M I N U T E S

 

REGULAR MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

 

 

 

Call to Order:              The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council of September 7, 2010                                      was called to order by Mayor Corine Deyton at 7:00 p.m.

 

Invocation:                  The invocation was given by Councilwoman Linda Lord followed                                      by the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.

 

Roll Call:                     Mayor Corine Deyton, Mayor Pro-tem Sparkle Adams, Councilman Donald Judson and Councilwomen Linda Lord, Karen-Brandee Williams and Maudie McCord.

 

                                    Also present were City Manager John Parker, Director of Finance  Mike Blandenburg, Director of Public Works Mike Gippert, Director of Support Services Christine Terrell, Deputy Director of Recreation and Leisure Services Sharon Smith, Chief Eddie Buckholts, Angela Redding Management Analyst, Captain Jamie Reynolds and City Attorney Joe Harris.

 

Approval of minutes:  Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the minutes of the Work Session of August 16th and the Regular Meeting of August 16th with the necessary corrections, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion were Ms. Adams, Mr. Judson, Ms. McCord and Ms. Lord.  Ms. Williams voted against the motion.  The motion carried.

 

Comments:                  Roy Lunsford – asked if the City could change the due process involving the same house that plays loud music all the time.  He stated the $72,030 for Keep Forest Park Beautiful should be to keep Forest Parkway and Main Street beautiful, because of all the trash on these streets.  He also discussed comments not being included in the minutes and said comments are only hearsay in the opinions of the people and not acted upon by Council, so the comments are not necessarily legal to have in the minutes.

 

                                    Carl Evans- stated he was concerned with the computers in the Police Department because they are constantly going down and the officers are having to call to make adjustments and they have the wrong information on them, etc.  He stated some one should look into this.    He also stated that none of us can afford an increase in the millage rate. 

 

Recess:                        Mr. Judson made a motion to recess for a Public Hearing seconded by Ms. Lord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to open the Public Hearing to receive comments on the proposed millage rate, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Public Hearing:           Mayor Deyton opened the Public Hearing to receive comments.

 

                                    Mr. Parker explained ad valorem taxes are not charged to anyone that owns a home and lives in it.  This does not affect homeowners only those that rent their homes.  He stated with the reduction of the valuation of property, the property in the city limits was de-valued by $68 million over the last year.  He stated by raising the millage rate by 1 mil, we will still receive $229,000 less than what we received last year at a 12 mil tax rate.  He stated it was necessary to raise the millage rate by 1 mil to balance the budget.

 

                                    Ms. Shelly Skinner asked if there has been any work toward trying to reduce costs with the City before raising the millage rate.  Mr. Parker stated yes and in order to keep the City together with what has to be done, there is a certain cost.   

 

                                    Mr. Darnell Moorer asked about the overall decrease of $68 million.  Mr. Parker explained this decrease is for the entire City, business and residential.  Mr. Moorer asked what the reduction percentage per home is over the City.  Mr. Parker stated each home is addressed separately.  Mr. Moorer asked if he could find out what the overall City umbrella reduction came to.

 

                                    Mr. Luke Gaywell asked what the Council’s plan is continuing this mil increase once property values come back up.  Mr. Parker said it would be very difficult to answer that, however, the City has never assessed more tax than what was absolutely necessary to run the City.

 

                                    Mr. Gaywell asked if there is a State mandated maximum mil rate for Forest Park.  Mr. Parker stated yes, it is 20 mils.

 

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Ms. Lord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    Ms. Adams made a motion to reconvene the Regular Meeting, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Ordinance – final        Request was made to consider the Ordinance by the City Council

Ad valorem                 to establish the final ad valorem tax millage rate for the City of

Tax Millage Rate:        Forest Park, Georgia to provide for severability; and for other purposes.       

 

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. Lord.

 

                                    Ms. Williams asked for a roll call vote.

 

                                    Lord -              yes

                                    McCord -        yes

                                    Judson -           yes

                                    Williams -        no

                                    Adams -          yes

 

                                    The motion carried.

 

Ordinance – Edward  Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council of

Byrne Memorial          the City of Forest Park authorizing the Mayor to execute an

Justice Asst. Grant:     Agreement with the Department of Justice for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, 2010-DJ-BX-1105 Award Year 2010 in the amount of twenty three thousand four hundred and ninety one dollars ($23,491) to be added into the budget of the Police Department; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Ms. Adams made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. Lord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Ordinance -                 Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council

“Keep Forest Park       for the City of Forest Park, Georgia, to appropriate additional

Beautiful” funding:     funds in the amount o $72,030.00 to cover the approved funding of the “Keep Forest Park Beautiful” Program; to repeal all Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Ms. Lord made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion were Ms. Lord, Ms. McCord, Mr. Judson and Ms. Adams.  Ms. Williams abstained.  The motion carried.

 

Comments:                  Ms. Williams asked for an update of her request for repairing the sidewalks on Forest Parkway to comply with ADA standards for handicapped individuals using motorized chairs.  Mr. Parker stated he is continuing to work on the sidewalks and looking into acquiring the property necessary to put in the additional ramps and  looking at funding.    

 

                                    Ms. Adams stated the Teen Council Meeting will be held on September 14th at 6:30 p.m.

 

                                    Ms. Williams stated on September 18th the Ward 2 Clean up will be held and afterwards there will be a prayer service for the volunteers that have assisted.

 

                                    Ms. Adams stated the Clean Up will be from 8 a.m. to noon at Forest Park First Baptist Church and after returning we will meet at the Park for a celebration. 

 

                                    Mr. Moorer stated all of the Ministers in the Forest Park Ministers Association will be attending the Day of Prayer on September 18th and invited all the residents. 

 

Adjournment:              Ms. Lord made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.