergovernmental agreement, if such an arrangement was desired by the Council and approved by the Habersham Commission.
Police Chief Goatcher said that trying to make people clean-up properties is opening ‘a can of worms’. Also, there is a town ordinance about keeping property clean. However, the complainant has to file a complaint with the police department for it to be investigated and enforced, but no one wants to sign ‘on the dotted line’.
Chief Goatcher suggested that the Town could bring in a dumpster, free to residents, and hold a clean-up day sometime in the summer.
Councilperson Dobbs made the Motion to change the time of the regular monthly meetings from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Motion was seconded by Councilperson Coldren and passed unanimously.
The Council also discussed updating and codifying the Town’s ordinances. A work session was scheduled for 5 p.m. prior to the regular March 3 meeting at 6 p.m.
Attorney Allyn Stockton suggested that perhaps the Rabun and Habersham Counties’ Law Library Committee could help with monetary issues regarding codifying of ordinances.
open Floor: NONE
Mayor Hayes announced the Council needs to go into Executive Session to discuss a real estate issue at 6:19 p.m.
Mayor Hayes called the regular meeting back to order at 7:41 p.m. and announced no official action was taken in the Executive Session.
Councilperson Hamilton made the Motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilperson Goatcher. The Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.